Nefyn
| Nefyn | |
|---|---|
 A view over Nefyn |
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 Nefyn
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| Nefyn shown within Gwynedd | |
| Population | 2,602 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SH304405 |
| Community |
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| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PWLLHELI |
| Postcode district | LL53 |
| Dialling code | 01758 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | |
| Welsh Assembly | |
Nefyn (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈneːvɨn]) is a small town and community on the north west coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. Historically in Caernarfonshire, it has a population of 2,602. Nefyn is popular with visitors for its sandy beach, and has one substantial hotel. Welsh is the first language of almost 73% of its inhabitants. The A497 road terminates in the town centre. The community includes Edern.
The history of the area can be traced back to 300 BC with the Iron Age hillfort of Garn Boduan overlooking Nefyn. The remains of 170 round stone huts and ramparts are still visible on top of the 917 feet (280 m) hill.
The earliest known reference to Nefyn in documents dates from the latter part of the 11th century, when it is mentioned as a landing place of the Welsh prince, Gruffudd ap Cynan.
Gerald of Wales, writing in his account of a journey around Wales in 1188, says that he slept at Nefyn on the eve of Palm Sunday.
Nefyn was the location of the court of the commote of Dinlaen: part of the cantref of Llŷn.
Edward I of England held a jousting tournament in the town in 1284 to celebrate his victory over the Welsh, emphasising its importance at that time as a trading town. In 1355 it became a free borough and remained an important centre of commerce.
The sea was always an important part of the economy of Nefyn; and fishing, particularly for herring, became the prime trade for most of the 18th and 19th centuries: so much so that the town's coat of arms bears three herrings. Herring were locally referred to as "Nefyn beef". In 1910 Nefyn had 40 herring fishing boats, but herring fishing ceased around the time of the First World War. The area nurtured many ship's captains in the age of sail, and shipbuilding was also an important local industry. About 3 miles to the south-west is Madryn Castle, home of Sir Love Jones-Parry, one of the founders of the settlement of Puerto Madryn in Argentina.
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Wikipedia