Editing Trefriw (section)

===19th century===
In 1817 a free school was founded (and subsequently financially supported) in Trefriw by Lord Willoughby de Eresby, for the benefit of poor children of the village, and those from the adjoining parishes.
The earliest mill (a pandy or [[Fulling|fulling mill]]) dates back to the 15th century. In 1820 a new pandy was built, this still carrying the faded name "Vale of Conwy Woollen Mill".  By early in the 19th century the village had a water-powered fulling mill (replacing the former [[cottage industry]] which dated back centuries), but serious development of the industry began only after it was bought by Thomas Williams in 1859.  The current woollen mill is still owned by the descendants of Thomas Williams.  The current roadside mill building, sited below the original buildings, was built in the 1970s.

[[File:Trefriw Woollen Mills - geograph.org.uk - 134886.jpg|thumb|left|Trefriw Woollen Mill today]]

David Cox Jnr. (1809–85) painted ''Trefriw near Llanrwst, with mill''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=10808&t=1 |title='Trefriw near Llanrwst, with mill' by David Cox JNR. (1809-85) (Watercolour & pencil) :: Gathering the Jewels |access-date=2006-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927172147/http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=10808&t=1 |archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref>

Following the construction of the Llanrwst to Conwy Toll Road in 1777, a [[toll house]], Hen Dyrpeg, was built south of Trefriw, but this stood some 70m from the road on elevated ground, to avoid flooding. Following a fair degree of toll evasion, and the fact that traffic from the Gwydir Forest did not pass it, a replacement toll house, 'Gwydir Gate', was built in the 1820s nearer the village.<ref>''The Conwy Valley'', K. Mortimer Hart, Gutenberg Press, 2004</ref> These toll houses were passed by traffic heading for the quay at Trefriw.

In the 19th century Trefriw was Wales' largest inland port, the river Conwy being tidal almost up to neighbouring [[Llanrwst]]. Given the fact that, at one time, Llanrwst was one of the ten largest towns in Wales, it can be seen that the Conwy Valley had great historical significance.

It was reported in 1833 that fairs were held annually on 12 May, 3 September and 7 November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CAE/Trefriw/|title=GENUKI: Trefriw|work=genuki.org.uk}}</ref>

The parish of Trefriw was owned for a long period by the [[Gwydir Castle|Gwydir Estate]] (although under continuous mortgage), but in 1895–96 most of Llanrhychwyn and Trefriw were sold off by the ruling [[Baron Willoughby de Eresby|Barons Willoughby de Eresby]] and the [[Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster|Earls of Ancaster]].

====The Quay====
[[File:Trefriw quay.jpg|thumb|right|An old postcard (dated 1905) showing steamers at Trefriw 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 quarry|Penmachno]], [[Rhiwbach Quarry|Rhiwbach]] and [[Blaen y Cwm Quarry|Blaen y Cwm]] quarries were major suppliers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Rhiw-bach_531/Rhiw-bach.asp|title=Mine Explorer|work=mine-explorer.co.uk}}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/name_search?id=7259&acc_type=1 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070806035120/http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/name_search?id=7259&acc_type=1 |archive-date=2007-08-06 }}</ref>

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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/c/cae_coch_sulphur_mine/index.shtml|title=Subterranea Britannica: Sites: Cae Coch Sulphur Mine|work=subbrit.org.uk}}</ref> 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 (artist)|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.<ref>''Artists in the Conwy Valley'', by T. Ellis, 2010</ref>  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, Conwy|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.<ref>''The Betws-y-coed Artists' Colony, 1844-1914'', by Peter Lord, Coast & Country, 1998, 2009.</ref>

[[File:Rock cannon atTrefriw.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The rock cannon on the hillside above the village now lies in the forest.]]

====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&nbsp;cm apart,<ref>''The Rock Cannon of Gwynedd'', Griff R. Jones</ref> 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."<ref>''Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald'', 14 March 1863</ref> This was to celebrate the marriage of [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Albert Edward, Prince of Wales]] to [[Alexandra of Denmark|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".<ref>''Llangollen Advertiser'', 26 January 1872</ref> 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".<ref>''The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality'', 2 June 1877</ref>

====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". [[M. J. B. Baddeley|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-gb/uk/our-brands/spatone/spatone/research/|title=Research|work=nelsonsnaturalworld.com}}</ref>

In 2003, [[Nelsons (homeopathy)|Nelsons]] purchased the Spa and the rights to the Spatone mineral water produced there.<ref>[http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/A_Nelson_Co_Ltd_acquires_Trefriw_Wells_Spa_Spatone_Iron_from_Trefriw_Wells_Spa-1379931040 A Nelson & Co Ltd acquires Trefriw Wells Spa-Spatone Iron from Trefriw Wells Spa (2003/02/14) - Thomson Financial Mergers & Acquisitions - AlacraStore.com]</ref> Today Spatone is sold around the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-gb/uk/our-brands/spatone/spatone/source-of-spatone/history-of-the-spa/|title=History of the Trefriw Wells Spa|work=nelsonsnaturalworld.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Visit the Trefriw Wells Spa |url=http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-gb/uk/our-brands/spatone/spatone/source-of-spatone/visit-the-spa/ |access-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217042816/http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-gb/uk/our-brands/spatone/spatone/source-of-spatone/visit-the-spa/ |archive-date=December 17, 2009 |language=en}}</ref>