Ham and Egg Square, Llangollen

Link to French translationHam and Egg Square, Castle Street, Llangollen

This open area got the nickname “Ham and Egg Square” in the 19th century. Llangollen was a popular place for passengers, drivers and horses to stop for a rest while travelling to Holyhead for the sea crossing to Dublin, using Thomas Telford’s road (now the A5) through Llangollen. Later the square was the first area of the town centre where hungry travellers set foot after alighting from trains and crossing the river.

Residents in cottages facing the square used to cook quick and easy meals – usually incorporating ham and eggs – for travellers. Some of the former cottages still provide catering for visitors today, but with rather more variety! Part of the former square is used for the outdoor tables of the Cottage Tearooms & Bistro.

The space was officially known as Castle Square in the late 19th century. Businesses trading at Castle Square included drapers, milliners and a farmers’ supply store.

Some people knew the area as Dickin Square. The Dickin family once owned much of the land along the riverside. John Dickin was a surgeon at Shrewsbury Infirmary and bought the Pengwern Estate c.1865. He died, aged 83, in 1890 and was succeeded by his only son, George Lloyd Dickin, who had been a Captain with the Royal Denbigh and Merioneth Militia until 1881.

Sometimes the Dickins’ development schemes, which included construction of roads for public use, angered residents or the Llangollen Local Board. In 1888 one resident said people had built houses on land bought “at a very high price from Mr Dickin 20 years ago”, when plans showed that the adjoining street would be 11 metres (36ft) wide, and complained that Mr Dickin now intended to narrow the street to 3.6 metres (12ft). Others, however, viewed the family’s works as philanthropy which benefited the town as a whole.

Postcode: LL20 8PE    View Location Map

Website of Cottage Tearooms & Bistro 

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