Crymych
Encyclopedia
Crymych is a small village
of around 400 inhabitants in the north of Pembrokeshire
, Wales
. The village developed around the former Crymmych Arms railway station on the now closed line, nicknamed the Cardi Bach (Little Cardi), which ran from Whitland
to Cardigan
.
Other than the Crymych Arms public house, which remains open to this day, little had existed at the spot before the coming of the railway. The community, however, grew rapidly as a service and transport centre for the surrounding uplands and acquired a reputation for being 'the Wild West of west Wales', reflected in the tongue-in-cheek appellation of Cowbois Crymych by which residents are sometimes known.
Crymych, which is twinned
with Plomelin
in Brittany
, has its own elected community council
. The village has given its name to an electoral ward of Pembrokeshire that encompasses the villages of Crymych itself and Eglwyswrw
, as well as to the Megalithic burial mound knowns as Crymych Wayside Barrow
.
About 3km SSW of Crymych stands a TV mast which, at 235m tall erected on land which itself is some 350m above sea level, can be seen from several counties away on a good day.
, a secondary school
covering a wide district was opened. In 1996, the school became Pembrokeshire's first Welsh-medium
comprehensive school
and the number of pupils on its roll has doubled since its launch. In spite of a large influx of English immigrants to the area since the 1970s, Crymych retains a strong identity based on the Welsh language
and Welsh culture.
Ysgol y Preseli
is a Welsh language
secondary school and has approximately 1000 pupils. The school had a GCSE pass rate (based on 5 GCSEs, grades A-C) of 72% in 2002 - according to Estyn
. It is consistently in the top 10% of secondary schools in Wales
, in 2000 the school had a pass rate of 75% (based on 5 GCSEs, grades A-C which put it in 7th place in the country. It is also the best performing secondary school in Pembrokeshire
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of around 400 inhabitants in the north of Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The village developed around the former Crymmych Arms railway station on the now closed line, nicknamed the Cardi Bach (Little Cardi), which ran from Whitland
Whitland
Whitland is a small town in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales, lying on the River Tâf. Whitland is home to the elusive "Whitland Trout" noted for its eggs and oily scales.- History :...
to Cardigan
Cardigan, Ceredigion
Cardigan is a town in the county of Ceredigion in Mid Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire. It was the county town of the pre-1974 county of Cardiganshire. It is the second largest town in Ceredigion. The town's population was 4,203...
.
Other than the Crymych Arms public house, which remains open to this day, little had existed at the spot before the coming of the railway. The community, however, grew rapidly as a service and transport centre for the surrounding uplands and acquired a reputation for being 'the Wild West of west Wales', reflected in the tongue-in-cheek appellation of Cowbois Crymych by which residents are sometimes known.
Crymych, which is twinned
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Plomelin
Plomelin
Plomelin is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.It lies near the Odet river, about southwest of Quimper.-International relations:Plomelin is twinned with the village of Crymych in Wales....
in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, has its own elected community council
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies...
. The village has given its name to an electoral ward of Pembrokeshire that encompasses the villages of Crymych itself and Eglwyswrw
Eglwyswrw
Eglwyswrw is a village and parish in the Hundred of Cemais, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is between Newport and Cardigan just off the A487 road.-Description:Eglwyswrw was a civil parish, area 1498 Ha and had population as follows:...
, as well as to the Megalithic burial mound knowns as Crymych Wayside Barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
.
About 3km SSW of Crymych stands a TV mast which, at 235m tall erected on land which itself is some 350m above sea level, can be seen from several counties away on a good day.
Education
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/crymychCrymych's status as 'capital' of the Preseli was confirmed in 1958, when Ysgol y PreseliYsgol y Preseli
Ysgol Y Preseli is a bilingual comprehensive 11-18 school situated in the village of Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales that teaches in both Welsh and English.-History:Ysgol Y Preseli was declared an official bilingual school on 1 September 1991...
, a secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
covering a wide district was opened. In 1996, the school became Pembrokeshire's first Welsh-medium
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
and the number of pupils on its roll has doubled since its launch. In spite of a large influx of English immigrants to the area since the 1970s, Crymych retains a strong identity based on the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and Welsh culture.
Ysgol y Preseli
Ysgol y Preseli
Ysgol Y Preseli is a bilingual comprehensive 11-18 school situated in the village of Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales that teaches in both Welsh and English.-History:Ysgol Y Preseli was declared an official bilingual school on 1 September 1991...
is a Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
secondary school and has approximately 1000 pupils. The school had a GCSE pass rate (based on 5 GCSEs, grades A-C) of 72% in 2002 - according to Estyn
Estyn
Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb meaning "to extend". Its mission is to achieve excellence for all in learning in Wales by providing an independent, high quality inspection and advice service to the Welsh Assembly Government and...
. It is consistently in the top 10% of secondary schools in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in 2000 the school had a pass rate of 75% (based on 5 GCSEs, grades A-C which put it in 7th place in the country. It is also the best performing secondary school in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
.