Charles III
42-560: Aberdyfi ( Welsh pronunciation: [abɛrˈdəvi] ), also known as Aberdovey ( / æ b ə r ˈ d ʌ v iː / a-bər- DUH -vee ), is a village and community in Gwynedd , Wales , located on the northern side of the estuary of the River Dyfi . The population of the community was 878 at the 2011 census. The electoral ward had a larger population of 1,282 and includes the community of Pennal . Founded by shipbuilding , Aberdyfi
84-572: A J D Wetherspoon in the mid-2000s). On vesting its headquarters in July 1865 in Oswestry, the company built the Cambrian railways works to the north of the station on Gobowen Road. Its construction hastened Oswestry's boom as a railway town , from a population of 5,500 in 1861, to nearly 10,000 in 1901. Built of local red brick and costing £28,000, the locomotive erecting shop had a central traverser which
126-642: Is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest tier of local government in Wales . Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England but, unlike English parishes, communities cover the whole of Wales. There are 878 communities in Wales. Until 1974 Wales was divided into civil parishes . These were abolished by section 20 (6) of the Local Government Act 1972 , and replaced by communities by section 27 of
168-662: Is by the A493 , with Tywyn four miles to the north and Machynlleth 11 miles to the east. The village is on the Cambrian Coast railway line and has two railway stations, Aberdovey and Penhelig . Trains on the Cambrian Line are operated by Transport for Wales . The local bus service is operated by Lloyds Coaches with services to Tywyn , where a connection can be made for Dolgellau , and to Machynlleth , where connections are available to Aberystwyth . A ferry used to operate across
210-477: Is closely linked to the legend of the submerged lost kingdom of Cantre'r Gwaelod (English: Lowland Hundred ) beneath Cardigan Bay , and bells which, it is said, can be heard ringing beneath the water at the beach. The Bells of Aberdovey ( Welsh : Clychau Aberdyfi ) is a well-known song referring to this legend. This song first appeared in the English opera Liberty Hall in 1785, written by Charles Dibdin , and
252-458: Is not thought to be a traditional folk-song as Welsh words were written by John Ceiriog Hughes , during the 19th century. The legend and the song have inspired local cultural projects involving bells. A new chime of bells was installed in September 1936 in the tower of St Peter's Church, which overlooks the harbour. The ten bells, tuned in the key of A flat, were specifically designed to allow
294-422: Is now a seaside resort with a high quality beach . The centre is on the river and seafront, around the original harbour, jetty and beach; it stretches back from the coast and up the steep hillside in the midst of typical Welsh coastal scenery of steep green hills and sheep farms. Penhelig railway station ( Welsh : Penhelyg ) is in the eastern part of the village. Being less than 100 miles (160 km) from
336-443: Is situated on the river front. The deeds of 1923 state it was established in perpetuity as "a non-sectarian, non-political place of recreation, education and social intercourse including ... reading rooms, writing rooms, library, billiard rooms, concert rooms ..." Neuadd Dyfi is a community hall, conference centre and theatre owned by the village for village activities. It caters for a range of local organisations and events. Aberdyfi
378-633: The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway and No. 250 as a museum on the neighbouring Cholsey and Wallingford Railway having formerly been the Wallingford station café. Both No. 247 and No. 250 are grounded bodies. An unidentified first class passenger body also stands on the Tanat Valley Light Railway . A full brake car, No. 104, was recovered in August 2018 and currently resides on
420-477: The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 and the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 . Cambrian Railways The Cambrian Railways owned 230 miles (370 km) of track over a large area of mid Wales . The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904. The Cambrian connected with two larger railways with connections to the northwest of England via
462-823: The London and North Western Railway , and the Great Western Railway for connections between London and Wales. The Cambrian Railways amalgamated with the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1922 as a result of the Railways Act 1921 . The name is continued today in the route known as the Cambrian Line . The Cambrian Railways Company was created on 25 July 1864 when the Cambrian Railways Act 1864 ( 27 & 28 Vict. c. cclxii) received royal assent . The company
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#1732845534396504-575: The West Midlands , the area is popular with tourists. 43.3% of houses in the village are holiday homes. The village is located within the Snowdonia National Park . In the 2011 census , 38.5% of the population of Aberdyfi ward identified themselves as Welsh (or combined). 59.4% of the population were born outside Wales. According to the 2021 census , 43.3% could speak Welsh with an increase of 0.7% from last time. The anglicised spelling for
546-791: The Aberdovey Golf Club is Aberdyfi Football club boasting one of the best football pitches in Mid-Wales. The football team won the Welsh Amateur Cup Competition in 1934. The Aberdyfi Rowing Club rows in the Dyfi Estuary and Cardigan Bay and takes part in races all round the coast of Wales and internationally. They row 24’ long Celtic longboats, with four rowers (each with one oar) and a cox. They have three of these traditional Welsh boats with fixed seats and use these for races in Wales. The Aberdovey Literary Institute, founded in 1882,
588-606: The Cambrian Railways was taken over by the GWR on grouping in 1923, the GWR kept the works open as a regional carriage and wagon works, and locomotive repair shop for the associated locomotive shed . In 1911 there were 91 locomotives and one rail motor car in the Cambrian's rolling stock. At grouping in 1922, 94 standard-gauge engines and five narrow-gauge engines were transferred to the GWR, identified by type and builder at Locomotives of
630-612: The Cambrian was the section from Three Cocks to Talyllyn Junction . This had been opened in 1816 as part of the Hay Railway, a tramroad worked by horses connecting the town of Hay-on-Wye with the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal at Brecon . The western section was sold to the Brecon and Merthyr Railway ; the eastern section became part of the Mid-Wales Railway . In the following list
672-475: The Crown . In Wales, all town councils are community councils. There are now three communities with city status: Bangor , St Asaph and St Davids . The chair of a town council or city council will usually have the title mayor (Welsh: maer ). However, not every community has a council. In communities with populations too small to sustain a full community council, community meetings may be established. The communities in
714-533: The Dyfi estuary. She was unable to leave for 10 days because of the wind and could not be boarded as no suitable boats were available. An attempt to burn her was frustrated by winds and when she did leave she ended up being captured by a waiting English fleet off the Cornish coast. In the 1700s, the village grew with the appearance of several of the inns still in current use (The Dovey Hotel, Britannia and Penhelig Arms). Copper
756-575: The Great Western Railway . After becoming part of the London Midland Region in 1963, the depot closed in January 1965, the works in early 1966. A Grade II listed building , the works today is an antiques centre, small business hub and document storage centre. A registered museum dedicated to the history of the Cambrian Railways is run by Cambrian Heritage Railways in Oswestry. A selection of original Cambrian Railways coaches have survived into
798-655: The Opposition Andrew RT Davies MS ( C ) Shadow Cabinet ( current ) Prime Minister Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP ( L ) Secretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Jo Stevens MP (L) Principal councils ( leader list ) Corporate Joint Committees Local twinning see also: Regional terms and Regional economy United Kingdom Parliament elections European Parliament elections (1979–2020) Local elections Police and crime commissioner elections Referendums A community ( Welsh : cymuned )
840-555: The River Dyfi to Ynyslas . The last ferryman was Ellis Williams . Popular recreational activities focus on the beach and watersports , such as windsurfing , kitesurfing , fishing , crabbing , sailing , and canoeing on the estuary. The Dovey Yacht Club has a prominent position on the river front of the village. It was founded in 1949 and helped develop the popularity of the GP14 dinghy class. It organises races for dinghies throughout
882-650: The United Kingdom. Bugail Aberdyfi (the Shepherd of Aberdovey) is a poem written by John Ceiriog Hughes which has been set to music and recorded by several singers including Bryn Terfel . The children's novel, Silver on the Tree , by Susan Cooper , the final book of The Dark is Rising , is largely set around Aberdyfi, with many references to local landmarks. The novel, Megan's Game by Tony Drury, published in 2012, contains many references to Aberdyfi, surrounding areas and
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#1732845534396924-517: The amalgamation because it was still under construction. In all, the new company had lines totalling 97 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (157 km) in length. As well as incorporating existing railways, the new company had agreements to share traffic with the Mid-Wales Railway , the Manchester and Milford Railway and the Great Western Railway . This allowed it to control the transportation of goods and passengers across mid Wales. The earliest section of
966-521: The centre of the village, Pen-y-Bryn, has been claimed to be the site of fortifications in the 1150s, which were soon destroyed. The site of Aberdyfi Castle however is usually said to be at the motte earthworks further up the opposite side of the river near Glandyfi . During the Spanish Armada of 1597 , a Spanish ship, the Bear of Amsterdam missed her objective at Milford Haven and ended up having entered
1008-745: The community boundaries within their area every fifteen years. The councils propose changes to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales , which prepares a report and makes recommendations to the Welsh Government . If the Welsh Government accepts the recommendations, then it implements them using a statutory instrument . For example, in 2016 four new communities were created in the City and County of Cardiff . The legislation surrounding community councils in Wales has been amended significantly in
1050-540: The dates are: date of incorporation; opening date (The information in this section was taken largely from The Railway Year Book 1912 .) The Cambrian had connections with many independent lines, including: The headquarters of the Cambrian Railways was at Oswestry railway station in Shropshire. The building still stands today, although detached from modern network main railway lines, and was in use for commercial purposes until 2004. After restoration in 2005, this building
1092-526: The legend of The Bells of Aberdovey . Community (Wales) Heir Apparent William, Prince of Wales First Minister ( list ) Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS ( L ) Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS ( L ) Counsel General-designate – Elisabeth Jones Chief Whip and Trefnydd – Jane Hutt MS (L) Permanent Secretary Sixth Senedd Llywydd (Presiding Officer) Elin Jones MS ( PC ) Leader of
1134-412: The playing of The Bells of Aberdovey and are played from a mechanical carillon inside the church. In 2010 an art installation was commissioned from sculptor Marcus Vergette as a homage to The Bells of Aberdovey . The work is a bronze time-and-tide bell suspended beneath the pier which is rung by the action of water at high tide. It was installed in July 2011 and is one of several such bells around
1176-507: The present day. Coaches 4, 251 and an unidentified saloon/brake car all stand in private residence. No. 9 is in private storage. No. 110 is being restored to service on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway . No. 238 and an unidentified six-wheel brake resides with the National Museums & Galleries of Wales . No. 247 is currently being used as the café at Chinnor station on
1218-487: The same Act. The principal areas of Wales are divided entirely into communities. Unlike in England, where unparished areas exist, no part of Wales is outside a community, even in urban areas . Most, but not all, communities are administered by community councils , which are equivalent to English parish councils in terms of their powers and the way they operate. Welsh community councils may call themselves town councils unilaterally and may have city status granted by
1260-769: The same name stretches inland along the A494 road and includes Pennal community. The total population of the ward taken at the 2011 census was 1,282. Chapels in Aberdyfi include the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel, the English Presbyterian chapel, the Wesleyan Methodist chapel, and the Welsh Independent congregational chapel. The Anglican ( Church in Wales ) is St Peter's. Road access to Aberdyfi
1302-467: The season on the estuary of the River Dyfi . The Aberdovey Golf Club, founded in 1892, is a famous 18 hole links course located near the railway station. It is world-renowned, having been described frequently and lyrically in the press by Bernard Darwin , the famed golf writer, who was a notable member of the club. In 1895, it was the location of the first Welsh Golfing Union Championship. Current members include Ian Woosnam and Peter Baker . Located by
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1344-645: The two spellings interchangeably e.g. the BBC or under different circumstances e.g. the Aberdyfi Community Council. Local tradition suggests that the Romans established a track into the area as part of the military occupation of Wales around AD78. The strategic location in mid-Wales was the site of several conferences between north and south Wales princes in 540, 1140, and for the Council of Aberdyfi in 1216. The hill in
1386-551: The urban areas of the cities of Cardiff , Swansea and Newport do not have community councils. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census , there were 869 communities in Wales. 84 percent, or more than 730, have a council. They vary in size from Rhayader with an area of 13,945 hectares (34,460 acres) to Cefn Fforest with an area of 64 hectares (160 acres). They ranged in population from Barry with 45,053 recorded inhabitants to Baglan Bay with no permanent residents. The twenty-two principal area councils are required to review
1428-595: The village and community is Aberdovey . The Welsh Aberdyfi is now widely used locally and by the Gwynedd Council and the Welsh Government . The body responsible for providing advice on the standard forms of Welsh place-names, the Welsh Language Commissioner , recommends Aberdyfi to be the standard form for use in both English and Welsh. Some entities continue to use the anglicisation e.g. some local businesses in their name and/or address and some use
1470-411: Was built in 1887, with railway lines connecting it with the wharf and the main line. The Aberdyfi & Waterford Steamship Company imported livestock from Ireland which were then taken further by the railway. Coal, limestone and timber were also imported. Local coastal shipping links with Liverpool were strong, with many Aberdyfi men sailing on international voyages from Liverpool. The SS Dora
1512-472: Was ferried across the river, as the line to Dovey Junction and then Machynlleth was not completed until 1867. Due to public demand, this section had to use a long tunnel behind the village centre, and further major earthworks and tunnels were needed along the bank of the river. This line, which became part of the Cambrian Railways , and later the Great Western Railway , is particularly scenic. A jetty
1554-559: Was formed by amalgamating most of the railway companies in mid Wales: the Oswestry and Newtown Railway , the Llanidloes and Newtown Railway , the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway and the Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway . The shareholders of these constituent companies became the shareholders in the new Cambrian Railways Company. The Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway was not included in
1596-448: Was hand-operated, serving 12 roads on each side. On the far north end of the works, 11 sidings accessed a carriage and wagon works. Power to the machines was provided by a large steam engine via overhead shafting and belts. The 150-foot (46 m) chimney is still a local landmark. Whilst many carriages and wagons were built in the workshops, only two locomotives were actually constructed at Oswestry, though many were rebuilt there. After
1638-508: Was mined in the present Copperhill Street, and lead in Penhelig ( Welsh : Penhelyg ). In the 1800s, Aberdyfi was at its peak as a port. Major exports were slate and oak bark . Ship building was based in seven shipyards in Penhelig where 45 sailing ships were built between 1840 and 1880. The railway came to the village in 1863 built by the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway . The first train
1680-434: Was one of the last ships trading between Aberdyfi and Liverpool and was scuttled, with no loss of life, by a German submarine in 1917. The jetty and wharf continued in commercial use for coal until 1959. After prolonged negotiations, redevelopments from 1968 to 1971, including rebuilding the jetty, led to their present use mainly for recreational purposes. Some local fishing still occurs. The first ever Outward Bound centre
1722-512: Was opened in the village in 1941. Many of their activities involve the river, boats and jetty. The village's first lifeboat was bought in 1837. Run by the RNLI since 1853, it has taken part in many rescues, sometimes with loss of life of crew members. The current lifeboat, an Atlantic 75, is housed in the boathouse by the jetty and is launched using a lifeboat tractor. Currently it is averaging about 25 emergency launches each year. An electoral ward of
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1764-536: Was reopened as the Cambrian Visitor Centre in June 2006; but on 11 January 2008 closed due to the terms of the lease not being settled. It has since reopened and, amongst other things, is as of 2009 being used as the headquarters for the newly formed Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) restoration project. The largest station premises on the line were at Aberystwyth (part of which has been restored and reopened as
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