Bethesda, Gwynedd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bethesda
The former Capel Bethesda from Penybryn Road.
Bethesda
Population	4,735 (2011)
OS grid reference	SH624667
Community	Bethesda
Principal area	Gwynedd
Ceremonial county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Bangor
Postcode district	LL57
Dialling code	01248
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Bangor Aberconwy
Welsh Assembly	Arfon
List of places UK Wales Gwynedd 53°10′44″N 4°03′36″W / 53.179°N 4.060°W / 53.179; -4.060

Bethesda is a town and community in Gwynedd, Wales. It is located on the banks of the Afon Ogwen river. The town is also on the edge of the amazing Snowdonia National Park. Bethesda is about 5 miles (8 km) south-west of Bangor.

Discovering Bethesda's Past

How Did Bethesda Get Its Name?

The area where Bethesda now stands was once called Cilfoden or Glanogwen. In 1820, a special building called the Bethesda Independent Chapel was built here. The town grew around this chapel and was later named after it. The chapel was made even bigger in 1840.

The Rise of the Slate Industry

Bethesda grew because of the slate quarrying business. The biggest quarry nearby is the Penrhyn Quarry. At its busiest, Bethesda sent purple slate all over the world. This slate was used for roofs and other building materials.

The Penrhyn Quarry Strike

The Penrhyn Quarry had a very long strike between 1900 and 1903. A strike is when workers stop working to ask for better pay or conditions. This strike, led by the North Wales Quarrymen's Union, lasted for three years. It was one of the longest worker disputes in British history. Because of the strike, a nearby village called Tregarth was built. It housed families of workers who did not join the strike.

Roads and Railways in Bethesda

The A5 road goes through Bethesda. This road used to mark a border between different land ownerships. Most of the town's houses are on the east side of this road. They are built on the hillside in many rows.

Bethesda's Railway Connections

A special narrow railway, called the Penrhyn Quarry Railway, opened in 1801. It carried slate from Penrhyn Quarry to Port Penrhyn on the coast. This railway worked until 1962. Later, in 1884, a branch of the London and North Western Railway opened. It connected Bethesda to Bangor and had a station in town. This passenger line closed in 1951.

Today, part of the old Penrhyn Quarry Railway path is now a cycle path. It is called the Lôn Las Ogwen cycle path.

Bethesda Today

What is Bethesda Like Now?

In 2011, the population of Bethesda was 4,735 people. There are not many big factories or businesses in the town today. Most jobs are in shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen is the local school for older students. It is a bilingual school, meaning lessons are taught in both Welsh and English. It opened in 1951.

Exciting Adventures at Zip World

One of the most popular attractions in Bethesda is Zip World Velocity. It is located at Penrhyn Quarry. This is the longest zipline in Europe! It is over 1,600 meters (1 mile) long. Many visitors come to Bethesda just to experience this thrilling ride.

How Bethesda is Governed

Bethesda has two levels of local government. These are the community council and the county council. Both councils use Welsh as their main language. The Bethesda Community Council looks after local matters. Cyngor Gwynedd (Gwynedd Council) handles bigger county-wide issues.

A Look at Local Government History

Bethesda was once part of a larger area called Llanllechid. As the town grew quickly from the 1820s, it needed its own local government. This was to help with things like water, sewers, and keeping streets clean. So, in 1854, a group of "improvement commissioners" was set up.

Later, in 1894, Bethesda became an "urban district." This meant it had its own local council. This council helped manage the town until 1974. After that, Bethesda became a "community," which is how it is known today.

Bethesda's Buildings and Design

Capel Jerusalem

The buildings in Bethesda are mostly practical and made of stone. They often have slate roofs. Some buildings are even made entirely of slate blocks.

The town has 40 buildings that are listed as Grade II. This means they are important and protected. One very important building is the Jerusalem Chapel. It is a large and impressive Nonconformist chapel. It is listed as Grade I, which is the highest protection.

Some parts of Bethesda, like Carneddi and Cilfodan, have buildings that show their history of stone quarrying. The town is also close to the Carneddau mountains. These mountains are part of the wilder areas of Snowdonia. Many smaller villages, like Gerlan and Rachub, have now become parts of Bethesda.

Places of Worship

Bethesda is known for having many chapels. Most of these chapels were built around the time of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival. The town itself was named after the Bethesda Chapel. This chapel has recently been turned into homes.

Local Businesses and Food

On the edge of Bethesda, in Llanllechid, is the Popty Bakery. This bakery started in the early 1900s. They make delicious Welsh cuisine products. These include famous treats like Welsh cakes and Bara Brith.

Language and Culture in Bethesda

The Welsh Language

The main language spoken in Bethesda is Welsh. You will see and hear Welsh spoken in most places around town. In 2001, about 77.5% of people living in Bethesda spoke Welsh. This is higher than the average for both Gwynedd and Wales. In the past, Bethesda had one of the highest percentages of Welsh speakers in all of Wales. Locals sometimes call the town "Pesda."

Arts and Entertainment

The S4C TV show Amdani! was set in Bethesda. It was about a made-up women's rugby team. Many scenes for the show were filmed in the area. The show was based on a book by Bethan Gwanas, who used to live in Bethesda.

In 2012, a group worked to renovate Neuadd Ogwen. This is a performance hall on the High Street. It reopened as a community arts center.

Bethesda has also been a place for music. There is a music festival called 'Pesda Roc'. Many Welsh language bands have come from Bethesda, like Celt and Maffia Mr Huws.

Gallery

Famous People from Bethesda

William John Parry, 1897

Goronwy Roberts, 1955

Many interesting people have connections to Bethesda:

• Bobby Atherton (1876–1917), a footballer who played for clubs and for the Welsh national team.
• Richard Bell (1859–1930), a politician who helped form a company that owned slate quarries in Bethesda.
• Bethan Gwanas (born 1962), an author known for her informal writing style. She lived and worked in Bethesda.
• William John Parry (1842–1927), a businessman, politician, and writer. He was the first general secretary of the North Wales Quarrymen's Union.
• Peter Prendergast (1946–2007), a Welsh landscape painter.
• Caradog Prichard (1904–1980), a Welsh novelist and poet.
• Goronwy Roberts, Baron Goronwy-Roberts (1913–1981), a politician and a member of the House of Lords.

See also

In Spanish: Bethesda (Gwynedd) para niños