Llanllyfni

Llanllyfni
Llanllyfni  Llanllyfni shown within Gwynedd
Population	4,135 (2011)
OS grid reference	SH475515
Principal area	Gwynedd
Ceremonial county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CAERNARFON
Postcode district	LL54
Dialling code	01286
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Arfon
Welsh Assembly	Arfon
List of places UK Wales Gwynedd

Llanllyfni is a small village and a community in Gwynedd, Wales. The community consists of the villages of Drws-y-coed, Nantlle, Nasareth, Nebo, Penygroes, Talysarn and the village of Llanllyfni itself. As a community the 2011 census recorded a population of 4135. It is a largely Welsh speaking village; 85% of the villagers speak Welsh as their first language.

The river Afon Llyfni (sometimes spelt Afon Llyfnwy), runs through the village. Llanllyfni existed before the slate quarries opened but grew bigger and bigger during the slate quarrying period. In the 2001 census, there were about 650 people living in the village of Llanllyfni.

Llanllyfni is seven miles away from the well-known town of Caernarfon.

Amenities and buildings of note

Eglwys Sant Rhedyw (the parish church) has existed since as early as the 4th century. Here, a service is held every year on Christmas Day at 7a.m., this is a tradition that has been ongoing for hundreds of years. In Welsh, the service is called 'Plygain'. There are two other places of worship in the village - Capel Ebeneser, Felingerrig - (Baptist Chapel) and Capel Moriah (Salem) - (Methodist Chapel). The original Capel Salem chapel was closed in the early 20th century, and replaced by a smaller chapel; named Capel Moriah chapel. The larger Capel Salem chapel was eventually demolished - except for the Sunday School building. To avoid confusion, the new Capel Moriah was casually called Capel Salem by the villagers - (after the old larger chapel). As of today, only Capel Ebeneser and Eglwys Sant Rhedyw are still open; Capel Moriah/Salem has closed.

There are five cemeteries in Llanllyfni; Mynwent Yr Eglwys - Sant Rhedyw (the oldest), Mynwent Capel Ebeneser - Felingerrig, Mynwent Capel Salem, Mynwent Bara Caws (dating back to the early 18th century) and Mynwent Gorffwysfa (the newest).

Llanllyfni once had five public houses, at least two of them can be seen today, though they have been turned into houses. The King's Head was one of them. The last surviving pub, the Quarryman's Arms is now closed after a fire occurred.

There is one school in the village, Ysgol Gynradd Llanllyfni - a primary school. For secondary school, children have to travel less than a mile to Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes. World famous Opera singer Bryn Terfel attended Ysgol Gynradd Llanllyfni.

Sport and leisure

As of 2005, a local football club was set up - C.P.D. Llanllyfni (Clwb Pel Droed Llanllyfni). The club, popular among many villagers, sprung their way up from the basic Safelue Caernarfon & District League to the Gwynedd League. It then went on to the very respectable Welsh Alliance League in no less than four seasons of playing football on the King George the 5th playing field, situated in the middle of the village. The King George V playing field is next door to the village's much used Memorial Hall.

Club website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/cpdllanllyfnifc/

Notable residents

Many culturally important and well known figures within the Welsh society have sprung from Llanllyfni. Some of the well-known people that have emerged from Llanllyfni include; Mathonwy Hughes (1900's writer), Bryn Fon (Welsh singer and actor), Cefin Roberts (founder of Ysgol Glanaethwy School), Wynford Ellis Owen (writer and actor).

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward does not include some of the larger communities named above and the total population taken at the 2011 Census was 1,256 only.

External links

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