market town, Gwynedd county, historic county of Merioneth (Meirionnydd), Wales, in Snowdonia National Park at the northern end of mountain-girt Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid), the largest natural lake in Wales. The town was founded under a charter of 1324. In the 18th century it became famous both for its knitted stockings and for its huge Methodist revival meetings; it was the home of the Methodist preacher and organizer Thomas Charles (Charles, Thomas). The town has remained small, though it enjoys a thriving tourist trade. The lake offers facilities for angling and yachting. Pop. (2001) 1,980.