A tiny area in North Wales which is ‘hardly big enough to be a village’ took decades to finally be granted the official status – despite locals always referring to their home as a city.
St Asaph, which has a population of around 3,500 people, has been known as a city for more than one hundred years and was referenced as such in the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica.
It even has a plaque on St Asaph Cathedral wall boasting about the placement of street lamps “of this city” back in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee.
But in the 1970s residents here were shocked to learn that there were no city deeds or a charter.
It wasn’t until 2012 that St Asaph had its title confirmed as part of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
At the time of obtaining city status, the city’s mayor Andrew Thomas said: “We always thought we were a city – we even taught our schoolchildren that – but now we have it officially.”
The city was finally awarded its official status because of its “rich history, cultural contribution” and as a “hub for technology, commerce and business”, the government said.
Not everybody was happy with St Asaph’s city status, however.
Nearby residents at neighbouring Wrexham, who weren’t conferred city status until ten years later in 2022, fumed at the time.
In 2012, Wrexham had a population of 135,000 and spent around £20,000 readying itself up for its bid for jubilee city status.
Meanwhile, St Asaph spent just £300.
The city is home to the William Morgan bible, often praised for keeping the native Welsh language alive.
It’s also known for its music festival, launched by the cathedral’s organist William Mathias in 1972, which takes place every September at the cathedral.
The decades-old festival features performances by local and international artists, as well as workshops and masterclasses.
Houses in Asaph cost an average of just under £300,000, according to Rightmove.
Express.co.uk found a quaint beautiful three-bedroom terrace house in the city for £195,000.
The same year it was given city status, St Asaph was ravaged by floods after the banks of the river Elwy were broken, prompting a visit from the then Prince Charles. Residents in up to 500 homes were advised to leave through fear for their safety.
