CRICCIETH  , a watering-

place and contributory parliamentary borough of Carnarvonshire, Wales, on Cardigan Bay, served by the Cambrian railway . Pop. of urban district (1901) 1406 . It is interesting for its high antiquity and the ruined castle, a fortress on an eminence where a neck of land ends, projecting into the sea . Portions of two towers are on the very verge of the rock . A double fosse and vallum, with the outer and inner court lines, can be traced . Apparently British, the castle was repaired later, probably in the time of Edward I . Across the bay is seen Harlech castle, backed by the Merionethshire hills . An old county-family mansion near Criccieth is Gwynfryn (happy hill), the seat of the Nanneys, situated near the stream Dwyfawr and within some 7 M. of Pwllheli . Not far is a tumulus, Tomen fawr . At a distance of 5 M. is Tremadoc (which owes its name, Town of Madocks—as does Portmadoc—to Mr W . Madocks, of Morfa Lodge, who made the embankment here) . Criccieth has become a favourite watering-place, as well as a centre of excursions .

The neighbourhood is agreeable, and the Cardigan Bay

shore is shelving and suitable for safe bathing . Cantref y Gwaelod (the hundred of the bottom) is the Welsh literary name of this bay, on the shores of which geological depression has certainly taken place . Mythical history relates how Seithennin's drunkenness inundated the land now covered by the bay, and how King Arthur's ship was wrecked upon Meisdiroedd Enlli near Bardsey . The Mabinogion tell how Harlech was a port . Similarly, in Carnarvon Bay, about 2 M. seaward, atlow water, are visible the ruins of Caerarianrhod (fortified town of the silver wheel), a submerged town—due to another geological depression .