At the beginning of the last quarter of the 19. Century a company was formed in Caernarfon to raise £7,000 capital to build the pavilion, and the Mayor, Councillor Hugh Pugh and many other influential townsmen were behind the venture. The foundation stone was laid in Cae Twtil on May 26. 1877 and the building was completed within 3 months; the first public meeting held there was the Opening Ceremony of the 1877 National Eisteddfod on August 21, Six other National Eisteddfodau were also held there viz. 1880, 1886, 1894, 1906, 1921 and 1935, and it was considered to be an ideal venue for the Nation’s Main Festival.

Whilst the majority of the people in the area welcomed this 200 by 100 foot building, the Dinorwig Quarrymen were annoyed that Dixons of Liverpool had been given the contract to fit a corrugated iron roof on the building. Their choice, naturally, would have been a roof made of slate, and they went as far as to hold a protest march through the town and threatened never to set foot in the new building. But, after realising the potential had for shows. concerts and meetings of a religious and political nature, they relented and put an end to the boycott.

In 1878 the famous aerialist, Blondin, who had walked on a tight rope above the Niagra Falls, appeared at the pavilion and astonished his audience with a similar performance 40ft above their heads.

Well known names such as Bostock, Wilding and Teago, companies specialising in top class entertainment came to the pavilion and people from all over North Wales attended their performances. This was the largest building of its kind in Wales with a seating capacity for 8,000 and other towns were envious of Caernarfon.

Meetings of a religious nature with some of the best known preachers of their day could attract a full house. During the 1904 Revival, no less a person than the Rev. Evan Roberts, the noted revivalist came to the pavilion and after lesser known preachers had addressed the congregation, he was asked to give testimony, but the great man refused on the grounds that he had not "been moved by the Spirit". Jiwbili Young preached a well known sermon by Christmas Evans and held the congregation spellbound. And it was not only Welsh language preachers that graced the pavilion stage. Gipsy Smith came to the pavilion twice, the first time in 1907 and again in 1931.

It should also be noted that some of the largest political meetings were held here. Some of the better known politicians of their day and members of all political parties. Amongst them were: David Lloyd George; Winston Churchill; Austen Chamberlain; A. Bonar Law; Ernest Bevin and D.R. Greenfell. Representatives of the 3 parties that were in government in Westminster during the 20. Century.

In 1904, Lloyd George and Winston Churchill were both members of the Liberal Party and on October 21. both addressed a large audience from the pavilion platform and received the warmest of welcomes. At the end of the meeting they were both carried shoulder high all the way to Plas y Bryn, Bontnewydd, where they were staying. It was at that meeting that Lloyd George spoke of his vision for devolution for the four countries England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. His theme was "Home Rule all round"

Well, those are some of the highlights in the field of entertainment, of religion and of politics that took place at the pavilion in its heyday. The next time I will deal with the years before, during and after the Second World War and up to the time the building was demolished in 1962.

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