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Around Carmarthenshire

Kidwelly

Parish Church    Kidwelly Industrial Museum    The Quay & Kymer's Canal

Capel Sul    Sustrans Cycle Track   Potted History

Kidwelly Castle

Kidwelly is a coastal town, situated on an estuary and surrounded by rolling countryside. Its Norman castle overlooks the River Gwendraeth and is one of the finest in Wales. The castle is open to visitors for most of the year.

The town has few shops to entice the visitor but the views from natural coves and the woodland landscape make the town worth visiting. The area is steeped in history and myths and legends abound.

Built circa 1320 as a Benedictine Priory before the Reformation it has a simple tower with a graceful spire - deemed to be the most outstanding architectural feature of the whole structure. An effigy of the Madonna and the Infant Saviour fashioned from white alabaster seen on a corbel on the east wall of the church. The church is open to visitors daily and further information can be found in an information leaflet available at the Church.

The Cold Roll Engine Room at Kidwelly Industrial Museum

A mile north of the town and situated on the banks of the Gwendraeth Fach river the Museum stands on the site of a former Tinplate Works established which was established in 1737. The Museum was founded mainly to preserve and interpret Britain’s sole surviving pack mill and act as a heritage centre for Kidwelly and the surrounding area. Mechanical relics covering a wide range of subjects including coal, printing, industrial transport and the history and development of the area can be found on the site.
Videos supplement exhibits, there’s a play area, bilingual activity sheets and quizzes for children.
The Museum is open Easter, Mayday and throughout June to August from 10am to 5pm and from 2pm to 5pm on weekends. Opening times can be confirmed by telephoning 01554 891078 prior to your visit. Entry is Free.

Thomas Kymer constructed a three-mile long canal and dock on the Gwendraeth river between 1766 and 1788, to transport coal from his pits near Carway. A substantial length of this historic canal has been excavated and a section of the old quay has been reconstructed.
Walk along the canal banks and enjoy a your lunch at the picnic areas provided.

This was once a large town house known as Rumsey House, built in 1862, but is now a Welsh Congregational Chapel. During World War I the house was occupied by Harold Greenwood, a solicitor accused of killing his wife by arsenical poisoning. The case provoked national interest and Greenwood was defended by the famous Counsel Marshall Hall and acquitted.

Sustrans Cycle Track and Public Footpaths

Kidwelly offers over 10 miles of public footpaths including four planned walks - The Kymers Quay Walk, The Cunedda Way, The Old Forge Walk and The Mynyddygarreg Walk. The Sustrans Cycle Track is available to Kidwelly and is being extended to Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

The town was founded circa 1115, received its Royal Charter from Henry I and was established as a borough – one of the oldest in Wales.
The first townspeople were English, French and Flemish immigrants, traders and agriculturalists that were integrated to consolidate the Norman hold on the district. The castle and the town were attacked and devastated several times by the zealous Welsh.
By the end of the 13th Century the inner town was defended by great walls and gateways. During the 14th century the town prospered became one of the busiest trading and commercial centres in South Wales.

The Gwendraeth Estuary began to silt up in the 16th century and during the 18th century the town went into decline. In the 19th century with the export of coal from the Gwendraeth Fawr Kidwelly’s fortunes were reversed.
A Tinplate Works was established in 1737, the second earliest works Wales.

Between 1766 and 1768 Thomas Kymer built a three-mile long canal and docks, linking
linking his coal pits with the coast.
The Victorian era saw continued prosperity and during this period the Gothic-style Town Hall was built.

The battlefield of Maes Gwenllian (Gwenllian's Field), lies a mile north of Kidwelly and commemorates a woman who led a Welsh army against the Normans.

The battle followed the death of King Henry I in December 1135, when the Welsh revolted against foreign rule and threatened a national uprising.

An army was raised in West Brycheiniog (Breconshire) and attacked the Anglo-Norman settlements in Gower. The battle fought between Loughor and Swansea resulted in a crushing victory for the Welsh and 500 Normans were killed.

The ruler of the Deheubarth (South), Gruffydd ap Rhys, saw the prospect of expelling all foreigners from his Kingdom. He rode north to Gwynedd to seek reinforcements, but while he was away Maurice de Londres, Lord of Kidwelly decided to counter-attack.

Gwenllian (wife of Gruffydd ap Rhys) led a Welsh army to attack the town and castle and at Maes Gwenllian, she was attacked by the forces of Maurice de Londres and utterly defeated.
Gwenllian and her son Morgan were killed and another son, Maelgwn, taken prisoner. Legend says Gwenllian was decapitated and her headless phantom never found rest until someone searched the ancient battlefield and returned her skull to her grave.

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