Penygroes (Welsh pronunciation:[ˌpɛnəˈɡroːɨs]ⓘ) is a village in Gwynedd, Wales. The village is located to the south of Caernarfon, and north of Porthmadog, by the A487 road. Penygroes' population stands at 1,793 at the 2011 census, of which 88% are Welsh-speaking, making it one of the most predominantly Welsh-speaking areas of the country. The population of Llanllyfni community, which includes Penygroes and Llanllyfni village, which practically adjoins Penygroes, plus Talysarn, is 4,135 according to the 2011 census.
Etymology
The name of the village is derived from pen "end" + y "[of] the" + croes "cross[roads]", referring to the crossing at the village of the roads from Carmel, Rhyd-ddu and Pontllyfni with the main Caernarfon–Porthmadog road.[2]
History and amenities
Penygroes is located in the former slatequarrying area of Dyffryn Nantlle, although most of the quarries are now closed down. However, it remains the valley's main shopping and administrative centre. Its biggest employer was a paper-converting plant producing hand tissues and toilet rolls.
It is the site of Nantlle Vale F.C., which used to be managed by the professional wrestler and promoter Orig Williams, better known by his ring name of "El Bandito". The club's former social complex has in recent years been demolished, and a new police station now occupies the site.
Penygroes lies by the edge of Lord Newborough's former estate at Glynllifon, from which several medieval legends have emanated. The character Lleu Llaw Gyffes, who features in the ages-old legends of the Mabinogi (sometimes inaccurately referred to as the Mabinogion), was said to have lived in the area. The Iron Agehillfort at Dinas Dinlleu and the village of Nantlle—originally spelt as Nantlleu—are said to have been named after him.
Education
Ysgol Bro Lleu provides Welsh-medium primary education to the village and the surrounding area. As of 2023, there are 199 pupils on roll at the school; 78 per cent of statutory school age pupils speak Welsh at home.[4][5]
Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle provides secondary education in the village. At least 80 percent of subjects (apart from English and Welsh) are taught only through the medium of Welsh to all pupils. 401 pupils were enrolled at the school in 2023; 82.5 per cent of pupils speak Welsh at home.[6][7]
Governance
Pen-y-groes is the name of the electoral ward which covers the village and elects a county councillor to Gwynedd Council. It is coterminous with the Llanllyfni community ward of Penygroes.
Notable people
Bryn Fôn (born 1954), Welsh actor and singer-songwriter
Dafydd Glyn Jones (born 1941), Welsh scholar and lexicographer; went to school in Penygroes
R. Williams Parry (1884–1956), notable 20th-century poet writing in Welsh
