Builth Wells
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Builth Wells | |
| Welsh: Llanfair ym Muallt | |
  Builth Wells shown within the United Kingdom |
|
| Population | 2,352 (2001 census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Powys |
| Ceremonial county | Powys |
| Constituent country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BUILTH WELLS |
| Postcode district | LD2 |
| Dialling code | 01982 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| European Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Brecon & Radnorshire |
| List of places: UK • Wales • | |
Builth Wells (Welsh: Llanfair ym Muallt) is a town in the modern day Welsh county of Powys, in what was the historic county of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying on the River Wye in the Welsh or upper section of the Wye Valley.
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[edit] History
It was probably at Cilmeri - a village close to Builth Wells - that Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Ein Llew Olaf was ambushed and killed as he tried to rally the men of the Lordship of Builth in December 1282. Builth first emerged in post-roman times, along with Powys.
[edit] Schools
Builth Wells High School is a bilingual secondary school based in the town. In 2000 it was placed 67th in Wales for its GCSE results (5 GCSEs, grades A-C) with a pass rate of 59%. However, according to the latest report by Estyn it now has a pass rate of 77% and is now the 9th best performing secondary school in Wales. Builth Wells High School is also the 2nd best performing secondary school in Powys after Llanidloes High School.
[edit] Royal Welsh Show
Builth Wells grew as a traditional Welsh market town and later a spa, and is well known nationally as the location of the Royal Welsh Showground, home to the Royal Welsh Show (although the showground is actually over the river Wye in Llanelwedd, Radnorshire).
[edit] Communications
The town is served by Builth Road railway station on the Heart of Wales Line, which is located just over a mile to the north, having lost its more central railway station on the Mid Wales Railway in the 1960s under the Beeching Axe. One of the main Wales north-south trunk roads, the A483 passes the town, using that former railway route. A dedicated cycle route linking the town with Swansea (NCR 43) has been proposed and a 13 mile section of the route from Swansea has already been developed.
[edit] Builth Castle
Builth Castle was built under King Edward I, the construction taking nearly five years in the 1270's.
Owain Glyndwr's forces attacked Builth Castle [1]when it was in the charge of John Oldcastle during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr and it was repaired in 1409, the bill being £400.
[edit] Rare Post Box
Builth Wells has the distinction of having one of the very few post boxes in the United Kingdom bearing the cypher of King Edward VIII, the uncrowned king whose abdication in 1936 caused a constitutional crisis.
