Trefriw

Trefriw () adalah sebuah desa dan komunitas di Conwy County Borough, Wales. Itu terletak di sungai Crafnant di Wales Utara, beberapa mil di selatan situs benteng Romawi Canovium, berlokasi di Caerhun. Pada tiga sensus terakhir jumlah penduduk tercatat sebanyak 842 pada tahun 1999, 915 pada tahun 2001, dan 783 pada tahun 2011 (dari total 368 rumah tangga).

Trefriw terletak di tepi Snowdonia, di jalan B5106 di barat laut Llanrwst, dan sekitar 4½ mil di utara Betws-y-Coed melalui jalan darat. Itu terletak di lereng barat lembah Conwy yang glasiasi, di bawah punggung bukit Cefn Cyfarwydd, desa tersebut sebagian besar dibangun dalam bentuk setengah lingkaran di titik di mana sungai Crafnant mengalir dari lembah gantungnya untuk bergabung dengan sungai Conwy. Sungai Crafnant masih menyediakan tenaga untuk pabrik wol, dan di masa lalu menyediakan tenaga untuk sejumlah industri lain yang berbasis di sepanjang tepiannya, seperti bengkel yang menyediakan peralatan penggalian. Komunitas tersebut meliputi dusun Llanrhychwyn.

Sebagian besar desa terletak di dalam Taman Nasional Snowdonia, batas yang membentang di jalan utama desa.

Terlepas dari reputasinya sebagai titik awal yang baik untuk berjalan-jalan (desa ini memiliki status Walkers are Welcome dan menggelar festival jalan kaki tahunan), Trefriw saat ini sebagian besar dikenal dengan pabrik wolnya, dan spa chalybeate terdekat, pertama kali dikenal dengan telah digunakan oleh orang Romawi dan dikembangkan lebih lanjut sekitar tahun 1700. Perairannya adalah salah satu dari sedikit di seluruh Eropa yang diklasifikasikan sebagai obat karena kandungan zat besinya yang tinggi.

Sejarah

Romawi

Jalan Romawi (Sarn Helen) membentang ke selatan melalui Trefriw dari benteng di Caerhun (antara Trefriw dan Conwy) ke benteng di Tomen-y-mur (dekat Trawsfynydd), dan seterusnya, akhirnya mencapai Moridunum di Carmarthen. Kemungkinan besar sebenarnya ada dua jalan yang melewati daerah Trefriw, sebuah jalur lembah, dan jalur pegunungan yang lebih tinggi yang menghubungkan ke benteng-benteng yang lebih kecil di Caer Llugwy (dekat Capel Curig) dan Pen -y-Gwryd, dekat Snowdon. Garis sebenarnya dari jalan-jalan ini melalui Trefriw hanya dapat diperkirakan saat ini, tetapi keseluruhan rutenya dibahas secara mendalam di buku ini.Sarn Helen oleh J. Cantrell & A. Rylance (Cicerone Press, 1992).

Abad Pertengahan
Llywelyn Fawr (Llywelyn Agung), Pangeran Gwynedd, memilih Trefriw sebagai lokasi pondok berburu pada abad ke-12. (Gwynedd jauh lebih besar, dan mencakup wilayah ini pada saat itu.) Mengingat bahwa ia memiliki sejumlah benteng di barat laut Wales, tidak mungkin untuk mengetahui berapa banyak waktu yang ia habiskan di desa tersebut, meskipun dilaporkan bahwa ia lebih memilih penginapannya di Trefriw daripada istananya di Aber. Tidak ada sisa-sisa yang dapat dilihat saat ini tetapi sekarang diyakini bahwa itu berada di lokasi Kapel Ebenezer di bukit utama. Llywelyn menikahi Siwan atau Joan, putri bungsu Raja John dari Inggris pada tahun 1204 atau 1205, ketika ia baru berusia sekitar 13 tahun. Meskipun usianya relatif muda, lama kelamaan ia menjadi lelah. dari perjalanan mendaki bukit curam menuju gereja di Llanrhychwyn (dianggap oleh banyak orang sebagai yang tertua di Wales), dan sebagai hasilnya, pada sekitar tahun 1230 Llywelyn menganugerahkan sebuah gereja di lokasi di mana St Mary's, Trefriw sekarang berdiri .

Llanrhychwyn (yang mengambil namanya dari Rhochwyn, putra Helig ap Glannog) sekarang menjadi dusun kecil. Namun, pada masa Llywelyn, dan hingga awal abad ke-19, kota ini lebih besar dari Trefriw itu sendiri, yang terdiri dari "beberapa rumah di sana-sini". Dalam Hanes Trefriw, Morris Jones menulis dalam bahasa Welsh bahwa Llywelyn "membangun sebuah gereja untuk keperluan istrinya, dan untuk kepentingan penduduknya, atas kebaikan mereka terhadapnya, dan bahwa dia menyumbangkan sejumlah lahan pertanian dari paroki Llanrhychwyn, menamakannya sebagai paroki Tref Rhiw Las. Nama ini didapat dari lereng tempatnya berdiri".

Di ujung bawah (utara) desa terletak "Ffrwd Gwenwyn y Meirch" - ("meracuni aliran kuda"). Dikatakan bahwa sungai tersebut diracuni oleh seorang pengkhianat, yang mengakibatkan kematian banyak kuda prajurit Llywelyn, pada saat dia sedang berperang dengan Inggris.

Buku Merah Hergest (1375–1425) mengacu pada "Kymwt Treffryw", Commote (Cwmwd dalam bahasa Welsh) dari Trefriw. Ini mungkin referensi tertulis paling awal tentang desa tersebut.

Zaman Stuart

Tampaknya Trefriw ada hubungannya dengan Plot Bubuk Mesiu tahun 1605. Thomas Wiliems, yang mungkin lahir di desa tersebut, dan keponakan Sir John Wynn dari Gwydir, kuliah di Brasenose College, Oxford, dan kembali bekerja sebagai dokter. Dia adalah pakar vegetarianisme, dan juga menerbitkan kamus Welsh/Latin. Pada tahun 1573 ia menjadi Kurator Trefriw. Ia terkenal sebagai seorang penganut paham kepausan (ia sudah pasti didakwa atas tuduhan tersebut di Bangor pada tahun 1607) dan karena itu mungkin ia mengetahui rencana untuk meledakkan Parlemen. Menurut beberapa sumber, dialah yang, ketika memperingatkan kerabatnya John Wynn agar tidak menghadiri Pembukaan Kenegaraan, bertanggung jawab sedikit atau banyak atas kecurigaan yang pada akhirnya menimpa Guy Fawkes. Kisah inilah yang menjadi dasar novel sejarah pendek karya Gweneth Lilly yang ditulis untuk anak-anak berjudul Treason at Trefriw (Gomer Press, 1993).

Abad ke-19
Pada tahun 1817 sebuah sekolah gratis didirikan (dan kemudian didukung secara finansial) di Trefriw oleh Lord Willoughby de Eresby, untuk kepentingan anak-anak miskin di desa tersebut, dan orang-orang dari paroki-paroki yang berdekatan. Penggilingan paling awal (pandy atau fulling mill) berasal dari abad ke-15. Pada tahun 1820 sebuah pandy baru dibangun, yang masih menggunakan nama pudar "Vale of Conwy Woolen Mill". Pada awal abad ke-19 desa ini memiliki pabrik penggilingan bertenaga air (menggantikan industri rumahan sebelumnya yang sudah ada sejak berabad-abad yang lalu), tetapi perkembangan industri yang serius baru dimulai setelah dibeli oleh Thomas Williams pada tahun 1859. pabrik wol saat ini masih dimiliki oleh keturunan Thomas Williams. Bangunan pabrik pinggir jalan saat ini, terletak di bawah bangunan aslinya, dibangun pada tahun 1970-an.

David Cox Jnr. (1809–85) melukis Trefriw near Llanrwst, with mill.

Setelah pembangunan Jalan Tol Llanrwst ke Conwy pada tahun 1777, sebuah rumah tol, Hen Dyrpeg, dibangun di selatan Trefriw, tetapi jaraknya sekitar 70 m dari jalan di dataran tinggi, untuk menghindari banjir. Menyusul penghindaran tol yang cukup besar, dan fakta bahwa lalu lintas dari Hutan Gwydir tidak melewatinya, rumah tol pengganti, 'Gerbang Gwydir', dibangun pada tahun 1820-an di dekat desa. Rumah tol ini dilalui lalu lintas menuju dermaga di Trefriw.

Pada abad ke-19 Trefriw adalah pelabuhan pedalaman terbesar di Wales, sungai Conwy sedang pasang surut hampir sampai ke tetangganya Llanrwst. Mengingat fakta bahwa, pada suatu waktu, Llanrwst adalah salah satu dari sepuluh kota terbesar di Wales, dapat dilihat bahwa Lembah Conwy memiliki makna sejarah yang besar.

Dilaporkan pada tahun 1833 bahwa pameran diadakan setiap tahun pada tanggal 12 Mei, 3 September dan 7 November.

Paroki Trefriw dimiliki untuk waktu yang lama oleh Perkebunan Gwydir (walaupun dalam hipotek berkelanjutan), tetapi pada tahun 1895–96 sebagian besar Llanrhychwyn dan Trefriw dijual oleh penguasa Baron Willoughby de Eresby dan Earls of Ancaster.

The Quay

At the start of the 19th century, boats of around 5 tons could only reach Trefriw quay at or near high tides. It is not known when the first quay was built, but a storehouse existed there in 1754. The quay, which belonged to the Gwydir Estate and was ruled by a resident harbourmaster, was later extended (the present structure dates from about 1811–12), and became of great significance to Trefriw, its growth, and subsequent history. Subsequent rock blasting in the 19th century downstream at Tal-y-cafn, and dredging, enabled river boats of 50 tons and seagoing ships of 100 tons to reach Trefriw.  The quays were sited opposite the Bellevue Hotel, now the Princes Arms Hotel, and remains can still be seen, best viewed from the walks on 'the Cob'.

From the quay was shipped out grain, wool, hide, oak, timber and metals from the mines of the Gwydir Forest.  A considerable amount of slate was also shipped, this coming not just from Llnrhychwyn and Crafnant Quarries, but from as far away as Cwm Penmachno, where Penmachno, Rhiwbach and Blaen y Cwm quarries were major suppliers.  However, wharfage prices were high at Trefriw (being non-Gwydir), and even before the opening of the Rhiwbach Tramway in 1863 (which linked to the Festiniog Railway at Blaenau Ffestiniog) it was decided that it was preferable (though less easy) to cart slate via Cwm Teigl down to the quays on the river Dwyryd, below Maentwrog.  As a consequence slate shipments from Trefriw quay fell dramatically.  (Between 1818 and 1835 slate had accounted for 70% of Trefriw's total exports; between 1857 and 1877 this fell to 20%.) However, not all the trade from the quay was material heading down-river—commodities such as food, wine (ordered by the region's gentry), coal and fertilizers (especially lime) were brought in.

Bangor University Archives holds some "Trefriw Port Books", which provide details of vessels, tonnages, masters, origins, destinations, cargoes by weight and fees. Two original manuscript volumes range in date from 3 April 1826 - 26 December 1835 and 1835–47.

In the early 19th century up to 450 vessels traded from the quay, to places such as Liverpool and Dublin.  Trade totalled 1,548 tons in 1818, and peaked in 1862 at a total of 16,532 tons, after which the railways contributed to the decline of trade via the quays.  In 1854 the main quay acquired a weighing machine and a crane, and there was a small shipyard in the village.

Sulphur was also shipped from the Cae Coch Sulphur Mine, prior to the construction of the railway line. The mine is discussed in detail in volume 7 of The Mines of The Gwydir Forest, by John Bennett & Robert W. Vernon (Gwydir Mines Publications, 1997). The other six volumes, whilst dealing with the mines beyond Trefriw itself, are also of interest in that these mines also provided much trade for the ships.

There were smaller quays further down the river, with the Gwydir Estate owning Coed Gwydir (for stone) and Cae Coch (sulphur).  Below this, other non-Gwydir quays were at the Maenan Abbey, Porth Llwyd (Dolgarrog) and Tal-y-cafn, but Trefriw saw the most trade, by far.

The Artists' Colony
The latter 19th century saw a number of artists living in Trefriw.  The art movement, which had started in Betws-y-coed in the 1850s, popularized by David Cox, saw a movement down the valley following the arrival of the railway in Betws-y-coed.  In 1871 William Barker lived in the village, and the 1881 census recorded another 8 artists living in the village, namely John Davies, Ben Fowler, Robert Goody, Julius Hare, Henry Hilton, John Johnson, James Morland and Henry Boberts.  Although artists continued to live here until after the turn of the century, like Betws-y-coed it became a victim of its own popularity. The movement therefore again re-established itself, this time at Tal-y-bont and Llanbedr-y-cennin, where its 40 members included those artists from Trefriw.  Here in a building they set up an ‘Artists Club’, and its members were a strong influence on the formation of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art, which moved into Plas Mawr, Conwy in 1886.

Cae Robin Rock Cannon
Trefriw boasted a rock cannon, originally sited in the open on the hill overlooking Llanrwst, but today it is surrounded by the forest of Coed Creigiau. Comprising 13 holes, each about 80 cm apart, its use in 1863 was reported in the local paper where it is recorded that "Rock and metal cannons were fired in such profusion that about 8cwt of gunpowder was consumed." This was to celebrate the marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark on 10 March 1863. It was also fired in 1872 following the marriage of Peter Lewis, a local timber merchant, to Miss Williams; the Llangollen Advertiser reported that “one of the grandest balls we have ever witnessed” was held at the Belle Vue Hotel, and "the firing of [rock] cannon resounded through the valley like thunder". It is also likely that the Trefriw cannon was the one reported in May 1877 when Lord Avebury visited Gwydir Castle, and "as soon as he approached the Castle, by road, the firing of cannon commenced, and continued for some time".

The Spa
In 1833 the old Roman mineral water caves (believed to have been discovered by soldiers of the XXth Roman Legion) were excavated in an attempt to attract people to them.  In 1863 Lord Willoughby de Eresby built a small bath-house, replaced a decade later by the current building.  Large numbers of people came, no doubt aided by national advertising, and the declaration by Dr. Hayward, a fashionable medical specialist from Liverpool, that this was "Probably the best spa in the United Kingdom". Baddeley's guidebook notes contains the quote - "inconceivably nasty and correspondingly efficaceous". In more recent times clinical trials have proven that the Spa water is a medically effective iron supplement.

In 2003, Nelsons purchased the Spa and the rights to the Spatone mineral water produced there. Today Spatone is sold around the world, with all packaging and manufacture on site in Trefriw. For over a century the Spa was open as a tourist attraction, but in 2011 it was closed to the public, and serves today only as a commercial business.

Victorian/Edwardian heyday

The village was at its heyday in the early part of the 20th century, visitors arriving by both train and steamer.  Many visitors to the Spa arrived by train to Llanrwst station, which opened in the 1860s.  From here transport was provided, over Gower's bridge, named after the Revd John Gower, rector of Trefriw, who came to Trefriw in 1869 (from Queen's College, Birmingham), and lived in the grand rectory, built in 1842, and located up School Bank Hill. There was a toll of 1d for pedestrians and 2d for cyclists, this money being used to finance the building of the road.  The original toll bridge had about 10 wooden piers, and was wide enough to take a horse and carriage.  It was demolished in the 1940s after the Council, having bought the road, agreed to spend £1,500 on the present suspension bridge.  The original toll house, Gower's House, was also demolished, but remains of its site can still be seen.

The railway
Gower built the road and the bridge to North Llanrwst railway station after the plan to run the railway line down the western (Trefriw) side of the valley was dropped.  The line was authorised in 1860 and opened in 1863.  The station was originally known as "Llanrwst & Trefriw", and for over 100 years was Llanrwst's only station.

Paddle steamers
Until 1939 the quay was used by paddle steamers which brought tourists up the river from Conwy, hugely swelling the village's population by day.  A regular service for passengers was started in 1847 by the St. George Steam Packet Company. St. Winifred was the first paddle steamer, joined in c. 1880 by the St. George, before being replaced a decade later by the New St. George (it later changing its name to Prince George).  Around 1900 Queen of the Conway arrived, to be followed in 1903 by the Trefriw Belle, a screw-steamer, and in 1907 by the King George, another paddler. The Jubilee, a second propeller-driven steamer, arrived the following year from work on the Mawddach estuary. In all, therefore, the start of the 20th century saw some half-dozen steamers plying the route, and carrying a total of over 1,000 passengers.  Fares were 1/6 (7½p) single or 2/6 return (12½p).  The journey from Conwy took 90 minutes, and passengers would be given this same amount of time in the village before embarking on the return trip.

The steamers were laid up in World War II, and this spelled the end of the cruises, other than a brief couple of seasons in the 1950s when motor boats were used—at 5/- (25p) return.  The steamers were beached upstream of Conway bridges, and eventually scrapped.  Their passage up the river had necessitated regular river-dredging, which has no longer been continued.

The Fairy Falls

The Fairy Falls, a waterfall on the river Crafnant, was a popular visiting place.  Downstream of the main falls are a number of further, lesser, falls, which old postcards also call the "Fairy Falls".  Along this lower section of river the water once turned a number of waterwheels which powered various mills.  The whole area of this series of falls—from the main falls through the lesser falls downstream—was known as "Fairy Glen", and was altogether more free from trees and vegetation than it is today.  In Edwardian times there was a proper path alongside the river Crafnant, and a popular stroll was to walk from the banks of the river Crafnant, up through the well-known Fairy Glen, and on beside the river Crafnant up towards Llyn Crafnant.

Recreation
The village once had a 9-hole golf course, this lying on land between Cowlyd Road and Crafnant Road, on the slopes uphill of the cemetery.  It was laid out in 1893 (instituted in 1897) on land owned by Lord Ancaster (who owned much land in the area) by Thomas Dutton (of the Belle View Hotel), who naturally gave discounts to hotel residents.  An advertisement of 1903 quotes prices of 2/- (10p) a day or 5/- (25p) a week.  In 1894 Fred Collins, the professional golfer from Llandudno, who later laid out Prestatyn golf course, made his first public appearance here. The professionals at the club were William Buckle (1897/8), Ben Owen (1901–1905) and P. McLeod (1905–1907). In 1914 the secretary of the club was C. C. Morris of Rose Hill, Trefriw. The course was never really successful, and after closure (by 1918) the clubhouse was transferred to the quay. For more on the golf club

Trefriw Recreation Ground was opened in 1889 and in time came to boast croquet lawns, tennis courts, a bowling green and a paddling pool (filled in after it kept flooding).  Trefriw annually hosted the North Wales Croquet Championship, and a tennis tournament.  There also used to be an annual carnival, and sheepdog trials (in the 1920s).

20th century onwards

In the 20th century the village was set to be further boosted by the building of a railway from Conwy (plans exist dated 1908), the line coming via Rowen and Tal-y-bont.  This was around the time of the growth of Dolgarrog as an electricity generating centre, and the North Wales Power & Traction Co. Ltd, a company which went on to have controlling shares in many of the region's narrow gauge railways, intending to electrify them.

Floods
Floods have always been part of Trefriw's history, being located on the edge of the flood plain of Afon Conwy.  On various occasions in the 20th century defences have been built and improved, including the partial diverting of the Afon Crafnant, which itself carries a lot of water from the Crafnant catchment area.

Trefriw made national news when, in February 2004, following a period of prolonged rain in the mountain catchment areas of the river Conwy and its tributaries, the village was largely cut off by floods for three days, and some properties on the lower High Street were flooded by three feet of water.  The following January saw a repeat occurrence, sections of the Cob again being breached.  This second occasion failed to make national news due to simultaneous flooding in other parts of Britain, notably Carlisle.

The Environment Agency have now completed work on the new cob which now runs through Glyn Farm Caravan site and the recreational ground. Both pieces of land have undergone significant changes to accommodate the new cob. This work was undertaken after the environment agency arranged a detailed mapping of the valley, with the aim of moving the cob further back in order to give a wider "channel".

The Environment Agency now constantly monitors water levels in the river Conwy, with a view to giving flood warnings.  There are measuring stations at Betws-y-Coed (Cwmlanerch), Llanrwst  and Trefriw.

As a result of the floods, Trefriw was one of the locations visited by Prince Charles in July 2004 as part of his annual summer tour of Wales.

A modern tourist destination

Trefriw's heyday as a tourist destination may have passed, but it still attracts visitors.  By car it is only a 10-minute drive to Betws-y-Coed, and within 30 minutes drivers can reach either the coast or the mountains.  The village is set in a landscape of hills, forests and lakes; it has two pubs and a hotel and there is other B&B accommodation locally.  Many visitors come to walk in the area, and Llyn Geirionydd and Llyn Crafnant can be easily reached on foot.  The latter is very popular, and many would agree that "the (view along Llyn Crafnant) is one of the most breathtaking views in all Snowdonia". (Forest Park guide, 2002).  There is a series of walking trails in the area (see the "Trefriw Trails" link below) but many also start here for longer walks into the Gwydir Forest, or the Carneddau mountains, the latter via Llyn Cowlyd which, although less scenic than Crafnant and Geirionydd, has a wild appeal of its own.

Many visitors come to the village to visit the Trefriw Woollen Mills. Trefriw Wells Spa, formerly an attraction for visitors, closed to the public in 2011 in order to increase its production of spa water.

Nearby, on the road to the neighbouring town of Llanrwst lies Gwydir Castle, which is set within a Grade I listed,  garden. Built by the Wynn family c. 1500 (see John Wynn, 1st Baronet), Gwydir is an example of a Tudor courtyard house, incorporating re-used medieval material from the dissolved Abbey of Maenan. Further additions date from c. 1600 and c. 1826. The important 1640s panelled dining room has now been reinstated, following its repatriation from the New York Metropolitan Museum.

Many cyclists come to the area to ride the "Marin Trail", a competition standard route in Gwydir Forest.

The Moel Maelogan wind farm, commissioned in 2003, and located on the top of the ridge on the other side of the valley, is visible to varying degrees from the village.

Referensi

Bacaan lebih lanjut
The Conwy Valley & the lands of history, by K. Mortimer Hart (published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1987)
The Conwy Valley – Its Long History, by Michael Senior (published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1984)
The Crossing of the Conwy, by Michael Senior (published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1991)
Gwydir Slate Quarries, by M.C. Williams & M.J.T. Lewis (published by Snowdonia National Park Study Centre, 1989)
Hanes Trefriw, by Morris Jones (published by W.J. Roberts, 1879)
Walks in the Conwy Valley, by Christopher Draper (published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 2002)
Sarn Helen, by J. Cantrell & A. Rylance (Cicerone Press, 1992)
The Mines of The Gwydir Forest Parts 1 - 7, by John Bennett & Robert W. Vernon (published by Gwydir Mines Publications, 1989–97)
The Rock Cannon of Gwynedd, by Griff R. Jones (2002)
The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis (1833)

Pranala luar 

 Trefriw Visitor Information
 A Vision of Britain Through Time
 British Listed Buildings
 Genuki
 Geograph
 Office for National Statistics
 Trefriw Trails
 Trefriw Woollen Mills

Trefriw
Desa di Conwy County Borough
Masyarakat di Conwy County Borough