Proud history told in new book
IT was a case of forever growing, not blowing bubbles, as a North Wales town became the base for multiple world record attempts.
Caernarfon Castle was chosen as the venue to end the weekend’s Bubble Daze festival, which brought bubble artists from all over the globe.
Within the castle walls, two notable world records were definitely successful according to
THE story of Gwynedd’s main town – from its origin as a Roman military and administrative centre, to its present character as a stronghold of Welsh language and culture – is the subject of the latest book by Iolo Griffiths, who edits the Caernarfon Herald’s Community News pages.
It might be tempting to consider the building of Edward I’s castle and its associated borough as the start of Caernarfon’s story but, as Iolo’s book shows, this would be a very simplistic view.
The Roman fortress of Segontium, on the outskirts of the present town, was at a strategic position at the end of two major roads, and conveniently located for controlling the copper mines on Parys Mountain, and continued as an important centre under the Welsh ROBERTS Guinness World Record adjudicator Anna Orford.
She said: “One of the records attempted was for the largest indoor bubble but we will have to examine that later with the aid of a computer.
“The record for the most people simultaneously making giant balloons was broken.
“There were 318 people within the castle, beating the previous record of 250.” princes. The town’s name is actually older than Edward’s castle, with a charter of Llewelyn ab Iorwerth being dated from Caernarfon in 1221.
The Roman connection also influenced Edward I’s design for his castle, with polygonal towers and banded walls to echo those of Constantinople, which he had seen during his time on the Crusades, but a Welsh rebellion under Madog ap Llewelyn forced a more defensive design and, incidentally, the building of Beaumaris was another.
The town’s turbulent history, through the Glyndŵr Rebellion and the Civil War is also noted, as well as its days of glory as a slate exporting port, and a cholera outbreak which led to some health reforms.
A few quirky tales are also exposed, such as a former lock-up which is now a church and a choir’s Eisteddfod fod triumph which led to much ch bitterness between the choristers and their conductor.
History of Caerrnarfon by Iolo o Griffiths is availa- ble as a Kindle ebook at £3, and in print from CreateSpace and Amazon at £8.50, and also on many y other ebook k stores.