Hawarden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hawarden
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| Village and community | |
 Gladstone memorial fountain and Glynne Arms |
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 Hawarden
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| Population | 1,887 (Ward) (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | SJ315655 |
| Community |
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| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DEESIDE |
| Postcode district | CH5 |
| Dialling code | 01244 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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| Website | Council website |
Hawarden (pronounced HAR-den; Welsh: Penarlâg) is a village and community in Flintshire, Wales. It's part of the Deeside area, close to the border between Wales and England. Hawarden is famous for its historic Hawarden Castle. In 2011, the village area had about 1,887 people. The larger community, which includes nearby places like Ewloe and Mancot, had a population of 13,920.
The village is surrounded by beautiful woods, especially in Hawarden Park to the south. You'll find shops, pubs, and restaurants along the main street, called The Highway. Hawarden is about 7 miles (11 km) from the city of Chester. In 2014, it was even named one of the best places to live in The Sunday Times newspaper.
Hawarden holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Wales! On 18 July 2022, it reached a scorching 37.1°C (98.8°F). Before that, the record was also held by Hawarden, at 35.2°C (95.4°F) on 2 August 1990.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Hawarden
Both the English and Welsh names for Hawarden tell us about its high location. The English name, Hawarden, comes from old words meaning "high enclosure" or "high yard." It's been pronounced with two syllables (Har-den) since the 1500s.
The Welsh name, Penarlâg, is even older. It combines words that mean "high ground" and possibly "rich in cattle." So, both names point to Hawarden being a place on higher land.
Hawarden's Past: A Look at History
Hawarden has a very long history, going back thousands of years. People believe that ancient hill forts, like the large one near the medieval Hawarden Castle and Trueman's Hill, were built to protect against tribes and the Romans.
Norman Times and Castles
When the Normans arrived, they called the area "Haordine." William the Conqueror gave these lands to Hugh Lupus. This is when Hawarden Castle was first built. It became a very important castle in Welsh history.
For a long time, there were many battles and efforts to control Wales. In 1264, Llywelyn the Great, a Welsh prince, made a peace deal at the castle. However, things changed again. In 1282, Llywelyn's brother, Davydd, attacked the castle. This event led to Edward I of England taking over Wales. Hawarden Castle remained a valuable place after that.
The 19th Century and a Famous Prime Minister
In the 1800s, a very important person came to live in Hawarden: William Ewart Gladstone. He was born in Liverpool but later moved to Hawarden Castle, which belonged to his wife's family. Gladstone served as the Prime Minister four times!
In 1847, water was brought into the village, which was a big improvement. During the 19th century, Hawarden was busy with markets, coal mining, and making things like tiles, bricks, and chemicals.
Gladstone left his amazing library to the town. Today, it's known as Gladstone's Library and is a special place for learning and reading.
Michael Owen: A Local Football Star
The famous professional footballer Michael Owen grew up in Hawarden. Even though he was born in Chester, he spent his childhood here. Later in his career, he lived nearby and even bought a street of houses for his family in the larger village of Ewloe. Michael Owen played for big teams like Real Madrid, Newcastle United, and Manchester United. He often traveled by helicopter!
Learning in Hawarden: Schools and Education
Hawarden has good schools for young people. Hawarden Village Church School is the junior school. Hawarden High School is the high school, and it has a long history, dating back to 1606. Famous people like footballer Michael Owen and former Wales football manager Gary Speed went to Hawarden High School.
Hawarden's Economy: How People Make a Living
Near Hawarden, especially in Queensferry, you'll find many industrial, commercial, and storage businesses. The village itself is mostly residential, meaning people live there. A big company called moneysupermarket.com has offices nearby in Ewloe.
Hawarden Airport, also called Hawarden (Chester) Airport, is close by in Broughton. It's next to the Hawarden Industrial Park.
Fun Places to Visit in Hawarden
If you visit Hawarden, here are some interesting places you can see:
- St Deiniol's Church
- Hawarden Castle (the newer one)
- Old Hawarden Castle (the medieval ruins)
- Gladstone's Library
How Hawarden is Governed
Hawarden has a local government called the Hawarden Community Council. This council has twenty-one members who help make decisions for the community. These members are chosen from three areas: Hawarden Aston, Hawarden Ewloe, and Hawarden Mancot.
For the larger Flintshire County Council, Hawarden is divided into three electoral areas. Each of these areas elects two councillors to represent them.
The county's historical records, called the Flintshire Record Office, are kept in the Old Rectory building in Hawarden.
Getting Around: Transport in Hawarden
Hawarden is well-connected to other towns and cities. Nearby towns include Connah's Quay (3 miles), Mold (6 miles), Flint (7 miles), and the city of Wrexham (11 miles).
Hawarden railway station is on the Borderlands line. You can catch trains directly to Birkenhead in the north or to Wrexham in the south.
Major roads like the A55 road and A494 road are also very close. The A55 connects North Wales to Chester, and the A494 links to the Wirral and then to Liverpool and Manchester. This means Hawarden has good routes for traveling to many places.
Hawarden Airport is about 2 miles (3 km) east of the village.
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across Aston and Wepre Park Connah's Quay |
across Mancot: Queensferry, Shotton |
Sandycroft, Queensferry | |
| Ewloe |  |
Chester | ||
 Hawarden  |
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| Buckley | across Hawarden Park and Hawarden Golf Course Penyffordd |
Broughton |
Famous People from Hawarden
Many interesting people have connections to Hawarden:
- Sir John Glynne, 6th Baronet (1713–1777): A politician and landowner who built the newer Hawarden Castle.
- Emma, Lady Hamilton (1765–1815): A famous model and actress who grew up in Hawarden.
- William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898): The former Prime Minister who lived at Hawarden Castle.
- Mary Gladstone (1847–1927): William Gladstone's daughter, who also lived at Hawarden Castle.
- Edith Austin (1867–1953): A tennis player who was born in Hawarden and reached the Wimbledon singles final in 1894.
- Maysie Chalmers (1894–1982): An actress and electrical engineer who was a key figure in the Electrical Association for Women.
- Air Marshal Sir John Rowlands (1915–2006): A brave RAF officer who received the George Cross medal for safely dealing with bombs during World War II.
- Barry Jones, Baron Jones (born 1938): A politician who went to Hawarden Grammar School.
- Tony Millington (1943–2015): A footballer who played many games for clubs and 21 times for the Wales national team.
- Sasha (DJ) (born 1969): A famous DJ and music producer, whose real name is Alexander Paul Coe.
- Michael Owen (born 1979): The well-known footballer who went to school in Hawarden and played 89 times for the England national team.
Images for kids
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Gladstone memorial fountain and Glynne Arms
