| Revision as of 22:34, 22 August 2021 editPrimeBOT (talk | contribs)Bots2,065,232 editsm Task 30: removal of infobox params following a discussionTag: AWB← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 21:05, 6 January 2025 edit undoStortford (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users9,339 edits →Governance: add administrative history | ||
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| {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} | ||
| {{Infobox UK place | {{Infobox UK place | ||
| | country |
| country = Wales | ||
| | official_name |
| official_name = Llandovery | ||
| | welsh_name |
| welsh_name = Llanymddyfri | ||
| | static_image_name |
| static_image_name = Llandovery, Carmarthenshire.jpg | ||
| | static_image_caption |
| static_image_caption = Monument to ] at Llandovery | ||
| | static_image_2_name = ] | |||
| | map_type = | |||
| | static_image_2_caption = Flag | |||
| ⚫ | | coordinates |
||
| | map_type = | |||
| ⚫ | | label_position |
||
| ⚫ | | coordinates = {{coord|51|59|45|N|3|47|50|W|display=inline,title}} | ||
| ⚫ | | os_grid_reference |
||
| ⚫ | | label_position = left | ||
| ⚫ | | population |
||
| ⚫ | | os_grid_reference = SN763346 | ||
| | population_ref = (2011)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11125832&c=SA20+0DX&d=16&e=62&g=6492257&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1429108118049&enc=1 |title=Community population 2011 |access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | | population = 1,985 | ||
| ⚫ | | community_wales |
||
| | population_ref = (Community, 2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Llandovery community |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/admin/carmarthenshire/W04000514__llandovery/ |website=City Population |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | | unitary_wales |
||
| ⚫ | | community_wales = Llandovery | ||
| ⚫ | | lieutenancy_wales |
||
| ⚫ | | unitary_wales = ] | ||
| ⚫ | | constituency_westminster |
||
| ⚫ | | lieutenancy_wales = ] | ||
| ⚫ | | constituency_westminster = ] | ||
| | constituency_welsh_assembly = ] | | constituency_welsh_assembly = ] | ||
| | post_town |
| post_town = LLANDOVERY | ||
| | postcode_district |
| postcode_district = SA20 | ||
| | postcode_area |
| postcode_area = SA | ||
| | dial_code |
| dial_code = 01550 | ||
| | module= ]<br />Map of the community | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Llandovery''' ({{IPAc-en|l|æ|n|ˈ|d|ʌ|v| |
'''Llandovery''' ({{IPAc-en|l|æ|n|ˈ|d|ʌ|v|r|i}}; {{langx|cy|Llanymddyfri}}; {{IPA|cy|ɬanəmˈðəvrɪ|audio=LL-Q9309 (cym)-Jason.nlw-Llanymddyfri.wav}}) is a ] and ] in ], ]. It lies on the ] and at the junction of the ] and ] roads, about {{convert|25|mi|km}} north-east of ], {{convert|27|mi|km}} north of ] and {{convert|21|mi|km}} west of ]. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| ===Etymology=== | ===Etymology=== | ||
| The name of the town derives from ''{{lang|cy|Llan ymlith y dyfroedd}}'', meaning "church enclosure amid the waters", i. |
The name of the town derives from ''{{lang|cy|Llan ymlith y dyfroedd}}'', meaning "church enclosure amid the waters", i.e. between the Tywi and the ] just upstream of their confluence. A smaller watercourse, the Bawddwr, runs through and under the town. | ||
| ===Roman legacy=== | ===Roman legacy=== | ||
| Line 43: | Line 46: | ||
| The design of the statue, by Toby and Gideon Petersen, was chosen after a national competition. It was funded by the National Lottery and the ]. | The design of the statue, by Toby and Gideon Petersen, was chosen after a national competition. It was funded by the National Lottery and the ]. | ||
| ===Other |
===Other history=== | ||
| According to folklore, the ] practised in the area in the 13th century. | According to folklore, the ] practised in the area in the 13th century. | ||
| The Bank of the Black Ox, one of the first Welsh banks, was established by a wealthy ]. The original bank building was part of the |
The Bank of the Black Ox, one of the first Welsh banks, was established by a wealthy ]. The original bank building was part of the King's Head Inn. It later became part of ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.llandoveryhistorysociety.wales/virtual-exhibitions/notable-people/david-jones-his-family-and-the-history-of-banking/ |title=David Jones, his family and the history of Banking |publisher=Llandovery History Society |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | The population in 1841 was 1,709.<ref>''The Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge'' Vol. III, London (1847), Charles Knight, p. 1,013.</ref> | ||
| ==Buildings== | ==Buildings== | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| The town has a theatre (Llandovery Theatre), a ], a private school (]) and a tourist information and heritage centre, which houses exhibitions on the Tonn Press, the area's droving history, and the 19th-century geologist ], whose work here resulted in the name "]" being given to rocks of a certain age across the world. The Llandovery epoch is the earliest in the ] period of geological time. | The town has a theatre (Llandovery Theatre), a ], a private school (]) and a tourist information and heritage centre, which houses exhibitions on the Tonn Press, the area's droving history, and the 19th-century geologist ], whose work here resulted in the name "]" being given to rocks of a certain age across the world. The Llandovery epoch is the earliest in the ] period of geological time. | ||
| In the small central market place stands Llandovery Town Hall (1857–1858) by the architect Richard Kyke Penson. This |
In the small central market place stands ] (1857–1858) by the architect Richard Kyke Penson. This was designed in the ] with a courtroom over an open market. Behind are police cells with iron grilles; entry to the old courtroom (now a library) is via a door on the ground floor of the tower.<ref>T. Lloyd, et al, ''Buildings of Wales: Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion'', 2006, p. 258.</ref> | ||
| ] | |||
| The 12th-century ] ] in the north of the town is among the largest medieval churches in Carmarthenshire.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-10967-church-of-st-mary-llandovery |title=Church of St Mary, Llandovery |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=19 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/103828/details |title=St Mary's Church |work=Coflein Database Record |publisher=] |access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> | |||
| There are two medieval churches in Llandovery: the 14th-century St Dingat's to the west of the town centre, and the 12th-century ] on the northern outskirts of the town. St Dingat's is a ] building, and one of the largest medieval churches in Carmarthenshire. It stands on a site which appears to have been in religious use since pre-Norman times.<ref>{{cite web |title=St Dingat, Llandingat, Carmarthenshire |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/discovery/projects/churches/st-dingat-llandingat-carmarthenshire/ |website=Heneb |publisher=Dyfed Archaeology |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=St Dingat's Church, Llandovery |url=https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/104065?term=dingat |website=Coflein |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> St Mary's is a ] building and was formerly the parish church for the neighbouring parish of ], despite not being within that parish's boundaries. It subsequently became a ] to St Dingat's in 1883 after a new church for Llanfair-ar-y-bryn was built within the parish boundaries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-10967-church-of-st-mary-llandovery |title=Church of St Mary, Llandovery |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=19 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Coflein|num=103828|desc=St Mary's Church, Llanfair ar y Bryn|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=St Mary, Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn, Carmarthenshire |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/discovery/projects/churches/st-mary-llanfair-ar-y-bryn-carmarthenshire/ |website=Heneb |publisher=Dyfed Archaeology |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> | |||
| The ] in Stryd y Bont was built as a memorial to the hymnist ]. | The ] in Stryd y Bont was built as a memorial to the hymnist ]. | ||
| ⚫ | The population in 1841 was 1,709.<ref>''The Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge'' Vol. III, London (1847), Charles Knight, p. 1,013.</ref> | ||
| ==Education== | ==Education== | ||
| Line 73: | Line 76: | ||
| ==Governance== | ==Governance== | ||
| ⚫ | ]]] | ||
| An ] of the same name exists. This covers Llandovery and stretches to the north. The total ward population taken at the 2011 Census was 2,689.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/llandovery-w05000485#sthash.NRLQb09y.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011 |access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref> The community is bordered by those of ], ], ], and ], all being in Carmarthenshire. {{As of|May 2019}}, the mayor of Llandovery is Councillor Louise Wride. | |||
| There are two tiers of local government covering Llandovery, at ] (town) and ] level: Llandovery Town Council (Cyngor Tref Llanymddyfri) and ] (Cyngor Sir Gâr). The town council meets at the Town Hall in the Market Square.<ref>{{cite web |title=Calendar |url=https://llandoverytowncouncil.org.uk/calendar/ |website=Llandovery Town Council |access-date=6 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419125922/https://llandoverytowncouncil.org.uk/calendar/ |archive-date=19 April 2024}}</ref> | |||
| The community is bordered by those of ], ], ], and ], all being in Carmarthenshire.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> | |||
| Llandovery is ] with ] in ], France. | Llandovery is ] with ] in ], France. | ||
| ===Administrative history=== | |||
| Llandovery historically formed part of the parish of Llandingat. Llandovery was the main settlement in the parish, which was named after its parish church of St Dingat's. The parish included surrounding rural areas as well as Llandovery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Llandingad Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10085548 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> Llandovery appears to have been an ], although its earliest known ] was not issued until 1485 by ]. The borough covered the central part of Llandingat parish, including St Dingat's church.<ref>{{cite book |title=First Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Part 1 |date=1835 |page=301 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/First_Report_of_the_Commissioners_Appoin/7pNRAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA1-PA301&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> | |||
| The borough was reformed to become a ] in 1836 under the ], which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country.<ref>{{cite book |title=Municipal Corporations Act |date=1835 |page=463 |url=https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk35britgoog/page/462/mode/2up |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> The ] directed that ]es could no longer straddle borough boundaries, and so Llandingat parish was split into a Llandingat Within parish covering the same area as the borough of Llandovery, and a Llandingat Without parish covering the areas outside the borough.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carmarthenshire: Diagram showing administrative boundaries, 1971 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/241241707 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> | |||
| The borough of Llandovery was abolished in 1974 under the ]. A community called Llandovery was created instead, covering the area of the abolished borough, with its community council taking the name Llandovery Town Council. District-level functions passed to ]. Carmarthenshire County Council was abolished as part of the same reforms, with county-level functions passing to the new ].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=6 October 2022}}</ref> Dinefwr and Dyfed were both abolished in 1996 and their councils' functions passed to a re-established Carmarthenshire County Council.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=19|accessdate=9 October 2022}}</ref> Llandingat Without also became a community under the 1974 reforms; it was abolished in 1987 and split between the community of Llandovery and other neighbouring communities.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Langston |first1=Brett |title=Carmarthen Registration District |url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/carmarthen.html |website=UK BMD |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> | |||
| ==Transport== | ==Transport== | ||
| Line 87: | Line 100: | ||
| *] (1579–1644), Welsh-language poet (''Cannwyll y Cymry'' – The Welshman's Candle) and ] Vicar of Llandovery<ref></ref> | *] (1579–1644), Welsh-language poet (''Cannwyll y Cymry'' – The Welshman's Candle) and ] Vicar of Llandovery<ref></ref> | ||
| *] (1717–1791), highly regarded hymnist and prose writer associated with the ]<ref>[Glyn Tegai Hughes, Meic Stephens and R. Brinley Jones, eds, ''Writers of Wales – Williams Pantycelyn, University Press of Wales on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council'', 1983.</ref> | *] (1717–1791), highly regarded hymnist and prose writer associated with the ]<ref>[Glyn Tegai Hughes, Meic Stephens and R. Brinley Jones, eds, ''Writers of Wales – Williams Pantycelyn, University Press of Wales on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council'', 1983.</ref> | ||
| *] (1744–1804), Welsh Unitarian minister, schoolmaster and writer | |||
| ⚫ | *] (1804–1839), Anglican priest, fellow of ], lecturer at ] and Chaplain to the ]<ref>Selwyn Jones |
||
| *] (1765–1816), Welsh barrister known as "the Welsh Freeholder"; came from Bwlchygwynt | |||
| ⚫ | *] (1806–1851), Welsh-language poet, writer and printer<ref> |
||
| *] (1801–1880), Welsh mineralogist, helped found modern ]; born at Velindre | |||
| ⚫ | *] (1804–1839), Anglican priest, fellow of ], lecturer at ] and Chaplain to the ]<ref>{{Cite DWB|first=Selwyn |last=Jones |title=Rees, Rice (1804–1839), cleric and scholar |id=s-REES-RIC-1804}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | *] (1806–1851), Welsh-language poet, writer and printer<ref>{{Cite DWB|id=s-SAUN-WIL-1806 |title=Saunders, William (1806 - 1851), poet and writer |access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref> | ||
| *] (1810–1869), banker and ] ] ]<ref>Election intelligence in ''The Times'', 2 April 1857; 11 April 1859.</ref><ref></ref> | *] (1810–1869), banker and ] ] ]<ref>Election intelligence in ''The Times'', 2 April 1857; 11 April 1859.</ref><ref></ref> | ||
| *] (1812–1886), banker and Carmarthenshire Conservative MP<ref>"The General Election", ''Western Mail'', Cardiff, 10 March 1880.</ref><ref></ref><ref>"Sudden Death of Mr Jones, Bluenose, Llandovery", ''Weekly Mail'', 6 March 1886, p. 7.</ref> | *] (1812–1886), banker and Carmarthenshire Conservative MP<ref>"The General Election", ''Western Mail'', Cardiff, 10 March 1880.</ref><ref></ref><ref>"Sudden Death of Mr Jones, Bluenose, Llandovery", ''Weekly Mail'', 6 March 1886, p. 7.</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | *] (1871–1941), solicitor and landowner<ref>Obituary, '']'', 18 March 1941.</ref> | ||
| === Sport === | |||
| *] (1858–1932), solicitor, Town Clerk of ], rugby union player for Wales and golfer<ref>David Watkins, 2008, ''Sporting Highlights of Merthyr Tydfil'', Merthyr Tydfil: TCC Books. {{ISBN|0-9539376-6-6}}.</ref> | *] (1858–1932), solicitor, Town Clerk of ], rugby union player for Wales and golfer<ref>David Watkins, 2008, ''Sporting Highlights of Merthyr Tydfil'', Merthyr Tydfil: TCC Books. {{ISBN|0-9539376-6-6}}.</ref> | ||
| *] (1859–1925), physician and rugby union player for Wales<ref>David Smith and Gareth Williams, 1980, ''Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union''. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. {{ISBN|0-7083-0766-3}}, pp. 40 and 57.</ref> | *] (1859–1925), physician and rugby union player for Wales<ref>David Smith and Gareth Williams, 1980, ''Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union''. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. {{ISBN|0-7083-0766-3}}, pp. 40 and 57.</ref> | ||
| *] (1870–1932), rugby union player for Wales, and schoolmaster in England and India<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=31830&includeref=dynamic|title=Conway Rees|work=WRU Searchable Player Archive|publisher=]|access-date=13 May 2008}}</ref> | *] (1870–1932), rugby union player for Wales, and schoolmaster in England and India<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=31830&includeref=dynamic|title=Conway Rees|work=WRU Searchable Player Archive|publisher=]|access-date=13 May 2008}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | *] (1871–1941), solicitor and landowner<ref>Obituary, '']'', 18 March 1941.</ref> | ||
| *] (1964–1997), farmer and rugby union player for Wales<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carwyn Davies - Wales |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/wales/rugby/player/10500.html |publisher=ESPN.co.uk |access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref> | *] (1964–1997), farmer and rugby union player for Wales<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carwyn Davies - Wales |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/wales/rugby/player/10500.html |publisher=ESPN.co.uk |access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref> | ||
| *] (born 1987), rugby union player for Wales | *] (born 1987), rugby union player for Wales | ||
Latest revision as of 21:05, 6 January 2025
Market town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales For the geological time period, see Llandovery epoch.Human settlement in Wales
Llandovery
| |
|---|---|
 Monument to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan at Llandovery | |
 Flag | |
  LlandoveryLocation within Carmarthenshire | |
| Population | 1,985 (Community, 2021) |
| OS grid reference | SN763346 |
| Community |
|
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LLANDOVERY |
| Postcode district | SA20 |
| Dialling code | 01550 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
51°59′45″N 3°47′50″W / 51.99583°N 3.79722°W / 51.99583; -3.79722  Map of the community | |
Llandovery (/lænˈdʌvri/; Welsh: Llanymddyfri; Welsh pronunciation: [ɬanəmˈðəvrɪ] ) is a market town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It lies on the River Tywi and at the junction of the A40 and A483 roads, about 25 miles (40 km) north-east of Carmarthen, 27 miles (43 km) north of Swansea and 21 miles (34 km) west of Brecon.
History
Etymology
The name of the town derives from Llan ymlith y dyfroedd, meaning "church enclosure amid the waters", i.e. between the Tywi and the Afon Brân just upstream of their confluence. A smaller watercourse, the Bawddwr, runs through and under the town.
Roman legacy
The Roman fort at Llanfair Hill to the north-east of the modern town was known to the Romans as Alabum. It was built around AD 50–60 as part of a strategy for the conquest of Wales. A Roman road heads across Mynydd Bach Trecastell to the south-east of Llandovery bound for the fort of Brecon Gaer. Another heads down the Towy valley for Carmarthen, whilst a third makes for the goldmines at Dolaucothi.
Norman and medieval castle
Attractions in the town include the remains of the Norman Llandovery Castle, built in 1110. It was almost immediately captured by the Welsh and changed hands between them and the Normans until the reign of King Edward I of England in the late 13th century. The castle was used by King Henry IV while on a sortie into Wales, when he executed Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan in the market place. It was later attacked by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr in 1403.
Welsh hero
A 16-foot-high (4.9 m) stainless-steel statue to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan was unveiled in 2001 on the north side of Llandovery Castle, overlooking the place of his execution 600 years earlier. He had led the army of King Henry IV on a "wild goose chase", under the pretence of leading them to a secret rebel camp and an ambush of Glyndŵr's forces. King Henry lost patience with him, exposed the charade and had him half hanged, disembowelled in front of his own eyes, beheaded and quartered – the quarters salted and dispatched to other Welsh towns for public display.
The design of the statue, by Toby and Gideon Petersen, was chosen after a national competition. It was funded by the National Lottery and the Arts Council of Wales.
Other history
According to folklore, the Physicians of Myddfai practised in the area in the 13th century.
The Bank of the Black Ox, one of the first Welsh banks, was established by a wealthy cattle drover. The original bank building was part of the King's Head Inn. It later became part of Lloyds Bank.
The population in 1841 was 1,709.
Buildings
The town has a theatre (Llandovery Theatre), a heritage centre, a private school (Llandovery College) and a tourist information and heritage centre, which houses exhibitions on the Tonn Press, the area's droving history, and the 19th-century geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, whose work here resulted in the name "Llandovery" being given to rocks of a certain age across the world. The Llandovery epoch is the earliest in the Silurian period of geological time.
In the small central market place stands Llandovery Town Hall (1857–1858) by the architect Richard Kyke Penson. This was designed in the Italianate style with a courtroom over an open market. Behind are police cells with iron grilles; entry to the old courtroom (now a library) is via a door on the ground floor of the tower.
There are two medieval churches in Llandovery: the 14th-century St Dingat's to the west of the town centre, and the 12th-century St Mary's on the northern outskirts of the town. St Dingat's is a Grade II* listed building, and one of the largest medieval churches in Carmarthenshire. It stands on a site which appears to have been in religious use since pre-Norman times. St Mary's is a Grade I listed building and was formerly the parish church for the neighbouring parish of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, despite not being within that parish's boundaries. It subsequently became a chapel of ease to St Dingat's in 1883 after a new church for Llanfair-ar-y-bryn was built within the parish boundaries.
The Memorial Chapel in Stryd y Bont was built as a memorial to the hymnist William Williams Pantycelyn.
Education
The town's comprehensive school, Ysgol Pantycelyn, with about 300 pupils, was closed on 31 August 2013 and merged with Ysgol Tre-Gib in Ffairfach to form Ysgol Bro Dinefwr.
The town has an independent day and boarding school, Llandovery College.
Sport
Llandovery has a leading Welsh Premiership rugby union team, Llandovery RFC, nicknamed The Drovers, active as such since at least 1877 and a founder member of the Welsh Rugby Union. It has successful junior and youth sections. A number of former players have gone on to represent Wales (and some other nations) in international rugby. Home games are played at its ground in Church Bank.
Llandovery Junior Football Club has a membership of over 70 from Llandovery and its surrounding area. It provides coaching and competitive scope for all aged 6 to 16 years. The club currently has an Under 14 team in the Carmarthenshire Junior League, and Under 11 and Under 8 teams playing in the Carmarthen Mini Football League.
A Llandovery Golf Club, founded in 1910, survived until the onset of the Second World War. Golfing now takes place on the Llandovery College 9-hole course.
Governance
There are two tiers of local government covering Llandovery, at community (town) and county level: Llandovery Town Council (Cyngor Tref Llanymddyfri) and Carmarthenshire County Council (Cyngor Sir Gâr). The town council meets at the Town Hall in the Market Square.
The community is bordered by those of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Myddfai, Llanwrda, and Cilycwm, all being in Carmarthenshire.
Llandovery is twinned with Pluguffan in Brittany, France.
Administrative history
Llandovery historically formed part of the parish of Llandingat. Llandovery was the main settlement in the parish, which was named after its parish church of St Dingat's. The parish included surrounding rural areas as well as Llandovery. Llandovery appears to have been an ancient borough, although its earliest known charter was not issued until 1485 by Richard III. The borough covered the central part of Llandingat parish, including St Dingat's church.
The borough was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country. The Local Government Act 1894 directed that civil parishes could no longer straddle borough boundaries, and so Llandingat parish was split into a Llandingat Within parish covering the same area as the borough of Llandovery, and a Llandingat Without parish covering the areas outside the borough.
The borough of Llandovery was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. A community called Llandovery was created instead, covering the area of the abolished borough, with its community council taking the name Llandovery Town Council. District-level functions passed to Dinefwr Borough Council. Carmarthenshire County Council was abolished as part of the same reforms, with county-level functions passing to the new Dyfed County Council. Dinefwr and Dyfed were both abolished in 1996 and their councils' functions passed to a re-established Carmarthenshire County Council. Llandingat Without also became a community under the 1974 reforms; it was abolished in 1987 and split between the community of Llandovery and other neighbouring communities.
Transport
Llandovery stands at the junction of the main A40 and A483 roads.
Llandovery railway station is on the Heart of Wales line, with services in the direction of Swansea and of Shrewsbury.
Notable residents
In date-of-birth order. See also Category:People from Llandovery
- Twm Siôn Cati (16th c.), figure in Welsh folklore, sometimes as an outlaw and a thief
- Rhys Prichard (1579–1644), Welsh-language poet (Cannwyll y Cymry – The Welshman's Candle) and Anglican Vicar of Llandovery
- William Williams Pantycelyn (1717–1791), highly regarded hymnist and prose writer associated with the Welsh Methodist revival
- Josiah Rees (1744–1804), Welsh Unitarian minister, schoolmaster and writer
- David Jones (1765–1816), Welsh barrister known as "the Welsh Freeholder"; came from Bwlchygwynt
- William Hallowes Miller (1801–1880), Welsh mineralogist, helped found modern crystallography; born at Velindre
- Rice Rees (1804–1839), Anglican priest, fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, lecturer at St David's College, Lampeter and Chaplain to the Bishop of St Davids
- William Saunders (1806–1851), Welsh-language poet, writer and printer
- David Jones (1810–1869), banker and Carmarthenshire Conservative MP
- John Jones (1812–1886), banker and Carmarthenshire Conservative MP
- Major Sir David Hughes-Morgan (1871–1941), solicitor and landowner
Sport
- Aneurin Rees (1858–1932), solicitor, Town Clerk of Merthyr Tydfil, rugby union player for Wales and golfer
- Edward John Lewis (1859–1925), physician and rugby union player for Wales
- Conway Rees (1870–1932), rugby union player for Wales, and schoolmaster in England and India
- Carwyn Davies (1964–1997), farmer and rugby union player for Wales
- Emyr Phillips (born 1987), rugby union player for Wales
- Wyn Jones (born 1992), rugby union player for Wales
Nearby places
The Dolaucothi Gold Mines are located 10 miles (16 km) away near Pumpsaint on the A482. The road follows an original Roman road to Llanio fort.
Llandovery lies just north of Brecon Beacons National Park and Fforest Fawr Geopark, whose geological heritage is celebrated. These designated landscapes are centred on Bannau Sir Gâr or the Carmarthen Fans, themselves part of the Black Mountain extending north towards the town, as Mynydd Myddfai and Mynydd Bach Trecastell. The village of Myddfai lies within the National Park, 4 miles (6 km) to the south-east of Llandovery.
The Llyn Brianne dam is 11 miles (18 km) to the north is in rugged countryside above Rhandirmwyn. The route to the dam also passes Twm Siôn Cati's Cave at the RSPB's Dinas reserve.
References
- "Llandovery community". City Population. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "David Jones, his family and the history of Banking". Llandovery History Society. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- The Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge Vol. III, London (1847), Charles Knight, p. 1,013.
- T. Lloyd, et al, Buildings of Wales: Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, 2006, p. 258.
- "St Dingat, Llandingat, Carmarthenshire". Heneb. Dyfed Archaeology. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "St Dingat's Church, Llandovery". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Church of St Mary, Llandovery". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- "St Mary's Church, Llanfair ar y Bryn (103828)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- "St Mary, Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn, Carmarthenshire". Heneb. Dyfed Archaeology. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Carmarthenshire schools: Flood fears over Ffairfach site". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- "Ysgol Gyfun Pantycelyn". Gov.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- "Llandovery Golf Club, Carmarthenshire". Golf’s Missing Links. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- "Llandovery golf facilities improved thanks to Ryder Cup". Sport Wales. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- "Calendar". Llandovery Town Council. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Llandingad Ancient Parish / Civil Parish". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- First Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Part 1. 1835. p. 301. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- Municipal Corporations Act. 1835. p. 463. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Carmarthenshire: Diagram showing administrative boundaries, 1971". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 6 October 2022
- "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 9 October 2022
- Langston, Brett. "Carmarthen Registration District". UK BMD. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- George Borrow, Wild Wales: Its People, Language and Scenery, Chapter 93.
- Casglu'r Tlysau. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- [Glyn Tegai Hughes, Meic Stephens and R. Brinley Jones, eds, Writers of Wales – Williams Pantycelyn, University Press of Wales on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council, 1983.
- Jones, Selwyn. "Rees, Rice (1804–1839), cleric and scholar". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
- "Saunders, William (1806 - 1851), poet and writer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- Election intelligence in The Times, 2 April 1857; 11 April 1859.
- "Deaths", Western Mail, Cardiff, 6 July 1869.
- "The General Election", Western Mail, Cardiff, 10 March 1880.
- "Deaths", Western Mail, Cardiff, 6 July 1869.
- "Sudden Death of Mr Jones, Bluenose, Llandovery", Weekly Mail, 6 March 1886, p. 7.
- Obituary, The Times, 18 March 1941.
- David Watkins, 2008, Sporting Highlights of Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil: TCC Books. ISBN 0-9539376-6-6.
- David Smith and Gareth Williams, 1980, Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3, pp. 40 and 57.
- "Conway Rees". WRU Searchable Player Archive. Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
- "Carwyn Davies - Wales". ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
External links
Llandovery travel guide from Wikivoyage
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