Brecon (Welsh: Aberhonddu) is an historic market town in southern Powys, mid Wales, with a population of roughly 8,000 with around 6,000 in the surrounding area. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys it remains an important local centre.
The original Welsh name of the kingdom in whose territory Brecon stands was 'Brycheiniog', which later became anglicised to Brecknockshire or Breconshire, and probably derives from the personal name of Welsh Prince Brychan, the eponymous founder of the kingdom. The English name of Brecon town may also be derived from Brychan.
The Welsh name, Aberhonddu, means 'mouth of the Honddu'. It is derived from the River Honddu, which meets the River Usk near the town centre, a short distance away from the River Tarrell which enters the Usk a few hundred metres upstream.
Before the building of the bridge over the Usk, Brecon was one of the few places where the river could be forded.
Coming of the Normans
The confluence of the Honddu and the River Usk made for a valuable defensive position for the Norman castle which overlooks the town, built by Bernard de Neufmarche in the late 11th century.
Priory and Cathedral
Less than a mile from the castle stands Brecon Cathedral, a fairly modest building compared to many cathedrals. The role of Cathedral is a fairly recent one, and was bestowed upon the church in 1923 with the formation of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon from what was previously the Archdeaconry of Brecon - a part of the diocese of St David's.
Present Day Brecon
The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal basin at Brecon, the starting point of the Taff Trail.
Today Brecon is a thriving community, and is popular as a holiday destination, being on the Northern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, affording among the best views of the Brecon Beacons themselves, a range of hills, including Pen-y-Fan, the highest point in southern Britain at 886m.
August sees an annual Brecon Jazz Festival held in the town centre, with several open air venues and indoor concerts held in several venues, including the town's market hall and the recently opened 400-seat Theatr Brycheiniog next to the redeveloped Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal basin to the east of the town centre.
Brecon's Speakers Club Brecon Speakers Club opened in January 2008.
Military Town
The east end of town also has two military establishments:
* Dering Lines, home to the Infantry Battle School formerly Infantry Training Centre Wales, where Infantry Officers and Other Ranks are trained, and
* The Barracks, home to 160 (Wales) Brigade.
Eight miles to the west of Brecon is Sennybridge Training Area, an important training facility for the British Army.
Cattle Market
The west end of Brecon has a small industrial area, and recent years have seen the cattle market moved from the centre of the town to this area, with markets held several times a week.
Transport
Brecon is located near where the A40 (Monmouth-Carmarthen-Fishgard) meets the A470 (Cardiff-Merthyr Tydfil-Llandudno). The nearest airport is Cardiff International Airport.
Railways
The Neath and Brecon Railway reached Brecon in 1867, terminating at Free Street. By this point, Brecon already had two other stations:
* Watton - from 1 May 1863 when the Brecon and Merthyr Railway to Merthyr Tydfil was opened for traffic
* Mount Street - in September 1864, with Llanidloes by the Mid Wales Railway which linked to the Midland Railway at Talyllyn Junction
The three companies consolidated their stations at a newly rebuilt Free Street Joint Station from 1871. Through services from the Midlands ceased in 1930, while services to Neath ceased in October 1962.
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008
Brecon (Welsh: Aberhonddu) is an historic market town in southern Powys, mid Wales, with a population of roughly 8,000 with around 6,000 in the...
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