Rachub

Rachub is a small village of about 900 people in the vale of the River Ogwen in Caernarfonshire, about half a mile north of the nearby, larger village of Bethesda.

Origins

The name Rachub is thought to have come from Yr Achub, which would roughly translates as The Saving or Safe place. The origin of this is the belief that when enemy forces were in the area the locals would flee to Rachub for safety (though the village itself did not exist then), although the story is a myth, an achub in fact being an area of land in Old Welsh. Rachub was considered no more than a part of Llanllechid parish until the 19th century, when the slate industry expanded in the valley, and Rachub grew as a separate village.

Until then, the village consisted of a few houses and the Carmel chapel. Most of the area was farmland, used mostly for sheep. This changed considerably over the last half of the 18th century and the 19th century, with farms giving way to housing. Much of the housing was concentrated in small streets off the High Street. These many ranks of terraced houses are served by a narrow foot lanes connected to the high street. At the top of the village and to the east of the high Street, slate and stone quarry waste heaps prevent further housing development. In the 20th century some new housing has been established in the lower parts of the village especially along Lon Henbarc.

Facilities

The main gathering points include the local pub, The Royal Oak and the local post office. Rachub is also home to a primary school, a bakery and has three chapels. Even so, it is generally considered to be a part of Bethesda rather than a separate entity. Villagers will variously say that they are from either Rachub or Bethesda, depending on whichever one takes their fancy at the time.

Outside links

• Wikishire map: 53°11’29"N, 4°3’41"W
• Ysgol Gynradd Llanllechid - The Welsh primary school in Rachub
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Rachub and surrounding area