A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. Ill 



red fort. On the area of the caftle is at 

 prefent a meadow, and in another part a 

 five's-court and bowling-green. From 

 thefe walls is an elegant view of the 

 vale. 



This town and caftle appear to have 

 been the work of Reginald Grey, fe- 

 cond fon to Lord Grey de Wilton, to 

 whom Edward I. in 1281, had given 

 nearly the whole of the vale, for his ac- 

 tive fervices againft the Welfh. The 

 pofterity of the founder, who bore the, 

 title of Earls of Kent, made this lord- 

 fhip the place of their refidence till the 

 time of Earl Richard, who, being with- 

 out children, and having diffipated his 

 fortune by gambling, fold it to Henry 

 VII.* From this time, the caftle being 

 unroofed was falling faft into decay, till 

 it was, with large revenues in the vale, 



* Pennant, II. p. 61. 



be- 



