Bethel, Anglesey
| Bethel | |
| Anglesey | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SH396703 |
| Location: | 53°12’20"N, 4°24’10"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Anglesey |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Ynys Môn |
Bethel itself remains a relatively small and quiet village set centrally within the wider community and larger Parish of Bodorgan. The village is located inland (approximately three miles) from the south-western coast on the Isle of Anglesey.
The name is Biblical, from Bethel ("House of God") where Jacob was given a dream of a ladder reaching into Heaven. Other Biblically named villages nearby are Hermon just to the south, Soar to the north and Dothan beyond it. Bethel is not far from Paradise, or at least Paradwys, a hamlet to the east.
The village
Today, the village consists, in the main, of a cluster of detached private dwellings, a few social housing properties (though since the 1980s these have become privately owned) all around the village shop, Bethel Stores/Post Office and the new Medical Surgery.
Notwithstanding the blandness of modern housing, the village has a relatively interesting recent history. During the late 19th century until the 1950s the village and the nearby Bodorgan Railway Station were a hive of commercial and social activity. The present village shop Bethel Stores, was built by Harold and Dorothy Mawson in the 1960s as a result of a major demolition programme affecting many older properties deemed to be in a dangerous state of construction and repair, including their own general stores business, Siop Isaf ("Lower Shop"), in the village. The new Bethel Stores (the former Bethel Filling Station and Motorique Autoparts) stands on ground that was used as in-fill to reclaim an area that was known locally as Chwarel Bethel (Bethel Quarry).
Bethel Quarry was a source of some relatively unique, fairly valuable and sought after mineral deposits by the Bone-China / Ceramic industry of the Potteries. Some local inhabitants once indicated that they had the “superior bone-china tea sets” made from the quarried stone (a type of quartz) after it had returned to the area in its new, manufactured state. Beside the quarrying industry however, Bethel could arguably boast it that it had a vibrant commercial centre to some extent that existed until relatively recent times.
Bethel once supported two general goods/grocery stores, besides Shop Isaf a second business also operated in the village, known as Bryn Meilir. Both shops were supported by the villagers and the wider farming community. However one shop was supported by the Chapel-going community whilst the other was held in place by the Church-fraternity (for one of Bryn Meilir's occupants had close family ties with a high ranking member of the Church of Wales). According to wide-held belief it was suggested that many locals chose to alternate their allegiance (and therefore obtain favour in either "camp" during periods of food rationing) by following either "path" on alternate Sundays or morning/afternoon services.
The village once had a blacksmith, a leather/shoe repairers, coal merchants, police station, petrol filling station (up to early 21th century) a garage, motor-parts and accessory shop, post office, surgery, chapel, school and church-hall, china shop, joinery workshop/carpenters. In addition, when one cared to pop out for some liquid refreshment of the alcoholic variety (closed on Sundays until the 1980s) within half mile’s walk, two well frequented hostelries stood almost side by side opposite the railway concourse at Bodorgan Station. These two pubs, the Bodorgan and the Meyrick Arms, were divided only by the positioning of the Cattle-Market and it was on such market days that farmers and the general public gathered to sell or purchase fine beasts or agricultural produce and equipment. No doubt many a deal was struck outside the Auction room over a glass or two in the bar. The railway played its part too by transporting the bartered for beasts as well as passengers to and from the area in their droves.
Sadly those Halcyon days are long gone and lost perhaps forever - condemned to the pages of history.