Llanbedr () is a village and community 2.8 miles (4.5 km) south of Harlech. Administratively, it lies in the Ardudwy area, formerly Meirionnydd, of the county of Gwynedd, Wales. In 2011 the community had a population of 645.
| Llanbedr | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Victoria Inn, Llanbedr | |
  Llanbedr Location within Gwynedd | |
| Population | 645 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SH582268 |
| Community |
|
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LLANBEDR |
| Postcode district | LL45 |
| Dialling code | 01341 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
History
editAncient monuments at Llanbedr include Neolithic standing stones; the Stones of Llanbedr and Bronze Age hut circles. The village originally grew around the slate quarrying industry. Glyn Pedr is a Victorian Grade II listed residence on Maes Ffynnon.
During the First World War, Marian Antonia Gamwell, a widow, created a British Red Cross auxiliary hospital at her new home, the country house called Aber Artro, at Llanbedr.[2]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Llanbedr Airfield (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) |
8.4 (47.1) |
10.2 (50.4) |
13.0 (55.4) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.0 (64.4) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19.3 (66.7) |
17.9 (64.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
11.5 (52.7) |
9.2 (48.6) |
13.8 (56.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
2.7 (36.9) |
3.4 (38.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
8.4 (47.1) |
6.7 (44.1) |
3.4 (38.1) |
7.3 (45.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 95.8 (3.77) |
100.1 (3.94) |
72.6 (2.86) |
55.7 (2.19) |
57.3 (2.26) |
68.7 (2.70) |
90.5 (3.56) |
82.5 (3.25) |
83.5 (3.29) |
118.6 (4.67) |
131.9 (5.19) |
143.1 (5.63) |
1,100.3 (43.32) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 16.9 | 13.6 | 13.9 | 11.8 | 11.0 | 11.4 | 13.1 | 13.5 | 13.4 | 16.2 | 17.9 | 18.2 | 171.1 |
| Source: Met Office[3] | |||||||||||||
Church and chapel
editThe church of St Peter, after whom the village is named (Pedr being the Welsh for Peter), is a Grade II* listed building.[4]
In 2019 approval was given to convert Capel Moriah in Llanbedr, which had gone out of use, into a Mosque.[5]
About 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the village centre is the hamlet of Pentre Gwynfryn whose chapel, Capel Salem, was the subject of a painting by the artist Sydney Curnow Vosper. The painting, entitled Salem, showed a member of the congregation, Siân Owen, in traditional Welsh costume and became famous throughout Britain in the mid-20th century.[6]
Airport
editThe village is home to Llanbedr Airport, a general aviation aerodrome. Until 2004, the site was operated as a military airfield by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and QinetiQ as a launch site for remotely piloted drone 'aircraft' for use as aerial targets by the RAF and other UK forces.[7] The airfield was included in the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone by the Welsh Government in January 2013.
In 2018, the airport became home to a flying school offering pleasure flights and flying lessons.
After the UK passed 2021 enabling legislation, in 2022, the Welsh Government announced plans to develop space launch capability at the site, to be named Spaceport Snowdonia.[8]
Amenities
editThe Morfa Dyffryn sand dunes and Mochras (Shell Island) lie nearby. It has two public houses.
To the north of the village is the smaller village of Pensarn, situated at the estuary of the River Artro. This is the location of Llanbedr & Pensarn Yacht Club and the Christian Mountain Centre, a residential adventure activity centre.
Railways
editLlanbedr railway station, formerly known as Talwrn Bach Halt, is a little out of the village itself and is served by the Cambrian Line.
Governance
editAn electoral ward in the same name existed. This ward also covered the Community of Llanfair. The total ward population at the 2011 Census was 1,098.[9] From the 2022 Gwynedd Council election the ward was merged with Harlech, renamed Harlech a Llanbedr and the representation increased to 2 county councillors.
Twinning
editIn 2008 Llanbedr was twinned with Huchenfeld, Germany, following many years of exchanges between schools, churches, musicians and community leaders, in remembrance of the occurrences at Pforzheim and Huchenfeld during the Second World War.[citation needed]
Notable people
edit- Henry Lloyd (ca.1718 – 1783), a Welsh army officer and military writer.
- Katherine Mudge (1881–1975), a British archer; she competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.
- Sir Philip Pullman CBE FRSL (born 1946), an English writer; his formative years were spent in Llanbedr.
See also
edit- Petrosomatoglyph St. Mary's footprints at Llan Maria.
References
edit- ^ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^ "Gamwell, (Antonia) Marian (1891–1977), volunteer ambulance driver and commanding officer of the FANY". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/67668. Retrieved 26 May 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Llanbedr Airfield (Gwynedd) UK climate averages - Met Office". Met Office. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Church of St Peter, Llanbedr". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Williams, Gareth. "Green light to convert former chapel into mosque". Cambrian News. Retrieved 15 December 2019.[dead link]
- ^ Gower, Jon (23 May 2002). "Salem exhibition visits castle". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ Mills, Wendy (2002) Target Rolling: A History of Llanbedr Airfield 1941-2002, Hinckley, Leics: Midland Publishing ISBN 1-85780-136-9
- ^ https://www.thenational.wales/news/19808881.spaceport-snowdonia-spaceport-cornwall-plans-alive/ [1]
- ^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 16 May 2015.
