St Asaph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Asaph
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| City and Community | |
 St. Asaph Cathedral and city |
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 St Asaph
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| Population | 3,355 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SJ035743 |
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| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ST. ASAPH |
| Postcode district | LL17 |
| Dialling code | 01745 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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St Asaph (pronounced ASS-aff; in Welsh, Llanelwy, meaning "church on the Elwy") is a small city and community in Denbighshire, Wales. It is located on the River Elwy.
In 2011, about 3,355 people lived there. This makes St Asaph the second-smallest city in the United Kingdom by population. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside and offers views of the Vale of Clwyd. St Asaph is also close to towns like Denbigh, Rhuddlan, and Rhyl.
Contents
History of St Asaph
Early Life in the Vale of Elwy
Long, long ago, people lived in the area around St Asaph. Scientists found very old teeth and a jawbone at a place called Pontnewydd Cave. These remains are about 225,000 years old! They are believed to belong to early humans called Neanderthals. These Neanderthals hunted animals in the valley during a warmer period. This discovery is very important for understanding early human history.
Founding of the City
Some historians think a Roman fort called Varae might have been where the cathedral is now. However, the city really started around a Celtic monastery in the 500s. This monastery was founded by Saint Kentigern.
Today, St Asaph is home to a small cathedral built in the 1300s. It is named after Saint Asaph, who was the second bishop there.
Challenges for the Cathedral
The cathedral has faced many challenges over the years. In the 1200s, soldiers of Edward I of England almost completely burned it down. Later, in 1402, troops led by Owain Glyndŵr caused a lot of damage to its inside. Even later, in the 1600s, during a time called the Commonwealth, the building was used to keep farm animals like pigs, cows, and horses!
Changes in Governance
In the 1500s, laws changed how Wales was governed. St Asaph was first placed in Denbighshire. But then, for voting, it became part of Flintshire. Later, from 1974 to 1996, it was part of a larger area called Clwyd.
City Status for St Asaph
For a long time, St Asaph was seen as a city because it had a medieval cathedral and a diocese (an area managed by a bishop). Even the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica called it a city. However, the UK government later clarified that St Asaph was the only one of the old cathedral towns in England and Wales that hadn't officially been given "city status."
St Asaph tried to become an official city in 2000 and 2002 but wasn't successful. Finally, in 2012, during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, its application was approved! On June 1, 2012, St Asaph officially became a city, along with Chelmsford and Perth.
When a place gets city status, it usually applies to the whole area managed by its local council. So, the entire community area of St Asaph, including its towns and rural parts, is now considered the city.
St Asaph has the second-smallest population of all UK cities. Its main urban area is also very small, about 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²). Only St Davids is smaller in both population and urban area. However, if you look at the total area of the city council, St Asaph is smaller than some other cities like City of London and Wells. In Wales, St Asaph is the smallest city by council area.
Community Life in St Asaph
Even before it officially became a city, the local council called itself the "City of St Asaph Town Council." People in the community are very proud of St Asaph's history as a city, just like St Davids in Wales. Because of this, many local businesses use "City" in their names. St Asaph is also known as the "City of Music."
Economy and Traffic
In recent decades, St Asaph's economy has grown. The opening of the A55 road in 1970 helped by taking heavy traffic away from the city center. More recently, a business park was built, bringing new companies and jobs.
However, traffic on the A525, which is St Asaph's High Street, has become a big problem. This road connects the A55 to other towns, and the increasing number of cars causes a lot of traffic jams. Residents have asked for a bypass road to take this traffic away from the city, but these requests have not been approved.
Education and Culture
St Asaph is home to Ysgol Glan Clwyd, a secondary school where lessons are taught in Welsh. It opened in 1956 and moved to St Asaph in 1969. It was the first Welsh-medium secondary school in Wales.
A very special copy of the Welsh Bible is kept on display in St Asaph Cathedral. This Bible was used when Prince Charles became the Prince of Wales in 1969.
Twinning
St Asaph is twinned with the town of Bégard in Brittany, France. This means they have a special friendship and often exchange visits.
Festivities
Every year, St Asaph hosts the North Wales International Music Festival. This event takes place in different venues around the city and brings together musicians and music lovers from all over Wales and beyond. The main concert at the cathedral in September has even been shown on BBC.
Other fun annual events in the city include the Woodfest Wales crafts festival in June, a charity walk called Beat the Bounds in July, and the Gala Day in August.
Churches
Besides the cathedral, St Asaph has five other churches for different Christian groups. The Parish Church of St Asaph and St Kentigern (Church in Wales) is at the bottom of the High Street. Across the river is Penniel Chapel (Welsh Methodist). Halfway up the High Street is Llanelwy Community Church (Baptist). At the top of the city, you'll find St Winifride's (Roman Catholic) and Bethlehem Chapel (Welsh Presbyterian).
Governance
The City Council of St Asaph has two areas, and each area elects seven councillors. The main leader of the council is called The Mayor.
In the 2022 local elections, St Asaph elected the first Green Party councillor in the Denbighshire area.
Transport
St Asaph has regular buses that connect it to Denbigh, Rhuddlan, and Rhyl. The city used to have a train station on the Vale of Clwyd Railway line, but it closed in the 1960s. The old station building is now used as a builders' yard. The closest train stations are now in Rhyl and Pensarn. You can also find heritage railways nearby at Llangollen and Bala Lake.
Notable People from St Asaph
- See Category:People from St Asaph
Many famous people have connections to St Asaph. They might have been born, raised, lived, worked, or passed away in the city. Here are a few:
- William Morgan (1545–1604) translated the Bible into Welsh. He later became the Bishop of St Asaph.
- Georgiana Hare-Naylor (around 1755–1806) was an English painter and supported the arts.
- Dic Aberdaron (1780–1843) was a traveler who knew many languages. He taught himself Latin at age 11.
- Felicia Hemans (1793–1835) was a poet who wrote the famous poem Casabianca.
- Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841–1904) was a famous explorer and journalist.
- Felix Powell (1878–1942) was a British Army Staff Sergeant who wrote the music for the song Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.
- George Henry Powell (1880–1951) was a songwriter who wrote the words for the same song.
- William Mathias (1934–1992) was a composer known for his choral music. He lived and was buried in St Asaph.
- Gareth Jones (born 1961) is a television presenter.
- Jo Caulfield (born 1963) is an actress, writer, and comedian.
- Greg Davies (born 1968) is a comedian, presenter, actor, and writer.
- Spencer Wilding (born 1972) is an actor and stunt performer.
- Lisa Scott-Lee (born 1975) is a singer and a member of the pop group Steps.
- Paul Mealor (born 1975) is a composer, often writing music for choirs.
- James Davies (born 1980) is a politician who used to be a Member of Parliament.
- Bryan Parry (born 1992) is an actor.
Sports Stars from St Asaph
- Alan Rudkin (1941–2010) was a British, Commonwealth, and European boxing champion.
- Ian Rush (born 1961) is a famous footballer. He was a former captain for the Wales team and holds the record for most goals scored for Liverpool.
- Barry Horne (born 1962) was a footballer who played many games for clubs and for Wales.
- David Harrison (born 1972) is a jockey who won the Royal Hunt Cup in 1992.
- Mark Webster (born 1983) is a former professional darts player.
- Victoria Thornley (born 1987) is a rower who won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Neil Taylor (born 1989) is a footballer who played many games for clubs and for Wales. He was also part of the Team GB squad for the London 2012 Olympics.
- Rebecca Chin (born 1991) is an athlete who won a silver medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships. She also represented Great Britain in discus and shot put at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.
Another well-known person, Geoffrey of Monmouth, was the Bishop of St Asaph from 1152 to 1155. However, because of war in Wales at that time, he probably never actually visited the city.
The local hospital was named H.M. Stanley Hospital after Sir Henry Morton Stanley, but it closed in 2012. The city's hospice (a place that cares for people who are very ill) is named after Saint Kentigern.
Images for kids
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Georgiana Hare-Naylor, around 1780
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Sir Henry Morton Stanley, 1872
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Ash Dykes, 2016
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Spencer Wilding, 2015
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Ian Rush, 2010
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David Harrison, 1999
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Rebecca Chin, 2015
See also
In Spanish: St Asaph para niños
