Kinmel Bay and Towyn

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 Location within Conwy
Population	8,460 (2011)
OS grid reference	SH9779
Community	Kinmel Bay and Towyn
Principal area	Conwy
Preserved county	Clwyd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	RHYL
Postcode district	LL18
Post town	ABERGELE
Postcode district	LL22
Dialling code	01745
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Clwyd West
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Clwyd West
List of places UK Wales Conwy 53.302°N 3.540°W / 53.302; -3.540 Map of the community

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.