Coordinates: 52°08′N 3°25′W / 52.14°N 3.41°W
| Builth Wells | |
| Welsh: Llanfair ym Muallt | |
  Builth Wells
Builth Wells shown within Wales |
|
| Population | 2,352 (2001 census)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Powys |
| Ceremonial county | Powys |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BUILTH WELLS |
| Postcode district | LD2 |
| Dialling code | 01982 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Brecon & Radnorshire |
| List of places: UK • Wales • | |
Builth Wells (Welsh: Llanfair ym Muallt) is a town in the county of Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Wye and the River Irfon, in the Welsh (or upper section) of the Wye Valley.
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History and geography
Builth first emerged in post-Roman times, along with the Kingdom of Powys. Builth Wells grew as a traditional Welsh market town and later a spa, and is well known nationally as the location of the Royal Welsh Showground, home to the Royal Welsh Show (although the showground is actually over the river Wye in Llanelwedd, Radnorshire).
Builth Castle
Builth Castle was built under King Edward I, the construction taking nearly five years in the 1270s. Owain Glyndwr's forces attacked Builth Castle[2] when it was in the charge of John Oldcastle during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr and it was repaired in 1409, the bill being £400[citation needed]
In Cilmeri / (Cefn y Bedd) - a village close to Builth Wells - Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf was ambushed and killed as he tried to rally the men of the Lordship of Builth in December 1282.[citation needed]
Communications
The town is served by Builth Road railway station on the Heart of Wales Line, which is located just over a mile to the north, having lost its more central railway station on the Mid Wales Railway in the 1960s under the Beeching Axe. A dedicated cycle route linking the town with Swansea (NCR 43) has been proposed and a 13 mile section of the route from Swansea has already been developed.
One of the main Wales north-south trunk roads, the A483 passes through the town, using the former railway route. At the time of writing (June 2009) part of this road, along with the other main route through town (A470), is the subject of a Transport Study by the Welsh Assembly to help alleviate trafic congestion in the town centre[3]
Education and recreation
Builth Wells High School is the local bilingual secondary school. In 2000 it was placed 67th in Wales for its GCSE results (5 GCSEs, grades A-C) with a pass rate of 59%. According to the latest report by Estyn, however, it now has a pass rate of 77% and is the 9th best performing state secondary school in Wales. The high school is also the 2nd best performing state secondary school in Powys after Llanidloes High School. For comparison, 95% of pupils in Christ College Brecon gained five or more GCSEs in 2008.
Builth Wells is home to local rugby union team Builth Wells RFC also known as 'The Bulls'.
Builth Wells also has a cricket pitch, 4 tennis courts, a football pitch, a sports centre with 2 squash courts, and a 25m swimming pool.
Rare postbox
Builth Wells has the distinction of having one of the very few post boxes in the United Kingdom bearing the cypher of King Edward VIII, the uncrowned king whose abdication in 1936 caused a constitutional crisis.[citation needed]
 Photo showing cypher of King Edward VIII above Post Office |
 Photo showing close-up of cypher of King Edward VIII above Post Office |
 Photo showing plaque describing cypher of King Edward VIII above Post Office |
 Photo showing close-up of plaque describing cypher of King Edward VIII above Post Office |
References
- ^ Davies, John et al. (2008) The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales; p. 96 ISBN 9780708319536
- ^ Builth Castle castlewales.com
- ^ Builth Wells Transport Study wales.gov.uk/
External links
- BBC Wales feature on Builth Wells life
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Builth Wells and surrounding area
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