RHUABON, DENBIGHSHIRE

Artist H. Gastineau - Artist: HENRY G. GASTINEAU (1791-1876), a topographer and landscape artist. He first trained as an engraver then went on to study at the Royal Academy Schools. After his training he travelled extensively in Great Britain painting the scenery of the country. He was elected Associate to the Old Watercolour Society in 1821 and became a full member in 1823. From 1827, Gastineau worked in Camberwell as a drawing master, where he died on January 17th 1876. His quality drawings cover a wide range of views in Wales. The picturesque scenery within Wales is conveyed very well. There are views of many castles, churches and other buildings of interest. He expresses the people and their surroundings in various parts of the country depicting their way of life and culture.

circa 1830 Engraving

Overall Size including margins: 5 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches (13.2 x 19 cm)

Condition: Excellent. Nice quality engraving. Guaranteed original antique print and not a modern reproduction.

Ruabon (Welsh: Rhiwabon) is a village in the county borough of Wrexham in north-east Wales. There is evidence that a settlement existed in Ruabon in the Bronze Age. In 1898 building works in the centre of Ruabon exposed a cist or stone urn containing cremated human remains dating from 2000 years BC. In 1917 the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow was discovered on the playing fields of Ruabon Grammar School which contained human remains, a flint arrowhead and a bronze axe. Overlooking Ruabon is Caerddin (or Gardden), an ancient hill fort surrounded by circular ditches, dating back to the Iron Age. The ancient parish of Ruabon (derived from the Welsh Rhiw Fabon, hillside of Mabon, a local Welsh saint), was made up of the townships of: Ruabon (which also included the hamlets of Belan, Bodylltyn, Hafod, and Rhuddallt); Cristionydd Cynrig (also known as Y Dref Fawr or Cristionydd Kenrick in English); Coed Cristionydd; Cristionydd Fechan (also known as Y Dref Fechan or Dynhinlle Uchaf); Dinhinlle Isaf; Moreton Anglicorum (the “English Moreton” or Moreton Below the dyke); and Moreton Wallichorum (the “Welsh Moreton” or Moreton Above the dyke). An older English spelling, Rhuabon, can sometimes be seen. - In 1844, Coed Cristionydd and part of Cristionydd Cynrig became part of the new parish of Rhosymedre; and Cristionydd Fechan and Moreton Above became part of the new parish of Rhosllanerchrugog. Later in 1879, Dynhinlle Uchaf and the remainder of Cristionydd Cynrig became the new parish of Penycae. - Ruabon is in the historic county of Denbighshire, and between 1889 and 1974 was administered by Denbighshire County Council. From 1974 until 1996 it was administered as part of Clwyd. From 1996 it has been administered as part of the County Borough of Wrexham. (wikipedia free online encyclopedia)