ABERGELE NORTH WALES | TOWN CENTRE | PARKS | CASTLE | SHOPS |

Abergele (/æbɜːrˈɡɛlɪ/; Welsh: [ˌabɛrˈɡɛlɛ]; pronunciationⓘ) is a market town and community, situated on the north coast of Wales between the holiday resorts of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy County Borough and in the historic county of Denbighshire. Its northern suburb of Pensarn lies on the Irish Sea coast. Abergele and Pensarn railway station serves both resorts. Abergele is often overlooked due to the popularity of towns in nearby Rhyl, Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Conwy. Only 46.5% of the population was born in Wales as of the 2011 census.[1]
The meaning of the name Abergele can be deduced by aber being the Welsh word for estuary, river mouth or confluence and Gele the name of the river which flows through the town. Gele is a dialectal form of gelau, which means spear, describing the action of the river cutting through the land. It has also been suggested this river is named because its waters flash brightly. Abergele is often mispronounced as ah-bear-geh-lee by non-native Welsh speakers.
The town itself lies on the A55 road and is known for Gwrych Castle. The town is surrounded by woodland covered hillsides, which contain caves with the rare lesser horseshoe bat.[citation needed] The highest hill is Moelfre Isaf (1040 ft) to the south of the town.
There are views from Cefn-yr-Ogof (669 ft), Gallt-y-Felin-Wynt (Tower Hill) (587 ft) and Castell Cawr (known locally as Tan y Gopa and nicknamed 'Lôn garu' (Lover's Lane)) which is 189 metres (620 feet). Castell Cawr is an Iron Age hillfort, one of several in the area. Dinorben hillfort to the east of town was destroyed in the 1980s.
Abergele (including Pensarn) has a population of around 10,000[2] and is part of the Abergele/Rhyl/Prestatyn urban area with a population of 64,000. Approximately 29% of Abergele has a significant knowledge of Welsh.[citation needed] The town has satellite villages such as Saint George, Betws yn Rhos, Rhyd-y-foel, Belgrano, Llanddulas and Llanfair Talhaearn.
Pensarn and Belgrano are significantly less Welsh than the rest of town, with 69.3% of people having no Welsh identity in the 2011 census.
Abergele was the site of an important clas (Celtic monastery) and remained settled into the 13th century. A "Prince Jonathan of Abergeleu" is listed by the B text of the Annals of Wales as dying during the 9th century reign of Rhodri the Great,[5] although Charles-Edwards has supposed him to have simply been the monastery's abbot.[6] Edward I is known to have briefly stayed there in December 1294 during his invasion of Wales to suppress the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn.
Sites of historical interest include two Iron Age hillforts; Castell Cawr at Tan y Gopa and Dinorben (now virtually disappeared owing to limestone quarrying) at St. George. On Gallt y Felin Wynt, a hill above the town known as Bryn Tŵr or by its English name 'Tower Hill', is a 17th-century windmill, partially restored in 1930. There is another Iron Age fort at Pen y Corddyn Mawr hill above Rhyd y Foel. There is also another watchtower, 'Tŵr Arglwyddes Emily' or 'Lady Emily's Tower', which is located near Cefn yr Ogof.
Gwrych Castle
edit
Gwrych Castle was built between 1819 and 1825 at the behest of Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh. From 1894 until 1946 it was the residence of the Dundonald family.[7] Gwrych Castle's present owner, California businessman Nick Tavaglione, who bought the landmark in December 1989, put Gwrych up for auction on 2 June 2006, but it failed to sell. The condition of the property is being monitored by the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust.[8] It is undergoing renovation.
The boxers Bruce Woodcock (in the late 1940s)[9] and Randolph Turpin (in 1952)[10] trained at Gwrych Castle. The film Prince Valiant, was filmed there in 1996, starring Edward Fox and Katherine Heigl.[11][12]
St. Michael's Parish Church
edit
In a Welsh antiquarian book from 1860, it mentions that there has always been a 'local tradition or popular opinion that the original Abergele was overwhelmed by the sea' and that an inscribed stone at St Michael's parish church (built on the site of the old clas) which was once readable but had been weathered over time read;
"Yma mae'n gorwedd,
Yn mynwent Mihangel,
Gwr oedd ei annedd,
Dair milltir yn y gogledd"
Although through oral tradition, the elders believed that the weathered stone was a modern copy of the original which could be found on the other side of the wall which was far more weathered and illegible. In 1890's, a third (bilingual) copy was made and presented by Mrs Taylor of Dolhyfryd and the vicar, David Evans. The updated inscription (with slightly altered text) on the tombstone reads in order:
YMA MAE'N GORWEDD YN MONWENT MIHANGEL WR OEDD A'I ANNEDD DAIR MILLTIR I'R GOGLEDD"
"HERE LIETH IN ST. MICHAEL's CHURCHYARD A MAN WHO HAD HIS DWELLING THREE MILES TO THE NORTH"
#wales #northwales #vlog #walkingtour #walking #walkingvideo #abergele #rhyl #vlogging #park #greenspace #imacelebritycastle #imacelebrity #fyp

[@AA-ss6bt]

Another great video from our legendary Glenn. Thanks for sharing and all the great efforts you put into these videos. A true representative of the area. Can’t wait to watch the next one 👍

[@BusDriverWalking]

Thanks so much and for your support , it’s really appreciated 😊

[@oceanwanderer8065]

Great to see the "Gwindy" building still standing ! My dear grandad used to drink there in the 1940s when the family lived in Rhyd -y- foel, he was in "Dad's Army" having survived the trenches in his youth.------all gone now😪

[@BusDriverWalking]

Wow .. I’m happy the video has brought back memories of your Grandad.
Nice little story 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@user-ox8do8kf6z]

great vid glen brought some great memories back seeing the park use to sit on the seat and have a rest watching the squirrels use to go to the abergele outdoor market was a superb day out dave

[@BusDriverWalking]

Thanks Dave , it’s a lovely park especially on a nice warm day.
I remember the market where Tesco now is .
I’m glad you enjoyed it mate 👍

[@paulaparry723]

Really enjoyed that cuzz! Thanks for sharing 😊x

[@BusDriverWalking]

Aw glad you enjoyed it cuzz 😊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 xx

[@firefly4612]

Brilliant video Glen , nice tour of the town

[@BusDriverWalking]

Aw thank you 🙏 .. glad you enjoyed it 😊👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@oceanbeachsteve1619]

Cheers Glenn, use to work in slaters from 1988 to 96 ,nice up by castle, cheers pal great video

[@BusDriverWalking]

Thanks Steve , yeah it’s lovely up there.
Wow , you worked in slaters 👍.
Wish they’d do something with the site .. bit of an eyesore at the moment 😟.

[@oceanbeachsteve1619]

@BusDriverWalking yes it is a bit ,maybe a other supermarket

[@jimroberts3268]

In August i'am going to where they filmed the tv series The Prisoner i have always wanted to go there as i remember it looks amazing. There are so many lovely places in Wales, have you done anything about this place as i have heard it as alot of history to it my self don't know what it is, but would love to know.

[@BusDriverWalking]

portmeirion.wales/
Hope you find this link useful Jim , there was a tv series too , not that long ago which was really interesting.
I’ll try and find a link for that .
I’ve never been personally but hope too soon. 😊👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jimroberts3268]

@@BusDriverWalking Thank you I will have a look at it I like your video's as I love going to Wales so much it gives ideas on what to do and see last year in September I got on your bus but I didn't say anything as I was not sure if it was you and not know you would take it but my partner said it was you ,do you drive the number 12 bus from Rhyl if you do i'am sorry for not saying hello.

[@BusDriverWalking]

Thanks for watching the channel Jim it’s really appreciated.. yes I drive the 12s most days 😊.
Make sure you say Hi 👋 next time.
Quite a few people recognised me last summer. 👍

[@AwesomeAtGamesBros]

Rogan josh

[@BusDriverWalking]

Nice 👌