Bangor, Gwynedd encyclopedia topics

Beginnings

The origins of the city date back to the founding of Bangor Cathedral by the Celtic saint Deiniol in the early 6th century AD. The name 'Bangor' itself comes from a Welsh word for a type of fenced-in enclosure, such as was originally on the site of the cathedral. The present cathedral is a somewhat more recent building and has been extensively modified throughout the centuries. While the building itself is not the oldest, and certainly not the biggest, the bishopric of Bangor is one of the oldest in Britain. Another claim to fame is that Bangor allegedly has the longest High Street in Wales. Friars School was founded as a free grammar school in 1557.

Mountains

Bangor is largely contained to the south by Bangor Mountain although the large housing estate of Maesgeirchen, originally built as council housing, is to the east of the toe of the mountain near to Port Penrhyn. The presence of Bangor Mountain casts a shadow across the High Street, Glan Adda and Hirael areas such that from November through to March some parts of the High Street in particular receive no direct sunlight as they lie in the shadow of the mountain. Bangor has two rivers within its boundaries. The River Adda is a largely culverted watercourse which only appears above ground at its western extremities near to the Faenol estate, whilst the River Cegin enters Port Penrhyn at the eastern edge of the city. Port Penrhyn was an important port in the nineteenth century, exporting the slates produced at the Penrhyn Quarry.

Bangor lies at the western end of the North Wales Path, a 60 mile long-distance coastal walking route to Prestatyn.

Bangor railway station, which serves the city, is located on the North Wales Coast Line from Crewe to Holyhead.

Education

University & Colleges

Bangor University
Coleg Menai

Secondary Schools

Primary Schools

Ysgol Cae Top
Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes
Ysgol Glanadda
Ysgol Glan Cegin
Ysgol Hirael
Ysgol Y Faenol
Ysgol Y Garnedd

Infant Schools

Ysgol Babanod, Coed Mawr

Independent Schools

Hillgrove School
St. Gerard's School

Media

Radio

Bangor has two commercial radio stations broadcasting from Parc Menai which are Champion 103 and Coast 96.3. Both stations Broadcasts to the city in English and Welsh.

Bangor University also has its own student radio station called Storm FM, which broadcast from the Ffriddoedd Site.

The BBC's Light Entertainment Department moved to Bangor during World War II and many classic programmes (like ITMA) came from Bangor. In 1967, the Beatles came to Bangor (staying in Dyfrdwy, one of the halls comprising Adeilad Hugh Owen, now part of the Management Centre) for their first encounter with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, during which visit they learned of the death of their manager Brian Epstein.

Bangor hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1890, 1902, 1915, 1931, 1940 (through the medium of radio), 1943, 1971 and 2005, as well as an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1874.

Night Life

Night Clubs

Acadami (Students Union)
Amser/Time
Octagon & Glitterball

Restaurants & Bars

The Black Bull Inn (JD Wetherspoon)
Fat Cat
Yr Hen Glan (The Old Glan)
Varsity
Yates's

Garth Pier

Bangor has a pier, which is the second longest in Wales and also the 9th longest in the British Isles, being 1,500 feet (or 472 metres). Its name is the Garth Pier, and was almost demolished in 1974 due to the poor condition it was in at the time. However local support for the pier ensured that it survived and gained a Grade 2 listed status, as it was considered one of the three finest surviving piers at the time. Restoration work began in 1982 and did not finish until 1988. The pier was re-opened on Saturday, 7th May, 1988.

Sport

Bangor has a successful football team, Bangor City F.C.

which competes in the national Welsh Premier League. Bangor City has won numerous cups and championships, and has represented Wales in European competition on a number of occasions. Bangor is also home to rugby union team Bangor RFC who play in the WRU Division Five North league.