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48-635: Pwllheli ( Welsh: [pʊɬˈhɛli]  ; listen ) is a market town and community on the Llŷn Peninsula ( Welsh : Penrhyn Llŷn ), in Gwynedd , north-west Wales . It had a population of 4,076 in 2011, which declined slightly to 3,947 in 2021; a large proportion (81%) were Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of the Welsh poet Sir Albert Evans-Jones ( bardic name Cynan ). Pwllheli has

96-569: A unitary authority . At the time of abolition, the rural district covered 114,232 acres (46,228 ha) and had a population at the 1971 census of 15,190. Pwllheli Municipal Borough was the successor to a free borough which was granted a charter by Edward the Black Prince in 1355. The corporation was abolished by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , and replaced by an elected council, which existed until Pwllheli

144-574: A bombing school at Penyberth on the peninsula. The events surrounding the protest became known as Tân yn Llŷn ( Fire in Llŷn ). The government had settled on Llŷn as the site for its new bombing school after similar locations in Northumberland and Dorset were met with protests. However, British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin refused to hear the case against the bombing school in Wales, despite

192-541: A deputation representing half a million Welsh protesters. Protest against the bombing school was summed up by Saunders Lewis when he wrote that the British government was intent upon turning one of the "essential homes of Welsh culture , idiom , and literature " into a place for promoting a barbaric method of warfare. On 8 September 1936 the bombing school building was set on fire by Saunders Lewis, Lewis Valentine and D. J. Williams , who immediately gave themselves up to

240-533: A holiday camp at Penychain , which attracted visitors from the industrial cities of North West England and the West Midlands . As car ownership increased, the tourist industry spread to the countryside and to coastal villages such as Aberdaron, Abersoch, Llanbedrog and Nefyn, where many families supplemented their income by letting out rooms and houses. During the Middle Ages the cantref of Llŷn

288-450: A kingdom separate from his brother Cuneglasus ' kingdom in Rhos . He is credited with having sponsored Saint Cadfan 's monastery on Bardsey Island , which became a major centre of pilgrimage during medieval times. There are numerous wells throughout the peninsula, many dating back to the pre-Christian era. Many have holy connotations and they were important stops for pilgrims heading to

336-400: A legacy of inclines and export docks and were the reason for the growth of villages such as Llithfaen and Trefor . Copper , zinc and lead were mined around Llanengan , while 196,770 long tons (199,930 t) of manganese were produced at Y Rhiw between 1894 and 1945. The Penrhyn Dû Mines have also been extensively mined since the seventeenth century around Abersoch . Shipbuilding

384-477: A new parish of Buan was formed by the merger of Ceidio and Llanfihangel Bachellaeth ; and the parish of Dolbenmaen was transferred from Glaslyn Rural District . Five years later, in 1939, Edern was abolished and incorporated into Nefyn . The rural district was abolished in 1974, with its area being included in the Dwyfor District of Gwynedd, which was itself abolished in 1996 when Gwynedd became

432-478: A range of shops and other services. As a local railhead with a market every Wednesday, the town is a gathering point for the peninsula's population. The town's name means salt-water pool . The town was given its charter as a borough by Edward, the Black Prince in 1355; a market is still held each Wednesday in the centre of the town on Y Maes (‘the field’ or ‘the town square’ in English). The town grew around

480-424: A siding and a loop. One of the old signal boxes also remains and is used as a covered ground frame to operate the loop points. The station is now unstaffed and has no ticket machine, so all tickets must be purchased on the train or prior to travel. The main building still stands - part of it is used as a cafe and coffee shop whilst the remainder provides covered waiting accommodation. Train running information

528-469: Is complex: the majority is formed from volcanic rocks of the Ordovician period. Rocks of Cambrian origin occur south of Abersoch. Numerous granite intrusions and outcrops of rhyolite form prominent hills such as Yr Eifl, whilst gabbro is found at the west end of Porth Neigwl . The western part of the peninsula (northwest of a line drawn from Nefyn to Aberdaron) is formed from Precambrian rocks,

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576-563: Is connected to the wider road network by the A497 to Porthmadog and the A499 to Caernarfon . From there, major roads lead away from Gwynedd to the rest of Wales. Bus services on the Llŷn Peninsula are operated by Berwyn Coaches and Nefyn. Routes connect the town with Aberdaron , Caernarfon, Nefyn and Rhydlios . Pwllheli bus station is sited in the town centre. Pwllheli has a section of

624-505: Is home to association football team Pwllheli F.C. , rugby union team Pwllheli RFC and running club Llŷn Striders. There is a hockey club, Clwb Hoci Pwllheli . It is a hub for water sports, owing in part to a marina; Pwllheli Sailing Club and Plas Heli (the Welsh National Sailing Academy) are based here. The town has two beaches, South Beach and Glan-y-don. South Beach stretches from Gimlet Rock, across

672-475: Is offered by means of digital display screens, automated announcements, timetable poster boards and a customer help point. Step-free access is provided from the main entrance to the platform. All services are operated by Transport for Wales . Trains run between Pwllheli and Machynlleth roughly every two hours on weekdays (Mon-Sat), with 5 trains in each direction on Sundays. From 1 September to 1 December 2023 engineering work took place to finish restoration of

720-693: Is sometimes spelled Lleyn in English, although this spelling is now less common. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root – Laigin ( Laighin ) in Irish – as the word Leinster and which also occurs in Porth Dinllaen on the north coast. Following the death of Owain Whitetooth ( Owain Danwyn ), king of Gwynedd , Owain's son Saint Einion seems to have ruled Llŷn as

768-494: The Barmouth Viaduct . In November 2013, services from the station were suspended due to structural problems with the 1867 Grade II-listed wooden viaduct at Pont Briwet near Llandecwyn . Network Rail had intended to build the new bridge alongside the current one whilst keeping the latter open, but work to drive steel piles into the riverbed to support the new viaduct caused the old one to shift and made it unsafe. As

816-979: The National Eisteddfod of Wales and was known by his bardic name 'Cynan', was born in Pwllheli. Before becoming an archdruid, he joined the First World War effort through the Welsh Student Company of the RAMC , serving in Salonika and France, initially as an ambulance driver and medic, later as the company's chaplain. He was the son of the proprietor of the Central Restaurant in Penlan Street, Pwllheli. Pwllheli Town Council consists of fifteen members elected from

864-602: The Wales Coast Path along its shoreline. Pwllheli has a small harbour at the confluence of the Afon Erch and Afon Rhyd-Hir. Hafan Pwllheli is a marina built in Pwllheli Harbour during the 1990s. Pwllheli hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1925, 1955 and 2023, as well as an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1875. According to the 2011 Census , 80% of the population spoke Welsh. Pwllheli

912-724: The Welsh language and culture, for which the locality is now famous. This perceived remoteness from urban life has lent the area an unspoilt image which has made Llŷn a popular destination for both tourists and holiday home owners. Holiday homes remain contentious among locals, many of whom feel they are priced out of the housing market by incomers. From the 1970s to the 1990s, a group known as Meibion Glyndŵr claimed responsibility for several hundred arson attacks on holiday homes using incendiary devices, some of which took place in Llŷn. The Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers approximately 62 sq mi (160 km ). The name Llŷn

960-461: The Ysgol Glan y Môr name. The Penrallt site was later redeveloped as the Pwllheli campus of Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor . The façade of the main building of the old grammar school was retained and incorporated into the design of the current college buildings. Thus the 'old school' is readily seen from the town square (Y Maes), as it has been since the former Pwllheli County School moved to Penrallt in

1008-426: The shipbuilding and fishing industries and the granite quarry at Gimlet Rock ( Welsh : Carreg yr Imbill ). The population in 1841 was 2,367. During the 1890s, the town was developed by Solomon Andrews , a Cardiff businessman. This work included the promenade , roads and houses at West End. The Pwllheli and Llanbedrog Tramway was built, linking the town to Llanbedrog . The trams ran until 1927, when

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1056-481: The 1950s onwards, extensive use was made of artificial fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, leading to drastic changes in the appearance of the landscape. Tourism developed after the railway to Pwllheli was built in 1867. The town expanded rapidly, with several large houses and hotels constructed, and a tramway was built linking the town to Llanbedrog . After the Second World War, Butlins established

1104-437: The 1960s, a number of Welsh monoglots still lived in the Llŷn Peninsula. However, before 2001 there had been a decline in Welsh speakers in Gwynedd , which includes the Llŷn Peninsula. According to the 2001 census the number of Welsh speakers in Wales increased for the first time in over 100 years, with 20.5 per cent of a population of over 2.9 million claiming fluency in Welsh. The 2001 Census also showed that 73.1 per cent of

1152-506: The Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The borough charter had been granted by Edward I in 1284. The urban district covered 472 acres (191 ha) and at the 1901 census had a population of 1,406. By the time of abolition and incorporation into Dwyfor in 1974, it covered 1,721 acres (696 ha), and had a population at the 1961 census of 1,672. Pwllheli railway station Pwllheli railway station serves

1200-455: The North and South wards . Pwllheli North and Pwllheli South are the county wards covering the town; they each elect one county councillor to Gwynedd Council . Historically, Pwllheli was a municipal borough within the county of Caernarfonshire until local government reorganisation in 1974, when it became part of Gwynedd. Ysgol Cymerau is the town's primary school . Ysgol Glan y Môr

1248-529: The Promenade and West End, towards Penrhos and Llanbedrog . Glan-y-don Beach is on the eastern side of the river mouth and runs for 3 miles (5 km) from behind the marina workshops and out towards Penychain (holiday camp) . The town has a golf club on the Llŷn coastline. Ll%C5%B7n Peninsula Historically, the peninsula was travelled by pilgrims en route to Bardsey Island (Welsh: Ynys Enlli ), and its relative isolation has helped to conserve

1296-500: The Welsh language. The whole of Llŷn is governed by Cyngor Gwynedd , a unitary authority established in 1996. The area had traditionally formed part of Caernarfonshire , for which an elected county council had been formed in 1889. Caernarfonshire was abolished in 1974 and incorporated into the new county of Gwynedd , which became a unitary authority under the 1996 reorganisation. Llŷn Rural District , based in Pwllheli ,

1344-431: The area as the rise in house prices has outpaced average earnings in Wales. On the other hand, there has been an influx of non-Welsh speakers purchasing properties for retirement or holiday homes. The issue of locals being priced out of the local housing market is common to many rural communities throughout Britain, but in Wales the added dimension of language further complicates the issue, as many new residents do not learn

1392-656: The coastline and hills are part of the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The Llŷn Coastal Path , a long distance footpath , enables walkers to fully explore both coasts of the peninsula. The peninsula is the original home of the Lleyn breed of sheep . This is a hardy and prolific breed that has become much more prominent over the last 20 years due to its excellent prolificacy and mothering ability. The sheep are white-faced; on average, ewes weigh about 70 kilograms (150 lb) and rams 90 kilograms (200 lb). Until at least

1440-414: The company had merged to become part of Cambrian Railways . When the first Pwllheli station opened on Thursday 10 October 1867 the decision to not complete the final five miles to Nefyn had already been taken. The station, which was about a half a mile from the town, became the line's terminus. On 19 July 1909 a second station was opened near by the town centre following land reclamation that permitted

1488-677: The early 20th century. Pwllheli railway station is the north-western terminus of the Cambrian Coast Line , which provides services to Machynlleth ; most trains continue on to Shrewsbury and Birmingham International . Services are operated by Transport for Wales . The railway line to Caernarvon , via the Carnarvonshire Railway , was axed under the Beeching cuts and it closed in December 1964. Pwllheli

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1536-542: The extension of the line. It had two tracks separated by an island platform with a small loading dock to the north. The layout remained unchanged until rationalisation began in September 1977. A goods yard was developed on the site of the first station. Its turntable is now in the possession of the West Somerset Railway . The Great Western Railway (GWR) doubled the track between Pwllheli station and

1584-485: The goods yard in order to increase capacity. But after the goods yard was closed and both the signal boxes and the signals were removed in 1977, the double-lined section is now used as a long run-round loop for visiting charter trains. By 1987 a supermarket had been developed on the former goods yard land. Prior to the closure of the Afon Wen to Caernarfon Line in 1964, there were two named daily express services during

1632-665: The island. The Welsh Triads record regional resistance to Edwin of Northumbria 's incursions into Gwynedd by a regional ruler Belyn ap Cynfelyn and his Gosgordd who were allied with Cadwallon ap Cadfan . In subsequent years Llŷn was raided by vikings , most notably by Olaf in the late 10th century. The most rural parts are characterised by small houses, cottages and individual farms, resembling parts of south west Ireland . There are small compact villages, built of traditional materials. The only large-scale industrial activities were quarrying and mining, which have now largely ceased. The granite quarries of northern Llŷn have left

1680-499: The language , although, as in the rest of North West Wales , many people are concerned that the influx of English speakers is damaging the standing of Welsh and threatening its future as a living community language in the area. The Welsh Language and Heritage Centre of Nant Gwrtheyrn is situated on the north coast. Concern for the Welsh language was ignited in 1936 when the United Kingdom government settled on establishing

1728-676: The majority of which are considered to form a part of the Monian Complex and thus to be closely related to the rocks of Anglesey . Numerous faults cut the area and a major shear zone – the Llyn Shear Zone – runs northeast to southwest through the Monian rocks. In 1984 there was an earthquake beneath the peninsula , which measured 5.4 on the Richter scale and was felt in many parts of Ireland and western Britain . The area

1776-439: The northern coast consist of steep cliffs and rugged rocks with offshore islands and stacks, while there are more extensive sandy beaches on the southern coast, such as Porth Neigwl and Castellmarch Beach. North of Abersoch a series of sand dunes have developed. The landscape is divided into a patchwork of fields, with the traditional field boundaries, stone walls, hedgerows and cloddiau , a prominent feature. The geology of Llŷn

1824-724: The police and claimed responsibility. The trial at Caernarfon failed to agree on a verdict and the case was sent to the Old Bailey in London. The "Three" were sentenced to nine months imprisonment in Wormwood Scrubs , and on their release they were greeted as heroes by 15,000 people at a pavilion in Caernarfon. The decline in the use of the Welsh language in Llŷn has been attributed to a rise in property prices. Local Welsh speakers are increasingly unable to afford housing in

1872-476: The population of Llŷn could speak Welsh. Additionally, 28 per cent of the population of Wales claimed to understand Welsh. However, the number of Welsh speakers declined in Gwynedd from 72.1 per cent in 1991 to 68.7 per cent in 2001. By 2003, however, a survey of schools showed that just over 94 per cent of children between the ages of 3 and 15 were able to speak Welsh, making Llŷn one of the foremost heartlands of

1920-526: The section of track between Carreg-y-Defaid and Tyddyn-Caled was seriously damaged by a storm. Andrews ran the Cardiff Road section in 1928 and offered to sell the tramway to Pwllheli Corporation at the end of the season, but they did not take up his offer. He then sold the assets and the Corporation removed the tracks during the winter of 1928/29. Poet Albert Evans-Jones , who was an archdruid for

1968-538: The small coastal town of Pwllheli , on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd , Wales . It is the northern terminus of the Cambrian Coast Railway . In 1861 the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway was given authorisation to build a line along Cardigan Bay between Aberystwyth and Porthdinllaen on the Llŷn Peninsula. However, the final five miles across the Llŷn Peninsula were never built. By 1865

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2016-451: The summer between Pwllheli and London : In 1977 one side of the island platform was abandoned and the track was lifted (the land is now a car park). The station canopy, which was constructed by the GWR, survived intact until some glass fell out in late 1979, and it was shortened early in 1980. Today only the concourse and a short section of the platform remain covered. Pwllheli has one platform,

2064-479: Was created under the Local Government Act 1894 from the area of Pwllheli Rural Sanitary District . At the time it covered 91,449 acres (37,008 hectares) and consisted of 30 civil parishes , although the number was subsequently reduced. At the 1901 census, it had a population of 16,816. Under a County Review Order in 1934, 18 parishes were abolished with their areas distributed among other parishes;

2112-614: Was divided into 3 cymydau , those being Dinllaen, Cafflogion and Cymydmaen, with their respective capitals at Din Llaen, Denio and Neigwl. After the Edwardian Conquest some of these settlements became free boroughs like Denio and other like Neigwl faded into obscurity. Llŷn is an extensive plateau dominated by numerous volcanic hills and mountains. The largest of these is Yr Eifl , although Garn Boduan , Garn Fadrun and Mynydd Rhiw are also distinctive. Large stretches of

2160-639: Was formed in 1969 by the merger of the former Pwllheli Grammar School at Penrallt and the Frondeg Secondary Modern School in Upper Ala Road to form a comprehensive school based on two sites in the town. The junior pupils (year 1 and year 2) were located at the Penrallt site and the senior pupils (year 3 and upwards) at a new complex in Cardiff Road. This new school was subsequently expanded to accommodate all pupils under

2208-514: Was important at Nefyn , Aberdaron , Abersoch and Llanaelhaearn , although the industry collapsed after the introduction of steel ships from 1880. Nefyn was also an important herring port, and most coastal communities fished for crab and lobster . Farming was originally simple and organic but underwent major changes after the Second World War as machines came into widespread use. Land was drained and fields expanded and reseeded. From

2256-544: Was included in Dwyfor in 1974, as a result of the Local Government Act 1972 . At the 1841 census Pwllheli had a population of 2,367. By the time of abolition the borough covered 1,211 acres (490 ha) and had a population at the 1961 census of 3,647. Criccieth Urban District was created under the Local Government Act 1894, and covered the area of the former borough, which had been abolished in 1886 by

2304-474: Was overrun by Irish Sea ice during the ice ages and this has left a legacy of boulder clay and of meltwater channels. Llŷn is notable for its large number of protected sites, including a national nature reserve at Cors Geirch , a National Heritage Coastline and a European Marine Special Area of Conservation , and 20 Sites of Special Scientific Interest . The peninsula is home to a rare species of mason bee ( Osmia xanthomelana ), found nowhere else. Much of

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