The book describes conditions in the area before the arrival of WA Madocks, the subsequent building of the Cob and the founding of the port and town of Porthmadog. The failed attempt by Madocks and others to make Porth Dinllaen the port of departure for Ireland are described and also the early days of the Ffestiniog railway.

The social conditions, moral and educational state of the town are commented on, as are the contributions to the wellbeing of the young town by people such as David Williams of Bron Eryri and Samuel Holland of Plas Penrhyn.

This volume gives a very interesting perspective on the town of Porthmadog when it was only thirty years old and the period leading up to the boom times of the shipbuilding and engineering industries later in the century.

The editor, Richard Walwyn is the author of 'A Little History of Borth-y-Gest'.

'Portmadoc and Its Resources 1856' has 56 pages, is paperback, A5 size and its ISBN No is 978-0-9561469-6-0.