Llithfaen
{{Short description|Village in northwest Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name = View east along Liverpool Terrace, Llithfaen - geograph.org.uk - 2119075.jpg
| static_image_caption = A view of a road leading up to Llithfaen's crossroads near the Central of Llithfaen
| population =
| population_ref =
| community_wales = Pistyll
| unitary_wales = Gwynedd
| constituency_welsh_assembly = Dwyfor Meirionnydd
| post_town = PWLLHELI
| postcode_district = LL53
| dial_code = 01758
| os_grid_reference = SH355431
| dublin_distance = 116 miles
| post_town2 =
| postcode_district2 =
| type = Village
| coordinates = {{coord|52.960556|-4.448889|display=inline, title}}
| map_type = Wales Gwynedd
| country = Wales
| constituency_westminster = Dwyfor Meirionnydd
| lieutenancy_wales = Gwynedd
}}
Llithfaen ({{IPA|cy|ˈɬɪθvaɨ̯n}}) is a village{{Coflein|num=422189|desc=Llithfaen Village|access-date=14 August 2022}} on the North West of Wales on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. It is within the community of Pistyll near Caernarfon Bay. Pwllheli is the nearest town, approximately {{convert|8|mile}} away, and Caernarfon is {{convert|16|mile}} away.
There is a shop, pub, playground, community hall located in the village centre.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} Nant Gwrtheyrn is a Welsh language heritage centre near the village.
There is a river called Afon Erch running from Llithfaen to the village of Abererch. The village of Trefor and Trefor Beach is nearby.
As of 2002, musician Ian Brown had a holiday home in the village.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2317797.stm|title=Rock star sparks housing row|date=10 October 2002|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 July 2012|archive-date=14 May 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040514172827/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2317797.stm|url-status=live}}
History
File:Côr Meibion Llithfaen, 1925.jpg
Llithfaen Calvinistic Methodist Chapel was built in 1780 and rebuilt several times to cope with the growing population. It was most recently rebuilt (Capel Isaf) in 1905.{{Coflein|num=7093|desc=Llithfaen Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Llithfaen|access-date=4 June 2023}}
In the first half of the 19th century, many smallholders of the parish supplemented their incomes by taking heather cut from the slopes of Tre'r Ceiri to be sold as kindling in Pwllheli for sixpence a bundle.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/gogleddorllewin/hanes/pages/llithfaen.shtml |title=Chwarel a chapel yn Llithfaen |lang=cy |trans-title=Quarry and chapel in Llithfaen |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528215606/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/gogleddorllewin/hanes/pages/llithfaen.shtml |url-status=live }}
The population grew with the opening of granite quarries on Yr Eifl in the 19th century.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} Many houses were built, and the census in 1881 shows many immigrants from other areas of the peninsula, Penmaenmawr and as far as Scotland. Three quarries were close to the village, the last of which (Chwarel Carreg y Llam) closed in 1963. The other two were Y Nant and Caer Nant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tafarnyfic.com/llithfaen-heritage-trails-milestones.htm|title=Llithfaen Heritage Trails Milestones|website=www.tafarnyfic.com|access-date=6 July 2009|archive-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605184156/http://www.tafarnyfic.com/llithfaen-heritage-trails-milestones.htm|url-status=live}}
Governance
The area is in the Senedd constituency of Dwyfor Meirionydd and the Westminster constituency of the same name.
Historically, Llithfaen was administered as part of the county of Caernarfonshire until 1974. It was in Lleyn Rural District from 1894 to 1974.{{cite web |title=Place:Lleyn Rural, Caernarvonshire, Wales - Genealogy |url=https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Place:Lleyn_Rural%2C_Caernarvonshire%2C_Wales |website=www.werelate.org |language=en}} From 1974 to 1996, it was part of the Dwyfor district of Gwynedd.
References
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