The Prince of Wales, High Street, Criccieth

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This pub probably dates from 1842, soon after Edward (the future King Edward VII) was created Prince of Wales in December 1841. A timber from a wrecked ship was incorporated later, and can still be seen.

With the union of England and Ireland in 1802, better communication was required between London and Dublin. William Madocks was the driving force behind the new turnpike road to Porthdinllaen, which he hoped would become the port for the Irish Mail. The road was built through Criccieth c.1807.

The first five houses built along the road in Criccieth were named Union Row (you can see them opposite St Deiniol’s Church). Over the next 40 years, Union Row extended westwards until it joined Corporation Terrace. The Prince of Wales pub was built on the corner between the two rows of buildings. The first landlord was David Cadwalader, who died in 1858. His widow Ann ran the pub until c.1880.

The words “Certified for five seamen” are carved on one of the pub’s beams, which is thought to have been salvaged from the Owen Morris, wrecked at nearby Black Rock in December 1907. Another piece of timber from the ship is displayed at Porthmadog Maritime Museum.

The Owen Morris was one of the first batch of the famous “Western Ocean Yachts”, a graceful design by the shipbuilders of Porthmadog in their final effort to compete with steamships and railways. The Owen Morris was launched in 1891 and soon established itself as fast and reliable.

It had travelled for seven months – from Porthmadog to Germany, Spain, Newfoundland and Italy – when it was wrecked on its homecoming, almost within sight of Porthmadog. You can read more about the ship’s demise on this page.

With thanks to Robert Cadwalader, of Porthmadog Maritime Museum

Postcode: LL52 0HB    View Location Map

Website of The Prince of Wales