Holywell

Holywell (Welsh Treffynnon), a parliamentary borough and market-town of Flintshire, North Wales, on an eminence 15 miles NW. of Chester. It is the seat of numerous lead, iron, copper, and zinc mines, and has smelting-works for the extraction of these metals, manufactures of paper, flannel, and Roman cement, and tanyards and breweries. The borough unites with those of Flint, Mold, &c. in returning one member to parliament. Pop. (1881) 3090; (1891) 3018. Holywell owes its origin to the renowned well of St Winifred, which, until diminished by drainage works, was estimated to deliver 4700 gallons of water per minute. The Perpendicular chapel over the well is attributed to Margaret, mother of Henry VII. It is still a place of pilgrimage for Roman Catholics. See Pennant's History of Holywell (1796).