| Nefyn | |
|---|---|
 A view over Nefyn | |
  Nefyn Location withinGwynedd | |
| Population | 2,602 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SH304405 |
| Community |
|
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PWLLHELI |
| Postcode district | LL53 |
| Dialling code | 01758 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
52°56′06″N4°31′26″W / 52.935°N 4.524°W /52.935; -4.524  Map of the community | |
Nefyn (Welsh pronunciation:[ˈnɛvɨn]ⓘ, archaically anglicised asNevin) is a town andcommunity on the northwest coast of theLlŷn Peninsula,Gwynedd,Wales. Nefyn is popular with visitors for its sandy beach, and has one substantial hotel, a community pub and a beach cafe. TheA497 road terminates in the town centre.
The community includesEdern andMorfa Nefyn. In 2011, the population was 2,602,[1] with Nefyn itself having 1,373 people.[2]
The history of the area can be traced back to 300 BC with theIron Agehillfort ofGarn Boduan overlooking Nefyn. The remains of 170 round stone huts and ramparts are still visible on top of the 917 feet (280 m) hill.
The earliest known reference to Nefyn in documents dates from the latter part of the 11th century, when it is mentioned as a landing place of the Welsh prince,Gruffudd ap Cynan.[3]
Gerald of Wales, writing in his account of a journey around Wales in 1188, says that he slept at Nefyn on the eve ofPalm Sunday.
Nefyn was the location of the court of thecommote of Dinlaen: part of the cantref of Llŷn.
Edward I of England held ajoustingtournament in the town in 1284 to celebrate his victory over the Welsh, emphasising its importance at that time as a trading town. In 1355, it became a freeborough and remained an important centre of commerce.
The sea was always an important part of the economy of Nefyn; and fishing, particularly forherring, became the prime trade for most of the 18th and 19th centuries: so much so that the town'scoat of arms bears three herrings. Herring were locally referred to as "Nefyn beef".[4] In 1910, Nefyn had 40 herring fishing boats, but herring fishing ceased around the time of theFirst World War. The area nurtured many ships' captains in the age of sail, and shipbuilding was also an important local industry. About 3 miles to the south-west isMadryn Castle, home ofSir Love Jones-Parry, 1st Baronet, one of the founders of the settlement ofPuerto Madryn inArgentina.
The foundations of the old St Mary'sparish church date from the 6th century, although the present building was erected in 1827. It would have been an important staging post forpilgrimages toYnys Enlli (Bardsey Island). The old church is no longer a place of worship but houses a museum dedicated to the maritime history of Nefyn. Since 2013, archaeologists have been investigating the area under the church and have uncovered a 13th–14th century brooch and the remains of a lady buried sometime between 1180 and 1250 in an older form of entombment called acist grave.[5]
The place name is of uncertain origin. It is recorded asNewin in 1254, and asNefyn in 1291. It may represent a personal name.[6] The official spelling of the name was changed from Nevin to Nefyn in 1955.[7]
TheRomans recorded a tribe occupying the peninsula called the 'Gangani', who are also recorded as a tribe inIreland.[8]
Nefyn & District Golf Club was formed in 1907. The course added a further 9 holes in 1912 and a third set of 9 holes in 1933. The current course is made up of a front ten with a choice of two back eights. It is set high on the sea cliffs of the narrow peninsula overlookingPorthdinllaen bay.
Since 1929, Nefyn has played host to aBeach Mission, which runs for two weeks at the beginning of August each year.[9]
Nefyn football club,Nefyn United F.C., was formed in 1932 and has enjoyed some success over the years, winning numerous league titles. At present, the senior team competes in theWelsh Alliance League: it was promoted from the Gwynedd League in 2005–06.
During theSecond World War, theRoyal Air Force built aChain Homeradar station to the south-west of Nefyn.
In 1977, the Llŷn Maritime Museum was opened in the Church of St Mary[10] by a group of volunteers. It closed in 2000 on grounds of health and safety, but was redeveloped from 2007 and reopened in 2014.[11]
The area has a history of earth tremors and landslides. A tremor in the area on 12 December 1940 was reported by theCambrian News as having caused two fatalities including John Thomas of Nefyn who died of aheart attack.[12] On 19 July 1984, anearthquake measuring 5.4 on theRichter scale had anepicentre near Nefyn. This was one of the strongest tremors recorded in Britain in recent times but caused little structural damage. A fatal landslide occurred at Y Lôn Gam on 2 January 2001.[13][14] On 19 April 2021, alandslide resulted in a cliff collapse, which affected gardens in Rhodfa'r Môr, but there were no casualties.[15][16] A further landslide on 29 October 2021 blocked vehicular access to the beach at Y Lôn Gam and the adjacent cliff path was closed.[17]
Nefyn istwinned withPuerto Madryn, a town inChubut Province inArgentina (seeWelsh settlement in Argentina).
According to the 2011 Census, Nefyn is the community with the 28th highest percentage ofWelsh speakers in Wales. 74.2% of residents aged three and over reported being able to speak Welsh in the 2011 Census, as compared to 77.9% reporting being able to do so in the 2001 Census.[18]
There are two Nefynelectoral wards (Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn).[19] The population of Nefyn Ward at the 2011 census was 1,373.[20]
Office for National Statistics – Neighbourhood Statistics – Welsh Language – 2011 Census[1]
Office for National Statistics – Neighbourhood Statistics – Full List – Parish of Nefyn – 2011 Census[2]
