Porthcawl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Porthcawl
Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl
Porthcawl
Population	16,005 (2011)
OS grid reference	SS825775
Principal area	Bridgend
Ceremonial county	Mid Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PORTHCAWL
Postcode district	CF36
Dialling code	01656
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Bridgend
Welsh Assembly	Bridgend
List of places UK Wales Bridgend 51°29′N 3°41′W / 51.48°N 3.69°W / 51.48; -3.69

Porthcawl ([pɔrθˈkaul]) is a lively town and community located on the south coast of Wales. It's part of the Bridgend County Borough. The town is about 25 miles (40 km) west of Cardiff and 19 miles (31 km) south-east of Swansea.

Historically, Porthcawl was a small limestone headland overlooking the Bristol Channel. In the 1800s, it grew as a port for shipping coal. However, bigger ports like Barry soon took over the coal trade. North-west of Porthcawl, hidden in the sand dunes called Kenfig Burrows, you can find the old remains of Kenfig Castle.

What Does Porthcawl Mean?

The name Porthcawl comes from the Welsh language. Porth means "harbour" or "port." The word cawl here refers to "sea kale," a plant that probably grew a lot in the area. Some local stories say cawl comes from "Gaul," suggesting that people from Gaul (ancient France) and Brittany landed here long ago.

Porthcawl: A Fun Holiday Spot

Seabank Hotel

Porthcawl is a popular holiday resort in South Wales. It's home to Trecco Bay, one of Europe's largest static caravan parks. The town has a long promenade and several beaches.

• Trecco Bay is a sandy beach at the east end, popular with tourists.
• Rest Bay is a sandy beach to the north-west.
• Pink Bay is a quiet, sandy beach with unique pink-marbled rocks.

Both Trecco Bay and Rest Bay are Blue Flag Beaches, meaning they are clean and safe. Like many old British resorts, Porthcawl's holiday trade changed when many coal mines in the South Wales Valleys closed. Miners used to take their annual holidays here.

Exciting Local Attractions

Porthcawl offers many fun things to do. You can enjoy the sandy beaches, visit the grand pavilion, or have a blast at Coney Beach funfair. There's also a museum and three golf courses.

Porthcawl's Promenade

Porthcawl Promenade

The Porthcawl promenade was built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It stretches along the seafront, offering amazing views across the Bristol Channel. The promenade has many cafes, bars, and restaurants. It was fully restored in 1996.

The Grand Pavilion, built in 1932, is a famous venue for shows. It hosts the annual pantomime. The famous singer and actor Paul Robeson even performed there once, live through a special telephone link!

Harbour Quarter

The Porthcawl Lifeboat Station, built in 1995, is located near the harbour. It uses special lifeboats to help people at sea. Cosy Corner is a park area that has been home to a theatre, cinema, and roller skating rink over the years. The Jennings Building, built in 1832, is Wales' oldest maritime warehouse. It's now home to several restaurants and cafes.

At the end of Porthcawl jetty, you'll see a white lighthouse built in 1860. It helps guide ships safely. It was the last lighthouse in the UK to use coal and gas. Today, it runs on electricity. The jetty is a popular spot for sea fishing.

During the summer, you can even take a trip on historic ships like the PS Waverley, the world's last seagoing paddle steamer, or the MV Balmoral.

Schools in Porthcawl

Porthcawl has several schools for different age groups. There are four primary schools, one comprehensive school, and one private school.

Porthcawl Comprehensive School

Porthcawl Comprehensive School is on the west side of town. It has about 1,500 students aged 11 to 18. Many famous people attended this school, including actors Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon.

St Clare's School

St Clare's School is a private school in Newton, an eastern part of Porthcawl. It teaches students from primary school all the way through to A-levels.

Nottage Primary School

This is a large state primary school for children aged 3 to 11. It has about 500 pupils and large grounds with a conservation area and a sensory garden.

West Park Primary School

This state school is also in Nottage. It opened in 1971 and has won awards for its environmental efforts and use of technology.

Porthcawl Primary School

This is a mixed state school for pupils aged 3 to 11, including a nursery.

Newton Primary School

This mixed state school has about 235 pupils.

Music in Porthcawl

The Porthcawl Male Voice Choir, or Côr Meibion Porthcawl, started in 1980 with just 17 members. Today, it has about 45 members. Each year, the choir performs with a special guest, like the singer Lesley Garrett in 2011.

Porthcawl's Beaches

Porthcawl is famous for its seven beaches:

• Newton Beach is a long, sandy, and rocky beach on the eastern edge. It's backed by sand dunes and is a special protected area for nature.
• Trecco Bay is a large, sandy, and rocky Blue Flag beach. The Trecco Bay holiday park is right next to it.
• Sandy Bay is a large, sheltered sandy beach, with the area in front of the fairground known as Coney Beach.
• Seafront Beach, also called Town Beach, is a rocky beach in the town centre.
• Rest Bay is a sandy Blue Flag beach in the west of Porthcawl.
• Pink Bay has a steep pebble bank leading to a flat beach with unique pink-marbled rocks.
• Sker Beach is the most westerly beach. You can only reach it by walking from Rest Bay or Kenfig National Nature Reserve. There's a plaque here that can be seen at low tide, remembering 47 lives lost in a shipwreck in 1947.

Five rocky points stretch along the Porthcawl shore: Newton Point, Rhych Point, Porthcawl Point, Hutchwns Point, and Sker Point.

Newton Village History

Newton village dates back to the 12th century. St. John's Church, built 800 years ago by the Knights of St. John, overlooks the village green. It was originally built like a fortress.

The Jolly Sailor pub, the oldest in Porthcawl, and the Ancient Briton pub also overlook the green. Near the church is St John's Well, whose water is believed to have healing powers.

Fun Festivals

Porthcawl hosts several exciting festivals throughout the year:

• Porthcawl Town Carnival happens every July. Floats and performers parade through town, raising money for charity.
• The Porthcawl Jazz and Blues Festival is held every April, with music, workshops, and family events.
• Surf Cult is a week-long festival in September, featuring surf contests, music, art, and film.
• The Elvis Festival takes place every September. It brings together Elvis Presley tribute artists and fans from all over the world. It's known as the biggest gathering of Elvis fans in Europe!

Sports in Porthcawl

Porthcawl is one of the best places in Wales for surfing. Both national and regional competitions are held at Rest Bay.

Other sports like skateboarding and rollerblading are also popular. There are three golf courses north of the town, including the famous Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

Porthcawl is home to the Porthcawl Town Athletic F.C. football club and Porthcawl RFC rugby club. The town also has lifeguard clubs that train lifeguards for the local beaches.

Every Saturday, Porthcawl hosts a free weekly Parkrun. It starts on the Lower Promenade and goes towards Rest Bay.

Porthcawl's Future Plans

Porthcawl's waterfront is planned for a big makeover as part of the 7 Bays Project. This plan aims to improve the area from Cosy Corner to Trecco Bay. It includes building new sea defences to protect homes from floods and creating new shops, homes, and community spaces.

The first part of this plan, Porthcawl Harbourside, started in 2008. It aims to bring new life to the harbour area with new shops, homes, and a new promenade.

Getting Around Porthcawl

The former Porthcawl station in 1946

The closest train station to Porthcawl is Pyle. You can catch trains from there to Cardiff Central, Swansea, and even Manchester Piccadilly. Porthcawl used to have its own train station, but it closed in 1963.

Local buses connect Porthcawl to places like Bridgend and Cardiff. The A4229 road links the town to the M4 motorway. The nearest airport is Cardiff Airport, about 23 miles (37 km) away, offering flights to various places.

Notable People from Porthcawl

See Category:People from Porthcawl

Images for kids

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  Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl

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  Map of the community

See also

In Spanish: Porthcawl para niños