150 wrexham to mold. 



Mold Castle. 



From the church-yard a lofty mount called the 

 Bailey Hill, was pointed out to me as the fite of the 

 caftle *. Of the building there are not now, I 

 believe, the fmalleft remains. The hill was planted 

 on its fummit, and round the bottom, with larches, 

 firs, and other evergreens. 



The caftle appears to have been founded during 

 the reign of William Rufus, by Robert Montalt, 

 the fon of the high fteward of Chefter. From him 

 the place received its name of Mont Alt, or De 

 Monte Alto f. 



In the year 1 144 it was feized and demoliflied by 

 Owen Gwynnedd, prince of Wales, and in little 

 more than a century it, appears to^havc feveral times 

 changed owners. At length, in 1267, Griflith ap 

 Gwenwynwyu wrefted it from the hands of the 

 Englifh, and again deftroyed it ];. It was foon re- 

 built, and rcftored to the barons of Montalt. — lu 

 1327, the laft baron having no ilfue, conveyed it to 

 Ifabcl, the queen of Edward II., for life, with rc- 



* ^' At tlie north end of Byly ftreate, appere ditches and 

 hilles, yn token of an auncient caftel, or building there. It is 

 now called Mont Brenebyly." Leland's Itln. v. ^5. 



■\ This was alfo applicable to the elevated iituation of the 

 caftle, and was fynonymous with the Wclfli name Tr IVyati^rug. 

 See Diigdale'i Baronage, i. 527. 



t Powel, 199.326, Matt. Paris, 576. Matt. Weflm. 190, 

 Holindacdj ii, 236. Wynne, 279, 



4 mainder 



