GEORGE WALPOOLE
1784

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This shire, which lies in the diocese of Bangor, sends two members to parliament, viz. the knight of the shire for the county, and one burgess for the shire-town, viz. Caernarvon, which stands on the channel that separates this shire from the isle of Anglesey, and was built by the command of Edward I. out of the ruins of the city of Segontium that stood a little below it, called from the neighbouring river Seiont. By command of the same prince the body of Constantius, the father of Constantine the Great, which was found here in 1283, was interred in its parish-church.

This town, which has a beautiful prospect to the isle of Anglesey, was of good account formerly, when the princes of Wales kept the Chancery and Exchequer Courts in it for North-Wales; and it is pretty strong, both by art and nature, being encompassed on all sides, except toward the East, with the sea, and two rivers; and it had on the North-West side a strong castle, built by king Edward I. to curb the Welsh mountaineers, and secure the passage to Anglesey, whose walls in a manner encompassed it, where, in that called the eagle tower, his son Edward II. the first English prince of Wales was born, and from thence usually called in our history Edward of Caernarvon. The town is governed by the constable of the castle (who is always by his patent the mayor) assisted by an alderman, two bailiffs, a town-clerk, with serjeants at mace, and other sub-officers. It gives title of marquis and earl to his grace the duke of Chandos. It is a small, but clean, well-built town, and well inhabited by people very courteous to strangers; and the market, which is on Saturdays, is well supplied with corn, and all sorts of provisions. There is a ferry from hence to Anglesey called Abermenai-Ferry, and from thence a direct road to Holyhead. The town is distant from London 258 miles.

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George Augustus Walpoole - The new British traveller; or, a complete modern universal display of Great-Britain and Ireland: ... London, 1784.

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