Llangefni
Encyclopedia
Llangefni is the county town
of Anglesey
in Wales
and contains the principal offices of the Isle of Anglesey County Council
. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001
, the population of Llangefni was 4,662 people and it is the second largest settlement on the island. The census also reveals that 83.8% of the population speak Welsh
fluently, with the highest percentage of speakers being in the 10-14 age group where 95.2% are able to speak Welsh.
museum, detailing the history of Anglesey and housing the legacy collection of Charles Tunnicliffe
. In the west of the town is a large secondary school, Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni
(Llangefni Comprehensive School), and in the north a Victorian church, St Cyngar's, set in a wooded riverside location known as The Dingle
. The church provided the former name of the town, Llangyngar.
being a port town and somewhat separate from the agricultural, cultural and linguistical nature of the rest of the island – and in the past hosted the largest cattle market on the Island.
There is a relatively large industrial estate housing a slaughterhouse
and several other small businesses.
The town had a station on the Anglesey Central Railway
line which opened in 1864. It closed in 1964 with the closure of the line although goods trains continued to pass through the town until 1993. Although no longer used, the tracks have not been removed.
Llangefni hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1957, 1983, and in 1999 gave its name to the Eisteddfod held at the nearby village of Llanbedrgoch. It also hosted the Urdd Eisteddfod in 1994.
This town also has a college, Coleg Menai
(Llangefni Site).
Water for the town comes from Llyn Cefni
(Lake Cefni), one kilometre to the north.
, was promoted to the Welsh Premier League at the end of the 2006/7 season, but relegated after a single season in the top flight.
Llangefni is also home to Wellmans Football Team that plays on Sundays in the North Gwynedd and Anglesey League : I and H Griffiths Premier Division.
Rugby : Llangefni is also home to Llangefni RFC
a rugby
team that plays in the WRU
leagues. The club recently gained promotion to Division 2 West
, but this has been hampered by the WRU's decision to demote the club back to Division 4 North
Wales league.
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
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...
and contains the principal offices of the Isle of Anglesey County Council
Isle of Anglesey County Council
The Isle of Anglesey County Council is the governing body for the county of Anglesey, one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. The council consists of 40 councillors, representing 40 electoral wards.-Political makeup:...
. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the population of Llangefni was 4,662 people and it is the second largest settlement on the island. The census also reveals that 83.8% of the population speak Welsh
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...
fluently, with the highest percentage of speakers being in the 10-14 age group where 95.2% are able to speak Welsh.
Location
The town lies at the centre of the island on the River Cefni, after which it is named, and is home to the Oriel Ynys MônOriel Ynys Môn
Oriel Ynys Môn is a museum and arts centre located in Llangefni, Ynys Môn, Wales.A two-part centre, the History Gallery provides an insight into the island's culture, history and environment...
museum, detailing the history of Anglesey and housing the legacy collection of Charles Tunnicliffe
Charles Tunnicliffe
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe was an internationally renowned naturalistic painter of British birds and other wildlife. He spent most of his working life on the Isle of Anglesey.-Life:...
. In the west of the town is a large secondary school, Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni
Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni
Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni is a comprehensive school in the west of Llangefni, Anglesey. Opened in around 1953, it has 840 students. There is a sixth form class for ages 17-20, the amount of sixth formers are increasing every year with 2010 being the record year as over 50 pupils re-attended the school...
(Llangefni Comprehensive School), and in the north a Victorian church, St Cyngar's, set in a wooded riverside location known as The Dingle
The Dingle, Anglesey
The Dingle is a nature reserve found just to the north of Llangefni, Anglesey, north Wales. Dingle is a common placename in the English language, which means "steep wooded valley", which describes it well. However, like many similar English names for natural attractions in Wales, e.g. Fairy Glen,...
. The church provided the former name of the town, Llangyngar.
Commerce
It is the principal commercial and farming town on the island – the larger town of HolyheadHolyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
being a port town and somewhat separate from the agricultural, cultural and linguistical nature of the rest of the island – and in the past hosted the largest cattle market on the Island.
There is a relatively large industrial estate housing a slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
and several other small businesses.
The town had a station on the Anglesey Central Railway
Anglesey Central Railway
The Anglesey Central Railway was a long standard-gauge railway in Anglesey, Wales, connecting the port of Amlwch and the county town of Llangefni with the North Wales Coast Line at Gaerwen. Built as an independent railway, the railway opened in portions from 1864 to 1867...
line which opened in 1864. It closed in 1964 with the closure of the line although goods trains continued to pass through the town until 1993. Although no longer used, the tracks have not been removed.
Llangefni hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1957, 1983, and in 1999 gave its name to the Eisteddfod held at the nearby village of Llanbedrgoch. It also hosted the Urdd Eisteddfod in 1994.
This town also has a college, Coleg Menai
Coleg Menai
Coleg Menai is a further education college located in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. The college also has campuses in Llangefni and Caernarfon...
(Llangefni Site).
Water for the town comes from Llyn Cefni
Llyn Cefni
Llyn Cefni is a small reservoir in the centre of Anglesey, Wales which is managed by Welsh Water and Hamdden Ltd. It is located just one kilometre north of the island's county town of Llangefni and is the source of the Afon Cefni and other smaller watercourses...
(Lake Cefni), one kilometre to the north.
Sport
Football : The local football team, Llangefni TownLlangefni Town F.C.
Llangefni Town are a football team based in Llangefni on Anglesey. In the 2011-12 season they will play in the Cymru Alliance. They competed for a single season in the Welsh Premier League in the 2007-08 season.-History:...
, was promoted to the Welsh Premier League at the end of the 2006/7 season, but relegated after a single season in the top flight.
Llangefni is also home to Wellmans Football Team that plays on Sundays in the North Gwynedd and Anglesey League : I and H Griffiths Premier Division.
Rugby : Llangefni is also home to Llangefni RFC
Llangefni RFC
Llangefni Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the town of Llangefni, on the island of Anglesey, North Wales. Llangefni RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Scarlets.-History:...
a rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team that plays in the WRU
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
leagues. The club recently gained promotion to Division 2 West
WRU Division Two West
The Welsh Rugby Union Division Two West is a rugby union league in Wales.- Competition:There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division Two West...
, but this has been hampered by the WRU's decision to demote the club back to Division 4 North
WRU Division Four North
The Welsh Rugby Union Division One North is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented for the 1995/96 season. The league was known as Division Four North before the 2008-09 season...
Wales league.
Notable people
- John EliasJohn EliasJohn Elias was a Christian preacher in Wales in the first half of the 19th century, as part of the Welsh Methodist revival. His preaching was noted as being exceptionally powerful, "as if talking fire down from heaven". On one occasion it is said he preached to a crowd of 10,000 people. He was a...
, preacher, lived in the town 1830–41 - Christmas EvansChristmas EvansChristmas Evans was a Welsh Nonconformist minister, regarded as one of the greatest preachers in the history of Wales....
, preacher and chapel builder, lived in the town 1791–1826 - Huw GarmonHuw GarmonHuw Garmon is a Welsh actor, probably best known for playing the eponymous lead in the Oscar-nominated Welsh language film, Hedd Wyn ....
- Actor - Hugh GriffithHugh GriffithHugh Emrys Griffith was a Welsh film, stage and television actor.-Early life:Griffith was born in Marianglas, Anglesey, Wales, the son of Mary and William Griffith. He was educated at Llangefni County School and attempted to gain entrance to university, but failed the English examination...
, Oscar winning Actor, attended Llangefni County School in his youth - Hywel GwynfrynHywel GwynfrynHywel Gwynfryn is a Welsh TV and radio personality, and lyricist.Gwynfryn was born in Llangefni, Anglesey. He was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama....
, television and radio personality, was born in the town in 1942 and studied at Ysgol Gyfun LlangefniYsgol Gyfun LlangefniYsgol Gyfun Llangefni is a comprehensive school in the west of Llangefni, Anglesey. Opened in around 1953, it has 840 students. There is a sixth form class for ages 17-20, the amount of sixth formers are increasing every year with 2010 being the record year as over 50 pupils re-attended the school... - Wayne HennesseyWayne HennesseyWayne Robert Hennessey is a Welsh international footballer who plays for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers as a goalkeeper.-Early career:...
, Wolverhampton Wanderers and WalesWalesWales 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...
goalkeeper - Naomi WattsNaomi WattsNaomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
, Oscar nominated actress, lived in the town between the ages of 7 and 14 - Sir Kyffin WilliamsKyffin WilliamsSir John "Kyffin" Williams, KBE, RA was a Welsh landscape painter who lived at Pwllfanogl, Llanfairpwll on the Island of Anglesey...
, painter, was born in the town in 1908
External links
- photos of Llangefni and surrounding area on geograph
- http://www.llangefni.org