Camp Caerwys

On the northern approaches to Caerwys some large summer camps have sprung up. These have become a feature of the summer holidays in recent years. They are mainly scout and church groups; it is wonderful to see them here making full use of the fields the farmer has carefully prepared. Caerwys has long been a magnet for summer visitors; of course there are the caravan camps that have become a feature of the town since the 1960s, but summer camps in Caerwys go back further still. In the 1930s the White River camp in Afonwen provided facilities for walkers and cyclists escaping the great cities. Yet even before the Great War Caerwys played host to summer visitors, yet these were not here to admire the countryside. Military manoeuvres were often held here in the early 20th century; some were on a vast scale with as many as 12000 soldiers taking part (see earlier blogs). This photograph, taken in 1909, shows a group of soldiers by their tents. Look carefully at them: they are professional soldiers and they could probably look after themselves fairly well.