Population 1,447 (2011 Census) Community Harlech Local time Thursday 8:49 PM | OS grid reference SH581312 Country Wales University Coleg Harlech | |
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Weather 7°C, Wind W at 11 km/h, 90% Humidity Points of interest Harlech Castle, Rhinogydd, Shell Island, Rhinog Fawr, Rhinog Fach | ||
Harlech introduction to the town
Harlech ([ˈharlɛx]) is a town and seaside resort in Gwynedd, within the historic boundaries of Merionethshire in northwest Wales. Lying on Tremadog Bay and within the Snowdonia National Park, it has a population of 1,447, of whom 51% speak Welsh. The town is in the unitary authority of Gwynedd which was formed in 1996. From 1974 to 1996 it was in the Meirionydd District of the 1974 County of Gwynedd, and before 1974 it was in the historic county of Merionethshire.
Contents
- Harlech introduction to the town
- Map of Harlech UK
- Etymology
- Governance
- Transport
- Educational facilities
- Recreation
- In traditional and popular culture
- Famous residents
- References
Map of Harlech, UK
The town is best known for the landmark Harlech Castle, begun in 1283 by Edward I of England, captured by Owain Glyndŵr, and later the stronghold of Henry Tudor. The castle was built next to the sea, but geological processes have changed the shape of the coastline, and the castle now lies on a cliff face, about half a mile (800 m) inland. The town has since developed, with housing estates on the flat low town area and hillside properties in the high town around the shopping street, church, and castle. The two areas are linked by a steep and winding road called "Twtil".
Etymology
The exact derivation of the name 'Harlech' is unclear. Some mostly older sources claim that it derives from Arddlech, i.e. ardd (high) + llech (rock), referring to the prominent crag on which the castle stands. More recent sources tend to claim a simpler derivation, namely from the two Welsh words hardd (fair/fine) and llech.
As late as the 19th century some texts referred to "Harddlech" and "Harddlech Castle", and this name is used in the mid-19th century translation of the Mabinogion : "And one afternoon he was at Harddlech in Ardudwy, at a court of his. And they were seated upon the rock of Harddlech overlooking the sea." Contemporary documents from the time of the Mabinogion do not actually mention Harlech, referring only to Llywelyn building his castle "at Ardudwy"
Governance
An electoral ward in the same name exists. This stretches to include Talsarnau Community. The total population of the ward taken at the 2011 census was 1,997.
Transport
The town's railway station is served by the Cambrian Coast Line. It also contains Ffordd Pen Llech, a street which descends the rock spur to the north of the castle, and has the steepest signed gradient on a public road in the United Kingdom.
Educational facilities
Ysgol Ardudwy is the county secondary school for children between the ages of 11-16.
The town is also the home of Wales' only long term adult residential college, Coleg Harlech, also known as the "college of second chance."
Recreation
Theatr Harlech (formerly called Theatr Ardudwy) is located on the Coleg Harlech campus and stages a varied selection of plays, music, and films throughout the year.
Other attractions in Harlech include its beach backed with sand dunes and the famous Royal Saint David's Golf Club, a top course in Britain which hosted its fifth British Ladies Amateur in 2009.
The Rhinogydd (or Rhinogs) range of mountains rises to the east.
A World War II-era fighter aircraft was found on Harlech beach in 2007. The discovery of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning has been described as "one of the most important WWII finds in recent history". The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) are not divulging the precise location of the U.S. Army Air Forces aeroplane, known as the Maid of Harlech, but hope eventually to salvage the wreck.