110-562: De Winton & Co (1854–1901) were engineers in Caernarfon , Wales . They built, amongst other things, vertical boilered narrow gauge locomotives for use in Welsh slate mines and other industrial settings. At least six De Winton locomotives have been preserved. But these quarry tramway locomotives, for which in the 21st century they are largely remembered, were just a small part of this company's engineering output. The company had its origins in
220-662: A World Heritage Site described as the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd . The town's name consists of three elements: caer , yn , and Arfon . "Caer' means 'fortress", in this case either the Roman fort of Segontium , which lies on the outskirts of the modern town, or the Norman castle erected near the mouth of the Afon Seiont . "Arfon" means "opposite Môn (Anglesey)", and
330-482: A municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country. The Local Government Act 1894 directed that parishes were no longer allowed to straddle borough boundaries, and so the part of the parish of Llanbeblig outside the borough became the separate parish of Waunfawr (initially spelt Waenfawr). The municipal borough of Caernarfon
440-407: A "Welsh only" national identity. Caernarfon historically formed part of the parish of Llanbeblig, named after Saint Peblig, the son of Saint Elen and Macsen Wledig ( Magnus Maximus ). St Peblig's Church stands 0.6 miles (0.97 km) south-east of the walled town. It is built on an important early Christian site, itself built on a Roman Mithraeum or temple of Mithras . This was located close to
550-607: A 30 per cent partner. In 1974, Anglesey became a district of the new county of Gwynedd . Until 1974, Anglesey was divided into civil parishes for the purpose of local government; these in large part equated to ecclesiastical parishes (see the table below), most of which still exist as part of the Church in Wales. (chapelries are listed in italics) a chapelry to Llantrisant in Lyfon hundred The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 abolished
660-583: A Celtic word for 'mountain' (reflected in Welsh mynydd , Breton menez and Scottish Gaelic monadh ), from a Proto-Celtic *moniyos . Poetic names for the island of Anglesey include the Old Welsh Ynys Dywyll (Shady or Dark Isle) for its former groves and Ynys y Cedairn (Isle of the Brave) for its royal courts; Gerald of Wales ' Môn Mam Cymru ("Môn, Mother of Wales") for its agricultural productivity; and Y fêl Ynys (Honey Isle). The history of
770-450: A Grade I listed building . The present castle building was constructed between 1283 and 1330 by the order of King Edward I. The banded stonework and polygonal towers are thought to have been in imitation of the Walls of Constantinople . The impressive curtain wall with nine towers and two gatehouses survive largely intact. Caernarfon Castle is now under the care of Cadw and is open to
880-484: A World Heritage Site in 1986. According to UNESCO , the castle and walls together with other royal castles in Gwynedd "are the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe". Caernarfon County Hall and the police station are two former municipal buildings which stand on Castle Ditch, facing the castle walls. Constructed in the mid-19th century, they were designed by John Fisher,
990-541: A few natural lakes, mostly in the west, such as Llyn Llywenan , the largest on the island, Llyn Coron, and Cors Cerrig y Daran, but rivers are few and small. There are two large water supply reservoirs operated by Welsh Water . These are Llyn Alaw to the north of the island and Llyn Cefni in the centre of the island, which is fed by the headwaters of the Afon Cefni . The climate is humid (though less so than neighbouring mountainous Gwynedd ) and generally equable thanks to
1100-450: A major tourist centre and seat of Gwynedd Council , with a thriving harbour and marina. Caernarfon has expanded beyond its medieval walls and experienced heavy suburbanisation . The community of Caernarfon's population includes the highest percentage of Welsh -speaking citizens anywhere in Wales. The status of Royal Borough was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1963 and amended to Royal Town in 1974. The castle and town walls are part of
1210-461: A majority of independent councillors. Though members did not generally divide along party lines, these were organised into five non-partisan groups on the council, containing a mix of party and independent candidates. The position has been similar since the election, although the Labour Party has formed a governing coalition with the independents. Brand new council offices were built at Llangefni in
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#17328455945471320-405: A maritime museum and a range of shops and stores. Pool Street and Castle Square contain a number of large, national retail shops and smaller independent stores. Pool Street is pedestrianised and serves as the town's main shopping street. Castle Square, commonly referred to as the 'Maes' by both Welsh and English speakers, is the market square of the town. A market is held every Saturday throughout
1430-590: A number of speakers including Hardeep Singh Kohli , Evra Rose, Dafydd Iwan, Lleuwen Steffan, Siôn Jobbins, Beth Angell, Gwion Hallam, Meleri Davies and Elfed Wyn Jones. Talks covered criticism of Brexit and Westminster with advocating Welsh Independence. The history of Caernarfon, as an example where the rise and fall of different civilizations can be seen from one hilltop, is discussed in John Michael Greer 's book The Long Descent . He writes of Caernarfon: Spread out below us in an unexpected glory of sunlight
1540-613: A permanent station for the town in February 2017. The new station opened to passengers in the Spring of 2019. Heritage steam services provide links to Porthmadog , where passengers can change for services on the Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog . Bus services in the town are provided by Arriva Buses Wales , and a number of smaller, local operators. Longer distance, cross-country services are operated by Lloyds Coaches , and connect
1650-457: A similar landscape, with a rugged north and west coast and beaches to the east and south. The county is surrounded by smaller islands; several, including South Stack and Puffin Island , are home to seabird colonies. Large parts of the county's coastline have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The county has many prehistoric monuments, such as Bryn Celli Ddu burial chamber. In
1760-573: A small foundry built on the slate wharf at Caernarfon by Owen Thomas in the 1840s. He subsequently went into partnership with Jeffreys Parry de Winton and the firm developed as the Union Foundry. Manufactures included street gaslight columns and all manner of street furniture. When the Carnarvonshire Railway was being built under Castle Square, the tunnel roof was supported by iron beams supplied by De Winton's and their name can still be seen at
1870-520: A small hospital, 'Ysbyty Eryri' (Snowdonia Hospital). The nearest large regional hospital is Ysbyty Gwynedd , in Bangor . Caernarfon Barracks was commissioned by John Lloyd, County Surveyor of Caernarfonshire , as a military headquarters and completed in 1855. Caernarfon was at one time an important port, exporting slate from the Dyffryn Nantlle quarries. This traffic was facilitated from 1828 by
1980-717: A spelling that is still occasionally used today. Ynys Môn , the island and county's Welsh name, first appeared in the Latin Mona of various Roman sources. It was likewise known to the Saxons as Monez . The Brittonic original was in the past taken to have meant "Island of the Cow". The name is probably cognate with the Gaelic name of the Isle of Man , Mannin , ( Manaw in Welsh), usually derived from
2090-431: A wall at Tŷ Mawr and Roman-era pottery from the 3rd to 4th centuries AD. Some of these huts were still being used for agricultural purposes as late as the 6th century. The first excavation of Ty Mawr was conducted by William Owen Stanley of Penrhos, Anglesey (son of Baron Stanley of Alderley ). Historically, Anglesey has long been associated with the druids . The Roman conquest of Anglesey began in 60 CE when
2200-416: Is a local attraction offering looks at local marine wildlife from common lobsters to congers . All fish and crustaceans on display are caught round the island and placed in habitat reconstructions. The zoo also breeds lobsters commercially for food and oysters for pearls, both from local stocks. Sea salt ( Halen Môn , from local sea water) is produced in a facility nearby, having formerly been made at
2310-595: Is a nesting site for skylarks . The sheer cliff faces at South Stack near Holyhead provide nesting sites for large numbers of auks , including puffins , razorbills and guillemots , along with choughs and peregrine falcons . Anglesey holds several tern species, including the roseate tern on three breeding sites – see Anglesey tern colonies . There are marked occurrences of the Juncus subnodulosus – Cirsium palustre fen-meadow plant association marked by hydrophilic grasses, sedges and forbs. Anglesey supports two of
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#17328455945472420-539: Is also used locally in Caernarfon to describe the local Welsh dialect , notable for a number of words not in use elsewhere. Within Wales, Gwynedd has the highest proportion of speakers of the Welsh language . The greatest concentration of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd is found in and around Caernarfon. According to the 2011 census, 85.8% of residents were born in Wales, one of the highest proportions in Gwynedd, and 77.0% reported
2530-568: Is based at the Institute Building on Pavilion Hill (Allt Pafiliwn). As a royal town, the town council is allowed to style itself Caernarfon Royal Town Council (Cyngor Tref Frenhinol Caernarfon), which names it has used in the past, but as at 2024 it does not do so on its website or in council minutes. Gwynedd Council also has its headquarters in the town at the Council Offices on Shirehall Street. The Caernarfon parliamentary constituency
2640-403: Is one of the first villages in Wales, it was built at Llanfaethlu . Also an example permanent settlement on Anglesey is of a Bronze Age built burial mound , Bryn Celli Ddu (English: Dark Grove Hill ). The mound started as a henge enclosure around 3000 BC and was adapted several times over a millennium. There are numerous megalithic monuments and menhirs in the county, testifying to
2750-546: Is restricted to Holyhead (Caergybi), which until 30 September 2009 supported an aluminium smelter , and the Amlwch area, once a copper mining town. Nearby stood Wylfa Nuclear Power Station and a former bromine extraction plant. With construction starting in 1963, the two Wylfa reactors began producing power in 1971. One reactor was decommissioned in 2012, the other in 2015. Anglesey has three wind farms on land. There were plans to install tidal-flow turbines near The Skerries off
2860-592: Is situated on the southern bank of the Menai Strait facing the Isle of Anglesey . It is situated 8.6 miles (13.8 km) south-west of Bangor, 19.4 miles (31.2 km) north of Porthmadog and approximately 8.0 miles (12.9 km) west of Llanberis and Snowdonia National Park. The mouth of the River Seiont is in the town, creating a natural harbour where it flows into the Menai Strait. Caernarfon Castle stands at
2970-500: Is the largest in Wales and the Irish Sea , the seventh largest in Britain , and the sixth most populous island in Britain. The northern and eastern coasts of the island are rugged, and the southern and western coasts are generally gentler; the interior is gently undulating. In the north of the island is Llyn Alaw , a reservoir with an area of 1.4 square miles (4 km ). Holy Island has
3080-501: Is very prominent in the new Maes." There are many old public houses serving the town, including The Four Alls, The Anglesey Arms Hotel, The Castle Hotel, The Crown, Morgan Lloyd, Pen Deitch and The Twthill Vaults. The oldest public house in Caernarfon is the Black Boy Inn , which remained in the same family for over 40 years until sold in 2003 to a local independent family business. The pub has stood inside Caernarfon's Town Walls since
3190-605: The Historia Brittonum traditionally ascribed to Nennius . A medieval romance about Maximus and Elen, Macsen's Dream , calls her home Caer Aber Sein ("Fort Seiontmouth" or "the fortress at the mouth of the Seiont") and other pre-conquest poets such as Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd used the name Caer Gystennin . A 1221 charter by Llywelyn the Great to the canons of Penmon priory on Anglesey mentions Kaerinarfon , and
3300-466: The A4086 , which heads east out of the town towards Capel Curig . Anglesey Anglesey ( / ˈ æ ŋ ɡ əl s iː / ; Welsh : Ynys Môn [ˈənɨs ˈmoːn] ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales . It forms the bulk of the county known as the Isle of Anglesey , which also includes Holy Island ( Ynys Gybi ) and some islets and skerries . The county borders Gwynedd across
3410-455: The A487 road , on the eastern shore of the Menai Strait , opposite the island of Anglesey . The city of Bangor is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) to the north-east, while Snowdonia (Eryri) fringes Caernarfon to the east and south-east. Abundant natural resources in and around the Menai Strait enabled human habitation in prehistoric Britain . The Ordovices , a Celtic tribe , lived in the region during
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3520-601: The Britannia Bridge , originally designed by Robert Stephenson in 1850. The English name for Anglesey may be derived from the Old Norse ; either Ǫngullsey "Hook Island" or Ǫnglisey "Ǫngli's Island". No record of such an Ǫngli survives, but the place name was used by Viking raiders as early as the 10th century and later adopted by the Normans during their invasions of Gwynedd . The traditional folk etymology reading
3630-542: The Caernarfonshire county surveyor in a Neoclassical style. They are both Grade I listed buildings . In the 20th century the buildings were vacated. The courthouse was replaced by the new Caernarfon Criminal Justice Centre on the former Segontium School site in Llanberis Road in 2009. The former county hall now operates as an entertainment venue, and the former police station as commercial offices. Adjacent to
3740-599: The Gulf Stream . The land is of variable quality and has probably lost some fertility. Anglesey has the northernmost olive grove in Europe and presumably in the world. The coast of the Isle of Anglesey is more populous than the interior. The largest community is Holyhead , which is located on Holy Island and had a population of 12,103 at the 2021 United Kingdom census . It is followed by Amlwch (3,697), Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf (3,085), and Menai Bridge (3,046), all located on
3850-519: The Jómsvíkinga — and by Saxons , and Normans , before falling to Edward I of England in the 13th century. The connection with the Vikings can be seen in the name of the island. In ancient times it was called "Maenige" and received the name "Ongulsey" or Angelsoen, from where the current name originates. Anglesey (with Holy Island) is one of the 13 historic counties of Wales . In medieval times, before
3960-397: The Menai Strait to the southeast, and is otherwise surrounded by the Irish Sea . Holyhead is the largest town, and the administrative centre is Llangefni . The county is part of the preserved county of Gwynedd. Anglesey is the northernmost county in Wales. The Isle of Anglesey has an area of 275 square miles (712 km ) and a population of 69,049 in 2022. After Holyhead (12,103),
4070-601: The Nantlle Railway which predated far more widely known ventures such as the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and the Ffestiniog Railway . Five passenger stations have served the town. Caernarvon railway station opened in 1852 as the western terminus of the Bangor and Carnarvon Railway . This connected the town with the North Wales coast and the expanding national network. Carnarvon Castle railway station opened in 1856 as
4180-513: The Norman invasion of Wales . He was unsuccessful, and Wales remained independent until around 1283. In the 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd , ruler of Gwynedd, refused to pay homage to Edward I of England , prompting the English conquest of Gwynedd . This was followed by the construction of Caernarfon Castle , one of the largest and most imposing fortifications built by the English in Wales. In 1284,
4290-529: The Roman departure from Britain in the early 5th century, pirates from Ireland colonised Anglesey and the nearby Llŷn Peninsula . In response to this, Cunedda ap Edern , a Gododdin warlord from Scotland, came to the area and began to drive the Irish out. This was continued by his son Einion Yrth ap Cunedda and grandson Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion ; the last Irish invaders were finally defeated in battle in 470. During
4400-457: The 16th century, and many people claim to have seen ghosts within the building. In and around the Town Walls are numerous restaurants, public houses and inns, and guest houses and hostels. There are two tiers of local government covering Caernarfon, at community (town) and county level: Caernarfon Town Council (Cyngor Tref Caernarfon) and Gwynedd Council (Cyngor Gwynedd). The town council
4510-587: The 17th and 20th centuries, with connections ranging from close geographical proximity and shared transport networks to marriage and family ties. One example, the article notes, is that in 1663 the Duke of Ormonde wrote from Dublin Castle to Lord Bulkley of Baron Hill, Anglesey, who had been created Viscount Bulkeley of Cashel in 1644, about bringing partridges from Anglesey to Ireland for a hunt. The Shire Hall in Llangefni
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4620-516: The 1974 county and the five districts on 1 April 1996, and Anglesey became a separate unitary authority . In 2011, the Welsh Government appointed a panel of commissioners to administer the council, which meant the elected members were not in control. The commissioners remained until an election was held in May 2013, restoring an elected Council. Before the period of direct administration, there had been
4730-426: The 1990s for the new Isle of Anglesey County Council . Anglesey is a low-lying island with low hills spaced evenly over the north. The highest six are Holyhead Mountain , 220 metres (720 ft); Mynydd Bodafon , 178 metres (584 ft); Mynydd Eilian , 177 metres (581 ft); Mynydd y Garn , 170 metres (560 ft); Bwrdd Arthur , 164 metres (538 ft); and Mynydd Llwydiarth, 158 metres (518 ft). To
4840-577: The 9th century, King Rhodri Mawr unified Wales and separated the country into at least 3 provinces between his sons. He gave Gwynedd to his son, Anarawd ap Rhodri , who founded the medieval Welsh dynasty , The House of Aberffraw on Anglesey. The island had a good defensive position, and so Aberffraw became the site of the royal court ( Welsh : Llys ) of the Kingdom of Gwynedd . Apart from devastating Danish raids in 853 and 968 in Aberffraw, it remained
4950-665: The English-style county of Caernarfonshire was established by the Statute of Rhuddlan ; the same year, Caernarfon was made a borough , a county and market town , and the seat of English government in north Wales. The ascent of the Welsh House of Tudor to the throne of England eased hostilities with the English and resulted in Caernarfon Castle falling into a state of disrepair. The town has flourished, leading to its status as
5060-515: The Iron Age, and also some of these sites were later adapted by Celts into hillforts and finally were in use during the Roman period (c. 100 AD) as roundhouses. Castell Bryn Gwyn (English: White hill castle , also called Bryn Beddau, or the "hill of graves" ) near Llanidan , Anglesey is an example of a Neolithic site that became a hillfort that was used until the Roman period by the Ordovices ,
5170-622: The Middle Ages the area was part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd and its cadet branch the House of Aberffraw who maintained courts ( Welsh : llysoedd ) at Aberffraw and Rhosyr . After Edward I 's late 13th century conquest of Gwynedd, Beaumaris Castle was constructed and today is a part of Gwynedd's world heritage sites . The Menai Strait to the mainland is spanned by the Menai Suspension Bridge , designed by Thomas Telford in 1826, and
5280-644: The National Trust at Penrhyn Castle by Mrs. D. Williams in May 1972. Loaned to the Welsh Highland Railway for display at Caernarfon railway station in April 2019 Caernarfon Caernarfon ( / k ər ˈ n ɑːr v ə n , k ɑːr -/ ; Welsh: [kaɨrˈnarvɔn] ) is a royal town , community and port in Gwynedd , Wales . It has a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro ). It lies along
5390-601: The RAF Fast Jet Training School and 22 Sqn Search and Rescue Helicopters, both units providing employment to about 500 civilians. RAF Valley is now the 22 Sqn Search and Rescue headquarters. The range of smaller industries is mostly in industrial and business parks such as Llangefni and Gaerwen . The island is on one of the main road routes from Britain to Ireland, via ferries from Holyhead on Holy Island to Dún Laoghaire and Dublin Port. The Anglesey Sea Zoo
5500-546: The River Seiont. In 1283, King Edward I completed his conquest of Wales which he secured by a chain of castles and walled towns. The construction of a new stone Caernarfon Castle seems to have started as soon as the campaign had finished. Edward's architect, James of St. George , may well have modelled the castle on the walls of Constantinople , possibly being aware of the town's legendary associations. Edward's fourth son, Edward of Caernarfon, later Edward II of England ,
5610-588: The Roman Empire by Gnaeus Julius Agricola , the Roman governor of Britain, in AD 78. During the Roman occupation, the area was notable for the mining of copper . The foundations of Caer Gybi , a fort in Holyhead , are Roman, and the present road from Holyhead to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll was originally a Roman road . The island was grouped by Ptolemy with Ireland (" Hibernia ") rather than with Britain (" Albion "). After
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#17328455945475720-420: The Roman general Gaius Suetonius Paulinus , determined to break the power of the druids, attacked the island using his amphibious Batavian contingent as a surprise vanguard assault and then destroyed the shrine and the nemeta ( sacred groves ). News of Boudica 's revolt reached him just after his victory, causing him to withdraw his army before consolidating his conquest. The island was finally brought into
5830-507: The Sea Zoo site. Plans were offered in 2013 by Horizon , a subsidiary of Hitachi , to start production in the 2020s. Though enthusiastically endorsed by Anglesey Council and Welsh Assembly members, protesters raised doubts about its economic and safety claims, and in January 2019 Hitachi announced it was putting development on hold. On 17 January 2019, Hitachi-Horizon Nuclear Power announced it
5940-469: The Segontium Roman Fort which lies 200 metres (660 feet) away. A Roman altar was found in one of the walls of the church during 19th-century restoration work. The present church dates mainly from the 14th century and is built to a Cruciform architectural plan . A major restoration was undertaken in 1894. St Peblig's is a Grade I listed building . St Mary's Church was begun in 1307 as a chapel for
6050-519: The United Kingdom (over 50 feet in diameter), which remained in daily use until 1925 when it was replaced by a Pelton wheel but retained as standby. The wheel is the subject of a preservation order but in fact the entire workshop complex is preserved as the National Slate Museum . Jeffreys Parry de Winton (born Wilkins 1828–1892) was mayor of Caernarfon (1870–1872) when his company was one of
6160-399: The Welsh chronicle Brut y Tywysogion mentions both Kaerenarvon and Caerenarvon . The town and the county named after it were officially spelled "Carnarvon" until 1926. At a meeting on 10 November 1925 the borough council resolved to ask the county council to change the spelling to "Caernarvon". The county council gave permission for the change of spelling for the name of
6270-403: The bays around Carmel Head. The north coast has sharp cliffs with small bays. Anglesey Coastal Path outlining the island is 124 miles (200 km) long and touches 20 towns and villages. The starting point is St Cybi's Church, Holyhead . Tourism is now the major economic activity. Agriculture comes second, with local dairies being some of the most productive in the region. Major industry
6380-413: The borough with effect from 14 January 1926, and at the same time decided to ask the government to also change the spelling of the county's name to Caernarvon. The government confirmed the change in the spelling of the county's name with effect from 1 July 1926. The municipal borough was designated a royal borough in 1963. When the borough was abolished in 1974 the status of "royal town" was granted to
6490-497: The capital until the 13th, after Rhodri Mawr had moved his family seat from Caernarfon and built a royal palace at Aberffraw in 873. This is when improvements to the English navy made the location indefensible. Anglesey was also briefly the most southerly possession of the Norwegian Empire . After the Irish, the island was invaded by Vikings — some raids were noted in famous sagas (see Menai Strait History ) such as
6600-507: The castle and garrison. It is built against the town wall, the Bell Tower acting as a vestry . The church was restored by Benjamin Dean Wyatt in 1811-1814. The exterior mainly reflects Wyatt's work, except its north and west walls which are "Master James of St George's massive limestone masonry of 1284-1290", but the arcades in the nave, and other internal elements, are medieval. The church is
6710-451: The castle from the Crown in 1807 and it has been open to the public under the guardianship of the Crown ever since 1925. Due to its geographic proximity, Anglesey (and particularly Holyhead ) enjoyed close cultural ties with Ireland throughout the later parts of this period. A 2023 study in The Welsh History Review by historian Adam N. Coward highlights the interconnectedness of landed gentry families in Ireland and Anglesey between
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#17328455945476820-462: The coast of the island of Anglesey. The largest community in the interior of Anglesey is Llangefni (5,500), the county town; the next-largest is Llanfihangel Ysgeifiog (1,711). Beaumaris (Welsh: Biwmares ) in the east features Beaumaris Castle , built by Edward I during his Bastide campaign in North Wales . Beaumaris is a yachting centre, with boats moored in the bay or off Gallows Point. The village of Newborough (Welsh: Niwbwrch ), in
6930-428: The conquest of Wales in 1283, Môn often had periods of temporary independence, when frequently bequeathed to the heirs of kings as a sub-kingdom of Gwynedd , an example of this was Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn I, the Great c. 1200s) who was styled the Prince of Aberffraw . After the Norman invasion of Wales was one of the last times this occurred a few years after 1171, after the death of Owain Gwynedd , when
7040-422: The engine preserved at Parc Glynllifon near Caernarfon is the second oldest working stationary engine in Britain. De Winton's supplied the quarry industry and made whatever might be needed. At the large and very profitable Dinorwic Quarry in Llanberis , in 1870, De Winton's built and equipped an entire workshop with machinery powered by overhead shafting that in its turn was driven by the largest water wheel in
7150-415: The entrance to the tunnel, which is now used as a road underpass. The foundry was a major supplier to the Caernarfon and Liverpool ship building industry. The firm built marine steam engines up to 200 bhp powered by boilers that they also made. These marine engines influenced the quarry locomotives that they made. Over 60 were produced over a 25-year period. They also built stationary steam engines and
7260-422: The first bridge to the mainland was being built. Hitherto Porthaethwy had been one of the main ferry ports for the mainland. A short distance from the town lies Bryn Celli Ddu , a Stone Age burial mound. Nearby is the village with the longest name in Europe, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch , and Plas Newydd , ancestral home of the Marquesses of Anglesey . The town of Amlwch lies in
7370-441: The first use of this kind of arrangement in Wales, but it has been described by councillor Bob Anderson as being 'too ambiguous' for road users. Another controversy caused by the revamp of the Maes was that a historic old oak tree was taken down from outside the HSBC bank. When the Maes was re-opened in July 2009 by the local politician and Heritage Minister of Wales, Alun Ffred Jones AM, he said, "the use of beautiful local slate
7480-414: The former house of Aberffraw, Prince Madog ap Llywelyn had attacked King Edward I's castles in North Wales . As a direct response, Beaumaris Castle was constructed to control Edward's interests in Anglesey, but by the 1320s the build was abandoned and never complete. The castle was besieged by Owain Glyndŵr in the early 15th century. It was ruinous by 1609; however, the 6th Viscount Bulkeley purchased
7590-457: The foundry was used as a bonded warehouse and wine merchants. It stands opposite Caernarfon station of the Welsh Highland Railway . The steam engine at Glynllifon was restored by Fred Dibnah after he was originally called to the park to quote for the demolition of the chimney. The De Winton records were not preserved, so the complete list of locomotives produced is not known. Purchased in 1966 by Mr. Evan Hughes of Llanrwst and loaned to
7700-444: The full name therefore means "the fortress in the land opposite Anglesey". The earlier British and Romano-British settlement at Segontium was named Cair Segeint (" Fort Seiont") after the river. It was also known as Cair Custoient ("Fortress of Constantine"), after a belief that it was the capital of Gwynedd under Constantine, a supposed son of Saint Elen and the Emperor Magnus Maximus . Both names appear in
7810-427: The high contrails of RAF jets on a training exercise out over the Irish Sea showed that the town’s current overlords still maintained the old watch. Houses and shops from more than half a dozen centuries spread eastward as they rose through the waters of time, from the cramped medieval buildings of the old castle town straight ahead to the gaudy sign and sprawling parking lot of the supermarket back behind us. Caernarfon
7920-449: The island was inherited by Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd , and between 1246 and about 1255 when it was granted to Owain Goch as his share of the kingdom. After the conquest of Wales by Edward I , Anglesey became a county under the terms of the Statute of Rhuddlan of 1284. Hitherto it had been divided into the cantrefi of Aberffraw , Rhosyr and Cemaes . During 1294 as a rebellion of
8030-584: The island's men had died on active service. In 1936 the NSPCC opened its first branch on Anglesey. During the Second World War , Anglesey received Italian POWs . The island was designated a reception zone, and was home to evacuee children from Liverpool and Manchester . In 1971, a 100,000 ton per annum aluminum smelter was opened by Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation and British Insulated Callender's Cables with Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation as
8140-540: The lakes all have significant ecological interest, including a wide range of aquatic and semi-aquatic bird species. In the west, the Malltraeth Marshes are believed to support an occasional visiting bittern , and the nearby estuary of the Afon Cefni has a bird population made famous internationally by the paintings of Charles Tunnicliffe , who lived and died at Malltraeth on the Cefni estuary. The RAF airstrip at Mona
8250-439: The largest settlements are Llangefni (5,500) and Amlwch (3,967). The economy of the county is mostly based on agriculture, energy, and tourism, the latter especially on the coast. Holyhead is also a major ferry port for Dublin , Ireland. The county has the second-highest percentage of Welsh speakers in Wales, at 57.2%, and is considered a heartland of the language . The island of Anglesey, at 261 square miles (676 km ),
8360-575: The last passenger services to be closed under the Beeching Axe ; it is now the site of a Morrisons supermarket. In November 2020 the Welsh Government stated 'further consideration' should be given to reopening the line. The fifth station was opened in 1997 on the old trackbed in St. Helen's Road. It is the northern terminus of the 2ft narrow gauge Rheilffordd Eryri / Welsh Highland Railway . Work began on
8470-622: The local tribe who were defeated in battle by a Roman legion (c. 78 AD). Bronze Age monuments were also built throughout the British Isles. During this period, the Mynydd Bach cairn in South-west Anglesey was being used. It is a Beaker period prehistoric funerary monument. During the Iron Age the Celts built dwellings huts , also known as roundhouses . These were established near
8580-520: The mouth of the river. The A487 passes directly through Caernarfon, with Bangor to the north and Porthmadog to the south. As the crow flies, the summit of Snowdon lies a little over 9.6 miles (15.4 km) to the southeast of the town centre. Caernarfon's historical prominence and landmarks have made it a major tourist centre. As a result, many of the local businesses cater for the tourist trade. Caernarfon has numerous guest houses, inns and pubs, hotels, restaurants and shops. The majority of shops in
8690-500: The name as the "Island of the Angles (English)" may account for its Norman use but has no merit; the Angles' name itself is probably cognate with the shape of the Angeln peninsula. All of them ultimately derive from the proposed Proto-Indo-European root *ank- ("to flex, bend, angle"). Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and into the 20th, it was usually spelt Anglesea in documents,
8800-400: The new community which succeeded it. The spelling of both borough and county remained "Caernarvon" until they were abolished in 1974. The spelling of the community's name was changed from "Caernarvon" to "Caernarfon" with effect from 2 June 1975 by order of Arfon Borough Council . Caernarfon contains a Roman fort, Segontium, and a Norman motte-and-bailey castle was built at the mouth of
8910-528: The north coast, and for a major biomass plant on Holy Island (Ynys Gybi). Developing such low-carbon-energy assets to their full potential forms part of the Anglesey Energy Island project. When the aluminium smelter closed in September 2009, it cut its workforce from 450 to 80, in a major blow to the island's economy, especially to Holyhead. The Royal Air Force station RAF Valley (Y Fali) holds
9020-491: The north-east of the island and was once largely industrialised, having grown in the 18th century to support a major copper -mining industry at Parys Mountain . Other settlements include Cemaes , Pentraeth , Gaerwen , Dwyran , Bodedern , Malltraeth and Rhosneigr . The coastline is classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , with many sandy beaches, notably along its east coast between Beaumaris and Amlwch and west coast from Ynys Llanddwyn through Rhosneigr to
9130-540: The northern passenger terminus of the 3ft 6in narrow gauge Nantlle Railway . This service ended in 1865 when the line being built from the south by the standard gauge Carnarvonshire Railway took over most of its trackbed. The Carnarvonshire Railway's temporary northern terminus was at Pant to the south of the town. Pant station opened in 1867. At the same time, the Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway built its line from Llanberis to Caernarfon. Its temporary western terminus
9240-576: The old courthouse is the former Caernarfon Gaol which also closed in the early 20th century and converted into council offices. The statue in Castle Square was sculpted by W. Goscombe John and was erected in 1921 when Lloyd George was prime minister. David Lloyd George was the Member of Parliament for the area from 1890 to 1945. The Old Market Hall in Hole-in-the-Wall Street and Crown Street
9350-545: The period known as Roman Britain . The Roman fort Segontium was established around AD 80 to subjugate the Ordovices during the Roman conquest of Britain . The Romans occupied the region until the end of Roman rule in Britain in 382, after which Caernarfon became part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd . In the late 11th century, William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a motte-and-bailey castle at Caernarfon as part of
9460-503: The presence of humans in prehistory . Plas Newydd is near one of 28 cromlechs that remain on uplands overlooking the sea. The Welsh Triads claim that the island of Anglesey was once part of the mainland. After the Neolithic age, the Bronze Age began ( c. 2200 BC – 800 BC). Some sites were continually used for thousands of years from original henge enclosures, then during
9570-667: The previous settlements. Some huts with walled enclosures were discovered on the banks of the river ( Welsh : afon ) Gwna near. An example of a well-preserved hut circle is over the Cymyran Strait on Holy Island . The Holyhead Mountain Hut Circles ( Welsh : Tŷ Mawr / Cytiau'r Gwyddelod , Big house / "Irishmen's Huts") were inhabited by ancient Celts and were first occupied before the Iron Age, c. 1000 BC . The Anglesey Iron Age began after 500 BC. Archeological research discovered limpet shells which were found from 200 BC on
9680-490: The public. The castle includes the regimental museum of the Royal Welch Fusiliers . The medieval town walls, including eight towers and two twin-towered gateways, form a complete circuit of 800 yards (730 m) around the old town and were built between 1283 and 1285. The walls are in the care of Cadw but only a small section is accessible to the public. The town walls and castle at Caernarfon were declared part of
9790-539: The rising enterprises in the town. The Company remained in his hands and important in Caernarfon's maritime activities until about 1890. In its decline from that time it appears to have been badly managed and heavily committed to a French invention that failed and brought bankruptcy in 1901. Some of the De Winton works in St Helen's Road survives. Since 1988 it has been the home of a local plumbing and heating business; before that
9900-429: The royal family visiting Wales, and the future Edward VIII was duly invested . In 1955, Caernarfon was in the running for the title of Capital of Wales on historical grounds but the town's campaign was heavily defeated in a ballot of Welsh local authorities, with 11 votes compared to Cardiff's 136. Cardiff therefore became the Welsh capital. On 1 July 1969, the investiture ceremony for Charles, Prince of Wales
10010-502: The settlement of the local people of Anglesey starts in the Mesolithic period. Anglesey and the UK were uninhabitable until after the previous ice age . It was not until 12,000 years ago that the island of Great Britain became hospitable. The oldest excavated sites on Anglesey include Trwyn Du ( Welsh : Black nose ) at Aberffraw. The Mesolithic site located at Aberffraw Bay (Porth Terfyn)
10120-415: The south and south-east, the island is divided from the Welsh mainland by the Menai Strait , which at its narrowest point is about 250 metres (270 yd) wide. In all other directions the island is surrounded by the Irish Sea . At 676 km (261 sq mi), it is the 52nd largest island of Europe and just five km (1.9 sq mi) smaller than the main island of Singapore . There are
10230-428: The south, created when townsfolk of Llanfaes were relocated for the building of Beaumaris Castle, includes the site of Llys Rhosyr , another court of medieval Welsh princes featuring one of the United Kingdom's oldest courtrooms. The centrally localted Llangefni is the island's administrative centre. The town of Menai Bridge (Welsh: Porthaethwy ) in the south-east, expanded to accommodate workers and construction when
10340-563: The town are located either in the centre of town around Pool Street and Castle Square (Y Maes), on Doc Fictoria (Victoria Dock) or in Cei Llechi (Slate Quay). A number of shops are also located within the Town Walls. The majority of the retail and residential section of Doc Fictoria was opened in 2008. The retail and residential section of Doc Fictoria is built directly beside a Blue Flag beach marina. It contains numerous homes, bars and bistros, cafés and restaurants, an award-winning arts centre,
10450-460: The town with Bangor to the north, and Aberystwyth via Porthmadog , Dolgellau and Machynlleth to the south. These services are part of the Welsh Government funded TrawsCymru network. The A487 trunk road bisects the town, providing access to major urban areas along the North Wales coast and the Port of Holyhead , via the A55 expressway. Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon can be reached via
10560-399: The year and also on Mondays in the summer. The square was revamped at a cost of £2.4 million in 2009. However, since its revamp the square has caused controversy due to traffic and parking difficulties. During the revamp, it was decided to remove barriers between traffic and pedestrians creating a 'shared space', to force drivers to be more considerate of pedestrians and other vehicles. This is
10670-477: Was St Peblig's Church, to the south-east of the walled town. The church stood in relative isolation until the 20th century, but has since been surrounded by the town's suburbs. As part of establishing the castle and fortified town, Edward I of England granted Caernarfon a charter making it a borough in 1284. The Statute of Rhuddlan in the same year created the new county of Caernarfonshire, with Caernarfon serving as county town . In 1836 Caernarfon became
10780-593: Was a former electoral area centred on Caernarfon. Caernarfon is now part of the constituency of Dwyfor Meirionnydd in the UK Parliament, and Arfon in the Senedd . The town is twinned with Landerneau in Brittany . Caernarfon formed part of the ancient parish of Llanbeblig. The parish also included adjoining rural areas, particularly to the south-east where it extended to include the village of Waunfawr . The parish church
10890-506: Was abandoning plans to build a nuclear plant on the Wylfa Newydd site in Anglesey. There had been concern that the start might have involved too much public expenditure, but Hitachi-Horizon say the decision to scrap has cost the company over £2 billion. Much of Anglesey is used for relatively intensive cattle and sheep farming, but several important wetland sites have protected status and
11000-532: Was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . A community called Caernarfon was created instead, covering the area of the abolished borough. District-level functions passed to Arfon Borough Council , which was in turn replaced in 1996 by Gwynedd Council. The population in 1841 was 8,001. The population of Caernarfon Community Parish in 2001 was 9,611. Caernarfon residents are known colloquially as "Cofis". The word "Cofi" / ˈ k ɒ v i /
11110-598: Was again held at Caernarfon Castle. The ceremony went ahead without incident despite terrorist threats and protests, which culminated in the death of two members of Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (Welsh Defence Movement), Alwyn Jones and George Taylor, who were killed when their bomb – intended for the railway line at Abergele in order to stop the British Royal Train – exploded prematurely. The bombing campaign (one in Abergele, two in Caernarfon and finally one on Llandudno Pier )
11220-415: Was born at the castle in April 1284 and made Prince of Wales in 1301. A story recorded in the 16th century suggests that the new prince was offered to the native Welsh on the premise "that [he] was borne in Wales and could speake never a word of English", however, there is no contemporary evidence to support this. Caernarfon was constituted a borough in 1284 by a charter of Edward I. The charter, which
11330-522: Was built in 1832, but the interior and roof were rebuilt later in that century. It is a Grade II listed building. It now acts as a pub and music venue. A small Victorian urban park , Morfa was laid out in 1888. It stands to the south of the town, bordered by the 'Ysbyty Eryri' hospital [see below] at its southern edge. It is listed at Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales . Caernarfon has
11440-484: Was buried underneath a Bronze Age 'kerb cairn' which was constructed c. 2,000 BC . The bowl barrow (kerb cairn) covered a material deposited from the early Mesolithic period; the archeological find dates to 7,000 BC. After millennia of hunter-gather civilisation in the British Isles , the first villages were constructed from 4000 BC. Neolithic settlements were built in the form of long houses , on Anglesey
11550-410: Was called Carnarvon (Morfa) . It opened in 1869 near the modern road bridges over the Afon Seiont . For a short period, therefore, Caernarfon had three terminating stations on its edges. Records are contradictory, but this ended in either 1870 or 1871 when they were connected by a line through the town using the tunnel which survives, having been converted in 1995 for road traffic. When the through route
11660-516: Was completed in 1899. During the First World War , the Presbyterian minister and celebrity preacher John Williams toured the island as part of an effort to recruit young men as volunteers. The island's location made it ideal for monitoring German U-Boats in the Irish Sea , with half a dozen airships based at Mona . German POWs were kept on the island. By the end of the war, some 1,000 of
11770-527: Was confirmed on a number of occasions, appointed the mayor of the borough Constable of the Castle ex officio . In 1911, David Lloyd George , then Member of Parliament (MP) for Caernarfon boroughs , which included various towns from Llŷn to Conwy, agreed to the British Royal Family 's idea of holding the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle . The ceremony took place on 13 July, with
11880-441: Was opened Pant and Morfa stations closed and the original station became the town's only station. The London and North Western Railway also took over all the lines mentioned leaving one station and one service provider by 1871. The services to Llanberis and south to Afon Wen closed progressively from the 1930s, with tracks being lifted in the mid-1960s, but Caernarvon station survived until 1970, with Bangor to Caernarvon one of
11990-462: Was organised by the movement's leader, John Jenkins. He was later arrested after a tip-off and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. In July 2019, Caernarfon hosted a rally for Welsh independence. The event, organised by AUOB (All Under One Banner) Cymru, included a march through the town centre. Organisers estimated that roughly 8,000 people joined the march on the town square; local authorities confirmed at least 5,000 attendees. The event featured
12100-449: Was the whole recorded history of that little corner of the world. The ground beneath us still rippled with earthworks from the Celtic hill fort that guarded the Menai Strait more than two and a half millennia ago. The Roman fort that replaced it was now the dim brown mark of an old archaeological site on low hills off to the left. Edward I’s great grey castle rose up in the middle foreground, and
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