- Pwllheli
infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name =
constituency_welsh_assembly =
map_type =
official_name = Pwllheli
unitary_wales =Gwynedd
lieutenancy_wales =Gwynedd
constituency_westminster = Caernarfon
post_town = PWLLHELI
postcode_district = LL53
postcode_area = LL
dial_code = 01758
os_grid_reference = SH374350
static_
static_image_caption = Housing near Pwllheli town centre.
population = 3,861 "(2001 census)"
map_type = location map|Wales Gwynedd|label=|position=left|float=none|long=-4.43|lat=52.8|caption=|width=190Pwllheli is the main
market town of theLlŷn Peninsula inGwynedd , north-westernWales . It is a mainly Welsh-speaking town. Pwllheli is the place wherePlaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace ofAlbert Evans-Jones - Cynan - the Welsh poet.History
The town's name means "saltwater basin". The pronunciation of "Pwllheli" includes a sound not found in the English language (a
voiceless alveolar lateral fricative ), but is very approximately pu-HLEL-ee, IPA2|pʊɬ'hɛlɪ.The town was given its charter as a borough by
Edward, the Black Prince in 1355, and a market is still held each Wednesday in the centre of the town on the 'Maes' (="field" in English).The town grew around the
shipbuilding andfishing industries.During the 1890s, the town was developed by
Solomon Andrews , aCardiff businessman. This work included thePromenade , roads and houses at West End. A tramway was built linking the town toLlanbedrog . The trams ran until 1927 when a section of track was seriously damaged by a storm.The town contains numerous
retail shops, includingWoolworth's ,Euronics and many more smaller shops.Supermarket s includeSomerfield ,SPAR , Co-operative, Iceland andAsda . A newLidl store is due to open shortly.Education
* Ysgol Cymerau,
Primary School (Welsh-medium.)
*Ysgol Glan y Môr ,Secondary School (Welsh-medium.)Ysgol Glan y Môr was formed by the merger of the former Pwllheli
Grammar school and the FrondegSecondary Modern School s. These occupied sites at Penrallt and Upper Ala Road, respectively. The two schools merged in mid-1969 to form acomprehensive school based at two separated sites within the town.The junior pupils (year 1 and year 2) were located at the Penrallt site (former grammar school site) and the senior pupils (year 3 and upwards) were located at a new complex constructed at Cardiff Road. This new school was subsequently expanded to accommodate all pupils under the Ysgol Glan y Môr name.
The Penrallt site was later redeveloped to form the Pwllheli campus of Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. The facade of the main building of the old grammar school was retained and incorporated into the design of the current college buildings. Thus the 'old school' is readily seen from the town square (Y Maes) in much the same way as it has been since the former Pwllheli County School moved to Penrallt in the early 20th century.
*
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor . (Mostly Welsh-medium.)Transportation
Rail
Pwllheli railway station is the terminus of the Cambrian Coast Railway running toDovey Junction nearMachynlleth .Road
*
A497 road
*A499 road Attractions
*
Plas Bodegroes , the onlyMichelin star redrestaurant in Wales
* TwoBlue Flag beach es
* Penarth Fawr, a15th century house
* Marina
*Hafan Y Môr , a formerButlin's holiday camp now operated by Haven
* Pwllheli Market
* Clwb Golff Pwllheli - a par 69 links and parkland golf course
*Pwllheli Sailing Club - competitive junior and senior sailing is available locally and the club frequently hosts national and international events.Arts
Pwllheli hosted the
National Eisteddfod in 1925 and 1955, as well as an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1875.Language
According to the
United Kingdom Census 2001 , 80% of the population speak Welsh, with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in the 10-14 age bracket, 94%.port and leisure
Pwllheli is home to
association football teamPwllheli F.C. andrugby union teamPwllheli RFC .External links
* [http://www.pwllheli.info Pwllheli.info from the Croeso Group of Websites]
* [http://www.llyn.info Your online guide to the Llŷn Peninsula, of which Pwllheli is the unofficial capital]
* [http://www.hafanpwllheli.co.uk/cgi-bin/newsindex.asp Marina website]
* [http://www.butlinsmemories.com/pwllheli.htm Memories of Butlin's at Pwllheli]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3490318 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Pwllheli and surrounding area]
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