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Llanegwad

Extract from Carmarthenshire Notes, by Arthur Mee

Extract from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, by S. Lewis, 1844

The Parish of Llanegwad is situated mid way between Carmarthen  and Llandeilo on the A40, the village itself being just off the highway. It comprises a small cluster of houses and farms and 100 years ago this was a thriving farming community supporting many trades. Since the Second World War the area, like so many others, has lost most of its shops but farming remains the largest local employer. Around 73 per cent of the population of the area are first language Welsh-speaking. School subjects are taught though the medium of Welsh up to year 4 when English is introduced as a teaching medium.

Llanegwad village has Medieval origins but surviving buildings indicate that its development belongs to the 18th and 19th centuries, with rapid development in the 20th century.

Nantgaredig and Pontargothi have a small core of 19th century buildings but are essentially late 20th century developments. The area like much of the Tywi Valley has a parkland feel. The low accessible hills to the north of the flood plain allowed for the development of an important east-west roadway along the Tywi valley, from the Roman to the modern period, represented by the A40(T). The modern settlements, except for Nantgaredig which developed around a railway station, tend to be located along this road.

The recorded archaeology of the area includes a range of sites from all periods. The majority of archaeological features relate to agricultural land-use but there are also two motte castles, of which Alltyferin was added to an Iron Age inland promontory fort, Bronze Age standing stones and a henge monument at Nantgaredig.

The two centres of Roman occupation nearest to what ultimately became Llanegwad, were the present towns of Carmarthen and Llandovery. The route Sarn Helen - traces of which can still be found today - between these two towns passed through what is the present parish of Llanegwad.

There are historical connections galore but little is to be seen at first glance. Relics of the Stone and Bronze Ages prove that man lived in Llanegwad in prehistoric times. The presence of fords in  the Parish was a determining factor in the establishment of an early settlement.

Standing stones can be found at several locations and a burial mound, with its urn, was disturbed when building the track for the railway from Carmarthen to Llandilo. One of the finest im­plements of the early Bronze Age in the county was found in the area.

There are four churches in the parish:

Llanegwad parish church: The first church of St. Egwad was built in a field close to the site of the present church.. This later church was built in the 10th or early 11th century. The site of the church suggests that it was erected on what was probably a pagan site. There are Parish Registers  dating from the early 18th century from which a wealth of information can be extracted. The church was rebuilt in the 1840s and is unlisted. Parts of the graveyard are overgrown and some of the older burial places are in a poor state of repair. Many of the older memorials are no longer readable due to weathering and erosion. There are several fine commemorative plaques inside the church. The tower was built to the memory of Margaret Bath, wife of Henry James Bath of Alltyferin. The church and tower has deteriorated over the years and the tower has been fenced off due to its dangerous state [2002]. Much of this deterioration can be traced to the poor workmanship of Victorian repairs.

Llanfynydd, built in the traditional style. The graveyard is, for the most part, well maintained and the building appears well preserved.

Holy Trinity – Built in the Gothic style and unique with its stained glass and wall decoration. The church was built by Henry James Bath who purchased lands in Carmarthenshire and built both the mansion called Alltyferin and Holy Trinity Church. He lived in Carmarthenshire from the time the house was completed in 1868 until his death in 1875. He was a member of the Church of England and a great friend to that Church – building the church on the Alltyferin estate which today is used for services throughout the year and serves as a Chapel of Ease to the parish church of Llanegwad. His widow, Margaret, continued to live at Alltyferin until 1885 and died at Oxford in 1902. The tower of Llanegwad Church was built to her memory. The church is in a good state of repair and it is hoped to undertake conservation work on the wall decorations

St John’s, Felingwm, built in 1901 is rather plain and quite small. The tiny graveyard is well maintained and most of the memorials are well-tended as one would expect with such a recent building.

Farmhouses are generally of 18th and 19th century date, stone built with slate roofs. Most are of two storeys and three bays, in the Georgian tradition, but larger examples are present. Associated with the bigger farmhouses are large ranges of farm buildings – often arranged in a semi-formal basis – reflecting the higher status of the holdings. Smaller farmhouses tend to have a smaller collection of farm buildings, often compacted into a single range.

The population of Llanegwad has settled around to 1,700, the majority of those of working age travelling to the larger towns for employment. There are bus services to Carmarthen and other places but in such a rural community the car is a must.

The Towy valley is a very beautiful area and forms an ideal base for the holidaymaker seeking solitude or as a central point from which to explore South West Wales.

Extract from Carmarthenshire Notes by Arthur Mee

Arthur Mee mentions Llanegwad several times:

Note: It is stated that the parish was divided into 8 hamlets (? townships) each of which possessed a small chapel.

These are said to have been

Egwad with the chapel near Cothi Bridge

Hernin with its chapel between the farms of Cefn Hernin and Twyn (for Hernin or Ernin, see Gould and Fisher Lives of British Saints II, 465) A chapel of St Gwynlliw is also said to have existed in this hamlet

Mynachdy - see above

Llechfraith. A spot at the confluence of the rivers Cloidach and Cothi is said to have been the site of a chapel

Llechgron. St Gwynlliw is said to have had a chapel here. He was the father of St Catwg, who is connected with Gwyddfa Gatw

Ystrad

Meiros

Llechyde. A chapel is traditionally said to have stood on the farm of Dol wyrdd (map 32 SW) where a field still known as Cae 'r ywen, ‘the field of yews.’ Some of the names have fallen into oblivion but the above will help to locate them

Extract from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, S. Lewis, 1844

LLANEGWAD (LLAN-EGWAD), a parish, in the union of Llandilo-Vawr, partly in the lower division of the hundred of CATHINOG, and partly in the higher division of that of ELVET, county of CARMARTHEN, SOUTH WALES, 7½ miles (W. by S.) from Llandilo-Vawr; containing 2,113 inhabitants.

This parish derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Egwad, who is said to have lived here in seclusion and devotional retirement, probably near the spot still called “Eisteddva Egwad,” where are the ruins of an ancient and very extensive mansion. The parish extends for nearly seven miles from north to south, and about four from east to west, and is intersected by the river Cothy, which falls into the Towy at this place.

The lands, which with the exception of a very small portion, are inclosed, [sic] are fertile, and in a good state of cultivation; and the village is pleasantly situated. Search was made by N. B. Jones, Esq., within the last few years, for copper-ore, of which a vein was discovered, but it dipped so considerably below the bed of the river as to render the working of it altogether impracticable. . .

There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Welsh and Wesleyan Methodists . . . A day school, containing 50 boys and 20 girls, is partly supported by endowment, and partly by voluntary contributions . . .

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