DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6913#0266
138
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
gressively peopled. The situation of the latter was better adapted for commerce.
Pennant says, " it had natural requisites for strength, being bounded on one side by
the arm of the sea, called the Menai, by the estuary of the Seient; on another, exactly
where it receives the tide from the former ; on a third and part of the fourth by a creek
of the Menia; and the remainder has the appearance of having the insulation com-
pleted by art." Most of our topographers confound Segontium and Caernarvon, or,
at least, are not sufficiently explicit in speaking of the two places. Sir Richard
Hoare * states, that during the time of the Romans, Caernarvon was called " Segon-
tium, or Caer-Seient, the fortress on the river Seient, where the Setantiorum Portus,
and the Seteia iEstuarium of Ptolemy have also been placed." Giraldus visited
this place in his journey through Wales in 1188, but merely mentions it; and
Pennant thinks that the ancient tourist alludes to Segontium. He further con-
jectures that Caernarvon was, " in all probability, a creation of our conqueror."
The town, however, did not acquire much consequence before the reign of Edward I.
who, after subduing Wales, found it necessary to erect strong fortresses in different
parts of the principality to curb and overawe his newly-acquired subjects. " Edward
undertook this great work immediately after his conquest of the country,jf in 1282?
and completed the fortifications and castle before 1284, for his Queen, on April 25th
of that year, brought forth, within its walls, Edward, first Prince of Wales, of the
English line. It was built within the space of one year, J by the labour of the
peasants, and at the cost of the chieftains of the country, on whom the Conqueror
imposed the hateful task.§ Henry Ellerton, or de Elreton, was appointed master
mason of the castle, and, perhaps, was the architect; and under him must have been
numbers of other skilful workmen : for I dare say that the Welsh peasants were no
more than cutters of wood and hewers of stone. It is probable that many of the
materials were brought from Segontium, or old Caernarvon ; and tradition says that
* In Annotations on chap. vi. vol. ii. p. 93, of Archbishop Baldwin's Itinerary through Wales.
t Wales, says Carte, was at last subdued, " after having contended bravely for her liberty, with a power much
superior to her own, for above 800 years : the glory of her conquest was reserved for the greatest and wisest of
our English monarchs; a consideration, which, if any thing could, might in some measure alleviate the sense of
her misfortune."—History of England, vol. ii. p. 195.
I This rapidity of execution shews the potency and influence of the monarch : for there must have been much
terror excited, and tyranny exercised, to have collected the artizans and labourers requisite for such a work. In
modern times we have known two vast theatres, that of Covent Garden and Drury Lane, built and fitted up for
use, within twelve months each.
§ Sebright's MSS.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
gressively peopled. The situation of the latter was better adapted for commerce.
Pennant says, " it had natural requisites for strength, being bounded on one side by
the arm of the sea, called the Menai, by the estuary of the Seient; on another, exactly
where it receives the tide from the former ; on a third and part of the fourth by a creek
of the Menia; and the remainder has the appearance of having the insulation com-
pleted by art." Most of our topographers confound Segontium and Caernarvon, or,
at least, are not sufficiently explicit in speaking of the two places. Sir Richard
Hoare * states, that during the time of the Romans, Caernarvon was called " Segon-
tium, or Caer-Seient, the fortress on the river Seient, where the Setantiorum Portus,
and the Seteia iEstuarium of Ptolemy have also been placed." Giraldus visited
this place in his journey through Wales in 1188, but merely mentions it; and
Pennant thinks that the ancient tourist alludes to Segontium. He further con-
jectures that Caernarvon was, " in all probability, a creation of our conqueror."
The town, however, did not acquire much consequence before the reign of Edward I.
who, after subduing Wales, found it necessary to erect strong fortresses in different
parts of the principality to curb and overawe his newly-acquired subjects. " Edward
undertook this great work immediately after his conquest of the country,jf in 1282?
and completed the fortifications and castle before 1284, for his Queen, on April 25th
of that year, brought forth, within its walls, Edward, first Prince of Wales, of the
English line. It was built within the space of one year, J by the labour of the
peasants, and at the cost of the chieftains of the country, on whom the Conqueror
imposed the hateful task.§ Henry Ellerton, or de Elreton, was appointed master
mason of the castle, and, perhaps, was the architect; and under him must have been
numbers of other skilful workmen : for I dare say that the Welsh peasants were no
more than cutters of wood and hewers of stone. It is probable that many of the
materials were brought from Segontium, or old Caernarvon ; and tradition says that
* In Annotations on chap. vi. vol. ii. p. 93, of Archbishop Baldwin's Itinerary through Wales.
t Wales, says Carte, was at last subdued, " after having contended bravely for her liberty, with a power much
superior to her own, for above 800 years : the glory of her conquest was reserved for the greatest and wisest of
our English monarchs; a consideration, which, if any thing could, might in some measure alleviate the sense of
her misfortune."—History of England, vol. ii. p. 195.
I This rapidity of execution shews the potency and influence of the monarch : for there must have been much
terror excited, and tyranny exercised, to have collected the artizans and labourers requisite for such a work. In
modern times we have known two vast theatres, that of Covent Garden and Drury Lane, built and fitted up for
use, within twelve months each.
§ Sebright's MSS.