Coordinates: 52°59′N 3°56′W / 52.99°N 3.93°W
| Blaenau Ffestiniog | |
  Blaenau Ffestiniog
 Blaenau Ffestiniog shown within Wales |
|
| Population | 4,830 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Gwynedd |
| Ceremonial county | Gwynedd |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BLAENAU FFESTINIOG |
| Postcode district | LL41 |
| Dialling code | 01766 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Meirionnydd Nant Conwy |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Gwynedd | |
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a small town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It has a population of 4,830 according to the United Kingdom Census 2001.
Contents |
History
Blaenau Ffestiniog hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1898. It was formerly part of the ancient county of Merionethshire. Locals divide Blaenau Ffestiniog into "parts" - among these are Tanygrisau and Manod.[citation needed] In this sense Blaenau Ffestiniog is sometimes used to refer only to the centre of town.
Pronunciation
The English pronunciation of Blaenau Ffestiniog suggested by the BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names is /ˈblaɪnaɪ fɛsˈtɪnjɒɡ/,[1] but the first word is pronounced [ˈblaɪna] by local Welsh speakers.
Geography
Located in the mountains of Snowdonia, the town was once a centre of the Welsh slate mining industry. This industry declined during the early 20th century. The town's economy is now largely dependent on tourism. Although the town is in the centre of the Snowdonia National Park, the boundaries of the Park are specifically arranged to omit the town with its substantial slate waste heaps from the Park.
The hills around Blaenau Ffestiniog form the watershed between the River Lledr flowing to the north (a tributary of the River Conwy) and the River Dwyryd flowing to the west.
Education
Ysgol y Moelwyn is the main secondary school in the area, covering Blaenau, Manod, Tanygrisiau, Llan Ffestiniog, Trawsfynydd, Gellilydan, and even stretching into the Vale of Ffestiniog. There are five primary schools in the area, many are due for closure or mergers with other schools.[2]
Transport
The main access route to Blaenau Ffestiniog is via the A470 road which runs from the north to the south of Wales. The A497, which runs West to East, feeds the Llŷn Peninsula into the A487 (which runs from Bangor through Caernarfon and into Porthmadog, which in turn connects with the north-south A470. Immediately to the north of the town the A470 climbs steeply to the Crimea Pass and meets the A5 at Betws-y-Coed.
At various times the town has been the terminus for four independent railway lines, each with its own station or stations:
- the Ffestiniog Railway
- the Festiniog and Blaenau Railway
- the Conwy Valley Line of the London and North Western Railway, and
- the Bala Ffestiniog Line of the Great Western Railway.
Today Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station on the site of the former Great Western station serves as a combined station for the Ffestiniog Railway and the Conwy Valley line, their previous stations being no longer in use.
Tourism
Blaenau Ffestiniog boasts several major tourist attractions, including the Ffestiniog Railway, and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a former slate mine open to visitors. Llechwedd is regularly listed as one of Wales' top 5 visitor attractions.[3]
Arts
Music
Blaenau Ffestiniog has strong roots and tradition with music from the Quarrying boom days with the Caban, Male voice choirs and brass bands, to the Jazz / Dance bands like ‘The New Majestics’ to the popular-rock bands of the 80-90’s such as Llwybr Llaethog and Anweledig, to most recent bands such as Gai Toms, Frizbee and Gwybdaith Hen Fran. Further to this local Alternative Music training Company Gwallgofiaid now has 12 + bands under its umbrella based at their Center 'Cell' at the Old Police Station in Park Square. The Centre has 5 rehearsal rooms, a 24 track studio and Cwrt performance space, but recently the center has been put under threat of closure because of lack of funding.
Notable residents
- David Nash, artist
- John Cowper Powys, novelist.
- Llwybr Llaethog, musical group.
- Glyn Wise, contestant and runner up on Big Brother 7.
- Anweledig, musical group.
- Gwyn Thomas, Welsh poet, academic and the present National Poet for Wales.
- Dave Felgate, footballer.
See also
References
- ^ G. M. Miller (Ed), BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names, Oxford University Press, 1971. ISBN 0-19-431125-2
- ^ bbc.co.uk
- ^ icnetwork.co.uk
External links
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