National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Highlights of Historical Denbigh
Two eager 'visitors' are up early in the morning, as the milkman arrives, to tour Denbigh's principle points of interest which include a cockpit and Dr Johnson's memorial.
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Overview
Denbigh's Amateur Film Society seeks to highlight the points of interest that their "old world town" holds. Using the device of two 'visitors' who, up with the lark and the milkman, eagerly start on a tour of the town, the viewer is shown the circular, thatched cockpit in the yard of the Hawk and Buckle Inn (removed to St Fagan's National History Museum in 1965), St Hilary's Tower, St Marcella's Church, castle and abbey ruins and the memorial to literary giant Dr Samuel Johnson.
Johnson's friend, Mrs Thrale, was born in Wales, at Bodvel Hall, Pwllheli and was a member of the influential Salusbury family. Johnson visited Wales several times in her company and on one occasion lodged at a small cottage on the banks of the River Ystrad, near Denbigh. Colonel John Myddleton of Gwaenynog Hall (a Denbigh mansion later owned by an uncle of Beatrix Potter's and in which she stayed) sought to commemorate the great man's visit by erecting a monument, comprising an urn on a plinth, which Johnson was not impressed by, protesting that it looked too much like an attempt to bury him alive.
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