Newcastle Emlyn

This is an attractive little market town with a strong sense of community and surrounded by picturesque scenery. The main street has interesting shops which offers items to satisfy locals and visitors alike.

The Teifi Valley Steam Railway is to be found at of Henllan and there’s a tea room for refreshments, a souvenir shop; woodland theatre; woodland walks and other facilities to entertain adults and children alike.

Adequate car parking and disabled facilities are provided, plus toilets and a miniature railway.

The Cenarth Falls are two miles distant and if you take a walk along the riverbank you may see a salmon leap clear of the water. Visit the National Coracle Centre and learn about this ancient form of transport. The Old Smithy, last used in 1953 contains old smithy equipment and rural and cottage bygones. Gifts and locally made crafts are sold in the craft shop.

The derivation of the word Emlyn is uncertain, but it might have come from Emelinus - a Roman chieftain who may have been in some way connected to the site of the castle.

Only simple cottages were built alongside the river prior to the building of the castle by Meredith ap Rhys Gryg in 1240. A group of dwellings were constructed close to the castle to provide accommodation for the followers of Meredith, his dependants, traders and anyone else who sought his protection. This became known as Trecastell and there still remains an old stone cottage with a thatched roof to this day. Most of the newcomers were Anglo-Norman or English and they kept themselves apart from the Welsh tenants.

By the 14th century the population had increased significantly and Emlyn was made a borough by royal charter and became known as Newtown in Emlyn. Borough status meant exclusive rights to trade and exemption from some taxes.

A chapel was built, close to the castle enclosure, where castle residents and townspeople could worship. Town courts were held in a hall near the market place and dealt wqith cases concerning rent arrears, trespass and the conduct of the fairs.

The local lord owned a small forest and park in which red deer roamed. It was most likely known as Parc Nest and today Parc Nest farm carries the old name.

Due to the 1349 outbreak of the Black Death and the poverty and discontent, the town was no longer thought of as a borough.

When new Welsh Lords returned at the start of the 15th century, things began to improve.

The Tudor period saw the erection of a new town hall along with several thatched shops which were called King’s or Queen’s shops. This was the beginnings of a permanent market.

By the final years of the 17th century Newtown in Emlyn and Adpar had recovered its fortunes after the disastrous economic effects of the Civil War. The Industrial Revolution played a large part in the turnaround and was helped by the rich and fertile land in the area which meant that corn was available all the year round.

The improvement of the fairs which had begun to improve in the middle of the 18th century continued and by the start of the 19th century horses and cattle filled the streets from on the main fair days.

The increase in prosperity led to an upsurge in the numbers of inns and shops and soon better houses were built and a gradual improvement living standards ensued.