Y Felinheli (), formerly known in English as Port Dinorwic, is a village and community beside the
Menai Strait
The Menai Strait ( cy, Afon Menai, the "river Menai") is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. It varies in width from from Fort Belan to Abermenai Point to from ...
( cy, Y Fenai or ''Afon Menai'') between
Bangor and
Caernarfon
Caernarfon (; ) is a royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro). It lies along the A487 road, on the eastern shore of the Menai Strait, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is ...
in
Gwynedd
Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...
, northwest Wales.
History
Toponymy
Etymological
Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words and ...
ly, its name comes from the Welsh ''y'' meaning the, ''melin'' meaning mill and ''heli,'' meaning brine/salt-water/sea. An alternative interpretation is from ''Y Felin Heulyn'', "the mill on the River Heulyn", which refers to the river that runs into the village.
Origins
Y Felinheli has its origins in two hamlets, Tafarngrisiau near St Mary's Church and Aberpwll to the north-east where there was a mill on the Afon Heulyn. The mill was rebuilt closer to the sea in 1633 and gave its name to the settlement. The area was largely agricultural until the area was transformed by
slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. ...
quarrying in the 19th century. A new dock was built in 1828 when
lime
Lime commonly refers to:
* Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit
* Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide
* Lime (color), a color between yellow and green
Lime may also refer to:
Botany ...
was extracted at Brynadda and slate and lime were loaded and
culm (coal dust or anthracite slack) was brought in to fire the
lime kiln
A lime kiln is a kiln used for the calcination of limestone (calcium carbonate) to produce the form of lime (material), lime called quicklime (calcium oxide). The chemical equation for this chemical reaction, reaction is
:Calcium carbonate, Ca ...
s.
The owners of the
Vaynol Estate, the Assheton Smiths, owned most of the land in Y Felinheli and developed the
Dinorwic Quarry in the late 18th century, They also built the harbour to export
slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. ...
transported to the quay by the
Dinorwic Railway, a
narrow gauge railway
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...
that was subsequently replaced by the
Padarn Railway. Industrial expansion gave Y Felinheli (Felin-hely, 1838) the alternative name Port Dinorwig or Port Dinorwic.
Harbour
The harbour is a centre for
pleasure boating and
sailing
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (land yacht) over a chosen cour ...
. It has moorings, a
marina
A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.
A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...
and
yacht
A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...
support businesses, including
rigging
Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support a sailing ship or sail boat's masts—''standing rigging'', including shrouds and stays—and which adjust the position of the vessel's sails and spars to which they are ...
,
sail
A sail is a tensile structure—which is made from fabric or other membrane materials—that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails may ...
making and boatyards. The boatyard was constructed before the Second World War for building landing craft. Its slipway, probably the largest in North Wales is in private ownership, is usable at most states of tide. The local sailing club organizes
dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel for use as a tender. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor. Some are rigged for sailing but they differ from sailing dinghies, which ...
racing.
Demographics
Population
Number
The population of the village was 2,284 at the
2011 Census. According to the
2021 Census, Y Felinheli's population was 2,330.
Density
In June 2018, the population density in Y Felinheli was , compared to for Gwynedd.
Languages
Welsh
According to the
United Kingdom Census 2021
The decennial 2021 censuses of England and Wales and of Northern Ireland took place on 21 March 2021, and the census of Scotland took place on 20 March 2022. The censuses were administered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in England an ...
, 68.3 per cent of all usual residents aged 3+ in Y Felinheli can speak Welsh.
The
2011 census noted 64.3 per cent of all usual residents aged 3 years and older in the village could speak Welsh. The 2011 census also noted that 89.4 per cent of all usual residents aged 3+ who were born in Wales could speak Welsh. In 2011, the percentages of Y Felinheli residents having Welsh-language skills were as follows:
As of January 2018, 82.9% of pupils aged 5 or over in the village's primary school (Ysgol Y Felinheli) spoke Welsh at home.
In 2001, 72.1% of all usual residents aged 3+ in Y Felinheli could speak Welsh. 73.4% could speak it in 1991.
Other languages
According to the 2011 Census, 6% of Y Felinheli's population spoke a language other than English or Welsh as their main language. The most common was Arabic, with 2.92% speaking it as their main language.
Identity
According to the 2011 Census, 59.7% of the population noted that they had Welsh-only national identity, with 35.6% noting that they had no Welsh national identity at all.
According to the 2022 Census, 63.8% of the population noted that they had Welsh-only national identity.
Country of Birth
The 2022 Census noted that 93.9% of the population was born in the United Kingdom. The 2011 Census noted that 91.1% of the population was born in the United Kingdom. 66.1% of the population was born in Wales and 23.8% of the population born in England. 5.7% of the population was born outside the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
.
Ethnic Group
In 2021, 96.5% of the population identified their ethnic group within the high-level "White" category.
Religion
The religion question was voluntary in the 2021 Census. Of those in Y Felinheli who answered the question, 49.4% described themselves as having no religion, with 49.2% describing themselves as Christian. Buddhist was the second most common religion.
Notable people
*
Siân Gwenllian
Siân Gwenllian is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician who has represented the constituency of Arfon in the Senedd since 2016. She currently holds the seat with a majority of 8,642 votes.
Since the 2021 Senedd election, Gwenllian has been Plaid ...
(born 1956) a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*
Wil Jones (1960–2020) a Welsh portrait artist, guitarist, and teacher.
*
Lisa Gwilym (born 1975) a Welsh broadcaster, lives in the town.
Transport
The
A487 road by-pass, completed in 1994, has removed much traffic congestion from the main street. The nearest railway station as the crow flies is across the Menai Strait at
Llanfairpwll (). The next nearest (not involving travelling by boat) is at
Bangor ().
Historically, the passenger railway station
Port Dinorwic
Y Felinheli (), formerly known in English as Port Dinorwic, is a village and community beside the Menai Strait ( cy, Y Fenai or ''Afon Menai'') between Bangor and Caernarfon in Gwynedd, northwest Wales.
History
Toponymy
Etymologically, its ...
was open between 1852 and 1960. There was also a
narrow gauge railway
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...
running from the town to
Dinorwic Quarry on the
Dinorwic Railway (later
Padarn Railway) to carry
slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. ...
.
Education
Welsh language parent-and-toddler group ''Cylch Ti a Fi Y Felinheli'' and a Welsh-language playgroup ''Cylch Meithrin Y Felinheli'' currently serves the community with the support of
Mudiad Meithrin
Mudiad Meithrin ("Nursery Movement"), formerly Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin ("Nursery Schools Movement") is a voluntary movement specialising in the provision of Welsh-medium early years education, including nursery groups. It aims to give every yo ...
.
''Ysgol Gynradd Y Felinheli'' provides Welsh-medium primary education to the village and the surrounding area. As of 2022, there were 179 pupils enrolled at the school.
In terms of secondary education, the village is in the catchment area of three secondary schools, namely ''
Ysgol Tryfan
Ysgol Tryfan is a bilingual (Welsh - English) comprehensive school for pupils aged 11–18, situated in Bangor, Gwynedd. 471 pupils were enrolled at the school in 2022.
The majority of pupils live in Bangor, with a large proportion coming fro ...
'', ''
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen is a bilingual Comprehensive school, comprehensive secondary school for pupils aged 11–18. The school is situated in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales. The school was established in 1894, the first to be built under the ''Welsh Int ...
'' and ''
Ysgol Friars.''
Governance
Local Government
Y Felinheli forms part of the Bethel a'r Felinheli ward and is currently represented in
Gwynedd Council by
Plaid Cymru councillors Sasha Ellen Fraser Williams and Iwan Huws. The village also has a Community Council, currently chaired by councillor Iwan Huws.
Senedd
The village is currently represented in the
Senedd
The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh Gove ...
by
Arfon constituency member
Siân Gwenllian
Siân Gwenllian is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician who has represented the constituency of Arfon in the Senedd since 2016. She currently holds the seat with a majority of 8,642 votes.
Since the 2021 Senedd election, Gwenllian has been Plaid ...
(
Plaid Cymru).
It is also represented by four
North Wales
, area_land_km2 = 6,172
, postal_code_type = Postcode
, postal_code = LL, CH, SY
, image_map1 = Wales North Wales locator map.svg
, map_caption1 = Six principal areas of Wales common ...
regional members, namely
Carolyn Thomas (
Labour
Labour or labor may refer to:
* Childbirth, the delivery of a baby
* Labour (human activity), or work
** Manual labour, physical work
** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer
** Organized labour and the labour ...
),
Llyr Huws Gruffydd
Llŷr Huws Gruffydd, (born 25 September 1970) is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician, serving as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for the North Wales region since 2011.
Background
Gruffydd attended Bro Myrddin Welsh Comprehensive School and Aberystwyth Un ...
(
Plaid Cymru),
Sam Rowlands and
Mark Isherwood (
Welsh Conservatives
The Welsh Conservatives ( cy, Ceidwadwyr Cymreig) is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At Westminster elections, it is the second most popular political party in Wales, having obtained the second-large ...
).
House of Commons
The village is currently represented in the
House of Commons by
Arfon constituency member
Hywel Williams
Hywel Williams (born 1953) is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician serving as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Arfon (UK Parliament constituency), Arfon, previously Caernarfon (UK Parliament constituency), Caer ...
(
Plaid Cymru), who was previously MP for the
Caernarfon constituency from 2001.
Culture
The first National
Cerdd Dant
' (, or ') is the art of vocal improvisation over a given melody in Welsh musical tradition. It is an important competition in . The singer or (small) choir sings a counter melody over a harp melody.
History
is a unique tradition of singing ly ...
Festival was held in Y Felinheli in 1947.
The local
carnival
Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...
committee organises the annual ''Gŵyl Y Felinheli''.
Sport
The local
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
team,
CPD Y Felinheli celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017. For the 2021–22 season, the team was selected by the
FAW to be part of the newly created
Ardal Leagues North West.
A private members sailing club, Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli, has been based in the village, on the banks of the Menai Strait, since 1947. As of 2015, it had 136 youth members who have been trained at the club.
References
Bibliography
*
External links
Community Councilgeograph photos of Y Felinheli and surrounding areaY Felinheli/Port Dinorwic Marina
{{authority control
Ports and harbours of Wales
Communities in Gwynedd
Gwynedd electoral wards
Villages in Gwynedd