Llangunnor

 Places of Worship in Llangunnor:
 Llangain Parish Church
       Llangunnor Vicarage
       Llangunnor Road
       Llangunnor
       Carmarthen
       Dyfed
       SA31 2HY
 01267 236805

Llangunnor (Llan-Gynyr) - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
LLANGUNNOR (LLAN-GYNYR), a parish, comprising the Upper and Lower divisions, in the hundred of Kidwelly, union and county of Carmarthen, in South Wales, 1 mile (E.) from Carmarthen, on the roads to Llanelly, LlandiloVawr, &c.; containing 1229 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the river Towy, by which it is separated from the borough of Carmarthen. It is bounded on the north by the parish of Aberguilly, on the south by that of Llangain, on the east by the parishes of Llandarog and Llanarthney, and on the west by Carmarthen; and comprises, according to computation, 5770 acres, of which 1400 are arable, 4200 pasture, and 170 woodland, comprehending several species of fir, with oak, elm, ash, sycamore, hazel, &c. On the bank of the river is a ridge of elevated ground, at the eastern extremity of which stands the church, commanding a very fine view of the most interesting portion of the fertile and picturesque Vale of Towy. This beautiful prospect embraces Merlin's Hill on the left, and on the right the luxuriant woods of Middleton Hall, with an elegant tower, raised to the memory of Nelson, crowning one of the loftiest hills in the vale. Opposite to these are, Grongar Hill, and the abrupt eminence on which are the venerable ruins of Dryslwyn Castle, almost surrounded by a bold sweep of the river; and a little higher up in the vale is Dynevor Castle, embosomed in stately oaks, above which, in romantic grandeur rise the dilapidated towers of that once famous pile. The vale is studded on each side with handsome seats and villas, amongst which the newly-restored palace of the Bishop of St. David's, and the pleasing little village of Aberguilly, are conspicuous. The whole extent of country beyond Llandilo, through which the Towy pursues its winding course, lies open to the view, forming a grand combination of objects, and a continued succession of scenery of unrivalled beauty, terminated by the Black Mountains in the distance. The lands of the parish, with the exception of a small portion, are inclosed and cultivated; and the soil, though varied, is generally fertile, producing wheat, barley, oats, clover, and hay. The gentlemen's seats are, Mount-Pleasant, Mount-Hill Cottage, MyrtleHill, with several others. Lead-mines were formerly worked, but not with much success. The Carmarthen race-course is situated on the bank of the Towy, in the parish.

The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's books at £3, and endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty; present net income, £225; patron, the Bishop of St. David's; impropriator, the Rev. Sir E. H. G. Williams, Bart. The church, dedicated to St. Cynyr, is a neat edifice, and, though possessing no architectural details of importance, derives from its beautiful situation an interesting and romantic appearance. It was rebuilt about the year 1806, and, including the chancel, is seventy-two feet long and thirty-five broad, containing 312 sittings, all of which are free: there is a neat monument to the memory of Sir Richard Steele, who, for some time prior to his decease, lived in retirement in this vicinity, partly at Carmarthen, where he died and was buried, and partly at a farm in this parish, called Tŷ Gwyn, or the "white house," situated near the base of Llangunnor Hill. On that hill, within a short distance of the church, the incumbent has erected a commodious vicarage-house, which commands a fine view of the Vale of Towy. There are places of worship for Independents and Calvinistic Methodists, and five Sunday schools, one of which is in connexion with the Church. The parish participates in the benefit of Dr. Lawrence's and Mrs. Stephenson's distribution of blankets in Carmarthen.