Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay
| |
|---|---|
 Colwyn Bay | |
| Population | 30,742 (2001) |
| OS grid reference | SH865785 |
| Community |
|
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COLWYN BAY |
| Postcode district | LL29, LL28 |
| Dialling code | 01492 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Colwyn Bay (Welsh: Bae Colwyn) is a town, community and seaside resort in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales overlooking the Irish Sea. Eight neighbouring communities are incorporated within its postal district. Established as its own separate parish in 1844 with just a small grouping of homes and farms where the community of Old Colwyn stands today, Colwyn Bay has expanded to become the second-largest community and business centre in the north of Wales as well as the 16th largest in the whole of Wales with the urban statistical area having a population of 28,992 at the 2001 census. Locally nicknamed "The Bay".
History
The western side of Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea, includes a number of historic sites associated with St Trillo and Ednyfed Fychan, the 13th century general and councillor to Llywelyn the Great.
Government
Bay of Colwyn Town Council is a statutory body, covering the communities in the urban area. The mayor for 2014-15 is Valarie Smith.
Geography
The town is situated about halfway along the north coast of Wales, between the sea and the Pwllycrochan Woods on the towering hillside. Groes yn Eirias (Welsh:Cross in Torch) was once a separate hamlet centred on the Glyn farmhouse (c1640) but the area is now occupied by the Glyn estate and Eirias Park.
Climate
As with the rest of the British Isles, Colwyn Bay experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters, and often high winds. The local climate is well known for the prevalence of Foehn winds - where winds from the South pass over the nearby mountains and warm and dry on their descent, leading to far higher temperatures than otherwise might be expected; the area holds the Welsh high temperature record for January, March, August, October, November and December.
| Climate data for Colwyn Bay 36m asl, 1981-2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
8.4 (47.1) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.1 (53.8) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17.6 (63.7) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19.4 (66.9) |
17.4 (63.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.1 (52.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
2.7 (36.9) |
4.1 (39.4) |
5.3 (41.5) |
7.7 (45.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
5.7 (42.3) |
3.2 (37.8) |
7.2 (45.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 74.7 (2.94) |
53.0 (2.09) |
57.5 (2.26) |
50.7 (2.00) |
52.9 (2.08) |
56.1 (2.21) |
52.1 (2.05) |
64.6 (2.54) |
70.2 (2.76) |
96.8 (3.81) |
89.8 (3.54) |
90.2 (3.55) |
808.7 (31.84) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 56.2 | 81.8 | 115.0 | 162.8 | 209.0 | 185.6 | 189.6 | 174.7 | 135.2 | 108.2 | 59.9 | 44.1 | 1,522 |
| Source: Met Office[1] | |||||||||||||
Demography
Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of around 25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed just the central part of the overall town and in the 2001 Census contained just 9,742 people, with the others as follows: Mochdre (1,862), Rhos-on-Sea (7,110), Glan Conwy (2,290), Old Colwyn (7,626) and Llysfaen (2,652). This gives a total figure for the six communities of 31,382, generally referred to as the population of Colwyn Bay, making it the 16th largest urban area in Wales and the second largest settlement in North Wales.
According to the census of 2001, 20% of the population can speak Welsh fluently. The highest percentage of speakers is in the 10–14 years age group, where 38% can speak the language.
Economy
The town is dominated by the tourist trade, because of its famous beaches. A business and commercial centre with rail links and close access to the activities that are available in the surrounding countryside. Colwyn Bay is a Fairtrade Town as certified by the Fairtrade Foundation as part of the Fairtrade Towns scheme.
Culture
Colwyn Bay hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1910, 1947 and 1995.
Community facilities
The town has parks and gardens and many places of natural beauty such as Eirias Park. Colwyn Bay has received a gold award 8 times in the Wales in Bloom competition. In 2009 and 2010 the town has been invited to enter Britain in Bloom and has been awarded silver gilt in both years. The Welsh Mountain Zoo is nearby.
The Porth Eirias Watersports Centre offers tuition in sailing, windsurfing and power boating as well as kayak and canoe hire. In 2013 it was nominated for the Building Design Carbuncle Award.[2]
Landmarks
The Victoria Pier has been closed to the public since 2009 when a dispute between Conwy County Borough Council and the pier's owner led to him being declared bankrupt. Llety'r Dryw is a Grade II listed house in Abergele Road, built for the uncle of Anthony Eden and now used as the training centre for North Wales Police. Llys Euryn is a medieval manor house on Bryn Euryn, now in ruins.
Transport
The A55 road passes through the town, running parallel to the North Wales Coast Line. The town is served by Colwyn Bay railway station located in the town centre.
Education
Colwyn Bay has three secondary schools - one private and two state. Eirias High School is in Eirias Park and Ysgol Bryn Elian is in Old Colwyn. Ysgol Bryn Elian mainly serves Old Colwyn and Eirias High School mainly serves Colwyn Bay, Rhos on Sea and Penrhyn Bay. Rydal Penrhos is a private school, which is on multiple sites in the town. The town's primary schools are Ysgol Glan y Mor, Ysgol Pendorlan, Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn, Ysgol T Gwynn Jones, Ysgol Hen Golwyn, and Saint Joseph's R.C. Primary and the Welsh-language Ysgol Bod Alaw.
Religious sites
Anglican churches in and around the town include the parish church St Paul's Church, St David's Welsh Church, St John the Baptist's Church and Christ Church, Bryn-y-Maen to the south of the town.
Sport
The local football team is Colwyn Bay F.C., the local cricket team is Colwyn Bay Cricket Club who play at Penrhyn Avenue and the rugby union team is Colwyn Bay RFC. As of 2012, the RGC 1404 rugby team also play in Colwyn Bay as part of a development venture by the WRU.
Colwyn Bay Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1893. The club and course closed in 1959 and the land was used for a housing development.[3]
Notable people
- Carl Dale, footballer for Chester City and Cardiff City, as well as several non-league clubs.
- James Bond actor Timothy Dalton.
- William Davies, a Welsh Roman Catholic priest and martyr, beatified in 1987.[4] It is believed but not confirmed that he was born at Groes yn Eirias in 1555.
- Richard Ellis, the California-based astronomer, was born and went to school in Old Colwyn
- Monty Python star Terry Jones (from Old Colwyn).
- Cricketer Tony Lewis who captained Glamorgan.
- MP Alun Michael.
- Soap star William Roache, (Ken Barlow in Coronation Street), who attended Rydal Penrhos, a private school in the town.
- Rachel Taylor - Welsh women's rugby international player[5]
- Mickey Thomas who played for Manchester United, Chelsea, Shrewsbury Town and Wrexham lives in Mochdre.
- Mike Walker ex professional footballer and former manager of Everton FC and Norwich City FC
- Helen Willetts, a BBC weather reporter.
- Big Breakfast presenter Paula Yates.
See also
- Mochdre, a village to the west that was originally part of the Borough.
References
- ^ "Colwyn Bay 1981-2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 24 Aug 2012.
- ^ "Britain's ugliest new buildings named". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ “Colwyn Bay Golf Club”, “Golf’s Missing Links”.
- ^ Davies, William (d. 1593) at National Library of Wales Dictionary of Welsh Biography
- ^ Squad Profiles: Wales Women at Welsh Rugby Union, 2012
External links
Media related to Colwyn Bay at Wikimedia Commons
- A Vision of Britain Through Time
- Bay of Colwyn Town Council
- British Listed Buildings
- Clwyd Churches
- Genuki
- Geograph
- Guide to Colwyn Bay
- Office for National Statistics
