Nefyn
Encyclopedia
Nefyn is a small town
and community
on the north west coast of the Llŷn Peninsula
in Gwynedd
, Wales
, with a population
of 2,619. Welsh
is the first language
of almost 80% of its inhabitants. The A497 road terminates in the town centre.
hillfort of Garn Boduan overlooking Nefyn. The remains of 170 round stone huts and ramparts are still visible on top of the 917 feet (279.5 m) hill.
The earliest known reference to Nefyn in documents dates from the latter part of the 11th century, where it is mentioned as a landing place of the Welsh prince, Gruffydd ap Cynan
.
Gerald of Wales writing in his account of a journey around Wales in 1188 states he slept at Nefyn on the eve of Palm Sunday
.
The town was the place of a jousting
tournament
held by Edward I of England
in 1284 to celebrate his victory over the Welsh, emphasising its importance at that time as a trading town. In 1355 it became a free borough
and remained an important centre of commerce.
The sea was always an important part of the economy of Nefyn and fishing, particularly for herring
, became the prime trade for most of the 18th and 19th centuries: so much so that the town's coat of arms
bears three herrings.
date from the 6th century, although the present building was erected in 1827. It would have been an important staging post for pilgrimage
s to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island). The church is no longer a place of worship but houses a museum dedicated to the maritime history of Nefyn.
The name Nefyn is the Welsh cognate of the Gaelic Goddess Nebhain. Indicative of the settlement of the Llŷn Peninsula (In Irish Laighin, the same derivation as Leinster
) in the 4th or 5th century by Irish tribes. The Romans
recorded a tribe occupying the peninsula called the 'Gangani', who are also recorded as a tribe in Ireland
. 'Nevin' as an Irish female name means 'worshipper of the saint'. Nefyn is another form of Nyfain, an early Welsh female saint.
, the Royal Air Force
built a Chain Home
radar
station to the south-west of Nefyn.
A tremor in the area on 12 December 1940 was reported by the Cambrian News
as having caused two fatalities including John Thomas of Nefyn who died of a heart attack.
On 19 July 1984 an earthquake
measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale
had an epicentre near Nefyn. This is one of the strongest tremors recorded in the UK for recent times but caused little structural damage.
It is twinned
with Puerto Madryn
, a town in Chubut Province
in Argentina
(see Welsh settlement in Argentina
).
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and community
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
on the north west coast of the Llŷn Peninsula
Llŷn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
in Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, 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...
, with a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 2,619. 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...
is the first language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
of almost 80% of its inhabitants. The A497 road terminates in the town centre.
History
The history of the area can be traced back to 300BC with the Iron AgeIron 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...
hillfort of Garn Boduan overlooking Nefyn. The remains of 170 round stone huts and ramparts are still visible on top of the 917 feet (279.5 m) hill.
The earliest known reference to Nefyn in documents dates from the latter part of the 11th century, where it is mentioned as a landing place of the Welsh prince, Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan was a King of Gwynedd. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule, and was remembered as King of all Wales...
.
Gerald of Wales writing in his account of a journey around Wales in 1188 states he slept at Nefyn on the eve of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
.
The town was the place of a jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
held by Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in 1284 to celebrate his victory over the Welsh, emphasising its importance at that time as a trading town. In 1355 it became a free borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
and remained an important centre of commerce.
The sea was always an important part of the economy of Nefyn and fishing, particularly for herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
, became the prime trade for most of the 18th and 19th centuries: so much so that the town's coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
bears three herrings.
Parish church and origin of the name Nefyn
The foundations of the old St Mary's parish churchParish 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....
date from the 6th century, although the present building was erected in 1827. It would have been an important staging post for pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
s to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island). The church is no longer a place of worship but houses a museum dedicated to the maritime history of Nefyn.
The name Nefyn is the Welsh cognate of the Gaelic Goddess Nebhain. Indicative of the settlement of the Llŷn Peninsula (In Irish Laighin, the same derivation as Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
) in the 4th or 5th century by Irish tribes. The Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
recorded a tribe occupying the peninsula called the 'Gangani', who are also recorded as a tribe in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. 'Nevin' as an Irish female name means 'worshipper of the saint'. Nefyn is another form of Nyfain, an early Welsh female saint.
20th century and after
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
built a Chain Home
Chain Home
Chain Home was the codename for the ring of coastal Early Warning radar stations built by the British before and during the Second World War. The system otherwise known as AMES Type 1 consisted of radar fixed on top of a radio tower mast, called a 'station' to provide long-range detection of...
radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
station to the south-west of Nefyn.
A tremor in the area on 12 December 1940 was reported by the Cambrian News
Cambrian News
The Cambrian News is a weekly newspaper distributed in Wales. It was founded in 1860 and is based in Cefn Llan Science Park, Aberystwyth. Cambrian News Ltd was bought by media entrepreneur Sir Ray Tindle in 1998.- History :...
as having caused two fatalities including John Thomas of Nefyn who died of a heart attack.
On 19 July 1984 an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
had an epicentre near Nefyn. This is one of the strongest tremors recorded in the UK for recent times but caused little structural damage.
It 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 Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is a city in the province of Chubut in the Argentine Patagonia. It is the head town of the Viedma Department, and has about 57,571 inhabitants according to the last census in 2001....
, a town in Chubut Province
Chubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
(see Welsh settlement in Argentina
Welsh settlement in Argentina
Y Wladfa refers to the Welsh settlement in Argentina, which began in 1865 and occurred mainly along the coast of Chubut Province in the far southern region of Patagonia...
).
Notable people
- Harpist John ParryJohn Parry DdallJohn Parry , known as Parri Ddall, Rhiwabon was born in the Llŷn Peninsula, Caernarfonshire, now Gwynedd, in Wales, and was blind from birth....
(ca. 1710 - 1782) known as Parry Ddall Rhiwabon or Blind Parry of Rhiwabon was born in Nefyn ca. 1710. - Sir Thomas Duncombe Love Jones-Parry (1832–1891) 1st BaronetBaronetA baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, LiberalLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and one of the founders of the Welsh settlement in ArgentinaWelsh settlement in ArgentinaY Wladfa refers to the Welsh settlement in Argentina, which began in 1865 and occurred mainly along the coast of Chubut Province in the far southern region of Patagonia...
, inherited the Madryn estate near Nefyn in 1853. - Elizabeth Watkin-JonesElizabeth Watkin-JonesElizabeth Watkin-Jones was a Welsh children's book author, who wrote in the Welsh language.-Life history:Watkin-Jones was born in Nefyn, Caernarfonshire as Elizabeth Parry, the only daughter of Jane and Henry Parry. Henry Parry was a sea captain who drowned in Iquique harbour in Chile without...
(1887–1966), author of children's books in the Welsh languageWelsh languageWelsh 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...
was born in Nefyn on 13 July 1887. - Actor Rupert DaviesRupert DaviesRupert Davies was a British actor. He remains best known for playing the title role in the BBC's 1960s television adaptation of Maigret, based on the Maigret novels written by Georges Simenon....
(1916–1976), who played MaigretMaigretJules Maigret, Maigret to most people, including his wife, is a fictional police detective, actually a commissaire or commissioner of the Paris "Brigade Criminelle" , created by writer Georges Simenon.Seventy-five novels and twenty-eight short stories about Maigret were published between 1931 and...
in the eponymous BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television series in the sixties, is buried at Pistyll near Nefyn. - Singer DuffyDuffy (singer)Aimée Ann Duffy , known as Duffy, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Rockferry entered the UK Album Chart at number one. It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold...
was raised in Nefyn.
External links
- Former Nefyn resident's relatives in America
- Herring fishing at Nefyn
- Nefyn.com - This site contains stories and photos from a former Nefyn resident.
- The Last Great Nefyn Herring Catch 1950
- Draw Netting in Nefyn 1954
- An Evacuee's Story: From Kent to North Wales
- Shipbuilding in Nefyn
- Further archival information on Nefyn
- Flikr Search for Nefyn Photographs
- Panoramio Search for Nefyn Photographs
- - Online guide to the Llŷn Peninsula
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Nefyn and surrounding area
- British Geological Survey case study of landslide in Nefyn in 2001