| Ysbyty Ifan | |
|---|---|
 St John's Church at Ysbyty Ifan | |
  Ysbyty Ifan Location withinConwy | |
| Area | 67.99 km2 (26.25 sq mi) |
| Population | 196 (in 2011)[1] |
| • Density | 3/km2 (7.8/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SH841488 |
| Community |
|
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BETWS-Y-COED |
| Postcode district | LL24 |
| Dialling code | 01690 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
53°01′26″N3°43′41″W / 53.024°N 3.728°W /53.024; -3.728  Map of the community | |
Ysbyty Ifan (formerly anglicised asYspytty Ifan)[2][3] is a small, historic village andcommunity in theConwy County Borough of Wales. The population in 2011 was 196 in 76 households (29 household spaces had no usual residents); over 79% of the population were able to speakWelsh.[1] It has one of the smallest populations of any Welsh community, the smallest beingGanllwyd. It is in theelectoral ward ofUwch Conwy.
Ysbyty Ifan, until about 1190, was known asDôl Gynwal (Welsh for 'Cynwal's meadow'). Then, it came to the attention of theKnights of St John, the Order of Hospitallers, who set up a hospital to care for pilgrims and also to be a hostel for them on their journeys (Ysbyty Ifan meanshospital of St John).[4] Ysbyty Ifan was on the ancient pilgrimage routes, for example, from Bangor Is Coed (Bangor-on-Dee) toHolyhead andBardsey Island and theCistercian Way betweenAberconwy andCymer.[5][6] It is centrally located among a significant number of important pilgrimage destinations of theMiddle Ages, see the map which shows only some of them.
In the 15th century, theRed Bandits of Mawddwy used Ysbyty Ifan as a hideout, taking advantage of the Knights' privilege of sanctuary.[5][6]
The hospital was abolished in 1540 during theDissolution of the Monasteries; the Church of St John is built on the site of the old hospital, and it contains a number of remnants that tell of the area's history.[6] Effigies in the church are said to depictRhys Fawr ap Maredudd (fl. 1485–1510), a local nobleman who servedHenry VII at theBattle of Bosworth, his wife Lowri, and his son Robert, chaplain toCardinal Wolsey.[5][6]
There is a bridge over the Afon Conwy in the centre of the village
Ysbyty Ifan has aprimary school with two classrooms and a cafeteria. The village also has arugby union pitch with a children's playground.
The Ysbyty Ifan Estate is the largest single estate looked after by theNational Trust. The area of the estate is over 8,000 hectares and includes moorland, river valleys and hill farms. TheMigneint is an area of moorland and bog designated as aSite of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[15] The Trust is responsible for a number of holiday cottages within the estate including Foel-Gopyn, which isoff the grid.
There are also a number of other places of interest near Ysbyty Ifan,[15] so the area attracts a large number of visitors including walkers,[16] especially during the summer months.
Ysbyty Ifan is part of theUwch Conwyward for elections toConwy County Borough Council.
