<P> Clwyd (Welsh pronunciation: (ˈklʊɨd)) is a preserved county of Wales, situated in the north - east corner of the country; it is named after the River Clwyd, which runs through the county . To the north lies the Irish Sea, Cheshire is to the east and Shropshire to the south - east, both in England . The Welsh counties of Powys and Gwynedd lie to the south and west respectively . Clwyd additionally shares a maritime border with the metropolitan county of Merseyside along the River Dee . Between 1974 and 1996, it was a county with a county council, one of the eight counties into which Wales was divided, and was subdivided into six districts . In 1996, the county of Clwyd was abolished, and the new unitary authorities of Wrexham, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, and Flintshire were created; under this reorganisation, "Clwyd" became a preserved county, with the name being retained for certain ceremonial functions . </P> <P> This area of northeastern Wales has been settled since prehistoric times, the Romans built a fort beside a ford on the River Conwy, and the Normans and Welsh disputed the territory . They built their castles at strategic locations as they advanced and retreated, but in the end, England prevailed, and Edward I conquered the country in 1282 . In the following centuries, the Welsh people were repressed and there were numerous uprisings and rebellions against English rule . The Act of Union in 1535 incorporated Wales under the English Crown and made it subject to English law . </P>

Former welsh county replaced by denbighshire and flintshire