Blaenau Ffestiniog

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly=
latitude= 52.99
longitude= -3.93
official_name= Blaenau Ffestiniog
population = 4830
unitary_wales= Gwynedd
lieutenancy_wales= Gwynedd
constituency_westminster= Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
post_town= BLAENAU FFESTINIOG
postcode_district = LL41
postcode_area= LL
dial_code= 01766
os_grid_reference= SH705455
map_type= location map|Wales Gwynedd|label=|position=left|float=none|long=-3.93|lat=52.99|caption=|width=190

Blaenau Ffestiniog is a small town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It has a population of 4,830 according to the United Kingdom Census 2001.

Geography

Located in the mountains of Snowdonia, the town was once a major centre of the slate mining industry. This industry declined during the early 20th century. The town's economy is now largely dependent on tourism. Although the town is in the centre of the Snowdonia National Park, the boundaries of the Park are specifically arranged to omit the town with its substantial slate waste heaps from the Park.

The hills around Blaenau Ffestiniog form the watershed between the River Conwy flowing to the north and the River Dwyryd flowing to the west.

Education

Ysgol y Moelwyn is the main secondary school in the area, covering Blaenau, Manod, Tanygrisiau, Llan Ffestiniog, Trawsfynydd, Gellilydan, and even stretching into the Vale of Ffestiniog. There are five primary schools in the area, many are due for closure or mergers with other schools [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/5157862.stm bbc.co.uk] ] .

Blaenau Ffestiniog is one of the poorest areas in Gwynedd, but even that managed to get the best results in North Wales. 89% passed, and second was Ysgol Botwnog with 79%. Blaenau are expected to get the worst results in Gwynedd.

Tourism

Blaenau Ffestiniog boasts several major tourist attractions, including the Ffestiniog Railway, and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a former slate mine open to visitors. Llechwedd is regularly listed as one of Wales' top 5 visitor attractions [ [http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/holidays/topten/ icnetwork.co.uk] ] .

Music

Blaenau Ffestiniog has strong roots and tradition with music from the Quarrying boom days with the Caban, Male voice choirs and brass bands, to the Jazz / Dance bands like ‘The New Majestics’ to the popular-rock bands of the 80-90’s such as Llwybr Llaethog and Anweledig, to most recent bands such as Gai Toms, Frizbee and Gwybdaith Hen Fran. Further to this local Alternative Music training Company Gwallgofiaid now has 12 + bands under its umbrella based at their Center 'Cell' at the Old Police Station in Park Square. The Centre has 5 rehearsal rooms, a 24 track studio and Cwrt performance space.

History

Blaenau Ffestiniog hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1898. It was formerly part of the ancient county of Merionethshire.

Pronunciation

The official Welsh-English pronunciation of Blaenau Ffestiniog suggested by "BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names" is IPAEng|ˈblaɪnaɪ fɛsˈtɪnjɒg [G. M. Miller (Ed), "BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names", Oxford University Press, 1971. ISBN 0-19-431125-2] but the first word is more commonly pronounced|ˈblaɪna by local Welsh speakers.

Transport links

The main access route to Blaenau Ffestiniog is via the A470 road which runs from the north to the south of Wales. The A497, which runs West to East, feeds the Llŷn Peninsula into the A487 (which runs from Bangor through Caernarfon and into Porthmadog, which in turn connects with the north-south A470. Immediately to the north of the town the A470 climbs steeply to the Crimea Pass and meets the A5 at Betws-y-Coed.

At various times the town has been the terminus for four independent railway lines, each with its own station or stations:
* the Ffestiniog Railway
* the Festiniog and Blaenau Railway
* the Conwy Valley Line of the London and North Western Railway, and
* the Bala Ffestiniog Line of the Great Western Railway.Today Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station on the site of the former Great Western station serves as a combined station for the Ffestiniog Railway and the Conwy Valley line, their previous stations being no longer in use.

Noted current & former residents

* David Nash (artist), artist
* John Cowper Powys, novelist.
* Llwybr Llaethog, musical group.
* Glyn Wise, contestant and runner up on "Big Brother 7".
* Anweledig, musical group. [http://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anweledig (Welsh Wiki link)]
* Gwyn Thomas, Welsh poet, academic and the present National Poet for Wales.
* Dave Felgate, footballer.
* Frizbee, Welsh Pop/Rock band. [http://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frizbee (Welsh Wiki link)]
* Ceryl Davies, presenter on Radio Ceredigion.

Local Divides

Locals divide Blaenau Ffestiniog into "parts" - among these are Tanygrisau and Manod. In this sense Blaenau Ffestiniog is sometimes used to refer only to the centre of town.

ee also

* Llan Ffestiniog
* Tanygrisiau
* Llechwedd quarry
* Oakeley Quarry
* Maenofferen Quarry

References

External links

* [http://wales.info/Holidays_Wales/Attractions/Llechwedd_Slate_Caverns.asp Wales.Info Information & Details]
* [http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/tourist-attractions/Show_Caves_Caverns_and_Mines/Wales7120.htm Walesdirectory.co.uk Top Tourist Attraction]
* [http://www.ffestiniog.org.uk/ The Ffestiniog Local website]
* [http://www.caeclyd.com/ Landscape photographs in and around Blaenau Ffestiniog]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3079519 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Blaenau Ffestiniog and surrounding area]