Local History

Local History & Attractions

The Holy Well

There has been a house at this site since at least 1570, although the evidence of a pagan worship site at the spring suggests that there may have been a dwelling here for over 2000 years.

The Holy Well was created at the spring by St Beuno – a 6th Century missionary who travelled North Wales until his death in 640. Beuno was the uncle of St Winifred of Holywell, and is credited with re-attaching her head when she was decapitated by Prince Caradog – an act which legend tells caused the Holy Water to spring from the ground at Holywell.

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Ffynnon Beuno Cave

To the rear of the house is the famous Ffynnon Beuno cave, which was excavated by Dr Henry Hicks in 1897.

He unearthed the bones of 16 different species of animal, including mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, hyena, elk, wolf and cave lion.

One of the flint tools unearthed in the cave was later carbon dated to 38,000 B.P. His findings were deatailed in National Geographic magazine in 1898. The bones and flint tools are now housed in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff and the cave is a protected site.

However, residents of Ffynnon Beuno may be offered a personally guided visit to the cave (April to October only), provided a mutually convenient time can be arranged

	H.M.Stanley Our most famous resident was H.M. Stanley (who found Livingston in Africa and greeted him with the well known words "Dr. Livingston I presume?"). Stanley lived here as a boy with his aunt Mary who was the local innkeeper. Ffynnon Beuno had been an inn since at least 1780, and remained so until around 1900. Stanley was born in Denbigh, his real name being John Rowlands. He spent the first 15 years of his life in the St Asaph workhouse, and then moved in with his aunt Mary, and cousin Moses, a local schoolmaster. Stanley remained at Ffynnon Beuno for 2 years, and tells of his fond memories of the house and the village of Tremeirchion in his autobiography.

H.M.Stanley

Our most famous resident was H.M. Stanley (who found Livingston in Africa and greeted him with the well known words "Dr. Livingston I presume?"). Stanley lived here as a boy with his aunt Mary who was the local innkeeper. Ffynnon Beuno had been an inn since at least 1780, and remained so until around 1900. Stanley was born in Denbigh, his real name being John Rowlands. He spent the first 15 years of his life in the St Asaph workhouse, and then moved in with his aunt Mary, and cousin Moses, a local schoolmaster. Stanley remained at Ffynnon Beuno for 2 years, and tells of his fond memories of the house and the village of Tremeirchion in his autobiography.

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