Pwllheli
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pwllheli | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 3,861 (2001 census) | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | Maps for SH374350 | |
| Administration | ||
| Principal area: | Gwynedd | |
| Constituent country: | Wales | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Police force: | North Wales Police | |
| Ceremonial county: | Gwynedd | |
| Historic county: | Caernarfonshire | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | PWLLHELI | |
| Postal district: | LL53 | |
| Dialling code: | +44-1758 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | Caernarfon | |
| European Parliament: | Wales | |
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| Pwllheli Gwynedd |
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Pwllheli is the main market town of the Llŷn peninsula in northwestern Wales. It is a mainly Welsh-speaking town, according to the 2001 UK Census, 80% of the population speak Welsh, with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in the 10-14 age bracket, 94%. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded.
Contents |
[edit] History
The town's name means saltwater basin. The pronunciation of Pwllheli includes a sound not found in the English language (a voiceless alveolar lateral fricative), but is very approximately pu-HLEL-ee, IPA: [pʊɬ'hɛlɪ].
The town was given its charter as a borough by the Black Prince in 1355, and a street market is still held each Wednesday.
The town grew around the shipbuilding and fishing industries.
During the 1890s, the town was developed by Solomon Andrews, a Cardiff business man. This work included the Promenade, roads and houses at West End. A tramway was built linking the town to Llanbedrog. The trams ran until 1927 when a section of track was seriously damaged by a storm.
[edit] Education
- Ysgol Cymerau, Primary School. (Welsh-medium.)
- Ysgol Glan Y Môr, Secondary School. (Welsh-medium.)
- Coleg Meirion Dwyfor. (Mostly Welsh-medium.)
[edit] Geography
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Rail
Pwllheli railway station is the terminus of the Cambrian Coast Railway running to Dovey Junction near Machynlleth.
[edit] Road
[edit] Attractions
- Plas Bodegroes, the only Michelin Starred restaurant in Wales
- Two Blue Flag beaches
- Penarth Fawr, a fifteenth century house
- Marina
- Hafan Y Môr, a former Butlins holiday camp now operated by Haven
[edit] Arts
Pwllheli hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1925 and 1955, as well as an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1875.
[edit] Trivia
It is mentioned in the Beatles "song" Revolution 9, when John Lennon says "Dogs were dogging, birds were birding, cats were catting, fish were fishing. Thence Pwllheli went swimming."
