CARNARVON, or CAERNARVON, Ur n:lel-on (Welsh, Caer-yn-ar-Fon, fort opposite 31ona or Anglesey). A Parliamentary and municipal borough and seaport in north Wales, the capital of Carnarvonshire, situated near the south end of the Alenai Strait, on the right bank of the Seiont, about 6:1 miles Nvest of Chester (Map: England, B 3). The castle, whkh was begun in the reign of Edward I., about 1283. is generally considered the handsomest and most extensive meneval fortress in the United King dom. It is built of red stone, and is an irregu lar oblong in shape. The outer walls, front to 14 feet in thickness. containing a passageway. are fortified by thirteen embattled touters. In the Eagle Tower the first Prince of Wales (after wards Edward IL) is paid to been Itorn.
The town itself was (awe surrounded by walls and round towers. These \Valls, with several of the gates. still exist, antI a pleasant prom enade. The streets are Hamm. hut regular. and at right angles to each other. The town i- well lighted, and has a good water-supply. It is an
Important eommereial (agave. The harbor admits ships of 400 tons. The chief exports are copper, ore. coal. and slates. which are brought into the town by rail the quarries in the hood. There is also a great iron and brass fmm dry. There are manufactures of writing-slates, enameled slate slate:, and tobacco. Carnarvon is a bathing-place. and is 11)11(.11 frequented by tour ists, on of its vicinity to the grandest scener• in north Wales. Population, in 1891, !.804; in HMI, 9760. Half a mile from Carnar are the remains of Seg,ontium, or Cter Seiont, a Roman station or city. There is a Boman fort on the left bank of the Seiont. still almost pt/4e. The Earl of Chester fortified the place in 1o98. In 1294 the town and castle were burned and the Emdish inhabitants massacred by the 1Vels.h tinder Madoe, the son of Llewelyn. Con sult Hartshorne, "Carnarvon Castle." A relmco logicol Journal, Vol. VII. (London, 1850).