Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Or: What, that isn't enough?

This small village in Northern Wales, at 58 letters, has the distinction of having one of the longest place-names in the world. Claims of another Welsh town at 66-letters, and an 85 character Maori name for a hill in New Zealand are also in competition for the title. Located on the island of Anglesey, it would have run the government a fortune in extra signage and irritated cartographers no end had it not come to be known as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, or Llanfair PG, a name much more hospitable to anyone not wanting his tongue sprained.

The railway station, happily, retains the full name, and is thus responsible for a great portion of the town's tourist trade.

What's In a Name?

Everything, if it's this one. Its approximate translation to English is as follows:

St. Mary's Church in a hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and St. Tysil's Church of the red cave

But if you're dying to have a go, try it like this:

Clan vire pulth gwinn gith gor gerrick win drob uth clan tay see lee oh go go gogch

This is an attempt at phonetic spelling, and I'm afraid I cannot vouch for its accuracy. Try first whilst among friends.

My! What A Fantastic Example of Ancient Culture and History!

Alternately, what a perfect instance of 19th Century bollocks, which is what it really is. During the 1860's, the village council cooked this up just so their town could have 'the longest name of a railway station in Great Britain,' thus not just putting the town on the map, but in fact, all over it.

One problem with a having a name such as this is that it apparently doesn't leave much room for having anything else. Apart from the necessities, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales, hasn't a lot to offer an outsider except the Welsh, alone for which the trip may be recommended.


This node reposted from one of the full city name, which I found out screws up softlinks because it's too long!

An unfortunate addendum to Llanfair PG's recent history--seventeen year old Matthew Hardman, art student, was sentenced on August 2, 2002 to twelve years in prison for cutting out the heart of his elderly neighbor and drinking her blood in a vampiric attempt to achieve immortality.

One should not attribute this to his being an art student. Llanfair PG's role in the crime has not been determined.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.