Benllech (; ) is a large village on the

Isle of Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island, ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. It is in the

community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, ...

of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf, which has a population of 3,382, making it the fourth largest settlement on the island of Anglesey. The name of Benllech village had been removed by the time of the 2011 census with the community being listed under Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf with the electoral ward being listed under Llanddyfnan. The built-up area has a population of 2,236.

Description

The name Benllech is perhaps a mutated form of ''penllech'', literally "head slab" or "head rock", i.e. "capstone" or "head of the rock", or possibly meaning 'on slate', shortened from the Welsh term 'ar ben llech'. Benllech is a well established seaside resort and popular beach holiday destination. Winner of the European Blue Flag award since 2004, the beach shelves an abundance of clean yellow sand and looks out toward the Great Orme and Penmon Point. The Anglesey Coastal Path and

Wales Coast Path The Wales Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Cymru) is a designated long-distance trail which follows, or runs close to, the coastline of Wales. Launched in 2012, the footpath is long and was heralded as the first dedicated coast path in the wor ...

pass through Benllech. The village won the 'tidiest village on Anglesey' competition in the years 1973–79. One of the largest residential estates in the village, Breeze Hill, was awarded a Civic Trust Award which recognises the very best in architecture, design, planning, landscape and public art. The award was given to projects of the highest quality design, which have made a positive cultural, social and economic contribution to the local community. Benllech has a range of businesses which include public houses and hotels, camping and caravan sites and several

bed and breakfast Bed and breakfast (typically shortened to B&B or BnB) is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast. Bed and breakfasts are often private family homes and typically have between four and eleven rooms, wit ...

s. The community has a primary school, Ysgol Goronwy Owen; library, doctors' surgery, chemist, several churches, hardware store, two community centres, police and fire station, tennis court and bowling green, a number of supermarkets (Spar, Cooperative and Tesco Express), restaurants and a petrol service station. Between 1909 and 1950 there was a

railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a prep ...

close to the village which was the terminus of the Red Wharf Bay branch line. The old station house and several railway bridges can be seen along the road approaching the village. Situated on the outskirts of Benllech lies the Scheduled Monument Pant-Y-Saer enclosed hut group, otherwise known as "Cytiau'r Gwyddelod" (Irish Huts). The monument consists of a complex of mainly circular huts and parts of an associated substantial enclosure wall lying on a slightly elevated limestone plateau area beside an old lane running from Llanbedrgoch to Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf, about 0.6 km S of the modern settlement of Benllech. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric/ Romano British settlements. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Benllech Beach Anglesey

Notable residents

* William Jones (1675–1749), mathematician who was the first to use the Greek letter π for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, was born in the parish of Llanfihangel Tre'r Beirdd * Goronwy Owen (1723–1769), poet, a native of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf; Benllech named its village hall and its primary school, Ysgol Goronwy Owen, after him. * Melville Richards (1910-1973), scholar of Welsh language and literature and Celtic studies, lived and died in Benllech * Lemmy Kilmister (1956–1962), lead singer, bassist and guitarist of

Motörhead Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precu ...

, lived here from the age 10 to age 16. *

Carwyn Ellis Carwyn Ellis (born Carwyn Meurig Ellis; 9 August 1973) is a Welsh musician, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known as the frontman of British alternative band Colorama, as a member of The Pretenders and as a ...

(born 1973), lead singer for Colorama moved about before his family settled in Benllech.

Location

Benllech is located approximately 8 miles along the A5025 coast road from both bridges which cross from the island to the mainland including via the A55 North Wales Expressway. The nearest mainline railway station is

Llanfairpwll Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, or Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll (), is a large village and local government community on the island of Anglesey, Wales, on the Menai Strait next to the Britannia Bridge and across the strait from Bangor. Both shortened (Llanfa ...

which can be reached in under half an hour on the bus services which run through the village or under 20 minutes by car. The city of Bangor and the town of

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 ...

are less than half an hour's drive away. The Royal Mail postal code for the area is LL74.

Events at Benllech

In 1956, West Kirby Sailing Club and the National Firefly Association joined forces to hold one of the largest dinghy sailing championships held up to that time in England or Wales. There were 109 boats competing, with two people in each boat, which meant 218 competitors, there would have been a management team from the Wirral of at least 20 more people. Many stayed in tents and a marquee was erected in which all the competitors were entertained at night and in which they held a dinner and prizegiving on the final night. Firefly Championship 1956- list of competitors

References

External links

*
photos of Benllech and surrounding area on geographVideo of Benllech Past and Present by Dafydd Jones
{{authority control Coast of Anglesey Villages in Anglesey Seaside resorts in Wales Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf Recipients of Civic Trust Awards Blue Flag beaches