Brynrefail, Gwynedd

For the village on Anglesey, see Brynrefail.

Brynrefail (also Bryn-yr-Efail) is a small village in Gwynedd, Wales. The village is in the Arfon (UK Parliament constituency) and the Gwynedd Council Ward of Penisa'r Waun. It is close to the northern shore of Llyn Padarn lake. Along the main street there are mainly traditional terraced houses. Notable buildings include the village's post office and the village's sole chapel, which is still in use. The village is protected from Llanberis and has a dedicated community beat manager.

Brynrefail
Afon Caledffrwd at Pont Brynrefail
Brynrefail Location within Gwynedd
OS grid reference	SH558626
Community	Llanddeiniolen
Principal area	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CAERNARFON
Postcode district	LL55
Dialling code	01286
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Arfon
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Arfon
List of places UK Wales Gwynedd 53.141°N 4.155°W / 53.141; -4.155

History

In the 19th century, the village was built to house workers for the nearby Dinorwic slate quarry.^[1] It developed around the village's forge; the building that housed the forge, built in 1776, still exists and has been converted into a cottage called "The Nook". Brynrefail's development may have also been influenced by the quarry railway between Dinorwic Quarry and Y Felinheli, which skirted around the village.

The village was home to the Ysgol Brynrefail before the campus was moved to the nearby town of Llanrug in the 1960s. The school's site was cleared in the 1990s. In 2002, work began on a multi-use center called "Caban." Opened in 2004, Caban is home to a café, a meeting room, which doubles as the village's chapel, and 13 business units. The café was mentioned in the Which? 2008 Good Food Guide.