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Boasting the longest place name in the U.K, Llanfairpwll is one of Anglesey's most popular tourist destinations.
Situated on the Menai Straits and connected directly to the mainland by the Britannia bridge, the village has a fascinating past.
The site of the village was first home to settlers in the Neolithic era. The main occupation of the times were agriculture and fishing, which were both available in abundance.
Anglesey as a whole is renowned for it's connection with Celtic history and the Druids. When the Roman's attacked Anglesey, the shore along the village was the stage for one of the bloodiest battles between the Druids and Romans. It is said that the Druids lined up along the bank naked and screaming in an attempt to frighten off the invaders who were terrified of the apparent mystical powers of their victims. Unfortunately the tactic didn't work for long and under the leadership of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, the island was captured practically wiping out the Druids. Soon after the invasion , the Roman forces were forced to withdraw from the area as they were re-deployed to fight an uprising in East Anglia led by the legendary Bouddica.
Without rulers, Anglesey soon came under the control of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, an early medieval kingdom. It was at this point in history that the village was returned to it's agricultural roots with the King introducing a feudal system. The village at this time consisted of a population of 80 people.
It was only in the 16th century, that much of the land was absorbed into the Earldom of Uxbridge's estates (under the rule of the Marquis of Anglesey) and the population of the village was put to work as tenant farmers to the Marquis.
In 1826 the Menai Suspension bridge was opened and later in 1850 the building of the Britannia bridge brought the busy North Coast Railway line running into the village. Llanfairpwll became the local hub of commerce as the road and railway brought traders from across North Wales. Today the village relies on tourism as it's main industry, and now has a thriving population.
The huge name of the village isn't infact the villages real name. Contrived in the 1860's by a cobbler from nearby Menai Bridge, it was an early marketing idea to entice tourist to the area. The idea worked exceptionally well, and still does today with tourist coming from far and wide.
Llanfairpwll is also notable for being the site of the first ever Women's Institute meeting in the UK in 1915, before it's popularity spread throughout the country.
Other places of interest in the village are the Marquis of Anglesey's Column, erected to commemorate the Marquis who lost his right leg in the battle of Waterloo as Nelson's second in command; the statue of Nelson which sits on the shore of the Menai Straits and St.Mary's church which the village was originally named after.
Nearby places of interest are Church Island and Britannia bridge.
Visiting Llanfairpwll? Click here for a map.