LIFE IN BANGOR
Bangor is a great place to live, being so convenient for the University buildings, but also tapping into the vibrant social scene and big variety of places to eat. The local store and post office are here on Holyhead road, and its only 5 minutes walk to the railway station. Shopping is really convenient at Morrisons. Or you can get away from it all and escape to Ashley Jones Field, the open meadow found on Siliwen road with several paths that lead down to the shore of the Menai Strait, and the site of the old walled baths.
Bangor is a brilliant place for the outdoor enthusiast and anyone into sports, with a large range of facilities in and around the city. The coast, beaches and rugged mountains are all within easy reach, and are some of the most magnificent wild places you can find in the UK.
DAY TRIPS & EVENTS
A QUICK HISTORY OF BANGOR.
(Ref.s: Bangor Civic Society, Text of Mr. Idloes Owen’s talk on ‘Old Bangor’; Gwynedd Archaelogical Trust).
https://www.bangor.ac.uk/tour/LocationMap.pdf
Bangor was once a tranquil, leafy valley with a stream, the river Adda, running gently down to the Menai Strait. It is a very old city, that was settled around 516 A.D. when Deiniol arrived and set up a small college of monks. Prince Maelgwyn Gwynedd formed the monastic settlement on the banks of the river, in penance for his youthful shenanigans, and Deiniol was consecrated as its first bishop – hence Deiniol Road.
In 1557 the first school was founded in Bangor, but the city and surrounding area remained hidden away and inaccessible until early in the 1700s, when they succeeded in building a road around the rocky headland at Penmaenmawr. The road made a huge difference to the area, as travellers could now make it all the way across North Wales and carry on to Holyhead, using the Bangor ferry. The ferry crossed the Menai Strait from the site of what is now Normal College, to the jetty, close to Dylan’s restaurant in Menai Bridge.
Normal College and Hen Goleg were built first in 1858-62 on what were then open meadows, with views over the Menai Strait.
The imposing University building high above Deiniol Road was built in 1907-11, overlooking the town. The University and Normal College merged, and most of the buildings along College Road and adjoining are now part of the University.
UPPER BANGOR.
Holyhead road through Upper Bangor was opened in 1824. In 1826 the Menai Bridge was opened, reducing travelling time from London to Holyhead from 36 hours to 27 (now it only takes about 6 hours). Around this time a lot of new houses were built to house the workers, including the terraces in Victoria Street and Snowdon View. The Belle Vue hotel opened in 1838.
The University opened in 1884, as the University College of North Wales.
Upper Bangor became very popular for its stunning views and clean air, compared to the built-up and polluted valley below.