Llangefni
| Llangefni | |
|---|---|
| Population | Expression error: "4,662[1]" must be numeric |
| OS grid reference | SH495705 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LLANGEFNI |
| Postcode district | LL77 |
| Dialling code | +01248 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Llangefni is the county town[1]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.
It is the principal commercial and farming town on the island – the larger town of Holyhead 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.
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 Môn 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.
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.
Sport
Football : The local football team, Llangefni Town, 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.[2]
Notable residents
- John Elias, preacher, lived in the town 1830–41
- Christmas Evans, preacher and chapel builder, lived in the town 1791–1826
- Hywel Gwynfryn, television and radio personality, was born in the town in 1942 and studied at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni
- Naomi Watts, actress, lived in the town between the ages of 7 and 14
- Sir Kyffin Williams, painter, was born in the town in 1908
External links
References
- ^ a b The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg494 ISBN 9780708319536
- ^ Llangefni fight WRU 'relegation' - Sourced 20th Aug 2007.
