In common with so many ancient Welsh towns, Llangollen takes its name from its founding Saint; Collen, a seventh century saint, who chose this place to build his hermitage or cell in the custom of the times, with tiny church, hospice and outhouses all enclosed within a wall.

The Welsh word Llan means an enclosure - not church as so often wrongly translated - hence the town name Llangollen -'Collen's Enclosure. Eventually the original wooden church building was rebuilt in stone but the tower remained of wooden construction until 1749, by 1863/4 the church had grown into the building we see today and the town developed around it. The famous Dee Bridge, was built by Bishop Trevor of Trevor Hall in I345. Llangollen was 'literally' put on the
map because of its prominent position on the very important London to Holyhead coaching road, much improved by Thomas Telford in 1815 and now perhaps best known as the 'A5'. His full programme of ímprovements continued for 15 years and this, together with the construction of his newly completed canal brought about considerable immigration into
Llangollen during the early part of the 19th century.

Improved communications and natural resources made the town a splendid location for newly developing industries. The old Water Mill opposite the Railway Station had already functioned for hundreds of years when a new Flannel Mill was erected at the north end of Church Street on a site later to be occupied by a tannery after the business had expanded
and moved across the river to Lower Dee Mills.