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Denbigh ( ; ) is a market town and a community in Denbighshire, Wales. It was the original county town of the historic county of Denbighshire created in 1536. Denbigh's Welsh name (Dinbych) translates to "Little Fortress"; a reference to its historic castle. Denbigh lies near the Clwydian Hills.
The town developed around Denbigh Castle, built in 1282, and the walled settlement that followed under Edward I. Over the centuries, it became known as a stronghold, a busy market town, and an administrative hub. Although Denbigh has seen times of conflict and decline, its medieval walls, castle ruins, and historic centre still shape its character today. According to the 2021 census, the town has a population of about 8,669.
As part of his campaign to take and retain control of the area, Edward I decided to fortify Denbigh, ordering the construction of Denbigh Castle and town walls, which were begun in 1282. The Burgess Gate, whose twin towers adorn the symbol on Denbigh's civic seal, was once the main entrance into the town. The town was involved in the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294–1295; the castle was captured in the autumn and, on 11 November 1294, a relieving force was defeated by the Welsh rebels. The town was recaptured by Edward I in December. Denbigh was also burnt in 1400 during the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr.
During the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), the town within the walls was largely destroyed. The focus of the settlement then shifted to a site immediately outside the old town walls to the north-east, centred on a market place along High Street.
In 1536, the new county of Denbighshire was created under the Laws in Wales Act 1535, comprising the old lordship of Denbighland plus other territories. Denbigh was declared to be the county town, with the county's courts directed to be held alternately at Denbigh and Wrexham. The County Hall (now the library) was built in 1572 to serve as the town's main public building, functioning as a market hall, town hall and courthouse for when the county's courts sat in Denbigh.
Leicester's Church is an unfinished church. In 1579, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, who was also Baron of Denbigh, planned for there to be a cathedral. His intention was to move the status of city from neighbouring St Asaph. The project ran out of money and, when Robert Dudley died, it was left as ruins; it is now in the care of Cadw.
In 1643, during the English Civil War, Denbigh became a refuge for a Cavalier garrison. Surrendering in 1646, the castle and town walls eventually fell into ruin.
The town grew around the textile industry in the 1600s, hosting specialist glovers, weavers, smiths, shoemakers, saddlers, furriers and tanners. Denbigh has been an important location for the agricultural industry throughout its history.
It was a junction for the Vale of Clwyd Railway line, which lead north to and , and the Mold and Denbigh Junction Railway. The former was closed in 1955, leaving Denbigh on a lengthy branch running from to , via , which subsequently closed in 1962. A southern continuation beyond Ruthin, linking up with the Great Western Railway at , had closed in 1952.
The station site has been redeveloped since into a small retail park; however, remains of a platform can still be seen beside the road.
The borough was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country.
Denbigh gradually lost the functions associated with being a county town. By the 18th century, the senior courts for the county (the great sessions prior to 1832, thereafter the assizes) were routinely held at Wrexham rather than Denbigh, before moving to a new courthouse built in Ruthin in the 1780s. The county's quarter sessions continued to be held alternately at Denbigh and Wrexham. The assizes and quarter sessions were abolished in 1972.Courts Act 1971 Knights of the shire (MPs for the Denbighshire constituency) were elected at Denbigh until the constituency's abolition in 1885.
The first Denbighshire County Council was created in 1889, taking over various administrative functions previously performed by the county's at the quarter sessions. The county council decided not to meet in a single town. It initially met alternately at Denbigh and Wrexham, as the quarter sessions did. By 1900 it had added Ruthin and Colwyn Bay to the list of towns where it met, meeting at those four towns in rotation until that first incarnation of the county council was abolished in 1974. Although the council held its meetings in multiple towns, it decided to consolidate its main offices in a central location. It therefore built the County Offices at Ruthin, which opened in 1909.
The borough of Denbigh was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The area became part of the new district of Glyndŵr in Clwyd. The area of the pre-1974 borough became a community called Denbigh, with its community council taking the name Denbigh Town Council. The upper tiers of local government were reorganised again in 1996, when the modern Denbighshire, and its county council were created.
The population at the 2001 Census was 8,783, increasing to 8,986 in the 2011 census., reducing in the 2021 census to 8,669. [1]
Denbigh Cricket Club is one of the oldest cricket clubs in Wales having been established in 1844. The club plays at the Ystrad Road ground and plays in the North Wales Cricket League. The 1st XI play in the Premier Division having won the Division 1 championship in 2010 with the 2nd XI in Division 3.
For over 50 years, a barrel rolling competition has been held on Boxing Day in the town square.
St Brigid's is a Catholic voluntary aided school on Mold Road on the outskirts of the town which caters for pupils between the ages of 3 – 19. There is a strict admissions policy and until 2009 the school only accepted girls. The schools current headteacher is Leah Crimes.
Myddleton College is the former Howell's Preparatory School and is an independent co-educational day and boarding school.
All 3 of these High Schools in Denbigh, along with Ysgol Brynhyfryd (Ruthin), Ysgol Glan Clwyd (St Asaph), Denbigh College, and Llysfasi College (Deeside) have joined to offer a combined 6th form under the title 'The Dyffryn Clwyd Consortium'.
The Urdd National Eisteddfod came to Denbigh in 2022.
File:A North View of Denbigh Castle, in north Wales.jpeg|1750 hunting scene by John Boydell
File:Denbigh town 02220.jpg|Denbigh c.1778 from Thomas Pennant's A Tour in Wales
File:Denbigh castle, Denbighshire.jpg|Town and castle in 1786
File:Denbigh castle, Denbighshire.jpeg|1808 engraving by James Storer
File:DV405 no.131 Denbigh Castle.png|Denbigh painted by a travelling French artist c.1830
File:This north-east view of the hospital at Denbigh, for the treatment of the insane.jpeg|North-east view of the hospital, 1850s
File:Fairytale River.jpg|Fairytale River
Population
The 1841 census showed the population to be 5,238 inhabitants.
Amenities
Attractions in the town include Denbigh Library, Denbigh Castle and the castle walls, Cae Dai 1950s museum, Theatr Twm o'r Nant, medieval parish church St Marcella's, and a small shopping complex. Denbigh Boxing Club is located on Middle Lane. Denbigh Community Hospital was established in 1807. Denbigh Town Hall is a Grade II* listed building.
Secondary schools
There are three secondary schools located in Denbigh. Denbigh High School is the larger of the two, consisting of nearly 600 pupils and approximately 60 staff. The current headmaster is Glen Williams.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Crest Mawr Wood ( alt. - Crêst) is a Site of Special Scientific Interest to the north west, adjoining Denbigh Golf Club and the Tarmac Quarry, an historic and ancient deciduous woodland. This woodland is endangered due to environmental pressure and competing land use in the area.
National Eisteddfodau
Denbigh hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1882, 1939, 2001 and 2013.
Notable people
Note: Earl of Denbigh is an extant title of nobility held since 1622 by the Feilding family of Warwickshire. Despite taking their title from the town they are not known to have any other connection.
Gallery
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