Welsh Icons - Towns & Villages
Llangain

 

Llangain

 Back

 Previous

Next

Photos Wanted

Do you have any photographs of this location we can use on the site?
Please email them along with a description to [email protected].
They will remain your copyright and you will be credited as the photographer.

Llangain is a village in Carmarthenshire, West Wales, United Kingdom.

Location
Situated near the bank of the Afon Tywi, the parish extends from near Johnstown to Llansteffan in one direction and from Llangynog to the river in another and consists of very pleasant countryside with gentle hills reaching 350ft/105m (Trig Point) and stretches of woodlands. The parish encloses an area of almost 3,000 acres. Prehistory There are a few cromlechs or dolmens, the best examples being Meini Llwydion (Greystones) and Merlin's Quoits. They were communal burial places for family groups dating back to the Neolithic period (c.3000 BC).

Green Castle
Is a local landmark at the sharp bend on the B4312. The ruins of the impressive, late medieval residence still stand. It was never a castle but a residence built for the Reed family in the early 15th century and was in ruin in Elizabethan times. It is possible there had been some earthen fortification there at one time. Some believe this to be at Old Castle. Doubtless this would have been a motte and bailey. Until recent times ships used to lie at anchor below to off load onto lighter vessels for transport to Carmarthen.

Education
In 1846 the only school was a Sunday School. Llangain Board School was built in 1875 and officially opened in 1876 and was in use until superseded by the new school in 1977.

Church
The present church of St Cain was built in 1871. There is a beautiful tiled mural on either side of the altar in memory of the Gwyn family of Pilroath and Plas Cwrthir. An Elizabethan chalice is dated 1576.

Chapel
The congregational chapel is a prominent landmark within the parish. Originally built in 1835, it was rebuilt in 1865 and restored in 1915. The white building provided stabling for horses during chapel services. The loft served as the vestry.

Coedmor
Was built in 1968 for Mr and Mrs E.J.Williams, retired farmers of Penycoed. Coedmor Avenue is named in recognition of their ownership of the land and the family's continuing local connection.

Bwthyn-y-Felin
An old woollen mill which employed four full-time workers in its heyday. Llangain Mill / Factory closed in the 1940s.

Llwyndu
Llwyndu mansion was built in the first half of the 19th century. In 1821-1823 Captain Henry Harding lived there and it was afterwards the home of Frederick Philipps, JP. In 1906 the owner was Charles Bankes Davies. It has an upper and lower lodge. The original name for the upper lodge The Beeches, was Chweched meaning Sixth, indicating the six lanes.

Pilroath
Pilroath mansion is situated at the southern end of the parish above the confluence of the Rhoth Brook and the Afon Tywi. In 1902 the property was purchased by T J Harries, Esq. who built the present mansion. The property was occupied by the Harries family for three generations and owned until 1994 by County Cllr Arthur Harries, CBE, JP, MRCVS. The courtyard and outbuildings are now being adapted into a production base where films and TV programmes reflecting local life can be made.

Fernhill
A manor house dating back to 1723 and listed as a grade II building for its architectural and historic connection. Famous as a frequent childhood holiday retreat of the world renowned poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), it became immortalised in one of his best-known poems, Fernhill. Fernhill is also known for its association with the notorious county hangman, Robert Rickets Evans who lived there at the turn of the century. His daughter was heiress to a fortune. He imprisoned her in a cell in the courtyard (which can still be seen today) to gain her fortune, but her lover helped her to escape, according to folklore.

Pantydderwen
Was a small cottage originally and once housed the Post Office and local sweet shop. It became a public house c.1979. The golf course opened in 1993.

Pantyrathro
Pantyrathro mansion was built by James Richards in the early 1800s. It was developed as a direct result of selling local milk products to London with the coming of the railway to Carmarthen. It became the local hotel in 1970.


 Pubs/Bars in Llangain:
 Wern Inn
       Llangain
       Carmarthenshire
       SA33 5BA
 01267241678


 Hotels in Llangain:
 The Mansion House Hotel
       Llangain
       Carmarthen
       Dyfed
       SA33 5AJ
 01267 241515


 Restaurants in Llangain:
 Tafarn Pantydderwen
       Llangain
       Carmarthen
       Dyfed
       SA33 5AE
 01267 241560


 Sailing in Llangain:
 Towy Boat Club
       Llangain
       Carmarthen
       Dyfed
       SA33 5AJ
 01267 241755


 Schools/Colleges in Llangain:
 Llangain C.P. School (Primary)
       Llangain
       Carmarthenshire
       SA33 5AE
 01267 241478


Llangain (Llan-Gain) - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
LLANGAIN (LLAN-GAIN), a parish, in the Higher division of the hundred of Derllŷs, union and county of Carmarthen, South Wales, 4 miles (S. S. W.) from Carmarthen; containing 403 inhabitants. This parish is beautifully situated on the north bank of the river Towy, which is here navigable for vessels of considerable burthen; and comprises a large extent of arable and pasture land, inclosed and in a good state of cultivation. The soil is extremely favourable for the growth of corn, of which great quantities are raised of a quality not surpassed in any other part of the principality. The scenery is richly diversified, the views comprehending a portion of the beautiful Vale of Towy, with the ivy-mantled ruins of Green Castle overhanging the river, and other picturesque and pleasing features. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty; net income, £85; patron and impropriator, F. Bludworth, Esq., whose tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £55. 18. The church, dedicated to St. Synin, is a neat edifice, occupying the summit of a lofty eminence, which commands varied and extensive prospects over the surrounding country and the bay of Carmarthen. There is a place of worship for Independents, in which also a Sunday school is held. Leland, describing the remains of Green Castle, says, "four miles from Llanstephan, on the same ripe, is a place or cliffe called Green Castle, where ships used to lie at anchor;" to which Camden adds, "it is also called Castle Mole, and supposed to be the Humphreys Castle of Dr. Powel, and built by Uchtred, Prince of Merioneth, A. D. 1138."



 

[Home] [Artists] [Arts & Crafts] [Buildings] [Entertainers] [Events] [Famous Welsh] [Food & Drink] [Journalists] [Musicians] [Places] [Politicians] [Products] [Songs] [Sport] [Symbols] [Writers] [Welsh Info] [Welsh Produce] [About Us] [Vox Pop] [Our Sponsors] [Contact Us] [Facebook Fans] [Welsh News] [Welsh Shop]

All copyrights acknowledged with thanks to Wikipedia. Another site by 3Cat Design 2006-2010
Whilst we try to give accurate information, we accept no liability for loss or incorrect information listed on this site or from material embedded
on this site from external sources such as YouTube.
If you do spot a mistake, please let us know. Email: [email protected]

This Space
could be YOURS
From Just £10
a Month

Click Here to
Find Out More

Help us to keep
this Site up and running

 


Welsh News


Join us on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter

 

 

Key

Bold Red
Internal Link
Red
External Link

                 Admission Charges
                 Address
                 Arts/Galleries
                 Buses
                 B&B’s/Guest Houses
                 Campsites/Caravans
                 Castles
                 Credit Cards
                 Cricket
                 Disabled Facilities
                 Email
                 Farmers Markets
                 Fax
                 Film
                 Food
                 Football
                 Parks/Gardens
                 Golf
                 Historic Houses
                 Hotels
                 Libraries
                 Museums
                 Opening Hours
                 Places of Worship
                 Pubs/Bars
                 Rugby
                 Shops/Gifts
                 Taxis:
                 Telephone No.
                 Theatres
                 Tourist Information
                 Trains
                 Vets
                 Web Address
                 Welsh Produce
                 Youth Hostels
                 llustration(s) or photograph(s) viewable Illustration(s) or photograph(s)

 

Please help us to keep this site
running as a free resource