Llanbedr-y-Cennin
Encyclopedia
Llanbedr-y-Cennin is a small village in Conwy county borough, Wales
.
It lies in the foothills on the western side of the Conwy valley, in North Wales
. The river Conwy
runs through the valley, running into the sea to the north, at the town of Conwy
, which is about five miles north of the village. The village lies on the eastern edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Near the village lies the Iron Age
fort of Pen y Gaer
.
The village has no bus
routes, but can be accessed by road from the B5106 at nearby Tal-y-Bont
(which does have bus routes).
, while Cennin can refer to leeks or to daffodils, the latter being "Cennin Pedr" (St Peter
's leeks) in Welsh.
produce). It has a parish church
(Anglican), a Nonconformist chapel
(Independent), and a local pub (Ye Olde Bull Inn) which serves J.W. Lees real ale (from a Manchester brewery). In the 1960s, the village's only shop used to be a bakery and post office also, but the post office
has been discontinued.
. The art movement, which had started in Betws-y-coed
in the 1850s, saw a movement down the valley after the arrival of the railway in Betws-y-coed. Initial settlememt was in Trefriw
, and the 1871 census listed the first artist settler in Llanbedr/Tal-y-bont as J.Cole. There were 7 artists living here by the 1881 census, and 15 by 1891.
Charles Potter, an artist from Oldham (many of the artists were originally from the Manchester
area), was instrumental in setting up the Tal-y-bont Artists Club, and in raising funds to construct in 1886 the ‘Artists Club’ building at Tal-y-bont (actually Llandbedr-y-cennin), and he became its first President. The group had originally starting meeting informally at the Olde Bull Inn in 1883, then in 1884 used the upper floor of a stable building (above a carpenter’s workshop, and now demolished) as their first studio.
Named “Walden”, the building offered a studio, a gallery, a classroom, a billiard room, and entertainment space. It originally had 40 members, male artists who lived or worked locally, although there were 150 honorary members. It had a committee of 17 members. The building was also used to hold art courses for clubs from far-and-wide, and every autumn there was an exhibition, despite the fact that this was not an altogether accessible place to the average picture-buying tourist. Nevertheless, membership (including non-resident members) grew to a number approaching 150.
The artist colony was a strong influence on the formation of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
, which moved into Plas Mawr
, Conwy
in 1886.
The colony came to an end at the onset of World War I
, and in the 1920s the building became a private home.
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...
.
It lies in the foothills on the western side of the Conwy valley, in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. The river Conwy
River Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
runs through the valley, running into the sea to the north, at the town of Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
, which is about five miles north of the village. The village lies on the eastern edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Near the village lies the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
fort of Pen y Gaer
Pen y Gaer
Pen y Gaer is the location of a Bronze Age hill fort near the village of Llanbedr-y-Cennin in the Conwy valley in North Wales....
.
The village has no bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
routes, but can be accessed by road from the B5106 at nearby Tal-y-Bont
Tal-y-bont, Conwy
Tal-y-Bont is a small village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies in the Conwy Valley in North Wales, west of the River Conwy, on the B5106 road, six miles from Conwy to the north, and six miles from Llanrwst to the south....
(which does have bus routes).
Name of the village
"Llanbedr" means St Peter's church in WelshWelsh 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...
, while Cennin can refer to leeks or to daffodils, the latter being "Cennin Pedr" (St Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
's leeks) in Welsh.
Historical background
The village grew out of a mainly pastoral industry (mostly sheep farming and dairyDairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
produce). It has a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
(Anglican), a Nonconformist chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
(Independent), and a local pub (Ye Olde Bull Inn) which serves J.W. Lees real ale (from a Manchester brewery). In the 1960s, the village's only shop used to be a bakery and post office also, but the post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
has been discontinued.
Artists' Colony
The latter 19th century saw a number of artists living in Llanbedr-y-cennin and neighbouring Tal-y-bontTal-y-bont, Conwy
Tal-y-Bont is a small village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies in the Conwy Valley in North Wales, west of the River Conwy, on the B5106 road, six miles from Conwy to the north, and six miles from Llanrwst to the south....
. The art movement, which had started in Betws-y-coed
Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed is a village and community in the Conwy valley in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It has a population of 534. The name Betws or Bettws is generally thought to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon Old English 'bed-hus' - i.e. a bead-house - a house of prayer, or oratory...
in the 1850s, saw a movement down the valley after the arrival of the railway in Betws-y-coed. Initial settlememt was in Trefriw
Trefriw
Trefriw is a village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the river Conwy in North Wales, a few miles south of the site of the Roman fort of Canovium, sited at Caerhun. The parish population in 2001 was 924....
, and the 1871 census listed the first artist settler in Llanbedr/Tal-y-bont as J.Cole. There were 7 artists living here by the 1881 census, and 15 by 1891.
Charles Potter, an artist from Oldham (many of the artists were originally from the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
area), was instrumental in setting up the Tal-y-bont Artists Club, and in raising funds to construct in 1886 the ‘Artists Club’ building at Tal-y-bont (actually Llandbedr-y-cennin), and he became its first President. The group had originally starting meeting informally at the Olde Bull Inn in 1883, then in 1884 used the upper floor of a stable building (above a carpenter’s workshop, and now demolished) as their first studio.
Named “Walden”, the building offered a studio, a gallery, a classroom, a billiard room, and entertainment space. It originally had 40 members, male artists who lived or worked locally, although there were 150 honorary members. It had a committee of 17 members. The building was also used to hold art courses for clubs from far-and-wide, and every autumn there was an exhibition, despite the fact that this was not an altogether accessible place to the average picture-buying tourist. Nevertheless, membership (including non-resident members) grew to a number approaching 150.
The artist colony was a strong influence on the formation of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art is a centre of excellence for art in Wales. Its main gallery is located in Conwy and it has over a hundred members.thumb|right|240px|Plas Mawr, Conwy-Early history:...
, which moved into Plas Mawr
Plas Mawr
right|thumb|250px|Plas MawrPlas Mawr is a historic house in Conwy, north Wales, dating from the 16th century. The house has been restored to its original appearance, with assistance from Cadw, in whose care it is now...
, Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
in 1886.
The colony came to an end at the onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and in the 1920s the building became a private home.
Points of note
- Snowdonia National Park: In the hills to the west above and beyond the village are roads and hillwalkingHillwalkingIn the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
tracks giving access to the hills and lakes of the Snowdonia National Park. This is the main route of access to Llyn EigiauLlyn EigiauLlyn Eigiau is a lake on the edge of the Carneddau range of mountains in Snowdonia, North Wales.The name Eigiau is thought to refer to the shoals of fish which once lived here. Early maps refer to it as Llynyga...
. - Ornithological: In recent years the village has become popular with ornithologists and birdwatchers as it is one of the best places in Wales to observe hawfinchHawfinchThe Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, is a passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. Its closest living relatives are the Evening Grosbeak from North America and the Hooded Grosbeak from Central America especially Mexico.This bird breeds across Europe and temperate Asia...
.
Parish rectors
Notable rectors of the parish include:- 1719–1735: John EllisJohn Ellis (clergyman died 1735)-Life:Ellis was the second son of Thomas Ellis, from Llandegwning, Llŷn. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, matriculating there on 31 March 1690 aged 16. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1693 and his Master of Arts degree in 1696. He was also appointed as a Fellow of Jesus...
– also vicar for CaerhunCaerhunCaerhun is a village and rural community on the west bank of the River Conwy, to the south of Henryd and to the north of Dolgarrog, in Conwy County Borough, north Wales. The population was 1200 at the 2001 Census.-Features:...
and buried in the parish - 1802–1826: John WilliamsJohn Williams (schoolmaster)-Life:Williams's father, also called John, was agent to the Gwydir Estate in Llanrwst. Williams was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, matriculating on 15 May 1777, then obtaining degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. He was appointed to a Fellowship of the college in 1783...
– also vicar for CaerhunCaerhunCaerhun is a village and rural community on the west bank of the River Conwy, to the south of Henryd and to the north of Dolgarrog, in Conwy County Borough, north Wales. The population was 1200 at the 2001 Census.-Features:...
and buried in the parish