Flint Flintshire

Flint (Welsh: Y Fflint) is a town and community in Flintshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Dee. Edward I began to build Flint Castle in 1277, during his campaign to conquer Wales. The castle was the first of Edward I's 'iron ring' of royal castles to be built in Wales, and the design served as the basis for larger castles such as Harlech Castle and Rhuddlan Castle. As a consequence, it is the setting for Act III, Scene III of the Shakespeare play Richard II. The population of the community of Flint was 12,804, increasing to 12,953 at the 2011 census. The urban area including Holywell and Bagillt had a population of 26,442. In the census of 2011, 57.1% stated they had Welsh, or Welsh and other combined, identity. Many people in Flint have some knowledge of the Welsh language, although competence varies. Several retail businesses display information in Polish as well as in English and Welsh. The town has a unique accent, although it has arisen as a unique blending of speech patterns of residents of nearby Cheshire, Wirral, and wider Merseyside region.