38-460: Llan Ffestiniog , also known as Ffestiniog or simply Llan , is a village in Gwynedd (formerly in the county of Merionethshire ), Wales , about 2 miles south of Blaenau Ffestiniog . Llan Ffestiniog is the older of the two communities, with its church and other buildings predating most of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The population was given as 864 in the 2011 census. Attractions near the village include
76-522: A national park which contains Wales's highest mountain, Snowdon ( Yr Wyddfa ; 3,560 feet, 1,090 m). To the west, the Llŷn Peninsula is flatter and renowned for its scenic coastline, part of which is protected by the Llŷn AONB . Gwynedd also contains several of Wales's largest lakes and reservoirs, including the largest, Bala Lake ( Llyn Tegid ). The area which is now the county has played
114-513: A unitary authority , the modern entity no longer has any districts, but Arfon, Dwyfor and Meirionnydd remain as area committees . The pre-1996 boundaries were retained as a preserved county for a few purposes such as the Lieutenancy . In 2003, the boundary with Clwyd was adjusted to match the modern local government boundary, so that the preserved county now covers the two local government areas of Gwynedd and Anglesey. Conwy county borough
152-447: A consequence, many of the tributaries are highly acidic as a result of atmospheric acidification . This has constrained the quality of the fishery and the biodiversity in many tributaries. Some of these problems have been exacerbated by past industrial activities including metal mining, slate mining, animal skin processing and the use by the army of a gunnery range with large amounts of emplaced metal cartridge shells. The Afon Prysor
190-512: A few parishes of Denbighshire : Llanrwst , Llansanffraid Glan Conwy , Eglwysbach , Llanddoged, Llanrwst and Tir Ifan. The county was divided into five districts : Aberconwy , Arfon , Dwyfor , Meirionnydd and Anglesey . The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 abolished the 1974 county (and the five districts) on 1 April 1996, and its area was divided: the Isle of Anglesey became an independent unitary authority, and Aberconwy (which included
228-580: A name for a local authority covering all of north Wales, but the scheme as enacted divided this area between Gwynedd and Clwyd. To prevent confusion, the Gwynedd Constabulary was therefore renamed the North Wales Police . The Snowdonia National Park was formed in 1951. After the 1974 local authority reorganisation, the park fell entirely within the boundaries of Gwynedd, and was run as a department of Gwynedd County Council. After
266-451: A population of 117,400. After Bangor (18,322), the largest settlements are Caernarfon (9,852), Bethesda (4,735), and Pwllheli (4,076). The county has the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in Wales, at 64.4%, and is considered a heartland of the language . The geography of Gwynedd is mountainous, with a long coastline to the west. The county contains much of Snowdonia ( Eryri ),
304-677: A prominent part in the history of Wales. It formed part of the core of the Kingdom of Gwynedd and the native Principality of Wales , which under the House of Aberffraw remained independent from the Kingdom of England until Edward I 's conquest between 1277 and 1283. Edward built the castles at Caernarfon and Harlech , which form part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site . During
342-469: A spear thrown by Lleu. Four km or 2 1 ⁄ 2 miles east of the village is Llyn Morwynion, a lake which is now a reservoir, where Blodeuwedd and her maidens of Ardudwy are said to have drowned; nearby are the Beddau Gwŷr Ardudwy (graves of the men of Ardudwy ). Gwynedd Gwynedd ( Welsh: [ˈɡwɨnɛð] ) is a county in the north-west of Wales . It borders Anglesey across
380-566: Is now entirely within Clwyd. A Gwynedd Constabulary was formed in 1950 by the merger of the Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire forces. A further amalgamation took place in the 1960s when Gwynedd Constabulary was merged with the Flintshire and Denbighshire county forces, retaining the name Gwynedd. In one proposal for local government reform in Wales, Gwynedd had been proposed as
418-592: Is now held at the National Library of Wales Elizabeth Gaskell , the Victorian era writer whose novels and short stories were a critique of the era's inequality in industrial cities and of its attitudes towards women, was fond of Ffestiniog. Mr and Mrs Gaskell visited the village and spent some time there on their wedding tour. On another, later visit in 1844, it was at the inn there that their young son William caught scarlet fever , from which he died. It
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#1732782890748456-402: Is subject to routine winter flooding. The Afon Tafarn-helyg has its confluence about one mile (1.6 km) further downstream. This tributary rises south of Gellilydan and just north of the reservoir of Llyn Trawsfynydd but does not receive any water from the reservoir. There are a number of small lakes and reservoirs in the woodlands north of Plas Tan y Bwlch which also drain south into
494-528: Is the largest tributary of the Dwyryd, entering its left bank in the tidal section downstream of Maentwrog. It rises in the hills to the east of Trawsfynydd and flows past the southern end of the village to enter Llyn Trawsfynydd , a large reservoir close to the A470 . Prior to construction of the dam in the 1920s for hydroelectric power, the river had wandered across a broad upland marsh here known as Cors Goch. It
532-457: Is the only inland water in the UK that has been used as a source of cooling water for a nuclear power station. The Afon Prysor resumes its course below the dam, to flow down to the Dwyryd through the steeply wooded valley of Ceunant Llennyrch which is at the core of a national nature reserve . Most of the flow from the reservoir is channelled through the hydro-electric power station close to Maentwrog;
570-466: Is under the second stairway, believed to have been constructed in the late 19th century. Part of Meirion House was once a small drover's bank , known as Banc y Ddafad Ddu ("The Bank of the Black Sheep"). In the early 19th century, it was a draper's shop. In the early 20th century, it became a guest house, with the original visitors book dating back to 1909. It was used extensively by cyclists, and
608-547: The Industrial Revolution the slate industry rapidly developed; in the late nineteenth century the neighbouring Penrhyn and Dinorwic quarries were the largest in the world, and the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales is now a World Heritage Site. Gwynedd covers the majority of the historic counties of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire . In the past, historians such as J. E. Lloyd assumed that
646-660: The Menai Strait to the north, Conwy , Denbighshire , and Powys to the east, Ceredigion over the Dyfi estuary to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The city of Bangor is the largest settlement, and the administrative centre is Caernarfon . The preserved county of Gwynedd, which is used for ceremonial purposes, includes the Isle of Anglesey . Gwynedd is the second largest county in Wales but sparsely populated, with an area of 979 square miles (2,540 km ) and
684-601: The Rhaeadr Cynfal waterfalls and the remains of the Tomen-y-Mur Roman fort and amphitheatre . A decommissioned nuclear power station lies south of the village, at Trawsfynydd . Situated in the square opposite the Pengwern Arms, is the oldest dwelling and established business in the area, Meirion House, a Grade II* listed building. Its name is derived from the county of Meirionydd , and
722-671: The 1996 local government reorganisation, part of the park fell under Conwy County Borough , and the park's administration separated from the Gwynedd council. Gwynedd Council still appoints nine of the eighteen members of the Snowdonia National Park Authority; Conwy County Borough Council appoints three; and the Welsh Government appoints the remaining six. There has been considerable inwards migration to Gwynedd, particularly from England. According to
760-564: The 2021 census , 64.4% of the population aged three and over stated that they could speak Welsh, while 64.4% noted that they could speak Welsh in the 2011 census . It is estimated that 83% of the county's Welsh-speakers are fluent, the highest percentage of all counties in Wales. The age group with the highest proportion of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd were those between ages 5 and 15, of whom 92.3% stated that they could speak Welsh in 2011. The proportion of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd declined between 1991 and 2001, from 72.1% to 68.7%, even though
798-529: The 2021 census, 66.6% of residents had been born in Wales whilst 27.1% were born in England. The county has a mixed economy. An important part of the economy is based on tourism: many visitors are attracted by the many beaches and the mountains. A significant part of the county lies within the Snowdonia National Park , which extends from the north coast down to the district of Meirionnydd in
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#1732782890748836-564: The Celtic source of the word Gwynedd meant 'collection of tribes' – the same root as the Irish fine , meaning 'tribe'. Further, a connection is recognised between the name and the Irish Féni , an early ethnonym for the Irish themselves, related to fían , 'company of hunting and fighting men, company of warriors under a leader'. Perhaps *u̯en-, u̯enə ('strive, hope, wish') is
874-804: The Indo-European stem. The Irish settled in NW Wales, and in Dyfed , at the end of the Roman era. Venedotia was the Latin form, and in Penmachno there is a memorial stone from c. AD 500 which reads: Cantiori Hic Iacit Venedotis ('Here lies Cantiorix, citizen of Gwynedd'). The name was retained by the Brythons when the kingdom of Gwynedd was formed in the 5th century, and it remained until
912-413: The core of the building is thought to date back to 1411. Several annexes were added over the years, with a business established in 1726. It has nevertheless retained much of its original character, including the original pitch pine and oak beams and lath and plaster ceiling, slate floors and inglenook fireplace with inset cast iron double oven. There is a headstone inlaid in the slate floor, part of which
950-504: The flow then re-joins the Prysor just before the confluence. At no point is the river deep enough to accommodate sea-going ships, but in the second half of the 18th century a number of quays were constructed west of Maentwrog from which small vessels took cargoes of timber and, increasingly, slate to be transferred to sea-going ships in deeper water southwest of what would become Porthmadog , transferring to Porthmadog itself when its harbour
988-472: The former Denbighshire parishes) passed to the new Conwy County Borough . The remainder of the county was constituted as a principal area, with the name Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire , as it covers most of the areas of those two historic counties. As one of its first actions, the Council renamed itself Gwynedd on 2 April 1996. The present Gwynedd local government area is governed by Gwynedd Council . As
1026-674: The hills to the north of Ffestiniog . At its most northern extent, water draining from Moelwyn Mawr drains into Llyn Ystradau, the outflow of which forms the source of the Afon Goedol. This is joined by the River Bowydd at grid reference : SH695438 . At Rhyd-y-Sarn, the Afon Goedol is joined by the Afon Teigl (originating from Manod Mawr). Thereafter, the river is called the Afon Dwyryd. Below Rhyd y Sarn by Pont Dolymoch,
1064-654: The invasion of Edward I. This historical name was revived when the new county was formed in 1974. Gwynedd was an independent kingdom from the end of the Roman period until the 13th century, when it was conquered by England . The modern Gwynedd was one of eight Welsh counties created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . It covered the entirety of the historic counties of Anglesey and Caernarfonshire , and all of Merionethshire apart from Edeirnion Rural District (which went to Clwyd ); and also
1102-502: The nation's art galleries' treasures. The houses next door were built on the site of Abbey Arms, an old coaching inn , which once had its own stables. Notable persons who live, or have lived, in Llan Ffestiniog include actor, author and comedian Mici Plwm, journalist and TV presenter Mared Parry. The cartoonist Mal Humphreys, otherwise known as Mumph, who worked for many Welsh and UK broadcasters and publications. His life's work
1140-452: The proportion of Welsh speakers in Wales as a whole increased during that decade to 20.5%. The Annual Population Survey estimated that as of March 2023, 77.0% of those in Gwynedd aged three years and above could speak Welsh. Afon Cynfal The River Dwyryd ( Welsh : Afon Dwyryd ), is a river in Gwynedd , Wales which flows principally westwards; draining to the sea into Tremadog Bay , south of Porthmadog . The Dwyryd rises in
1178-512: The river is joined by the Afon Cynfal which flows from the east down a deep wooded gorge which includes the spectacular Rhaeadr Cynfal (Cynfal waterfall ) south of Ffestiniog . The main river then flows through a wide valley formed by glaciation , with a broad flat base formed from glacial moraines and riverine gravel deposits . The valley, the Vale of Ffestiniog , has much agriculture but
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1216-471: The river. These lakes include Llyn y Garnedd, Llyn Hafod y Llyn and Llyn Mair . At Maentwrog the Dwyryd becomes a long and sandy tidal estuary , flowing under the road and railway line at Pont Briwet , before joining with the estuary of the River Glaslyn and then entering into Porthmadog Bay . The Afon y Glyn which drains the southwest catchment from Llyn Tecwyn Uchaf and Llyn Tecwyn Isaf enters
1254-461: The slate quarries. Industries which have developed more recently include TV and sound studios: the record company Sain has its HQ in the county. The education sector is also very important for the local economy, including Bangor University and Further Education colleges, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai , both now part of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai . Gwynedd has the highest proportion of people in Wales who can speak Welsh . According to
1292-429: The south. But tourism provides seasonal employment and thus there is a shortage of jobs in the winter. Agriculture is less important than in the past, especially in terms of the number of people who earn their living on the land, but it remains an important element of the economy. The most important of the traditional industries is the slate industry, but these days only a small percentage of workers earn their living in
1330-521: The southern side of the Glaslyn estuary at the south end of a large extent of salt marsh known as Glastraeth ( green beach ) on its south bank and opposite the village of Portmeirion . The whole of the river drains off igneous and ancient rocks of the Cambrian and Ordovician which are all base-poor . Much of the catchment has also been used for commercial forestry during the last hundred years. As
1368-604: Was at one time the official quarters of the National Cyclists Union (NCU). In the visitors book there is an entry referencing the ghost of "Elizabeth". The house was owned by Thomas John Wynn, 5th Baron Newborough until 1925, when it was sold to Robert Thomas Williams. During World War II, officials from the National Gallery stayed there, whilst working at the Cwt y Bugail quarry, which was used to house
1406-561: Was closed to passenger services on 2 January 1960. There are several bus services running. The area is connected with Blodeuwedd , Lleu Llaw Gyffes and Gronw Pebr , all characters in the Four Branches of the Mabinogi . An old rock on the bank of Afon Cynfal , to the south of the village, is called Gronw's Slate . It has a small hole through it, and it is believed that this was the rock that Gronw grasped to defend himself against
1444-517: Was to turn her thoughts from her bereavement that she took her husband's advice and began to write her first novel, Mary Barton . George Borrow wrote briefly about Ffestiniog and its church-side pub , the Pengwern , in his travelogue Wild Wales . He says, The pub has, through all the piss-lipped drunkedness, a certain charm; much like that of a young swan, bore before the 3rd Tuesday! Ffestiniog railway station opened on 30 May 1868. It
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