Barmouth

Abermaw
Welsh: Abermaw
Abermaw across the Mawddach estuary
Abermaw Abermaw shown within Gwynedd
Population	2,522
OS grid reference	SH613158
Community	Barmouth
Principal area	Gwynedd
Ceremonial county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BARMOUTH
Postcode district	LL42
Dialling code	01341
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Welsh Assembly	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
List of places UK Wales Gwynedd

Coordinates: 52°43′19″N 4°03′18″W / 52.722°N 4.055°W / 52.722; -4.055

Barmouth (Welsh: Abermaw (formal); Y Bermo (colloquial)) is a town in the county of Gwynedd, north-western Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Mawddach and Cardigan Bay. Historically in Merionethshire, the English form of the name is derived from "Aber" (estuary) and the river's name "Mawddach"

The town is served by Barmouth railway station.

History

Barmouth, with Cader Idris in the background, 1865.

The town in the 1890s

Barmouth Sands by William Collins, 1835, Guildhall Gallery, London

The town grew around the shipbuilding industry, and more recently as a seaside resort. Notable buildings include the mediaeval Tŷ Gwyn tower house, the 19th century Tŷ Crwn roundhouse prison and St John's Church.

William Wordsworth, a visitor to Barmouth in the 19th century, described it thus: "With a fine sea view in front, the mountains behind, the glorious estuary running eight miles inland, and Cadair Idris within compass of a day's walk, Barmouth can always hold its own against any rival."

In January 2014 two trains were stranded at Barmouth after severe winter storms destroyed the sea wall at nearby Llanaber.^[1]

Transport

Barmouth Bridge, which takes the Cambrian Line over the River Mawddach, was also formerly at the end of the GWR Ruabon Barmouth line, which passed through Bala and Dolgellau. The southern end of the bridge is now the start of the Mawddach Trail, a cycle path and walk way that utilises the old trackbed.

The Barmouth Ferry sails from Barmouth to Penrhyn Point, where it connects with the narrow gauge Fairbourne Railway for the village of Fairbourne.

Barmouth is (geographically) one of the closest seaside resorts to the English West Midlands and a large proportion of its tourist visitors, as well as its permanent residents, are from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley and other parts of the Black Country, and Telford, Shropshire.

The town has a RNLI lifeboat station with a Visitors' Centre with shop and viewing gallery.^[2]

Sport

The nearest rugby club is in Dolgellau, some seven miles away.^[3]

Barmouth has one major association football team: Barmouth & Dyffryn United, the team competes in the Welsh Alliance league and is generally well supported by residents.

Barmouth is the venue for the annual Barmouth Beach Race, a motocross event. Usually taking place on the last weekend in October, the event sees riders take part in beach racing, using a temporary motocross course constructed on the beach. Over 200 riders typically take part in this event, with spectators attending free of charge. The event attracts champion riders from England and Wales.^[4]

The busy harbour plays host to the annual Three Peaks yacht race.

Notable people

Herbert Tudor Buckland, architect (1869–1951)
Charlie (Charlene) Brooks, actress (EastEnders) (1981-)
Tommy Nutter, fashion designer^[5]
Johnny Williams, boxer (1926–2007)
Harold Lowe, 5th officer, RMS Titanic
Fanny Talbot (1824-1917), public benefactor
Bill Tilman, mountaineer and sailor, lived in Barmouth for many years.
Jim Valentine (born 1866), legendary RU/Northern Union player, killed by lightning in Barmouth 1904.

References

↑ "Road trip for storm-hit Barmouth marooned trains". BBC News. 15 January 2014.
↑ "RNLI: Barmouth". Retrieved 16 February 2016.
↑ Dolgellau Old Grammarians from Pitchero.com, retrieved 11 March 2015
↑ WalesDirectory.co.uk retrieved 11 March 2015
↑ Etherington-Smith, Meredith (1992-08-18). "Obituary: Tommy Nutter". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2009-10-09.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barmouth.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Barmouth.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Barmouth.

Gwynedd

Principal settlements	Bala Bangor Barmouth Bethesda Blaenau Ffestiniog Caernarfon Criccieth Dolgellau Ffestiniog Harlech Nefyn Porthmadog Pwllheli Tywyn

Towns and villages	Aberangell Aberdaron Aberdesach Aberdyfi Abererch Abergeirw Abergwyngregyn Abergynolwyn Aberllefenni Abersoch Abertrinant Afon Wen Anelog Arthog Beddgelert Bethania Bethel Bethesda Betws Garmon Bodferin Boduan Bontddu Bontnewydd Botwnnog Bryncroes Bryn-crug Brynrefail Buan Bwlch-derwin Caeathro Capel Celyn Carmel Carnguwch Ceidio Chwilog Clwt-y-bont Clynnog Fawr Corris Uchaf Corris Croesor Cwm y Glo Deiniolen Dinas Dinas Dinlle Dinas Mawddwy Dinorwig Dolbenmaen Dolmelinllyn Dwygyfylchi Edern Efailnewydd Eisingrug Fairbourne Friog Frongoch Ganllwyd Garndolbenmaen Garneddwen Gellilydan Glasinfryn Groeslon Llan Ffestiniog Llanaber Llanaelhaearn Llanarmon Llanbedr Llanbedrog Llanberis Llandanwg Llandegwning Llandeiniolen Llandudwen Llandwrog Llandygai Llanegryn Llanelltyd Llanengan Llanfaelrhys Llanfaglan Llanfair Llanfihangel Bachellaeth Llanfihangel-y-Pennant Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Dolbenmaen Llanfrothen Llangelynnin Llangian Llangwnnadl Llangybi Llaniestyn Llanigian Llanllechid Llanllyfni Llannor Llanrug Llanuwchllyn Llanwnda Llanymawddwy Llanystumdwy Llithfaen Llwyndyrys Llwyngwril Maentwrog Mallwyd Mellteyrn Minffordd Morfa Bychan Morfa Nefyn Mynydd Llandygai Mynydd Nefyn Mynytho Nantlle Valley Rhostryfan Nantmor Nasareth Nebo Pant Glas Penffridd Penisa'r Waun Penllech Penllyn Penmaenpool Pennal Penrhos Penrhyndeudraeth Pentre Gwynfryn Penygroes Pen-y-meinl Pistyll Pontrug Porthdinllaen Portmeirion Prenteg Rachub Rhiwddolion Rhosgadfan Rhoshirwaun Rhoslefair Rhos-y-gwaliau Rhyd Ddu Rhyd Rhydyclafdy Sarn Meyllteyrn Soar Talsarnau Tal-y-bont (near Bangor) Tal-y-bont (near Barmouth) Tal-y-llyn Talysarn Tanygrisiau Trawsfynydd Trefor Tregarth Tremadog Tudweiliog Tywyn Waunfawr Y Felinheli Y Ffor Y Fron Y Rhiw

Education	Bangor University Coleg Harlech Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor Coleg Menai Schools

Castles and forts	Caernarfon Castle Castell y Bere Criccieth Castle Dolbadarn Castle Harlech Castle Fort Belan

Rivers	Afon Aber River Adda Afon Artro Afon Cegin Afon Cwmnantcol Afon Daron Afon Dwyfor Afon Dwyryd Afon Dysynni Afon Fathew Afon Glaslyn Afon Llyfni Afon Mawddach Afon Ogwen Afon Rhythallt Afon Seiont Afon Tryweryn

Islands	Bardsey Island Ynys Gifftan Ynys Gwylan-fawr St Tudwals Islands

Topics	Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Country houses Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings History Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 16, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.