Holywell.-- parl. bor., market town, and par., on Dee estuary, Flintshire, 4½ miles NW. of Flint, 16 miles NW. of Chester, and 207 miles NW. of London - par. (partly in bor. of Flint), 7808 ac., pop. 9963; parl. bor., 2427 ac. pop. 7862; town, 1126 ac., pop. 3090; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Friday. Holywell is a prosperous town, with large and varied industries, comprisinglead, iron, and copper works, tanning and brewnng, mfrs. of paper, flannel, Roman cement, machinery, &c. There are also extensive collieries. Near the church is the well of St Winifred, celebrated as a shrine. Holywell is one of the Flint Boroughs: which see.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))