Llangollen is a small town located on the River Dee in Derbyshire. The town’s name comes from the Welsh word “llan,” meaning “enclosed space,” and the name of Saint Collen, a monk who, according to legend, arrived here in the 6th century in a wicker fishing boat and founded a church on the banks of the river, which still bears his name.

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Llangollen gained widespread fame thanks to two women known as the Llangollen Ladies. Lady Sarah Ponsoby and Eleanor Butler, from noble and wealthy Irish families, ran away from home and settled in the village to study languages, literature, and self-improvement. They maintained contacts with many famous people of their time, and were visited by Lord Byron, Walter Scott, Percy Shelley, William Wordsworth, and many others. Llangollen is a small town with a population of just over three thousand.

Aside from agriculture, the town relies primarily on tourism. The ancient castle, Castell Dinas Brân, sits on the hills above the town. It was once a stronghold of the rulers of the ancient Welsh kingdom of Powys. Its name is also translated as “Crowtown Castle,” as “brân” means “raven” in Welsh, but the castle was actually named after King Brân. It was built on the foundations of fortifications that had existed on this hill since 600 BC.

Near the town is another ruin—the former monastery of Vale Cross, built in 1201 by King Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, who is buried in the same abbey. The monastery was dissolved in 1537 and has since slowly fallen into disrepair. In 1345, Llangollen Bridge was built – the first stone bridge across the River Dee, and is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.