Llanfrothen
{{Short description|Hamlet in Gwynedd, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{infobox UK place
| country = Wales
| welsh_name =
| official_name = Llanfrothen
| static_image = File:St Brothen 0005.jpg
| coordinates = {{coord|52.950548|-4.051165|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| cardiff_distance_mi = 108.1
| cardiff_distance_km = 174.0
| london_distance_mi = 193.6
| london_distance_km = 311.6
| unitary_wales = Gwynedd
| community_wales = Llanfrothen
| constituency_welsh_assembly =
| constituency_westminster =
| post_town = Penrhyndeudraeth
| postcode_district = LL48
| postcode_area =
| dial_code =
| os_grid_reference = SH 6229 4121
| population = 437
| map_type =
| module= 240px
Map of the community
}}
Llanfrothen ({{pronunciation|Llanfrothen.ogg|Welsh pronunciation|help=no}}) is a hamlet and community in the county of Gwynedd, Wales, between the towns of Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog and is 108.1 miles (174.0 km) from Cardiff.[http://www.e-gymraeg.com/enwaucymru/chwilio.aspx/Llanfrothen Bangor University Placenames Unit (Canolfan Bedwyr)]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512225612/http://www.e-gymraeg.com/enwaucymru/chwilio.aspx/Llanfrothen |date=12 May 2014 }} accessed 9 May 2014{{cite map|title=Google Maps|publisher=Google}} In 2011 the population of Llanfrothen was 437 with 70.1% of them able to speak Welsh.[http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/census-population/?lang=en Welsh Government website; 2011 Census Returns and stats]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530161647/http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/census-population/?lang=en |date=30 May 2014 }} accessed 9 May 2014
Parc, a Grade II* Listed Building is within the community, as are the village of Garreg and the hamlet of Croesor.
The church at Llanfrothen is dedicated to St Brothen and is a Grade 1 listed building and is in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
The church and parish achieved prominence throughout Wales in 1888 when David Lloyd George, then a young local solicitor, took a case involving burial rights in Llanfrothen churchyard on appeal to the Divisional Court of the Queen's Bench Division. The case became known as the {{ill|Llanfrothen Burial Case|cy|Achos claddu Llanfrothen}}, and decision of the Divisional Court established the right of the family of a deceased nonconformist to have his body buried in the parish churchyard, by a Baptist minister, and without using the Anglican burial service.{{cite journal |last= Stevens |first= Catrin |title= The 'Burial Question': Controversy and Conflict c. 1860–1890 |journal= The Welsh History Review | volume = 21 | issue = 2| date =1 December 2002 | publisher= University of Wales Press |pages= 328–356 |doi =10.16922/whr.21.2.5 }}
Location
The parish is located at the edge of the high lands, immediately overlooking the salt marshes of Morfa Gwyllt. The nearest stations are Pont Croesor on the Welsh Highland Railway and Penrhyndeudraeth and Tan-y-Bwlch, both on the Ffestiniog Railway.
History
The older part of the village is called Garreg, Llanfrothen, and other parts of the village are scattered to the east of Garreg, on the minor road (B4410) leading towards the village of Rhyd. There is a notable pub, the "Brondanw Arms" ("Y Ring" to the locals) and a primary school. On the road north-eastward towards Croesor is Plas Brondanw, a former home of the architect Clough Williams-Ellis.
The hymn writer Richard Jones (Cymro Gwyllt) (1772–1833) served as a Calvinistic Methodist minister in Llanfrothen, where he spent much of his life (he was from Llanystumdwy in Eifionydd).
The church is dedicated to St Brothen, traditionally a son of Helig ap Glannog. It is said that he is buried there.T. D. Breverton, The Book of Welsh Saints (Cyhoeddiadau Glyndŵr, 2000). The Brothen Spring, or Old Spring, can be found near the church. There a number of architectural features in the church, including a 13th-century window.
See also
References
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