The Grammar School is finely situated, near the Church, and has
accommodation for 50 scholars, inclusive of 20 boarders. The income from
endowment is 24 pounds.
The temporary building adjoining contains a portion of the Library of the
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.
The land about Hawarden varies much in quality. The best lies towards
the river and on Saltney, where are large and well cultivated farms. On
the higher ground in Pentrobin the soil is poorer; here however are found
holdings that have remained in the same family for generations. The land
is mainly arable; but little cheese being now made.
About one mile and a half from Hawarden on the road to Northop, lie
ensconced in a wood the scant remains of the old Castle of Ewloe--the
scene of a battle between the English and Welsh in 1157, in which the
former were defeated by David and Conan, sons of Owen Gwynedd.
The district is rich in beds of coal and clay. The former have been
worked from an early period when the coal was mostly sent to Chester; but
the difficulties of carriage before the turnpike road was made, and
especially of draining the mines, which before steam-engines came into
use was attempted to be done by means of levels, {37} were a serious
impediment to that development which under more favourable conditions has
since taken place.
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