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Llanegryn

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Llanegryn
Lower road into Llanegryn in 2009. Source: Faolan, from geograph.org.uk
OS grid referenceSH6005
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTYWYN
Postcode districtLL36
Dialling code01654
PoliceNorth Wales
FireNorth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Gwynedd

Llanegryn is a village and a community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It was formerly part of the historic county of Merionethshire (Welsh: Meirionnydd, Sir Feirionnydd). It is located within Snowdonia National Park south of the Snowdonia (Eryri) mountain range. Travelling by road, it is around 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Tywyn and 17 miles (27 km) south-west of Dolgellau. The nearest railway stations are at Tonfanau and Llwyngwril, both less than 3 miles (5 km) away.

Llanegryn is named for St Egryn, with llan meaning church or parish – a common feature in Welsh place names. The village lies in the Dysynni Valley (Dyffryn Dysynni).

History of the area

The Dysynni Valley, originally a river delta of the Afon Dysynni, was largely drained from the late 1700s on – notably by the Corbet family at Ynysymaengwyn – creating a flat, fertile valley, several miles in width. There is likely to have been much earlier settlement on surrounding high ground for sheep rearing and agriculture. An Iron Age fort is located towards the east end of the valley.[1]

Church of St Mary and St Egryn

There has been a recorded settlement around St Mary and St Egryn church at Llanegryn since the 13th century, with the first record of the church being in 1253/4.[2] This notable medieval Grade I listed building contains a fine carved rood screen, dating from about 1520 – considered to be among the finest in Wales. It has been suggested this may come from Cymer Abbey.[2] It also contains a 12th-century font and a surviving medieval window on the north wall of the nave, although the church underwent substantial restoration during the 19th century.[3][4][5]

The village's Methodist chapel was built in 1811, enlarged in 1848 and rebuilt 30 years later in the simple Gothic style with gable entry.[6]

Samuel Lewis's 1833 Topographical Dictionary of Wales records 764 inhabitants in Llanegryn, also noting the free school founded in 1650. The 1868 National gazetteer lists the parish population as 652 in 149 houses.[7]

The village today

Today, the population of Llanegryn is approximately 400, including outlying houses and farms.[citation needed] Primary sources of income are farming and tourism, with several caravan parks being located throughout the Dysynni valley, particularly on the Peniarth estate. The village attracts hikers and walkers, due to its location near to Cadair Idris mountain and Craig yr Aderyn (meaning "Bird Rock"), which is notable as an inland site where cormorants breed.[8] Other local landmarks include Castell y Bere, constructed by Llywelyn the Great in the 1220s.[9]

The new £5.4m Ysgol Bro Dysynni – a primary school for 70 children that replaces smaller schools in Llanegryn and three nearby villages – has been the subject of controversy. The school, which will include four classrooms, practical and IT areas and library, is scheduled to open for September 2013.[10][11][12][13]

References

  1. ^ "Dysynni Valley – Countryside Council for Wales". Ccgc.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  2. ^ a b "The History of Llanegryn Church". Friendsofllanegrynchurch.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  3. ^ "Llanegryn Church Screen – History, Travel, and accommodation information". Britainexpress.com. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  4. ^ Good Stuff IT Services. "Church of St Mary and St Egryn – Llanegryn – Gwynedd – Wales". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  5. ^ "Coflein". Coflein. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  6. ^ "Coflein". Coflein. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  7. ^ "The National Gazetteer (1868) – Llanegryn". GENUKI. 2005-10-22. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  8. ^ "Mountains and Coast". Eryri-npa.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  9. ^ "Castell y Bere". Castlewales.com. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  10. ^ Crump, Eryl (2012-09-06). "Campaigner lies down in front of diggers at new Gwynedd school – Need to Read – News – Daily Post North Wales". Dailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  11. ^ Crump, Eryl (2012-01-19). "Plans for new Gwynedd school may not be environmentally friendly parents claim – North Wales News – News – Daily Post North Wales". Dailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  12. ^ "Bourne pledges to save Ysgol Llwyngwril". Wales Online. 2011-04-14. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  13. ^ "Plans for new Ysgol Bro Dysynni go on display | October 2011 | Gwynedd Council". Gwynedd.gov.uk. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
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