rhyl

Early documents refer to a dwelling in the area named Ty'n Rhyl ("Rhyl croft"), and a manor house with that name still exists in the oldest part of the town.{{Cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Robin |title=This is how the Welsh place you live got its name |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/how-welsh-place-live-name-11278650 |publisher=WalesOnli |date=7 May 2016 |location=Cardiff |language=en}} Its Welsh orthography has proved difficult for English writers to transliterate as Rhyl's opening voiceless alveolar trill is uncommon in the English language (represented in modern Welsh by the digraph 'Rh'). As such the name has appeared in English texts as Hulle (1292), Hul (1296), Ryhull (1301), Hyll (1506), Hull (1508), yr Hyll (1597), Rhil (1706), Rhûl (1749), Rhul (1773), Rhyll (1830) and Rhyl (1840).{{Cite book |title=Dictionary of the Place-Names of Wales |last2=Morgan |first2=Richard |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84323-901-7 |page=422 |last1=Owen |first1=Hywel Wyn|publisher=Gomer }}

The etymonic origin of the word Rhyl has been the subject of debate for more than a century.{{Cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=T |title=Etymology of Rhyl |url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3628472/3628480/74 |agency=National Library of Wales |publisher=Rhyl Journal |date=16 September 1905 |pages=1 |language=cy}} It has been suggested that it derives from a contraction of Yr Heol ("The Road"). However, this derivation is problematic as it is thought that no road of significance passed through the area before the name was already extant. Another suggested etymology is that the name is a hybrid of the unfamiliar English word "hill" and the Welsh definite article "yr" (Yr Hill, becoming Y Rhyl, and then just Rhyl in English). Although this is problematic as Rhyl is situated in a very flat area with no hills, it has been suggested that the original 'hill' was a piece of dry land relatively raised above the surrounding marshes (cors y rhyl). Another suggestion is that it could have referred to a now forgotten man-made structure, such as a motte outpost of Rhuddlan Castle guarding the mouth of the River Clwyd.

One etymology that gained popularity in the twentieth century suggests that the original dwelling of Ty'n Rhyl derived from Tŷ'n yr haul (House in the Sun/House of Sunshine). This may be an example of folk etymology, as Rhyl gained popularity as a summer destination for Welsh-speaking tourists and was advertised in English and Welsh as "Sunny Rhyl".

File:Rhyl Town Hall.jpg]]

File:Rhyl East Parade clock tower.jpg

Rhyl has a number of Grade II listed buildings and landmarks. These include the Parish Church of St Thomas in Bath Street, which is listed as Grade II*.{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-1422-parish-church-of-st-thomas-rhyl#.VyRK7eTGA4A |title=Parish Church of St Thomas, Rhyl |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=30 April 2016}} Others are the Midland Bank building, the railway station along with two signal boxes and the public telephone box on the up platform, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the Sussex Street Baptist Church, Rhyl Town Hall, the Swan public house in Russell Road, the war memorial, and the Welsh Presbyterian Church in Clwyd Street.{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wales/denbighshire/rhyl#.VyRLf-TGA4B |title=Listed Buildings in Rhyl, Wales |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=30 April 2016}}

File:David Cox - Rhyl Sands (Tate version).jpg, Rhyl Sands (c.1854), depicting the Rhyl seafront]]

Also notable is the Grade II listed Foryd Harbour Bridge, a blue bridge with distinctive bowstring girders built in 1932. Situated over the River Clwyd, it links Rhyl with Kinmel Bay.

Another landmark is the Church of St Margaret of Antioch. The Marble Church was built by Lady Margaret in memory of her late husband, Sir Henry Peyto Willoughby de Broke. It was completed within four years and consecrated on 23 August 1860, becoming the parish church of a new parish of Bodelwyddan, covering an area formerly in that of St Asaph. The church opens daily from 9:30 to 16:30, except between 25 December and 6 January.

A previous Rhyl landmark was the ornate Pavilion Theatre with five domes, which was demolished in 1974. Half a mile further down the promenade stood Rhyl Pier, opened in 1867 at {{convert|2355|ft}} long. The structure was damaged by ships in 1883 and again in 1891. It was further damaged in 1901 by fire. Storms were responsible for further damage in 1909 in 1913 was closed as unsafe. Although it reopened with a much-reduced length in 1930, it closed again in 1966 and was demolished in 1973.{{Cite web |url=http://www.piers.org.uk/pierpages/NPSrhyl.html |title=History of Rhyl Pier |publisher=National Piers Society |access-date=30 April 2016}}

Rhyl's top attractions on the West Parade are Rhyl Children's Village theme park, and the {{convert|250|ft|m|adj=mid}} Sky Tower (formerly the Clydesdale Bank tower, brought to Rhyl from the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival). The Sky Tower opened in 1989,{{Cite book |title=Tourism in Peripheral Areas: Case Studies |url=http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781873150238 |year=2000 |publisher=Channel View Publications Ltd |isbn=978-1-8731502-3-8 |page=31}} but it was closed to the public in 2010 and transformed into an illuminated beacon in 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/work-turn-rhyl-sky-tower-12715751 |title=Work to turn Rhyl Sky Tower into 'landmark' light beacon begins |work=Daily Post |date=11 March 2017 |access-date=21 May 2019}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/111913/skytower-stays-shut-iconic-landmark-still-grounded.aspx |title=Sky Tower stays shut |work=Rhyl Journal |date=11 April 2012 |access-date=28 November 2013}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-19567425 |title=Rhyl Sky Tower may still have a future but not as a ride |work=BBC News |date=12 September 2012 |access-date=28 November 2013}} A VUE Cinema that closed in January 2025 is also located there.

On the East Parade is the SeaQuarium. Up until 2014, Rhyl Suncentre was also an attraction on the East Parade; an indoor water leisure centre which opened in 1980 at a cost of £4.25 million and featured a heated swimming pool, water chutes and slides, and Europe's first indoor surfing pool.{{Cite news |title=The Sun Centre, Rhyl |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-300000-381000/page/5 |newspaper=BBC: Domesday Reloaded |year=1989 |access-date=1 May 2016}} The local council closed the centre in early 2014 and it was demolished in 2016. A new Travelodge hotel was built next to the site, which opened in early 2019.{{Cite news |title=Rhyl Sun Centre will not re-open as "wet attraction" |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-26736460 |newspaper=BBC News|date=25 March 2014 |access-date=1 May 2016}} A new indoor/outdoor water park, the SC2, opened further along the promenade in 2019, and includes various pools with water chutes and slides, as well as a separate "Ninja Tag" assault course game complex. Also on the East Parade is the New Pavilion Theatre, opened in 1991. It has over 1,000 seats and is managed by Denbighshire County Council.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rhylpavilion.co.uk/ |title=Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl |access-date=1 May 2016}} Redevelopment of the Pavilion theatre in 2017 provided for a new façade, entrance foyer and restaurant, and refurbished bar areas.{{Cite web|last=Williams |first=Kelly |date=2017-11-09 |title=Take a peek inside Rhyl Pavilion's new 1891 restaurant ahead of its opening |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/take-peek-inside-rhyl-pavilions-13881852 |access-date=2020-11-03 |website=North Wales Live |language=en}}

The Marine Lake, an artificial excavation in the west of the town, used to be a tourist destination, with fairground rides and a zoo. The lake is a 12-hectare human-made reservoir and it was officially opened in 1895. Rhyl Miniature Railway is the only original attraction remaining on the site, a narrow gauge railway that travels around the lake and is now based at the new museum and railway centre. There is also a playground and numerous watersports clubs based around the lake.{{Cite book |author=Howe, Marjorie |title=Old Rhyl: From 1850s – 1910 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lxvp6HyZuhMC&pg=PA60 |year=2000 |publisher=Gwasg Helygain Ltd |isbn=978-0-9522755-4-1 |page=60}}

File:Ocean beach fun fair site rhyl dec 2007.jpg site (December 2007)]]

The Marine Lake Funfair was demolished in the late 1960s, having been replaced by the nearby Ocean Beach Funfair. Ocean Beach finally closed on 2 September 2007 and was demolished to make way for a planned new development initially called Ocean Plaza. This was to include apartments, a hotel and various retail outlets.{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/6968961.stm |title=End of an era for Rhyl's funfair |work=BBC News |date=2 September 2007 |access-date=1 May 2016}} However, work on Ocean Plaza never went ahead as scheduled and the land lay vacant for several years after the original developers, Modus Properties, went bankrupt in 2009. The site was sold to a new company, Scarborough Development Group (SDG), in 2010, but again no work commenced on the site for several years. In 2014, SDG submitted revised plans to develop the land on a much smaller scale than the original plans.{{Cite news |title=Plans for Ocean Plaza development go on display |url=http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/130824/plans-for-ocean-plaza-development-go-on-display.aspx |newspaper=News North Wales |date=7 February 2014 |access-date=1 May 2016}} Now called Marina Quay, the plans no longer include the building of new apartments on the land as Natural Resources Wales' flood regulations now prohibit this.{{Cite news |title=Rhyl Ocean Plaza: Backlash over downsized plans for derelict funfair |author=Williams, Kelly |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhyl-ocean-plaza-backlash-over-6677086 |newspaper=Daily Post |date=6 February 2014 |access-date=1 May 2016}} The plans were approved by the local authority in November 2014. In August 2015, The Range retail chain signed a 20-year lease and opened a new outlet on the site in March 2018.{{Cite news |title=Rhyl funfair site secures The Range as anchor tenant |author=Hughes, Owen |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/rhyl-ocean-plaza-funfair-range-9790961 |newspaper=Daily Post |date=4 August 2015 |access-date=1 May 2016}} Aldi also opened a branch on the site in 2019.

File:Electoral wards in the town of Rhyl, Denbighshire, Wales.png

For elections to Denbighshire County Council, Rhyl is divided into six electoral wards: Rhyl East, Rhyl South, Rhyl South West, Rhyl Trellewelyn, Rhyl Ty Newydd, and Rhyl West. After the 2022 local elections, eleven of Rhyl's county councillors belonged to the Welsh Labour Party and one to the Welsh Conservatives.{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Denbighshire County |date=2013-04-01 |title=Denbighshire County Council |url=https://moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=92&V=1&RPID=55079613&LLL=0 |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk}} In 2008 Rhyl West appeared as the most deprived ward in Wales in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/7661824.stm |title=MP paints out town's tainted past |work=BBC News |date=10 October 2008 |access-date=30 March 2018}}

The 22 councillors on Rhyl Town Council are divided among nine community wards: Bodfor, Brynhedydd, Cefndy, Derwen, Foryd, Pendyffryn, Plastirion, Trellewellyn, and Tynewydd.[http://rhyltowncouncil.org.uk/councillors.html Councillors], Rhyl Town Council website. Retrieved 30 March 2018.

Association Football

Rhyl F.C., commonly known as the Lilywhites, is a football club that played historically in English non-league football, but has competed since 1992 in the Welsh football pyramid. In the 2003–2004 season it won the Welsh Premier League, the Welsh Cup and the Welsh League Cup, and was losing finalist in the FAW Premier Cup. In the 2008–2009 season it again won the Welsh Premier League.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rhylfc.co.uk/clubinfo/club-history |title=Club history |publisher=Rhyl F.C. |access-date=1 May 2016}} On 17 May 2010, it was announced that Rhyl's Welsh Premier licence had been revoked. Its appeal was unsuccessful and it was relegated to the Cymru Alliance,{{Cite news |title=Rhyl FC's Welsh Premier appeal fails FAW test |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/8688196.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=1 May 2016}} returning to the Welsh Premier League in 2013 after winning the Cymru Alliance title, becoming the first club in the history of the competition to complete the season unbeaten. Rhyl has played in Europe on a few occasions. On 21 April 2020, the club announced it was going to cease trading and be formally wound up.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52376408 |title=Rhyl FC set to close after 141 years |work= BBC Sport|access-date=13 June 2021}} In May 2020, a phoenix club was set up under the name of C.P.D. Y Rhyl 1879.[https://www.rhylfc.co.uk/news/new-rhyl-phoenix-club-cpd-y-rhyl-1879-secures-belle-vue-ground Accessed 13 June 2021.]

Rugby Union

Rhyl and District RFC is the town's rugby union club. It completed a move from its old ground on the Waen in Rhuddlan, when a new ground and clubhouse opened at Tynewydd Fields in 2018.

Hockey

Rhyl is home to the oldest field hockey club in Wales, formed in 1890. Its first international game was also played at Rhyl, between Ireland and Wales in 1895.

Professional Wrestling

Veteran promoter Orig Williams, responsible for the Welsh language Reslo wrestling show on S4C, based his British Wrestling Federation in Rhyl and ran a wrestling training school in the town, the alumni of which included several television wrestlers including Robbie Brookside and Klondyke Kate.

Rhyl railway station on the North Wales Coast Line is served by through trains of Avanti West Coast between Holyhead and London Euston, and by Transport for Wales Rail services: to Cardiff Central via Newport and Crewe, and to Manchester Piccadilly. Other stations nearby include Abergele & Pensarn, Prestatyn, Flint, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwroute1.htm |title=Crewe to Holyhead |year=2012 |publisher=North Wales Coast Railway |access-date=1 May 2016}} The direct Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast services to Holyhead give connections by Stena Line or Irish Ferries to Dublin Port.

The A548 road through the town links with the A55 Holyhead to Chester road at Abergele. The A525 road runs south from the town to Rhuddlan, St Asaph and Ruthin.{{Cite book |title=Concise Road Atlas: Britain |year=2015 |publisher=AA Publishing |isbn=978-0-7495-7743-8 |pages=47–55}} Several Arriva Buses Wales bus services are run along the main coast road between Chester and Holyhead, linking the resorts. Another route runs between Rhyl and Denbigh.{{Cite web |url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/wales/ |title=Discover the towns of Wales |work=Arriva Wales |publisher=Arriva Buses Wales |access-date=1 May 2016}}

The town has two secondary schools: Rhyl High School and Christ the Word Catholic School. Christ the Word teaches both primary and secondary school pupils and was opened in 2019 as a merger of Blessed Edward Jones Catholic School and its feeder Ysgol Mair.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-11 |title=New £23million faith school Christ the Word welcomes its first pupils |url=https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/17892760.pupils-step-new-school-23million-christ-word-opens-doors/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Denbighshire Free Press |language=en}} Both schools provide education to the age of 16, with sixth-form provision being available at Rhyl Sixth Form centre located in the Rhyl branch of Coleg Llandrillo.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2010-10-12 |title=£3.5 million sixth form open in Rhyl |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/35-million-sixth-form-open-2743240 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=North Wales Live |language=en}}

In addition to the primary provision at Christ the Word Catholic School, there are five other dedicated primary schools in Rhyl: Christ Church Primary School, Ysgol Bryn Hedydd, Ysgol Emmanuel, Ysgol Llywelyn, and the Welsh-medium Ysgol Dewi Sant. There is also a special school in Rhyl called Ysgol Tir Morfa.

The first Welsh-medium secondary school in Wales started in Rhyl, as Ysgol Glan Clwyd was opened in the town in 1956 before moving to its present site at St Asaph in 1969.{{Cite web |title=Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Upper Denbigh Road, St Asaph - History Points |url=https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=ysgol-glan-clwyd |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=historypoints.org}}

Television signals are received from the Moel-y-Parc TV transmitter {{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Moel_Y_Parc |title=Full Freeview on the Moel-Y-Parc (Flintshire, Wales) transmitter|date=May 2004 |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=1 February 2024}} and the local relay transmitter situated in Prestatyn. {{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Prestatyn|title=Freeview Light on the Prestatyn (Denbighshire, Wales) transmitter|date=May 2004 |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=1 February 2024}}

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Capital North West and Wales, Capital Cymru, Heart North and Mid Wales, Point FM and Rhyl Radio, a community based station. {{Cite web |url=https://www.rhylradio.co.uk/|title=Rhyl Radio|access-date=1 February 2024}}

The town is served by the local newspaper, Rhyl Journal which publishes on Wednesdays. {{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/wales/rhyl-journal/|title=Rhyl Journal|date=20 September 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=1 February 2024}} North Wales Weekly News is another local newspaper which also covers the area.

In birth order:

• Wayne Bickerton (1941–2015), record producer and musician
• Kim Simmonds (1947–2022), lead singer, guitarist and founding member of Savoy Brown, was born in Newbridge, Caerphilly.
• Michael Leslie Peters (born 1959), lead singer and founding member of The Alarm, was born in Prestatyn, grew up in Rhyl and attended Rhyl High School.
• Steve Strange (1959–2015), lead singer of the band Visage, was born in Newbridge, Caerphilly, but lived in Rhyl as a child.
• Lisa Scott-Lee (born 1975), singer and dancer founding member of Steps.
• The Alarm (1981–1991), rock band{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-alarm-mn0000037931/biography |title=The Alarm Biography, Songs, & Albums |website=AllMusic}}

• Isaac Jenks (1816–1888), ironmaster and Mayor of Wolverhampton, died at Rhyl.
• Mungo Lewis (1894–1969), Manitoba politician
• Ann Jones (born 1953), Welsh Labour and Co-operative Party MS
• Gareth Davies (born 1988), Welsh Conservative MS

• Patrick Garnett (1932–2006), Swinging Sixties architectJonathan Glancey, [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/jun/08/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries "Patrick Garnett, Architect whose designs caught the mood of swinging London"], The Guardian, 8 June 2006, accessed 3 October 2023
• Nathan Penlington (living), poet and magician

• Thomas Aubrey (1808–1867), Methodist minister of religion and preacher
• Edward Ross Wharton (1844–1896), classical scholar, etymologist and lexicographerBibliography backing description: [http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Wharton%2C%20Edward%20Ross%2C%201844-1896 Retrieved 7 February 2017.]
• Vernon R. Young (1937–2004), research scientist specializing in protein and amino acid requirements
• Bob Griffiths (born 1953), born in Rhyl, Church in Wales priest, British Armed Forces chaplain, then Archdeacon of Wrexham

• William Roberts (born 1863, fl. 1880s – 1890s), international footballer
• Don Oakes (1928–1977), professional footballer (Arsenal F.C.)
• Elliott Hewitt (born 1994), professional footballer (Notts County F.C.)
• David Harrison (born 1972), jockey, winner of 1992 Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, grew up in Rhyl and attended Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School.
• Ched Evans (born 1988), footballer (Sheffield United F.C.)
• James Chester (born 1989), international footballer (Aston Villa F.C.)

• Ruth Ellis (1926–1955), nightclub hostess and murderer, was the last woman hanged in the UK.
• Nerys Hughes (born 1941), actress
• Carol Vorderman (born 1960), TV broadcaster and game-show host, attended Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School.
• Sara Sugarman (born 1962), actress and film director
• Alexa Davies (born 1995), actress best known for Young Rosie in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

The climate is cool and temperate in Rhyl. The climate here is classified as Cfb by the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in Rhyl is {{Convert|9.3|C}}. Annual precipitation averages {{cvt|828|mm}}.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Rhyl (1991–2020)

| Jan high C = 8.1

| Feb high C = 8.4

| Mar high C = 10.1

| Apr high C = 12.6

| May high C = 15.6

| Jun high C = 18.2

| Jul high C = 19.8

| Aug high C = 19.5

| Sep high C = 17.5

| Oct high C = 14.2

| Nov high C = 10.8

| Dec high C = 8.6

| year high C = 13.6

| Jan low C = 2.9

| Feb low C = 2.9

| Mar low C = 3.9

| Apr low C = 5.3

| May low C = 7.7

| Jun low C = 10.5

| Jul low C = 12.5

| Aug low C = 12.4

| Sep low C = 10.6

| Oct low C = 8.1

| Nov low C = 5.4

| Dec low C = 3.3

| year low C = 7.1

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 74.2

| Feb precipitation mm = 61.7

| Mar precipitation mm = 52.2

| Apr precipitation mm = 49.1

| May precipitation mm = 52.2

| Jun precipitation mm = 60.3

| Jul precipitation mm = 63.0

| Aug precipitation mm = 68.9

| Sep precipitation mm = 72.9

| Oct precipitation mm = 89.3

| Nov precipitation mm = 88.2

| Dec precipitation mm = 96.6

| year precipitation mm = 828.5

| unit rain days = 1.0 mm

| Jan rain days = 14.5

| Feb rain days = 11.8

| Mar rain days = 11.1

| Apr rain days = 10.3

| May rain days = 9.8

| Jun rain days = 9.6

| Jul rain days = 11.2

| Aug rain days = 11.8

| Sep rain days = 11.1

| Oct rain days = 13.6

| Nov rain days = 16.0

| Dec rain days = 16.2

| year rain days = 146.9

| source 1 = Met Office{{cite web

|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcmwbpsb4

|title = Rhyl (Denbighshire) UK climate averages - Met Office

|publisher = Met Office

|access-date = July 6, 2024}}

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Rhyl}}

{{Wikivoyage|Rhyl}}

• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/rhyl_town/ BBC Rhyl page]
• [http://rhyltowncouncil.org.uk/ Rhyl town council page]
• [http://loverhyl.co.uk/ Rhyl Tourism promotion page]

{{Rhyl}}

{{Denbighshire}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Seaside resorts in Wales

Category:Towns in Denbighshire

Category:Populated coastal places in Wales