Coordinates: 53°16′26″N 3°13′23″W / 53.274°N 3.223°W
| Holywell | |
| Welsh: Treffynnon | |
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  Holywell
Holywell shown within Wales |
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| Population | 5,974 [1][2][3] (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Flintshire |
| Ceremonial county | Clwyd |
| Constituent country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOLYWELL |
| Postcode district | CH8 |
| Dialling code | 01352 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| European Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Delyn |
| Welsh Assembly | Delyn |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Flintshire | |
Holywell (Welsh: Treffynnon) is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.
Contents |
History
The market town of Holywell takes its name from the St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel.[4] The well has been known since at least the Roman period, and has been a site of pilgrimage since about 660 when Saint Winefride was beheaded there by Caradog who attempted to rape her.[5] The well is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales and the town bills itself as The Lourdes of Wales.
From the 18th century, the town grew around the lead mining and cotton milling industries.
Holywell hosted an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1869.
Demographics
Administratively, Holywell consists of three wards of the Flintshire County Council local authority. At the 2001 Census, the total population of the town was:
| Ward | Population |
|---|---|
| Holywell Central | 1,835 [1] |
| Holywell East | 1,828 [2] |
| Holywell West | 2,311 [3] |
| Holywell Total | 5,974 |
Geography
Holywell is split into four distinct areas: Pen-y-Maes, The Strand, The Holway and the town centre. The Holway, located on the west side of the town, is the largest of the residential areas of Holywell. The near-contiguous village of Greenfield is located to the north east of the town on the B5121 road.
Villages within the Holywell catchment area include: Bagillt, Brynford, Carmel, Gorsedd, Halkyn, Lixwm, Lloc, Mostyn, Pantasaph, Pentre Halkyn, Rhes-y-Cae, Rhosesmor, Trelawnyd, Whitford and Ysceifiog. In addition there are other smaller scattered communities within this area. All of these are within a six mile radius of Holywell. These villages are all connected to Holywell by a frequent bus service.[6]
Community
The town centre contains many small businesses and national stores, serving not only the shopping needs of the people of the town itself, but also those of the surrounding villages within the town's natural catchment area. Part of the centre of the historic market town has been designated a conservation area.[7]
The town contains a secondary school with over 500 pupils and a leisure centre, as well as four primary schools.
Holywell also has a local football team, Holywell Town who play in the Welsh Alliance League.
The old cottage hospital was located in Pen-y-Maes until it closed. A new hospital has been built near the football pitch of the local team.
In 2007, a group of locals proposed a circular walk way, the "St Beuno's Circular Walk", joining all of the historical and religious locations of the town.[8]
Notable people
- Former Southampton and Wales footballer Ron Davies was born in Holywell in 1942.
- Dixie Dean the Everton football legend once had a near fatal motorbike accident in Holywell in the late 1920s which almost ended his career.
- Television presenter Gareth Jones (Gaz Top) comes from Holywell.
- Actor Jonathan Pryce was born in Holywell in 1947.
See also
References
- ^ a b (PDF) Ward Profile: Holywell Central, Flintshire County Council, http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/WebCont/Stats.nsf/0/bf293d862600d02c80256eac00315d9e/$FILE/Holywell%20Central.pdf, retrieved 13 November 2007
- ^ a b (PDF) Ward Profile: Holywell East, Flintshire County Council, http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/WebCont/Stats.nsf/0/bf293d862600d02c80256eac00315d9e/$FILE/Holywelll%20East.pdf, retrieved 13 November 2007
- ^ a b (PDF) Ward Profile: Holywell West, Flintshire County Council, http://www.siryfflint.gov.uk/WebCont/Stats.nsf/78ae059385c8f71f80256e980050d8ea/bf293d862600d02c80256eac00315d9e/$FILE/Holywell%20West.pdf, retrieved 13 November 2007
- ^ About Holywell, Holywell Town Website, http://www.holywell-town.co.uk/about_holywell.htm, retrieved 3 August 2009
- ^ Holywell, Catholic Encyclopedia, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07438a.htm, retrieved 3 March 2007
- ^ Business Profile of Holywell, http://www.holywell-town.co.uk/Businessprofile.htm/, retrieved 28 March 2009
- ^ Flintshire Conservation Areas, Flintshire County Council, http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/wps/portal/english/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hDExNX50BXI0P30BAnAyNjYxM3I39TYwMDA_2CbEdFALBAdUA!/?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_144ECQE21GUTB02334F2O53007_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/web+content/flintshire/english/services/100006/200023/511, retrieved 3 August 2009
- ^ Proposed St Bueno's Circular Walk, http://www.holywellwalk.bravehost.com/, retrieved 10 May 2007
External links
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