Deiniolen (; ; ) is a village in Gwynedd, Wales, at the foot of Elidir Fawr, in Llanddeiniolen Community. Deiniolen has views over Caernarfon (7 miles away) and on a clear day, Holyhead Mountain and occasionally the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland, can be seen. The population of the electoral ward was 1,909 as of 2011, including nearby Dinorwig,
Ysgol Gynradd Gwaun Gynfi provides Welsh-medium education for children between 3 and 11 years in the village.
The slate industry was an important employer in Deiniolen until the closure of Dinorwic quarry in 1969.
Village History
The settlements now known as Deiniolen and
Clwt-y-bont began in the 1820s based along the road and railway to the nearby
Dinorwic quarry.
The village was originally known as
Llanbabo (since several settlers arrived from the Anglesey village of
Llanbabo) and later the village adopted the name
Ebeneser (from the Chapel established in 1823). In the 1920s, after a campaign led by Huw Robert Jones, the village adopted its current name of
Deiniolen.
[John Davies et al, The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, p.424]
- Christ Church, Llandinorwig
- Christ Church ( Eglwys Grist) was built in 1857. The money to build the church was donated by Thomas Assheton Smith (1776–1858) of Vaynol, who was the owner of the village's main employer, Dinorwic quarry.
- Cefn y Waun Chapel
- Cefn y Waun Chapel ( Capel Cefn-y-Waun) was built by local quarrymen in 1838. Before the chapel was built the local people held their services either in local farmhouses or in the open air. In 1867, the chapel was worth £2,100 but the chapel also had a debt of £2,100. The first minister was Rev. W. Rowlands.
Seindorf Arian Deiniolen - Deiniolen Silver Band
Deiniolen Silver Band (
Seindorf Arian Deiniolen) was formed (originally as
Llandinorwig Brass Band) in 1835 by a group of quarrymen, and has now grown to be one of Wales' major
. The band is currently competing in the First Section. Most recent success includes a third place at the National Brass Band Championships in 2015 and coming second at North Wales Rally (Open Section) in 2017.
Deiniolen Football Club
Deiniolen FC was formed in around the 1950s when the side was playing in the local Caernarfon & District League. After a year absence from the local league, the team has recently reformed.
Notable people from Deiniolen
-
Thomas Johns (1836–1914), Congregational minister, held his first pastorate here
-
Huw Robert Jones (1894–1930), Welsh Nationalist politician, first general secretary of Plaid Cymru
-
Gwenlyn Parry (1932–1991), a Welsh dramatist and scriptwriter
-
Peter Prendergast (1946–2007), a Welsh landscape painter.
-
Eirug Wyn (1950–2004), Welsh author, lived in Deiniolen
-
Dave Brailsford CBE (born 1964), performance director for British Cycling, brought up in Deiniolen.
-
Annette Bryn Parry (born ca.1965), professional pianist
-
Malcolm Allen (born 1967), professional footballer, TV S4C presenter
External links
