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]]