The attractive village of Beddgelert has been made additionally picturesque by the construction of a fine bridge, of the best materials and workmanship, connecting the houses on the island at that place with the main road. This has given accommodation to the poorer inhabitants, and to the public generally, which has long been felt. The expense of the work has been generously borne by the respected owner of the property, J. R. Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P., Porkington; and that gentleman’s efficient agent, Mr J. Parry, Glynn Hall, has, by the inauguration of this convenience, deserved and obtained the thanks of many.
Source: The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard, published 4 August 1871
On Thursday last the marriage of Mr. Wynn Griffith and Miss Priestley was celebrated with due honour and respect to the illustrious couple. At 7 o’clock, the day was ushered in by the firing of rock and other cannon, which, notwithstanding the unpropitious state of the weather, was continued at intervals during the whole of the day. At 3 o’clock the children of both schools, amounting to about 200, met at the National School, and partook of an excellent tea, with plenty of “bara brith,” buns, &c., to their hearts’ content, and to which they seemed to do ample justice. After tea was over, “Long life to Victoria,” “God bless the Prince of Wales,” and “God save the Queen,” were rendered by the children in a most creditable and artistic manner. An orange was presented to each child on their departure. At5 o’clock a number of friends sat down at the Goat Hotel to a sumptuous dinner, which, be it said, to the credit of all concerned, passed off most satisfactorily and comfortably. After the usual toasts of the day, the health of Mr. and Mrs. Wynn Griffith was drank with great enthusiasm and musical honours, with long life and much happiness to both. In the evening a beautiful bonfire was kindled on the top of Craigadwy above the village. All the cottages in the town were most brilliantly illuminated, and over the porticoes at the hotel and Erw Fair hung well-designed mottoes tastefully decorated with evergreen and flags, and illuminated the whole, combining to make the scene most lively, pleasant, and comfortable. At a late hour some fine rockets were let off to the great amusement and satisfaction of all the spectators.
We understand that the first sod of this branch of railway will be cut at Beddgelert some day next week, a full report of the proceedings of which will appear in this paper. This line will join the tramway which has been made from the Croesor Quarry to the Port near to the Glaslyn Inn, and will be carried beyond the harbour of Portmadoc to the Borth. As there are a great many mines in the neighbourhood of Beddgelert, some of which cannot now be profitably worked because of the difficulty and the expense of transit; and as during the summer a great number of tourists and business men visit the village and the picturesque neighbourhood, this line will be a great accommodation to the public and will be certain to pay a good dividend. The whole of the land has been already purchased, and an Act of Parliament is only required to grant running powers over the existing Croesor railway, and to extend the same for a few yards to the open harbour at Borth. There will be a grand dinner at the Goat Hotel on the day the first sod is cut.
Dinner at the Goat Hotel.- On Monday evening last, the new Company which have purchased both of the above mines gave a dinner to all the workmen employed in them, to the number of 53, at the Goat Hotel, Beddgelert. Mr. Wm. Powell, the Agent, likewise invited a number of his personal friends to join in the festive proceedings, so that the total number of guests which sat down to dinner was 68. The day was held pretty much as a holiday in the village and cannons were fired in rapid succession from morning until night. The spread provided by Mrs. Pritchard, was a most recherche and superb one, and did great credit to this renowned establishment. It was served up in the large coffee room of the hotel. Dinner was placed on the table at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the Rev. R. E. Priestley occupying the chair, and Mr. Pritchard, Proprietor of the Hotel, the Vice Chair. Amongst the Company, in addition to the above two gentlemen, were the following–R. Roberts, Esq., Surgeon, Portmadoc; Mr. Powell, Agent at the two mines in question; Mr. G. Hughes, Agent at the Ffirdd Slate Quarry; Mr. J. Roberts, Agent of the Prince of Wales Quarry; Mr. J. Roberts, Agent of the Snowdon Slate Quarry; and Mr. W. Jones, Agent of the Berllwyd and Gerynt Quarry. After the dinner was concluded a most pleasant and convivial evening was spent by all the guests, and the healths of the Brynfelin and Rhyd Ddu Copper Mine Company; “Mr. Powell, the Agent,” and “Mr. Pritchard, for his very excellent dinner” were drunk with the utmost enthusiasm and good will. A great number of capital songs were sung during the evening and altogether a more pleasant and agreeable evening has not been enjoyed in the beautiful little village of Beddgelert, for some time past.
It is not long since we noticed the extensive demonstrations of loyalty made at this charming and picturesque spot, on the occasion of the marriage of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. It has, within the last few days, been again the scene of rejoicing on the occasion of H.R.H. Prince Arthur, the third son of our beloved Queen, honoring it with a visit. In the few hours’ notice which were given previously to his Royal Highness’s arrival several triumphal arches were erected, and from many of the houses were suspended flags, banners, and other emblems of joy.
Royal and Goat Hotel 1878
Many of the inhabitants and strangers assembled to receive his Royal Highness and gave him a hearty welcome, but so quietly and unassumingly did he travel, accompanied by Major Elphinstone, and the Rev. Mr. Jolly, that he passed on foot through the crowd, and gained the Royal and Goat Hotel, without being recognised. During the evening of Tuesday, there were frequent discharges of cannon, in honor of his arrival, and a little excitement prevailed; but before half-past nine o’clock all was perfectly quiet, and the solitary guardian of the public peace, and safety of the district, finding himself all alone in his glory, retired from the scene. Surely ours is a glorious land of liberty, where such a state of things prevails. We understand his Royal Highness makes the Royal and Goat Hotel his head quarters during his stay in this part of the country, and if the weather which we have had continues, we have no doubt his Royal Highness will thoroughly enjoy himself while he remains in this part of her Majesty’s dominions.
Source: The North Wales Chronicle, published 1 August 1863
