In 2011 the village had a population of 196 in 76 households (29 household spaces had no usual residents); over 79% of the population were able to speak Welsh.[1] It has one of the smallest populations of any Welsh community, the smallest being Ganllwyd. It is in the electoral ward of Uwch Conwy.
Toponym
The village was originally known as Dôl Gynwal (Welsh for 'Cynwal's meadow') until the late 13th Century. Its name became Ysbyty Ifan when the Knights of St John, the Order of Hospitallers established a hospital to care for pilgrims who were visiting holy sites throughout North Wales (see: North Wales Pilgrim's Way). Ysbyty Ifan means "hospital of St John".[4]
The poet William Cynwal was buried in Ysbyty Ifan in about 1588. He was a disciple of Gruffudd Hiraethog and took part in the second Caerwyseisteddfod in 1568.[7]
Ysbyty Ifan has a primary school with two classrooms and a cafeteria. The village also has a rugby union pitch with a children's playground.
The Ysbyty Ifan Estate is the largest single estate looked after by the National Trust. The area of the estate is over 8,000 hectares and includes moorland, river valleys and hill farms. The Migneint is an area of moorland and bog designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[10] The Trust is responsible for a number of holiday cottages within the estate including Foel-Gopyn, which is off the grid.
There are also a number of other places of interest near Ysbyty Ifan,[10] so the area attracts a large number of visitors including walkers,[11] especially during the summer months.
Abraham Lincoln's great, great-grandfather, John Morris, lived in Bryn Gwyn, a farmhouse in Ysbyty Ifan which is now derelict. His daughter emigrated to Pennsylvania in the United States with a group of Quakers in the 17th century.[13]
Orig Williams, notable independent wrestling promoter and host of long-running Welsh wrestling show Reslo, was born in Ysbyty Ifan, with a plaque erected in his memory.[14]
Siôn Dafydd Berson (c.1675-1769), poet, clog maker and lay reader, was buried in Ysbyty Ifan cemetery in 1769. Dafydd is mainly remembered as the person who taught Twm o'r Nant to read and write.[15] The inscription on his grave, by Twm o'r Nant, says "Galar, i'r ddaear ddu - aeth athraw..." (Oh grief, into the black earth - goes the teacher...)
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