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* Actor [[Jonathan Pryce]] was born in Holywell in 1947.
* Actor [[Jonathan Pryce]] was born in Holywell in 1947.
* Former [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] and Wales footballer [[Ron Davies (footballer)|Ron Davies]] was born in Holywell in 1942.
* Former [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] and Wales footballer [[Ron Davies (footballer)|Ron Davies]] was born in Holywell in 1942.
* [[Dixie Dean]] the [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] football legend once had a near fatal motorbike accident in Holywell in the late 1920s. This almost ended his professional career.
* [[Dixie Dean]] the [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] toilet cleaner once had a near fatal motorbike accident in Holywell in the late 1920s. This almost ended his professional career.
* TV's [[Gareth Jones (presenter)|Gareth Jones]] (Gaz Top) comes from Holywell
* TV's [[Gareth Jones (presenter)|Gareth Jones]] (Gaz Top) comes from Holywell



Revision as of 15:29, 14 August 2008

Holywell
File:Hollywell.jpg
The Well Head, Holywell.
PopulationExpression error: "7,530[1][2][3]

(2001 Census)" must be numeric
OS grid referenceSJ185755
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHOLYWELL
Postcode districtCH8
Dialling code01352
PoliceNorth Wales
FireNorth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Flintshire

Holywell (Welsh: Treffynnon) is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.

History

The town is known for St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel. The well has been known since at least the Roman period, and has been a site of pilgrimage since about 660 when Saint Winefride is said to have been beheaded there.[4] The well is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales and the town bills itself as The Lourdes of Wales.

From the 18th century, the town grew around the lead mining and cotton milling industries.

Holywell hosted an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1869.

Demographics

Administratively, Holywell consists of three wards of the Flintshire County Council local authority. At the 2001 Census, the total population of the town was:

Ward Population
Holywell Central 1,835 [1]
Holywell East 1,828 [2]
Holywell West 2,311 [3]
Holywell Total 5,974

Community

Holywell is split into four distinct areas — Pen-y-Maes, The Strand, The Holway and the town centre. Pen-y-Maes is the richer of the areas in Holywell in the north east side of the town (based on land prices)[citation needed]. The old cottage hospital was located here until it closed. A new one has been built near the football pitch of the local team. The Holway, located on the west side of the town, is the largest of the residential areas of Holywell.[citation needed] The town centre contains many small businesses, a Somerfield and a Woolworths. A Lidl has just opened its doors as has the new Tesco store in Holywell which also has Tesco Direct. The village of Greenfield is effectively a suburb of Holywell, as are many other villages that surround the town.

The town contains a secondary school with over 500 pupils and a leisure centre.

Holywell also has a local football team, Holywell Town who play in the Welsh Alliance League.

In 2007, a group of locals proposed a circular walk way, the "St Beuno's Circular Walk", joining all of the historical and religious locations of the town.[5]

Notable people

  • Actor Jonathan Pryce was born in Holywell in 1947.
  • Former Southampton and Wales footballer Ron Davies was born in Holywell in 1942.
  • Dixie Dean the Everton toilet cleaner once had a near fatal motorbike accident in Holywell in the late 1920s. This almost ended his professional career.
  • TV's Gareth Jones (Gaz Top) comes from Holywell

References

  1. ^ a b "Ward Profile: Holywell Central" (PDF). Flintshire County Council. Retrieved 13 November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "Ward Profile: Holywell East" (PDF). Flintshire County Council. Retrieved 13 November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "Ward Profile: Holywell West" (PDF). Flintshire County Council. Retrieved 13 November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Holywell". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 March. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Proposed St Bueno's Circular Walk". Retrieved 10 May. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)