Holywell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Holywell | |
| Welsh: Treffynnon | |
  Holywell shown within the United Kingdom |
|
| Population | 7,530 (2001)[1] [2] [3] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Flintshire |
| Ceremonial county | Clwyd |
| Constituent country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOLYWELL |
| Postcode district | CH8 |
| Dialling code | 01352 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| European Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Delyn |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Flintshire | |
Holywell (Welsh: Treffynnon) is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.
Contents |
[edit] History
The town is known for St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel. The well has been known since at least the Roman period, and has been a site of pilgrimage since about 660 when Saint Winefride is said to have been beheaded there. The well is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales and the town bills itself as The Lourdes of Wales.
From the 18th century, the town grew around the lead mining and cotton milling industries.
Holywell hosted an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1869.
[edit] Demographics
Administratively, Holywell consists of three wards of the Flintshire County Council local authority. At the 2001 census, the total population of the town was:
| Ward | Population |
|---|---|
| Holywell Central | 1,835 [1] |
| Holywell East | 1,828 [2] |
| Holywell West | 2,311 [3] |
| Holywell Total | 5,974 |
[edit] Description
Holywell is split into four distinct areas - Pen-y-Maes, The Strand, The Holway and the town centre. Pen-y-Maes is the richer of the areas in Holywell in the north east side of the town (based on land prices)[citation needed]. The old cottage hospital was located here until it closed. A new one has been built near the football pitch of the local team. The Holway, located on the west side of the town, is the largest of the residential areas of Holywell.[citation needed] The town centre contains many small businesses, a Somerfield and a Woolworths. A Lidl has just opened its doors as has the new Tesco store in Holywell which also has Tesco Direct. The village of Greenfield is effectively a suburb of Holywell, as are many other villages that surround the town.
Holywell also has a Leisure Centre. http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/webcont/newrealweb.nsf/vwa_files/holwellswim.jpg/$file/holwellswim.jpg
Holywell also has a local football team, Holywell Town who play in the Welsh Alliance League.
The town also has a high school,the headmaster is Mr.J.Putt the school has over 500 pupils.
In 2007, a group of locals proposed a circular walk way, the "St Beuno's Circular Walk", joining all of the historical and religious locations of the town. [4]
[edit] Notable people
- Actor Jonathan Pryce was born in Holywell in 1947.
- Former Southampton and Wales footballer Ron Davies was born in Holywell in 1942.
- Dixie Dean the Everton football legend once had a near fatal motorbike accident in Holywell in the late 1920s. This almost ended his professional career.
- TV's Gareth Jones (presenter) (Gaz Top) comes from Holywell
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ward Profile: Holywell Central. Flintshire County Council. Retrieved 13 November 2007
- ^ a b Ward Profile: Holywell East. Flintshire County Council. Retrieved 13 November 2007
- ^ a b Ward Profile: Holywell West. Flintshire County Council. Retrieved 13 November 2007
- ^ Proposed St Bueno's Circular Walk Retrieved 10 May 2007
