| Newborough | |
| Welsh: Niwbwrch | |
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Newborough
Newborough shown within Anglesey |
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| Population | 2,169 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SH425655 |
| Community | Rhosyr |
| Principal area | Isle of Anglesey |
| Ceremonial county | Gwynedd |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LLANFAIR PG |
| Postcode district | LL61 |
| Dialling code | 01248 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Ynys Môn |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Anglesey | |
Newborough (Welsh: Niwbwrch or Niwbro) is a village in the south-western corner of the Isle of Anglesey in Wales; it is in the community of Rhosyr, which has a population of 2,169.[1]
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Newborough (formerly Rhosyr) was a commotal centre of medieval Anglesey. The ruined court buildings of Llys Rhosyr lie on the outskirts of the present village. Debate surrounds the former use of the Rhosyr site; archaeologists at Gwynedd Archaeological Trust consider it to have been a royal home and have established an exhibition in the Pritchard Jones Institute in the village on their findings. [edit] External links
Newborough was founded by Edward I of England in 1294, to house the people he evicted from Llanfaes in order to build Beaumaris Castle. It was, literally, established as a 'new borough' and gained its charter in 1303. In the 16th century, Newborough was the county town of Anglesey and was once home to a thriving marram grass industry, used for producing matting, nets and rope.
John Morgan, a blind musician living around 1740, played the crwth in the village. Newborough is the home of the Prichard Jones Institute, considered an exceptional example of an early 20th century public institution. The Institute and the six single-storey cottage homes that accompany it were a gift to the village by Sir John Prichard-Jones, who was born in Newborough. Sir John served an apprenticeship as a draper, eventually rising to become chairman of the Dickins & Jones department store in London, to which he gave his name. The Institute was designed by Roland Lloyd Jones and completed in 1905 at a cost of £20,000. The neo-Tudor style two-storey building, complete with clock tower, is an unusually lofty design for a location often buffeted by strong south-westerly winds. The Institute appeared on the BBC2 programme, Restoration, in 2006.
The village with its attractive environs provides the visitor with excellent walking opportunities, not least at Newborough Warren, one of the largest areas of sand dunes found in the British Isles. Superb walking is also available at nearby Newborough Forest, a 2,000-acre (8 km²) woodland, dedicated to forestry and conservation. Much of the area around Newborough has been declared a nature reserve, making it popular for those interested in birds and other wildlife.
There is an expansive sandy Blue Flag beach at Llanddwyn, which provides access to Llanddwyn Island, a mile-long rocky promontory. The remains of the 16th-century church of Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, is located on the island.
Newborough beach is very popular as a kitesurfing location.
Just outside the village, on the B4419 towards Llangaffo, is Tacla Taid, the Anglesey Transport and Agriculture Museum, which is the largest of its kind in Wales. On the A4080, towards Dwyran, there is a chance to view all of Anglesey's major attractions in miniature, at Anglesey Model Village, which includes garden and a ride-on train for children.[2]
Low property prices, a blue-flag beach, and the village now having high-speed internet access, is giving the village a resurgence with an influx of people working from home.