Brecon
250631
221203699
2008-06-23T14:23:45Z
Pascal.Tesson
1283289
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/92.17.246.22|92.17.246.22]] ([[User talk:92.17.246.22|talk]]) to last version by Jeremy Bolwell
{{infobox UK place|
|country = Wales
|welsh_name= Aberhonddu
|constituency_welsh_assembly=
|map_type=
|official_name= Brecon
|latitude= 51.94677
|longitude= -3.39086
|unitary_wales= [[Powys]]
|lieutenancy_wales= [[Powys]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Brecon & Radnorshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Brecon & Radnorshire]]
|post_town= BRECON
|postcode_district = LD3
|postcode_area= LD
|dial_code= 01874
|os_grid_reference= SO045285
|population= 7,901
}}
'''Brecon''' ({{lang-cy|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 counties of Wales|historic]] county of [[Brecknockshire]]; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of [[Powys]] it remains an important local centre.
== Early Welsh History ==
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 language|English]] name of Brecon town may also be derived from Brychan.
The [[Welsh language|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 [[ford (river)|forded]].
== Coming of the Normans ==
The confluence of the Honddu and the [[River Usk]] made for a valuable defensive position for the [[Norman architecture|Norman]] [[castle]] [http://www.castlewales.com/brecon.html] 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==
[[Image:Brecon.JPG|right|thumb|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 parks of England and Wales|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 [http://www.breconspeakers.org.uk/ 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_Training_Centre#Infantry_Battle_School_.28INFBS.29_Brecon|Infantry Battle School]] formerly [[Infantry Training Centre Wales]],<ref>[http://www.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/brigade_units/gurkha_demonstration_companies/brecon/index.htm Brecon<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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]].<ref>http://www.army.mod.uk/5div/organisation/160_wales_brigade/index.htm</ref>
== 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.
== Education ==
Brecon has many [[primary school]]s, with a [[secondary school]] and [[further education]] college ([[Coleg Powys]]) on the northern edge of the town. Due to Brecon being a [[rural]] area, [[bus]] trips of over an hour are not uncommon for pupils making their way to school. The town is also home to [[Christ College, Brecon|Christ College]], a private boarding school.
==Transport==
Brecon is located near where the [[A40 road|A40]] (Monmouth-Carmarthen-Fishgard) meets the [[A470 road|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|Talyllyn Junction]]
The three companies consolidated their stations at a newly rebuilt '''Free Street Joint Station''' from [[1871]]<ref>[http://history.powys.org.uk/school1/brecon/stations.shtml Victorian Brecon - railway stations<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Through services from the Midlands ceased in [[1930]], while services to Neath ceased in October [[1962]].
==Town twinning==
*{{flagicon|United States}} [[Saline, Michigan]]
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Blaubeuren]], [[Baden-Württemberg]]
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Gouesnou]], [[Brittany]]
*{{flagicon|Cornwall}} [[Wadebridge]], [[Cornwall]]
==Points of interest==
*[[Brecon Beacons]]
*[[Brecon Cathedral]], the seat of the [[Diocese of Swansea and Brecon]]
*[[Brecon Jazz Festival]]
*[[Brecon Museum]]
*[[South Wales Borderers Museum]]
*[[Theatr Brycheiniog]] (Brecon Theatre)
==Trivia==
*Brecon was the birthplace of [[Roger Glover]] and [[Sarah Siddons]].
*Brecon is also the birthplace of [[Thomas Coke (bishop)|Thomas Coke]], the first [[Methodist]] [[Bishop]], who previously had served as [[Mayor]] of Brecon in 1772.
*Brecon hosted the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales|National Eisteddfod]] in [[1889]].
*Brecon is a regular for the popular Indie music band [[The Automatic]]
brecon castle
==Additional photographs==
<gallery>
Image:Brecon shopping centre.jpg|<center>Brecon shopping centre</center>
Image:BreconCentre.jpg|<center>Main square in Brecon</center>
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
<!--{{coor title d|51.94677|N|3.39086|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SO045285)}}--><!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->
[[Category:Towns in Powys]]
[[Category:Welsh county towns]]
[[Category:Market towns in Wales]]
[[Category:Brecon]]
[[bg:Брекън]]
[[cy:Aberhonddu]]
[[de:Brecon]]
[[id:Brecon]]
[[no:Brecon]]
[[pl:Brecon]]
[[sv:Brecon]]