Llan Ffestiniog

Llan Ffestiniog, also known as Ffestiniog or simply Llan, is a village in Gwynedd (formerly county of Merionethshire), north Wales, lying south of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Attractions near the village include the Rhaeadr Cynfal waterfalls and the remains of the Tomen-y-Mur Roman fort and amphitheatre. A decommissioned nuclear power station lies south of the village, at Trawsfynydd.

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  Rhaeadr Cynfal, near Llan Ffestiniog

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Elizabeth Gaskell, the Victorian era writer whose novels and short stories were a critique of the era's inequality in industrial cities and of its attitudes towards women, was fond of Ffestiniog. Mr and Mrs Gaskell visited the village and spent some time there on their wedding tour. On another later visit in 1844 it was at the inn there that their young son William caught scarlet fever, from which he died. It was to turn her thoughts from the grief of her bereavement that she upon her husband's advice began to write her first novel, Mary Barton.

George Borrow wrote briefly about Ffestiniog and its church-side pub, the Pengwern, in his travelogue Wild Wales. He says,

Situated in the square opposite the Pengwern Arms, is the oldest dwelling and established business in the area "Meirion House" its name derived from the county of Meirionydd the core of this grade2* listed building is thought to date back to 1411, with several annexes added on over the years, business was established here in 1726, it has retained many of its original character including the original pitch pine and oak beams and lath and plaster ceiling, slate floors and inglenook fireplace with inset cast iron double oven,in the slate floor inlaid there is a headstone, part of which is under the second stairway, believed to be constructed in the late 1800s.Part of Meirion House was once a small drovers bank, known as " Banc yr Ddafad Ddu" ( The Bank Of the Black Sheep)in the early 1800 it was a drapers shop. In the early 1900 it became a guest house with the original visitors book dating back to 1909, it was used extensively by cyclist and was a NCU,(National Cyclists Union)official quarters,In the visitors book there is an entry with reference to the ghost of "Elizabeth" (could be related to the inlaid headstone), during the second world war, officials from the national art gallery stayed here, whilst working at "Cwt y Bugail" quarry which was used to house the nations art galleries treasures, Original portraits of Robert Thomas Williams, and Mary Ellen Williams the tenants of Meirion House are still in the hall, the house was purchased from the 5th.Baron Newborough in 1925 by Robert Thomas Williams ( Son of Robert Thomas Williams and Mary Ellen Williams). The new build houses next door were built on the site of the "Abbey Arms" an old coaching Inn, which once had its own stables, and its very own guide dog, which used to take visitors down to Cynfal Falls, the dog was a Black Labrador called " Major ".

  For Pictures of Meirion House, and History go to, meirionhouse.blogspot.co.uk

.Ffestiniog railway station opened on 29 May 1868. It was closed to passenger services on 2 January 1960.

See also

• Festiniog and Blaenau Railway
• Ffestiniog

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Llan Ffestiniog.

   Meirionhouse.blogspot.co.uk     guide.ww.caeclyd.com/ Landscape photographs in and around Blaenau Ffestiniog]

• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llan Ffestiniog and surrounding area

Coordinates: 52°57′19″N 3°55′45″W / 52.95520°N 3.92915°W / 52.95520; -3.92915

Gwynedd Principal settlements Bala Bangor Barmouth Bethesda Blaenau Ffestiniog Caernarfon Criccieth Dolgellau Ffestiniog Harlech Nefyn Porthmadog Pwllheli Tywyn Towns and villages Aberangell Aberdaron Aberdesach Aberdyfi Abererch Abergeirw Abergwyngregyn Abergynolwyn Aberllefenni Abersoch Abertrinant Afon Wen Anelog Arthog Beddgelert Bethania Bethel Bethesda Betws Garmon Bodferin Boduan Bontddu Bontnewydd Botwnnog Bryncroes Bryn-crug Brynrefail Buan Bwlch-derwin Caeathro Capel Celyn Carmel Carnguwch Ceidio Chwilog Clwt-y-bont Clynnog Fawr Corris Uchaf Corris Croesor Cwm y Glo Deiniolen Dinas Dinas Dinlle Dinas Mawddwy Dinorwig Dolbenmaen Dolmelinllyn Dwygyfylchi Edern Efailnewydd Eisingrug Fairbourne Friog Frongoch Ganllwyd Garndolbenmaen Garneddwen Gellilydan Glasinfryn Groeslon Llan Ffestiniog Llanaber Llanaelhaearn Llanarmon Llanbedr Llanbedrog Llanberis Llandanwg Llandegwning Llandeiniolen Llandudwen Llandwrog Llandygai Llanegryn Llanelltyd Llanengan Llanfaelrhys Llanfaglan Llanfair Llanfihangel Bachellaeth Llanfihangel-y-Pennant Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Dolbenmaen Llanfrothen Llangelynnin Llangian Llangwnnadl Llangybi Llaniestyn Llanigian Llanllechid Llanllyfni Llannor Llanrug Llanuwchllyn Llanwnda Llanymawddwy Llanystumdwy Llithfaen Llwyndyrys Llwyngwril Maentwrog Mallwyd Mellteyrn Minffordd Morfa Bychan Morfa Nefyn Mynydd Llandygai Mynydd Nefyn Mynytho Nantlle Valley Rhostryfan Nantmor Nasareth Nebo Pant Glas Penffridd Penisa'r Waun Penllech Penllyn Penmaenpool Pennal Penrhos Penrhyndeudraeth Pentre Gwynfryn Penygroes Pen-y-meinl Pistyll Pontrug Porthdinllaen Portmeirion Prenteg Rachub Rhiwddolion Rhosgadfan Rhoshirwaun Rhoslefair Rhos-y-gwaliau Rhyd Ddu Rhyd Rhydyclafdy Sarn Meyllteyrn Soar Talsarnau Tal-y-bont (near Bangor) Tal-y-bont (near Barmouth) Tal-y-llyn Talysarn Tanygrisiau Trawsfynydd Trefor Tregarth Tremadog Tudweiliog Tywyn Waunfawr Y Felinheli Y Ffor Y Fron Y Rhiw Education Bangor University Coleg Harlech Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor Coleg Menai Schools Castles and forts Caernarfon Castle Castell y Bere Criccieth Castle Dolbadarn Castle Harlech Castle Fort Belan Rivers Afon Aber River Adda Afon Artro Afon Cegin Afon Cwmnantcol Afon Daron Afon Dwyfor Afon Dwyryd Afon Dysynni Afon Fathew Afon Glaslyn Afon Llyfni Afon Mawddach Afon Ogwen Afon Rhythallt Afon Seiont Afon Tryweryn Islands Bardsey Island Ynys Gifftan Topics Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Country houses Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings History Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums