Dinorwig

From Wikishire
Jump to: navigation, search
Dinorwig
Caernarfonshire
Bwthyn Congl-y-mynydd Cottage, Dinorwig - geograph.org.uk - 318495.jpg
Bwthyn Congl-y-mynydd Cottage, Dinorwig
Location
Grid reference: SH592616
Location: 53°8’6"N, 4°6’50"W
Data
Post town: Caernarfon
Postcode: LL55
Dialling code: 01286
Local Government
Council: Gwynedd
Parliamentary
constituency:
Arfon

Dinorwig, sometimes spelled Dinorwic, is a small village in Caernarfonshire located high above Llyn Padarn, near Llanberis. It is thought that it was part of the territory of the Ordovices tribe, and that 'Dinorwig' means "Fort of the Ordovices".

Facilities

Dinorwig is famous for its climbing routes as it is one of the main access points for Dinorwig Quarry. It lies at the end of the 83 bus service to and from Caernarfon, with connecting services to and from Bangor at Deiniolen.

Lodge Dinorwig, one of the most popular cafés in the area, is situated in the building that was once the village hall.

History

The village has a long history of slate quarrying. The Romans used local slate for the construction of Segontium, and slates from the valley were used in the construction of Caernarfon Castle. The main local quarry was the Dinorwic Quarry, which was worked from the late 1770s until 1969. After the First World War, cheaper alternative roofing materials became available and production at the quarry declined. This led to a decline in the fortune of the village itself and many moved away to nearby towns such as Bangor and Caernarfon.

Today, the village shares its name with a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station, Dinorwig power station. The village is also the location of the Blue Peris Mountain Centre, a residential outdoor activities centre operated by Bedford and Central Bedfordshire Councils.

Part of the film Willow was shot in the disused Dinorwig Quarry, in June 1987. The village's population is approximately 200.

Outside links

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Dinorwig)
Flag of Caernarfonshire.svg
 This Caernarfonshire article is a stub: help to improve Wikishire by building it up.