important dates

c530 Deiniol builds his first cell

c546 Deiniol consecrated Bishop and his church becomes a cathedral

547 Death of Maelgwn, King of Gwynedd

c572 Death of Deiniol

[634] Bangor sacked (according to The Annals of Ulster)  

1073 Vikings robbed and burnt the Cathedral

c1100 Gruffudd ap Cynan regained Gwynedd  

c1130 Gruffudd and Bishop David rebuilt the Cathedral  

1211 Cathedral destroyed by King John's men  

c1275 South transept completed  

c1300 East end and north transept completed. Small Lady Chapel added

1309 Central tower burnt down

1300+ Nave extended to present size

1402 Parts of the Cathedral destroyed during the Glyndwr revolt

1480 Rebuilding begun in earnest

1510+ Present arcade and clerestory built

1532 Western tower completed

1870-80 Restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott

1966 Central tower raised, with pyramidical cap

1987 Major restoration of outside stonework and roofs begun, and continuing

history

About the year 530AD a man of noble birth named Deiniol settled on this site.

Having been given land, probably by Maelgwn, King of Gwynedd, he enclosed it with a fence constructed by driving poles into the ground and weaving branches in between them. The native technical term for this type of fence was 'bangor'. Within this enclosure Deiniol built his church.

He and his followers erected huts or cells in which to live. They were missionaries, going about to evangelise and encouraging others to join them. All who came, individuals and families, built their own dwelling places and all would worship together in the little church. Thus a Celtic monastery or Clas was formed.

As sometimes happens, the word 'bangor' was transferred from the original object - in this case the fence - to that closely associated with it - the settlement within. That is how Bangor got its name.