Benllech
Coordinates: 53°19′18″N 4°13′33″W / 53.3216°N 4.2257°W
| Benllech | |
 The sands at Benllech from the headland above Beach Road |
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 Benllech
Benllech shown within Anglesey |
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| OS grid reference | SH518828 |
|---|---|
| Community | Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf |
| Principal area | Anglesey |
| Ceremonial county | Gwynedd |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TYN-Y-GONGL |
| Postcode district | LL74 |
| Dialling code | 01248 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Ynys Môn |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Anglesey | |
Benllech is a small town on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. It is in the community of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf,[1] which has a population of 3,408.[2] The popularity of its beach makes Benllech – on the A5025, the main road around Anglesey – one of the most visited places on the island.[citation needed]
The name Benllech is perhaps a mutated form of penllech, literally "head slab" or "head rock", i.e. "capstone" or "head of the rock".[3] or possibly meaning 'on slate', shortened from the Welsh term 'ar ben llech'.
Benllech is a popular beach holiday destination. The beach shelves and has an abundance of clean yellow sand. The Anglesey Coastal Path passes through. Benllech is also a popular retirement destination as the majority of the village population are over 50 and are English speaking. The village won tidiest village on anglesey competition between the years 1973-79.
There are several public houses and hotels, camping and caravan sites and several bed and breakfasts. The community has a primary school, Ysgol Goronwy Owen; library, local GP, police and fire station, tennis court and bowling green and many other attractions you would typically find in a small British village. Between 1909 and 1950 there was a railway station close to the village which was the terminus of the Red Wharf Bay branch line.
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[edit] Notable residents
- The poet Goronwy Owen (1723–1769) was a native of Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf; the village hall was named after him.[4]
- Lemmy Kilmister, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, lead singer, bassist and guitarist of the band Motörhead, lived here from the age of 10 to the age of 16 (1956–1962).[5]
- Carwyn Ellis, lead singer for Colorama had a nomadic childhood before his family eventually settled in Benllech.
[edit] References
- ^ Ordnance Survey : Election Maps : Isle of Anglesey Retrieved 2009-08-18
- ^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Isle of Anglesey Retrieved 2009-08-18
- ^ BBC Wales: What's in a name?
- ^ Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Menna, Baines et al., eds (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 638. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
- ^ "Lemmy: Lead singer of the heavy metal band Motorhead". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/halloffame/showbiz/lemmy.shtml. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
[edit] External links
- 360 Panoramic View Of Cliffs On Coastal Walk At Benllech
- photos of Benllech and surrounding area on geograph
- Video of Benllech Past and Present by Dafydd Jones
