Kinmel Bay and Towyn (Welsh: Bae Cinmel a Tywyn) is a community in Conwy County Borough, in Wales. It is located on the coast bordering Denbighshire, from which it is separated by the River Clwyd, and is 2.6 miles (4.2 km) west of Rhyl, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north east of Abergele and 14.1 miles (22.7 km) east of Conwy. The community includes the holiday resorts of Kinmel Bay and Towyn. It is crossed by the Afon Gele, which flows from west to east, before joining the River Clwyd on the eastern boundary. At the 2001 census the community had a population of 7,864,[1] increasing to 8,460 at the 2011 census.[2] Before being named Kinmel Bay there was a small settlement called Foryd, which is the name of the bridge crossing into Rhyl. Over half the population were born in England.[3]

Kinmel Bay and Towyn
  • Welsh: Bae Cinmel a Tywyn
Sunset over Rhyl Flats seen from Kinmel Bay
Kinmel Bay and Towyn is located in Conwy
Kinmel Bay and Towyn
Kinmel Bay and Towyn
Location within Conwy
Population8,460 (2011)
OS grid referenceSH9779
Community
  • Kinmel Bay and Towyn
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townRHYL
Postcode districtLL18
Post townABERGELE
Postcode districtLL22
Dialling code01745
PoliceNorth Wales
FireNorth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Conwy
53°18′07″N 3°32′24″W / 53.302°N 3.540°W / 53.302; -3.540

The area was developed after 1793, when the Rhuddlan Marsh Commissioners were granted powers to drain the area around Towyn. In the mid 19th century, flood defences were constructed to protect the new Chester to Holyhead railway. Storm-force winds, a high tide and storm surge caused the defences to fail over a 440-yard (400 m) stretch in 1990, resulting in the flooding of 2,800 properties. The flood water covered 4 square miles (10 km2). Since then a rock revetment has been constructed to protect the breached coastline, and further protective works have been carried out to the east.[4]

St Mary's Church, in Towyn, was built in 1873 and designed by George Edmund Street, who was also the architect for the Royal Courts of Justice in London. It is in the Early Decorated style, and is Grade II* listed, as is the nearby Towyn and Kinmel Bay Youth Club, built two years earlier and also designed by Street.[5][6] Also listed is the third building of Street's contract, the former vicarage, now Ty'n Llan Nursing Home.[7] Horror writer James Henry Kinmel Sangster was born in Kimmel Bay in 1927.

References

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  1. ^ "Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Conwy". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  3. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Kinmel Bay and Towyn statistics (W04000119)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Towyn and Kinmel Bay Coastline". Conwy County Borough Council. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  5. ^ Cadw. "Church of St Mary, with churchyard walls (250)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  6. ^ Cadw. "Towyn and Kinmel Bay Youth Club (252)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  7. ^ Cadw. "Ty'n Llan Nursing Home (251)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
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