Y Felinheli
Y Felinheli, formerly known in English as Port Dinorwic, is a village, community and electoral ward beside the Menai Strait between Bangor and Caernarfon in Gwynedd, northwest Wales. The population of the village was 2,284 at the 2011 Census.
History
Toponymy
ly, its name comes from the Welsh y meaning the, melin meaning mill and heli, meaning brine/salt-water/sea. An alternative interpretation is from Y Felin Heulyn, "the mill on the River Heulyn", which refers to the river that runs into the village.Origins
Y Felinheli has its origins in two hamlets, Tafarngrisiau near St Mary's Church and Aberpwll to the north-east where there was a mill on the Afon Heulyn. The mill was rebuilt closer to the sea in 1633 and gave its name to the settlement. The area was largely agricultural until the area was transformed by slate quarrying in the 19th century. A new dock was built in 1828 when lime was extracted at Brynadda and slate and lime were loaded and culm was brought in to fire the lime kilns.The owners of the Vaynol Estate, the Assheton Smiths, owned most of the land in Y Felinheli and developed the Dinorwic Quarry in the late 18th century, They also built the harbour to export slate transported to the quay by the Dinorwic Railway, a narrow gauge railway that was subsequently replaced by the Padarn Railway. Industrial expansion gave Y Felinheli the alternative name Port Dinorwig or Port Dinorwic.
Harbour
The harbour is a centre for pleasure boating and sailing. It has moorings, a marina and yacht support businesses, including rigging, sail making and boatyards. The boatyard was constructed before the Second World War for building landing craft. Its slipway, probably the largest in North Wales is in private ownership, is usable at most states of tide. The local sailing club organizes dinghy racing.Demographics
Languages
Welsh
According to the United Kingdom Census 2011, 64.3% of all usual residents aged 3+ in Y Felinheli could speak Welsh. 89.4% of all usual residents aged 3+ who were born in Wales could speak Welsh. The percentages of Y Felinheli residents having Welsh-language skills are as follows:| Welsh language skill | No. of persons | Percentage of persons aged 3+ |
| Can understand spoken Welsh | 1,431 | 65.4% |
| Can speak, read or write Welsh | 1,429 | 65.3% |
| Can speak Welsh | 1,407 | 64.3% |
| Can read Welsh | 1,275 | 58.3% |
| Can write Welsh | 1,213 | 55.4% |
| Can speak, read and write Welsh | 1,196 | 54.6% |
As of January 2018, 82.9% of pupils aged 5 or over in the village's primary school spoke Welsh at home.
Other languages
According to the 2011 Census, 6% of Y Felinheli's population spoke a language other than English or Welsh as their main language. The most common was Arabic, with 2.92% speaking it as their main language.Identity
According to the 2011 Census, 59.7% of the population noted that they had Welsh-only national identity, with 35.6% noting that they had no Welsh national identity at all.Transport
The A487 road by-pass, completed in 1994, has removed much traffic congestion from the main street. The nearest railway station as the crow flies is across the Menai Strait at Llanfairpwll. The next nearest is at Bangor.Historically, the passenger railway station Port Dinorwic was open between 1852 and 1960. There was also a narrow gauge railway running from the town to Dinorwic Quarry on the Dinorwic Railway to carry slate.
Education
Welsh language parent-and-toddler group Cylch Ti a Fi Y Felinheli and a Welsh-language playgroup Cylch Meithrin Y Felinheli currently serves the community with the support of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin.Ysgol Gynradd Y Felinheli provides Welsh-medium primary education to the village and the surrounding area. As of 2019, there were 189 pupils enrolled at the school.
In terms of secondary education, the village is in the catchment area of three secondary schools, namely Ysgol Tryfan, Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen and Ysgol Friars.
Governance
Local Government
Y Felinheli ward is currently represented in Gwynedd Council by Plaid Cymru councillor Gareth Wyn Griffith. The village also has a Community Council.Senedd Cymru
The village is currently represented in the Senedd by Arfon constituency member Siân Gwenllian.It is also represented by four North Wales regional members, namely Michelle Brown, Mandy Jones, Mark Isherwood and Llyr Huws Gruffydd.
House of Commons
The village is currently represented in the House of Commons by Arfon constituency member Hywel Williams, who was previously MP for the Caernarfon constituency from 2001.Culture
The first National Cerdd Dant Festival was held in Y Felinheli in 1947.The local carnival committee organises the annual Gŵyl Y Felinheli.
Sport
The local football team, CPD Y Felinheli celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017. They are the current champions of Division Two of the Welsh Alliance League. For the forthcoming 2020-21 season they have been selected by the FAW to be part of the newly created FAW League One.A private members sailing club, Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli, has been based in the village, on the banks of the Menai Strait, since 1947. As of 2015, it had 136 youth members who have been trained at the club.