Marl Hall Woods, Llandudno Junction

link_to_french_translationMarl Hall Woods, Llandudno Junction

deganwy_marl_hall_woodsThis area of woodland, centred on a limestone cliff, is visible from quite far away, and once provided a navigation aid for sailors. The woods are named after the adjacent Marl Hall, which was once owned by the powerful Holland family. In 1594 weaver Gwen ferch Elis was hanged for witchcraft after her association with Jane Conwy of Marl Hall landed her in trouble (see our page about Glan Conwy church for more).

In 1627 the hall was purchased by Conwy-born John Williams, Archbishop of York and one of Britain’s most influential men at times in his career. You can read more about him on our page about his birthplace in Conwy.

In the 18th century, the writer and antiquarian Thomas Pennant passed the woods during the travels around Wales which he documented in a series of books. He wrote: “Pass by Marle, a house of fine appearance, but now little more than a case, having suffered by fire about forty years ago.” The picture shown here (courtesy of the National Library of Wales) was made for his books and shows the woods and the ruined hall in the distance.

The hall was restored in the late 19th century and is now (as Marle Hall) an outdoor education centre for Warwickshire County Council.

The woodland is a Coed Cadw (Woodland Trust) reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is notable for the limestone grassland above the cliffs, coloured briefly each summer by the scarce blue flowers of spiked speedwell. The woodland features mature native oak, ash, wych elm and yew.

The lower slopes were planted with beech in the 1960s. There are also some mature exotic trees, such as Holm Oak, which were introduced centuries ago by the owners of Marl Hall. Some of the exotics found the area so much to their liking that Coed Cadw has had to check their spread.

In 2002 archaeologists identified caves in the vicinity from the Pleistocene era (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago) with possible evidence of human activity.

From the top of the escarpment there are fairly extensive views, with Conwy Castle prominent in the centre.

Just north of the woods is the site of a 1944 aircraft crash in which five servicemen were killed.

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Postcode: LL31 9JA

Website for the Marl Hall Woods reserve

Coed Cadw on HistoryPoints.org