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"Old Price and Darwin"

A recent reference in the "Weekly News" to Charles Darwin brings to mind (writes a correspondent) his early association with Llandudno. Born at Shrewsbury in 1809, young Charles would be about fifteen when he went to Llandudno which was then little more than a collection of miners' and fishermen's cottages on the slopes of the Great Orme.

At that time, two conspicuous persons in the vicinity were the Rev. James Price, M.A., who had rented Pwllycrochan from the Rev. High Williams, of Plas Isa, Conway, and his son, John Price, who was born there. The latter who, having been educated at Shrewsbury, was probably a school-mate of Charles Darwin, is known for two quaint books he wrote: "Old Price's Remains" and Llandudno and How to Enjoy It."

A keen botanist, he speaks of climbing the Great Orme in search of rare plants, and observes : "Asperugo Procumbens grew here when we went down with Charles Darwin about 1824."

Bruce Campbell in "Snowdonia" refers to Old Price— "Price becomes 'world news' when he records an incident on the sand dunes near Degan way when he and Charles Darwin killed, skinned, but did not 'for reasons never explained,' eat an adder." Adders are not often in the news, though in the 1920's a school-boy was bitten by one when on the Vardre.

John Price died at the age of 84 in Chester in 1887, and (writes the late George Porter in "Colwyn Bay before the Houses Came") "left behind him many of Darwin's works which Darwin had presented to him."

Bruce Campbell writes: "Darwin made at least three visits to the area a virile walking tour in his youth when he climbed Snowdon, a riding tour with his sister and, in 1842, the last active expedition he was ever able to undertake, his object being mainly geological."