Caerwys Town Council says the community became the only Welsh borough created by the Normans that was not a fortress town, such as Flint, Rhuddlan, and Conwy. And they reckon the reason for this may be due to Caerwys becoming the home of Prince Gruffudd ap Cynan and later Prince David who lived in Maesmynan, Afonwen, and who held court in Caerwys.

The royal connection was to continue down the centuries because, in the 1500s, Henry VIII declared Caerwys to be the venue for 'craftsman of poetry and music' - an early Eisteddfod, according to Caerwys Town Council website, www.caerwys-town.com.

It was held to bring together Welsh poets because he apparently wanted to discourage them from travelling and preaching anti English sentiments.

Later, says the website, Elizabeth I declared Caerwys to be the 'home of the Eisteddfod' which authorised that anyone claiming to be a poet or a musician should come together to be listened to and judged.

The website says: "Eisteddfod mainly was to sort out 'the wheat from the chaff' to allow the poets to identify themselves and end the unflattering inclusion of themselves among the ranks of common tramps, footpads, beggars and buskers.

"They had become so fed-up of trying to follow their vocation in the face of wholesale abuse that they petitioned the Queen, successfully, to allow them to hold a contest to prove their worth.

"Fifty five people were awarded licences which authorised them to travel in England and Wales and perform their talents before the people of the realm. The Eisteddfod was held in the old Town Hall, which was situated behind Compton House (Falshaw's shop)."

In 1968 Caerwys celebrated its 400th anniversary as the 'home of the Eisteddfod'. Queen Elizabeth II was the Patron of the celebrations and it was attended by Princess Margaret.

• National Eisteddfod 2007 - Mold