RUABON (RHIW-ABON), a parish, in the union of WREXHAM, hundred of BROMFIELD, county of DENBIGH, NORTH WALES, 5 miles (S.
W. by S.) from Wrexham; containing 10,856 inhabitants, of whom 657 are in the township: the population has increased one-
fourth since the census of 1831. This place, which derives its name from its situation on the small river Avon, is
distinguished in the Welsh annals on account of a fierce and obstinately contested battle fought in the vicinity, between
the forces under Owain Cyveiliog, Prince of Powys, and the English, in which the former obtained a decisive victory. In
commemoration of this event, the Welsh prince, who was eminent both as a warrior and a poet, composed a beautiful poem
called Hirlas Owain, or "the drinking horn of Owain," of which an elegant translation by the Rev. Richard Williams is
preserved in Pennant's Tour in North Wales. The parish is situated in a picturesque part of the county, within three miles
of the great Holyhead road, and is bounded on the south by the river Dee. The village, which is of considerable size, and
of prepossessing appearance, is on the road from Oswestry to Wrexham and Chester, and seems to have been indebted for its
original prosperity to the noble mansion of Wynnstay, in the immediate vicinity, and for its present importance chiefly to
the extensive mines of iron-stone and coal which abound, particularly in the southern and western parts of the parish. The
extensive park of WYNNSTAY is entered from the village by a plain but handsome gateway of modern erection, opening into a
straight avenue, nearly a mile in length, composed of lofty trees of ancient growth, in which venerable oaks, stately
elms, beeches and chestnuts are intermingled, and at the extremity of which is the mansion, the her pitable residence of
Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, Bart., beautifully situated on a fine large lawn, having a noble artificial sheet of water in
front, reflecting from its surface the foliage of some majestic trees near its margin. This spacious mansion, which has
been erected at different periods, and in various styles of architecture, though wanting unity in its design, is,
notwithstanding, a stately pile, possessing, from its extent and substantial elevation, a striking character. of simple
and unostentatious grandeur. The older portion contains the domestic offices and general apartments for the accommodation
of the household. On the wall of a tower within the court of this part of the house is the following Latin inscription,
allusive to the name of Wynnstay " domes est victusque decens, et patria dulcis, soot Datil hcec titer., cetera ettra
labor. Struzit Johannes Wynn, Miles et baronettus, A.D. 1706." The more modern part of the building, erected by the first
Sir Watkin, and enlarged and modernized by the late baronet, is a handsome substantial structure, of which the interior
comprises several noble apartments, embellished with excellent family portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds and some of the
best masters, two full-length paintings of Charles IL and his Queen, and numerous other paintings of merit; in the
drawing-roam are several fine marble busts of distinguished characters by Nollekins and others. Adjoining the house is a
small handsome edifice, originally built as a theatre, in which, during the festival of Christmas, dramatic performances
were exhibited for the amusement of the nobility and gentry of the surrounding country, guests of the hospitable
proprietor. The PARK, which is twelve miles in ciroumference, is enriched with Erne timber, and comprehends much variety
and beauty of scenery: there are handsome lodges or entrances into it from various parts of the adjacent district; and a
new drive, leading to the house from the lodge recently built on the London road, has added greatly not only to the
convenience of access, but to the embellishment of the grounds on the south side. At a short distance from the hall is the
cold bath, near,which stands a handsome fluted column, erected after a design by the late Mr. James Wyatt, to the memory
of Sir W.- W. Wynne, fourth baronet, by his mother: the shaft of the column, which is one hundred feet in height, rests
upon a square' pedestal, sixteen feet high, ornamented on the faces with festooned wreaths of oak-leaves, and at the
angles with eagles finely moulded in bronze; the capital is surmounted by an entablature supporting a circular platform,
surrounded with an iron balustrade, to which there is an ascent from within the column by a flight of spiral steps, and
having in the centre a circular pedestal, twelve feet high, on which is placed a massive vase of bronze, enriched with
goats' heads. Over the door leading to the ascent is a tablet bearing the inscription, " To the memory of Sir Watkin
Williams Wynne, Bart., who died the 29th day of July, meectxxxix., this column was erected by his affectionate mother,
Frances Williams Wynne;" and on the north-east side, in letters of copper, "Filio o.ptinto, Mater Eheu Superstes." Near
this column is a fine sheet of water, bounded by Wat's Dyke, which here intersects the park, and from which the mansion
originally derived the name of Wattstay, changed by Sir John Wynne to its present appellation. The dyke, which entered the
park near its northern boundary, has been levelled in its course through the lira but is traced again on the south side,
near Penylan, and crosses the river Dee at its junction with the Ceiriog. By the late improvements, ,part of Offa's Dyke
is now within the limits of the park, which it enters at the second lodge from Ruabon, and leaves again near the Waterloo
Tower. Near the southwestern extremity of the woods is a cenotaph, erected by the late Sir W. W. Wynne, from a design by
Sir Jeffrey Wyatville, to the memory of his brother officers and soldiers who were slain during the rebellion in Ireland,
in 1798; it stands on an eminence overlooking a deep ravine, called Nant-y-Bele, "the dingle of the marten," through which
the river Dee urges its rapid course along a narrow channel, richly fringed with impending woods. From this building is a
magnificent prospect, embracing a vast extent of the counties of Carnarvon, Denbigh, Flint, Chester, and Salop, Chirk
Castle and its noble park, and the whole of the beautiful Vale of Llangollen, including the stupendous aqueduct of Pont-y-
Cyte. sylltau, and the majestic and elevated ruins of Castell Dinas Bran, with the fine range of mountains in the
distance. The PARISH comprises an important part of the Denbighshire coal tract, of which, the principal seam of coal is
here nine feet thick; and its mineral wealth, in coal and iron-ore, particularly in the southern and *extern parts of it,
has caused the establishment of numerous works, which till the late stagnation in the iron trade, were in full operation;
so that a great part of the parish is now occupied by pits, charcoal hearths, and mineral works of various kinds, and is
intersected in different directions by rail-roads. At Acrevair, within its limits, are very extensive iron. forges and a
colliery, belonging to the British Iron Company, in which from six to seven hundred men and children are constantly
employed. There are also many blast furnaces and forges in other parts for the manufacture of iron '  at the Cevn, a
large straggling village on the northern bank of the Dee, near a bridge over that river, called Newbridge, are
considerable coal-works, and a factory for coarse earthenware; and at Pont-y-Cyssylltau is a mill for rolling bar-iron.
The Ellesmere canal, after pass. ing over the Pont-y-Cyssylltan aqueduct, terminates in the parish: there is also a
branch canal from the aqueduct, on the north bank of the river Dee, which passes by Trevor and Llangollen, and terminates
at Llantysilio, where it receives from the Dee a supply of water for the whole line of the canal. It is in contemplation
to construct a rail-road to proceed directly from the Ellesmere canal to Chester, and to be continued thence to Liverpool:
a railway, three miles and a quarter in length, already extends from the aqueduct through an extensive coal-field to
Rua-bon brook. The rateable annual value of the parish has been returned at £19,886. Fairs are held on the last Friday in
February, May 22nd, and November 20th; and a post-office has been established in the village. The LIVING is a vicarage,
rated in the king's books at £13. 6. 01., and endowed with a portion of the great tithes, consisting of one-fourth part of
the tithe of corn throughout the whole parish, and the whole of the tithe of hay in several of the hamlets within its
limits; present net income, £588, with a glebe. house; patron, Bishop of St. Asaph; iinpropriators of the rest of the
rectorial tithes, Sir W. W. Wynne, and others. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious and venerable structure,
containing some splendid monuments to the family of Wynne, of which the most ancient is one to the memory of Johannes ab
Ellis Eyton, who joined the party of the Earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII., and in reward for his eminent services,
received from that monarch an extensive grant of lands in this part of the principality. In the same sepulchral chapel, on
the south side of the chancel, are the monuments of Henry, tenth son of Sir John Wynne, of Gwydir, ancestor of the present
family; he is represented in a standing posture, and on one side is a kneeling figure of his father, and on the other of
his wife Jane, daughter of Eyton Evans, by whom the Wynnstay estate was obtained. On the opposite side of the altar is a
beautiful monument, by Rysbrach, to the first Sir Watkin, who was killed by a fall from his horse, in 1749; his effigy, in
a graceful attitude, is finely sculptured, and his various virtues are recorded in an elegant Latin eulogium, written by
Dr. King, of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford. There is also a fine monument, by Nollekins, to Lady Henrietta, first wife of the
second Sir Watkin, who died only a few weeks after her marriage, in 1769; on the pedestal is an exquisitely sculptured
figure of Hope, reclining on an urn, and on one side is an inscription inclosed within a serpent having the tail in its
mouth, emblematical of eternity. The church was thoroughly repaired, in 1772, at the expense of the fourth baronet, who
presented an organ, and endowed the office of organist, in 1781, with £40 per annum, and also, on the baptism of his
eldest son, the late Sir Watkin, gave an elegant font of white marble, supported by a tripod of beautiful design. In that
portion of the Cevn district, called RhOs-y-Medre, a church, capable of accommodating 800 persons, was erected and
consecrated in 1838; the expense was borne by subscription, aided by grants from the Incorporated Church Building, and the
St. Asaph Diocesan Societies; and Sir W. W. Wynne has endowed it with £50 per annum. There are places of worship for
General and Particular Baptists, Independents, and Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists. The Rev. John Robinson, incumbent,
in 1703, bequeathed the whole of his estate, in the hamlet of Moreton, yielding £86 per annum, to his successors in the
benefice, in trust to receive out of the rent £12 for preaching a sermon every Sunday afternoon in the church, and to
appropriate the remainder to the support of a free grammar school, to be open to all children of the parish, and under the
care of a master appointed by the vicar. He also gave lands at Wrexham, producing £100 per annum, to the vicar, in trust,
to pay sixpenceper week to nine people of this place, and one of- Erbistock, with a gown or coat to each every Christmas,
and also to clothe six children from six to twelve years of age; and by a codicil to his will he gave a house and garden,
and £50 in money, towards the erection of almshouses for the ten poor people, which he directed to be built near the
church. The endowment of the school was augmented by Ellis 'Lloyd, in 1711, who bequeathed £200 for the maintenance of the
master, and for apprenticing poor boys: the school-room, erected by the parish in 1632, and which, with a residence for
the master, adjoins the churchyard, contains 70 boys, 36 of whom are educated and 6 clothed by aid of the endowment, which
amounts to £100 per annum, and the rest are paid for by their parents. Another free school, a lofty stone building, was
erected by subscription about 1825 near the marketplace, on ground given by Sir W. W. Wynne; it has an endowment of about
£23, principally from a moiety of an estate given by Griffith Hughes, amounting to £18 per annum, and the interest of a
bequest of £100 by Hugh Parry, for which twenty-eight children are taught; the vestry clerk is master. There are also
three other day schools, one of which, containing 40 girls, is endowed by Lady Harriet W. Wynne; another contains about 60
children, of whom 10 are paid for by an annual donation of £10, and the rest by their parents; and in the other about 20
are instructed wholly at their parents' expense. A National school has been established in connexion with RhOs-y-Medre
church, where about 70 girls and 50 boys are taught; and five Sunday schools are supported by subscription, in one of
which are about 80 males and females, who attend the Established Church; and in the other four, appertaining to various
denominations of dissenters, about 380. The Rev. Richard Davies, vicar, in 1740, bequeathed an estate in the Vale of
Clwyd, producing £42 per annum, for the erection and endowment of four almshouses for so many men and women; with
Robinson's ten, and four others added since, the almshouses are now eighteen in number, and the inmates receive a weekly
allowance of two shillings and six-pence each, with clothing and coal; the income, including the proceeds of a bequest of
£200 by the Rev. Robert Saunders, amounts to £155 per annum. There are also four houses at Nant-y-Gwalia, in the parish,
erected in 1782, by Mrs. Rowland, of Phis Bennion, who vested the nomination of the almspeople in her heirs. Numerous
other charitable donations and bequests have been at various times and by different benefactors made to the poor,
amounting to more than £2000, of which a part has been vested in the purchase of estates; and the whole produces a very
considerable income, which is regularly distributed in money, clothing, and food. The principal of these is a grant of
twenty grey coats and sixty-three white flannel gowns by Sir John Wynne, and Jane Hughes, of St. Giles in the Fields,
which cost about £34, and are given away every year by the agent of Sir Watkin. About £66 per annum arise from what are
called the Consolidated Charities; and in addition to this, bread to the amount of £12. 8. 8. is weekly divided among the
poor, chiefly from a bequest of William Eyton, in 1636, and also blankets to the extent of 18 pairs, the produce of a
bequest of £100 by Thomas Griffith.,  in 1826. There is also a fund derived from bequests of £200 each by Ellis Lloyd,
(already alluded to) and the Rev. Richard Davies; with which certain property was purchased in the parish of
Llangadwaladr, now producing £30 per annum, half of which is paid to the master of the grammar school, and with the other
moiety two boys are put out apprentices annually with fees of £7.10. each. Edward Lloyd, Esq., left £100, in 1832, the
interest to be distributed among twenty widows on the 29th of November, being his birth-day, Hugh Parry having left £56
for a similar purpose previously: there are some small bequests for a distribution of coal; and a few other minor
charities have been lost, having been lent on insufficient security. Offa's Dyke and Wars Dyke both intersect the parish,
and in their courses approach within a quarter of a mile of each other, near the village, but diverge as they are traced
either northward or southward, so as shortly to leave an interval of several miles. Various vegetable impressions, and a
great variety of petrifaction are found in the mines, and also near the river Dee, in the southern portion of the parish.
The Rev. Peter Roberts, A. M., M. P. S., the learned editor of the Collectanea Cambrica, and author of the "Early History
of the Cymry, or Ancient Britons," and other works, resided in the parish.