Benllech

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Coordinates: 53°19′18″N 4°13′33″W / 53.3216°N 4.2257°W / 53.3216; -4.2257
Benllech

The sands at Benllech from the headland above Beach Road
Benllech

 Benllech shown within Anglesey
OS grid reference SH518828
Community Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf
Principal area Anglesey
Ceremonial county Gwynedd
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town TYN-Y-GONGL
Postcode district LL74
Dialling code 01248
Police North Wales
Fire North Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament Ynys Môn
List of places
UK
Wales
Anglesey

Benllech is a small town on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. It is in the community of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf,[1] which has a population of 3,408, making it the 5th largest town by population on the island.[2]

The name Benllech is perhaps a mutated form of penllech, literally "head slab" or "head rock", i.e. "capstone" or "head of the rock".[3] or possibly meaning 'on slate', shortened from the Welsh term 'ar ben llech'.

Benllech is a popular beach holiday destination. Winner of the European Blue Flag award since 2004, the beach shelves and has an abundance of clean yellow sand and looks out toward the Great Orme and Penmon Point. The Anglesey Coastal Path and Wales Coast Path pass through Benllech. The village won the 'tidiest village on Anglesey' competition in the years 1973-79 and was also awarded a Civic Trust Award which recognises the very best in architecture, design, planning, landscape and public art. The award was given to projects of the highest quality design, which have made a positive cultural, social and economic contribution to the local community.

The village has a range of businesses which include several public houses and hotels, camping and caravan sites and several bed and breakfasts. The community has a primary school, Ysgol Goronwy Owen; library, doctors' surgery and chemist, community centre, police and fire station, tennis court and bowling green, and the recent arrival of a Tesco Express. Between 1909 and 1950 there was a railway station close to the village which was the terminus of the Red Wharf Bay branch line. The old station house still exists and several railway bridges can been seen along the road approaching the village.

Notable residents

  • The poet Goronwy Owen (1723–1769) was a native of Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf; the village hall, primary school and local football team were named after him.[4]
  • Lemmy Kilmister, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, lead singer, bassist and guitarist of the band Motörhead, lived here from the age of 10 to the age of 16 (1956–1962).[5]
  • Carwyn Ellis, lead singer for Colorama had a nomadic childhood before his family eventually settled in Benllech.

References

  1. ↑ Ordnance Survey : Election Maps : Isle of Anglesey Retrieved 2009-08-18
  2. ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Isle of Anglesey Retrieved 2009-08-18
  3. ↑ BBC Wales: What's in a name?
  4. ↑ Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Menna, Baines et al., eds. (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 638. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6. 
  5. ↑ "Lemmy: Lead singer of the heavy metal band Motorhead". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2011. 

External links

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