Historic Caernarfon

Years ago, when net salmon fishing was a thriving business in Caernarfon, it was one of the favourite drinking places for fishermen. Now it is locals and tourists who can enjoy a drink and a good meal here, in very congenial surroundings, the Inn does have a resident ghost of a nun, who may be seen passing through the Inn to the Nunnery which was at one time at the rear.

Along side the Black Boy Inn, once stood a terrace of low houses. In the 1990s. while archaeological excavations were being conducted on the site, an old woman's skeleton was found, the archaeologists concluded that she had been buried there to save the expense of a funeral.

For those with archaeological interests, there is a continuous programme of archaeological digs being carried out within the Walls, when ever the opportunity arises, by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, their reports and findings are periodically printed in separate reports, and appear in the Archaeological Cambrensis Volumns, which are available for reading in the towns public library, and the Caernarfon Archives building in town. Within this street there has been at least two archaeological digs conducted over the past ten years.

Northgate Street/Stryd Pedwar a Chwech 4S/6d

In Caernarfon's heyday as a port -town, Northgate Street at that time was the heart of the red-light district, its Welsh name Stryd Pedwar a Chwech literally translates to. Four and Six pence Street" , which in old shillings and pence, is what the sailors are reputably to have paid for a room, a bottle of gin, and the services of a women for the night. The street was also the location of solicitor's and lawyer's business and offices. Again very little is known of the street's earlier history , other than a dedication stone found while dismantling a old building dated 1613.

The archway at the end of the street is a 19th century addition, to help facilitate the flow of traffic in and out of the old town, and is not part of the original town wall design. From this street a good view is seen of the sentry wall -walk, and towers, also well-preserved stone stairs, which have the effect of doubling the walls thickness. It is hoped that eventually it will be possible to walk this section of the wall, as far as the Eastgate Towers, which are in the process of being conserved and converted to a Heritage Museum.

Porth Mawr/East Gate/Guild Hall.

This gate was the main entrance to the old walled town, and therefore the most carefully guarded. Originally built at the same period as the Castle with an external barbican and wooden drawbridge, which was subsequently replaced by a fixed six arched bridge -way to this main entrance. The rooms above the gateway served first to accommodate the Exchequer in 1284, as the administration and financial centre for the counties of Caernarfon, Anglesey, and Merioneth. Although the twin external towers cannot be seen from inside the walls, their original bases may be viewed from just out-side, also the base of the last sprung arch, for the stone bridge way

Anciently there was allowed to the" porter of the gate" a yearly stipend of £3. 10s. The Exchequer was also used for storage of public records.

The towns curfew bell was originally housed here, any inhabitant not inside the town wall by 8.00pm were locked-out till 6.00 a.m. the following morning. In 1767 the upper floors were adapted as a Town Guild Hall, other alterations in 1833 and 1873 are commemorated by a slate tablet set into the archway entrance.

At one time, a large gas- light illuminated clock with four faces was housed within its high tower, but had to be removed, owing to it misleading sailing vessels trying to negotiate in the dark into, the harbour. In the 1830s, it was also used as a lock-up and watch house. There are now further new plans to convert the old gate -house into a Heritage site and Town Museum.

The inscription on the slate tablet reads, "This Ancient Exchequer Office was Rebuilt and Converted into a Town Hall at the Joint expense of S. W. Wynn, Bt, And his Nephew, Sir John Wynn, Bt, A.D. 1767. The Corporation of Caernarfon have erected this Memorial as a Testimony of their gratitude."

Sir John Wynn also paid for the re-casting of the curfew bell, and was related to Lord Newborough, of Glynllifon -Wynn been his family name. And in 1872 the Lord Newborough then also took a great interest in the re-building and subscribed to its conversion