RUABON (Rhiwabon)  , a town of Denbighshire, N . Wales, in the E. parliamentary division, near the Shropshire border, 5 m . S.W. of Wrexham, on the Great Western railway . Pop: (1901) 3248 . It is situated on a small tributary of the Dee . The old Gothic church is thought by some to have been founded by Mabon, a brother of Llewelyn (13th c.), and has monuments795 to the Wynn family, by Nollekens and Rhysbrac, and to Dr D . Powel (d . 1598), translator into English of Caradoc's (of Llancarfan) History of Wales . In the neighbourhood are collieries, engineering works, an iron foundry and chemical works, besides an extensive industry in glazed and other bricks . Near Ruabon is Caerdden (Caerddin), an ancient camp (village) surrounded by circular intrenchments, and Wynnstay, with an avenue of fine trees . Anciently the residence of Madoc ab Gruffyd Maelor (founder of Valle Crucis Abbey), it was called Wattstay, from Watt's Dyke, an old rampart on the estate . It was named Wynnstay on its coming into possession of the Wynns (17th c.) .

Offa's Dyke, near here, is 10 ft. high, and broad enough for two carriages abreast . Not far is Chirk Castle (supposed to have been built in 1013), besieged by Cromwell's artillery : near it, in the Ceiriog valley, the defeat of Henry II. by Owen Gwynedd took place in 1165 .