Mochdre, Conwy
| Mochdre | |
 The View (Welsh: Yr Olygfan) |
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  Mochdre |
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| Population | 1,923 (2011) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SH826786 |
| Community | Mochdre |
| Principal area | Conwy |
| Ceremonial county | Clwyd |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COLWYN BAY |
| Postcode district | LL28 |
| Dialling code | 01492 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Clwyd West |
| Welsh Assembly | Clwyd West |
Coordinates: 53°17′N 3°46′W / 53.29°N 3.76°W
Mochdre is a village and an electoral ward to the west of Colwyn Bay in Conwy County Borough, Wales. Originally part of the municipal borough of Colwyn Bay prior to local government reorganisation in April 1974, it is now a separate community whose population at the 2001 census was 1,862,[1] increasing to 1,923 at the 2011 census.[2]
Origin of the name
The name of the village comes from Welsh language words meaning pig (moch) and town (tref). The origin of the name is explained in one of the mythological Welsh tales known as the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, which were first written down in the early Middle Ages, but which actually go much further back into the history of oral Welsh storytelling. An incident in one of these tales, Math fab Mathonwy, concerns the theft of a herd of sacred pigs. One of the places where the stolen animals were kept overnight became known as Mochdre ("Pigtown") as a result.[3]
History and amenities
The village of Mochdre is noted for its parish church, which is actually the church of the parish of Llangwstennin as it allegedly sits on the site of the oldest Early Christian church in Wales.
Mochdre has a place in railway history. Sited on the North Wales Coast Line from Chester to Holyhead, it was the location of experimental trackside water troughs, from which passing steam locomotives could scoop up fresh water supplies without having to stop. These devices became commonplace around the world, but Mochdre was the first place they were ever used, around October 1860. Ironically the exact spot is now a stretch of the A55 dual carriageway, the railway line having been realigned slightly to the west when this section of the road was built in the mid-1980s. Here too was Mochdre & Pabo railway station, closed originally in January 1917 as a World War I economy measure, reopened in May 1919, and finally closed for good in January 1931. The area has been established an industrial area with much industrial and wholesale retail activity, notably Quinton Hazell, a large automotive accessories manufacturer being their base in the village. Latterly this complex is home to the Quinton Hazell Enterprise Park, incorporating mixed office and industrial accommodation.
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mochdre. |
