Nefyn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nefyn | |
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  Nefyn shown within the United Kingdom |
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| OS grid reference | |
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| Principal area | Gwynedd |
| Ceremonial county | Gwynedd |
| Constituent country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| European Parliament | Wales |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Gwynedd | |
Nefyn is a small town on the north-west coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, with a population of around 2,550. Welsh is the first language of almost 80% of its inhabitants. Nefyn is a relatively uncommercialised holiday destination particularly for families because of its sandy beaches. The A497 road terminates in the town centre.
The history of the area can be traced back to 300BC with the Iron Age hill fort of Garn Boduan overlooking Nefyn. The remains of 170 round stone huts and ramparts are still visible on top of the 917ft (279m) hill.
The town was the place of a tournament held by Edward I of England in 1284 to celebrate his victory over the Welsh, emphasising its importance at that time as a trading town. In 1355 it became a free borough and remained an important centre of commerce. The sea was always an important part of the economy of Nefyn and fishing, particularly for herring, became a prime trade. So much so, that the town's coat-of-arms bears three herrings.
The foundations of the old St Mary's Church date from the 6th century. It would have been an important staging post for pilgrims en route to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island). The church is no longer a place of worship but houses a museum dedicated to the maritime history of Nefyn.
The name Nefyn is that of a Gaelic Goddess. Indicative of the settlement of the Llŷn peninsula (In Irish Laighin, the same derivation as Leinster) in the 4th or 5th century by Irish tribes. The Romans recorded a tribe occupying the peninsula called the 'Gangani', who are also recorded as a tribe in Ireland. 'Nevin' as an Irish female name means 'Worshipper of the saint'.
On 19th July 1984 an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale had an epicentre near Nefyn. This is one of the strongest tremors recorded in the UK for recent times but caused little structural damage.
A tremor in the area on 12th December 1940 was reported by the Cambrian News as having caused 2 fatalities including John Thomas of Nefyn who died of an heart attack.
During World War II, the Royal Air Force built a Chain Home radar station to the south-west of Nefyn.
It is twinned with Puerto Madryn, a town on Chubut in the Argentine, a result of its great link with Welsh culture since the Welsh settlement in Argentina.
[edit] Notable people
The Singer Duffy was born on 23rd June 1984 in Nefyn.
[edit] References
Births England and Wales 1984-2006
Population and Language Statistics - 2001 Census [1]
R M W Musson (2003) Fatalities in British earthquakes Astronomy & Geophysics 44 (1), 1.14–1.16. doi:10.1046/j.1468-4004.2003.44114.x [2]
