Maesgeirchen is a large housing estate on the edge of the city of Bangor in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, with roughly 4,000 inhabitants.
It was originally constructed in the late 1930s, with more homes being added after World War II and in recent years. In 2003, the local council-owned pre-war homes on the estate underwent an expansive home-improvement scheme funded by the council, which saw them all fitted with double glazing and central heating, as well as maintenance and modernisation work to both the interior and exterior of the buildings. It is the third largest single housing estate in Wales behind Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil, the second largest and Caia Park in Wrexham, which is the largest with nearly 12,000 inhabitants.
The estate is located away from the main spread of the city of Bangor, being separated by Bangor Mountain. The name of the estate is often shortened to a simpler "Maes-G" in casual use, by residents of both the estate and the city. Maesgeirchen was named after the farm Maes-y-geirchen which was situated near Queens Avenue.
The estate has only one road entrance and exit, via "Maes-G Hill" (official road name: Penrhyn Avenue), which gives the residents of Maesgeirchen a strong sense of community. There are also numerous un-made footpaths leading to/from the estate taking one north over Bangor Mountain towards the city and also south towards and through the nearby Llandegai industrial estate. Recently there have been major environmental works throughout the river area including walkways, paths, and picnic areas designed for use by pedestrians and wheelchair users.
The estate also boasts its own residents organisation and communities first division which is being run by locals. The estate was fitted, in 2002, with CCTV which covers the majority of streets. It has a social club, a community centre (Ty Cegin - built with National Lottery funding as Healthy Living Centre & later taken over by the local Communities First Partnership following cessation of five years of Lottery funding), a newsagent, a post office, a hairdresser, a chip shop, a Chinese take-away, a laundrette, a church and a primary school named Ysgol Glan Cegin. Bus services into the estate were until 2006 provided exclusively by Arriva Buses Wales, but now have competition from Padarn Bus following a request by residents unhappy with Arriva's service.[1]
The footpath leading north over Bangor mountain and south to Llandegai is called Lôn Felin Esgob (meaning "Bishop's mill lane"), an old highway with some of the paving still in place.
Maesgeirchen is designated a 'Communities First' area by the Welsh Assembly Government.