Kidwelly
Encyclopedia
Kidwelly is a town
in Carmarthenshire
, west Wales
, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) north-west of the main town of Llanelli
.
It lies on the River Gwendraeth Fach above Carmarthen Bay
. The town is twinned with French village St Jacut de la Mer.
, writing in the 9th century. The name means the land of Cadwal, or the 'kingdom' of Cadwal. Thus the name originally applied to a territory. The town and castle
of the same name were established by the invading Normans
in 1106.
A field in the neighbouring forest of Kingswood, Maes Gwenllian is known as the location of a battle in 1136, in which Princess Gwenllian
, sister of Owain Gwynedd
, led her husband's troops into battle against a Norman army during his absence. She is believed to have been killed either during the battle or shortly afterwards, historians debate whether her death was at Maes Gwenllian or if she was marched back to Kidwelly Castle to be beheaded there.
Although being an ancient town, Kidwelly grew significantly during the industrial revolution
, as did many other towns in South Wales
. The town was home to a large brickworks
and tin
works. Little evidence now exists of such activities since the closure of the industrial works, with the exception of Kidwelly Industrial Museum
.
An atmospheric quotation from a despondent vicar in the nineteenth century provides a fascinating insight to times gone by;
, founded in 1106; a fourteenth century bridge and gate; the former quay (now a nature reserve
); a Norman parish church
, and an industrial museum
.
Kidwelly Carnival is an annual event held on the second Saturday of July each year. Previous carnivals have featured aerial displays.
and Carmarthen
by the A484 road.
Bus/Coach - There are regular local buses running through Kidwelly, linking the town with Llanelli and Carmarthen, with a main stop in the town centre. There is also a Coach Park located in the town centre.
Rail - Kidwelly railway station
is on the West Wales Line
. Westbound services from Kidwelly terminate at Carmarthen
or Pembroke Dock
, with less frequent direct services to Fishguard
and Milford Haven
. Eastbound services terminate at Swansea railway station
or Cardiff Central
, with less frequent direct services to Manchester Piccadilly and London Paddington.
Cycling - Kidwelly is connected to the National Cycle Network
along the coast from the east and west by NCR 4. The cycle path runs directly through the town centre.
Air - Pembrey Airport
is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Kidwelly, and is connected to the town by regular bus services. The nearest airport with domestic and international scheduled flights is Cardiff International Airport
.
Walking- There are numerous public footpaths and bridleways in Kidwelly and Mynydd-y- Garreg, including Glan yr Afon, just behind the Wesleyan Chapel on the Bridge and Summer Way (Maes yr Haf) off Water Street. Information and maps are obtainable from the Town Council Offices in Bridge Street.
and on a community level by Kidwelly Town Council
, who appoint a Mayor
of Kidwelly and Mynydd-y-garreg
.
team is Kidwelly RFC
, a club formed in the 1880s which now plays in the Welsh Rugby Union
league they play their home games at Parc Stephen's, Kidwelly. Parc Stephen's is also the home venue of local football, cricket
and lawn bowls teams. The football team, Kidwelly Town AFC (nicknamed The Black Cats), currently play in Carmarthenshire League Division 3 in the Welsh football pyramid.
The town also boasts a large number of junior football, rugby union and cricket teams.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, west Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) north-west of the main town of Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
.
It lies on the River Gwendraeth Fach above Carmarthen Bay
Carmarthen Bay
Carmarthen Bay is an inlet of the south Wales coast. The coastline includes famous beaches, including the Pendine Sands and Cefn Sidan sands, and is partially covered by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park....
. The town is twinned with French village St Jacut de la Mer.
History
The original name 'Cedweli' is very old: the earliest form of the name, 'Cetgueli', is recorded by the monk, NenniusNennius
Nennius was a Welsh monk of the 9th century.He has traditionally been attributed with the authorship of the Historia Brittonum, based on the prologue affixed to that work, This attribution is widely considered a secondary tradition....
, writing in the 9th century. The name means the land of Cadwal, or the 'kingdom' of Cadwal. Thus the name originally applied to a territory. The town and castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
of the same name were established by the invading Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
in 1106.
A field in the neighbouring forest of Kingswood, Maes Gwenllian is known as the location of a battle in 1136, in which Princess Gwenllian
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd was Princess-consort of Deheubarth in Wales, and married to Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan , Prince of Gwynedd, and a member of the princely Aberffraw family of Gwynedd. Gwenllian was the sister of Prince Owain...
, sister of Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
, led her husband's troops into battle against a Norman army during his absence. She is believed to have been killed either during the battle or shortly afterwards, historians debate whether her death was at Maes Gwenllian or if she was marched back to Kidwelly Castle to be beheaded there.
Although being an ancient town, Kidwelly grew significantly during the industrial revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, as did many other towns in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. The town was home to a large brickworks
Brickworks
A brickworks also known as a brick factory, is a factory for the manufacturing of bricks, from clay or shale. Usually a brickworks is located on a clay bedrock often with a quarry for clay on site....
and tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
works. Little evidence now exists of such activities since the closure of the industrial works, with the exception of Kidwelly Industrial Museum
Kidwelly Industrial Museum
The Kidwelly Industrial Museum focuses on the Tinplate industry in Kidwelly. In addition there are exhibits featuring coal mining and brick making. The museum is located near the town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, West Wales, on the site of the former Kidwelly tinplate works. The tinplate works...
.
An atmospheric quotation from a despondent vicar in the nineteenth century provides a fascinating insight to times gone by;
Kidwelly Parish Church records, 1851
"Remarks: [MS torn] . . . Lords day in this Town is but very little regarded as a day for spiritual worship [pub] lick houses are allowed to be open, and frequented during Divine Service. Publick [hou]ses are very numerous in this place, and even the Town Clerk keeps a . . . publick house. Often times on the Lord's day we are not only hear cursing and . . . once swearing in our streets, but frequently we see most brutal fighting, and . . . [n]otice taken thereof by the authority of the Town. This is the cause why places [of wor]ship are so little frequented and religion so little appreciated and professed at Kidwelly." Thomas Griffiths, Vicarhttp://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/Kidwelly/
Tourism
Local attractions include Kidwelly CastleKidwelly Castle
Kidwelly Castle is an Norman castle overlooking the river Gwendraeth and the town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales.The present remains of the castle include work from about 1200 to about 1476. Created as a defence against the Welsh, the castle fell to the Welsh several times in the twelfth...
, founded in 1106; a fourteenth century bridge and gate; the former quay (now a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
); a Norman parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, and an industrial museum
Kidwelly Industrial Museum
The Kidwelly Industrial Museum focuses on the Tinplate industry in Kidwelly. In addition there are exhibits featuring coal mining and brick making. The museum is located near the town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, West Wales, on the site of the former Kidwelly tinplate works. The tinplate works...
.
Kidwelly Carnival is an annual event held on the second Saturday of July each year. Previous carnivals have featured aerial displays.
Transport
Road - Kidwelly is connected to LlanelliLlanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
and Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
by the A484 road.
Bus/Coach - There are regular local buses running through Kidwelly, linking the town with Llanelli and Carmarthen, with a main stop in the town centre. There is also a Coach Park located in the town centre.
Rail - Kidwelly railway station
Kidwelly railway station
Kidwelly railway station serves the town of Kidwelly , Carmarthenshire. The station is situated on the coast just southwest of Kidwelly itself. Originally the station was the junction of the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway...
is on the West Wales Line
West Wales Line
The West Wales Lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, West Wales...
. Westbound services from Kidwelly terminate at Carmarthen
Carmarthen railway station
Carmarthen railway station is situated south of the River Towy on the edge of the town of Carmarthen. It is located on the West Wales Line and is managed by Arriva Trains Wales, who operate most of the passenger trains serving it...
or Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock railway station
Pembroke Dock railway station serves the town of Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire, Wales.The station is served by a regular daily service to/from Swansea via Whitland, with connections for the South Wales mainline available at Swansea....
, with less frequent direct services to Fishguard
Fishguard Harbour railway station
Fishguard Harbour railway station serves the port of Fishguard Harbour, Wales. It is the terminus of one of the branches of the West Wales Line from Swansea.-Ownership:...
and Milford Haven
Milford Haven railway station
Milford Haven railway station serves the town of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Opened on 7 September 1863, it was originally known as Milford, becoming Old Milford by January 1902, and finally being renamed Milford Haven by April 1910....
. Eastbound services terminate at Swansea railway station
Swansea railway station
Swansea railway station is a railway station that serves Swansea, Wales. The station is one of four in the City and County of Swansea and is the fourth busiest in Wales after Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Newport.-History:...
or Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
, with less frequent direct services to Manchester Piccadilly and London Paddington.
Cycling - Kidwelly is connected to the National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
along the coast from the east and west by NCR 4. The cycle path runs directly through the town centre.
Air - Pembrey Airport
Pembrey Airport
-Former operators:Other airlines that have operated at Pembrey:*Air Wales*Air Independence*Air Winton...
is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Kidwelly, and is connected to the town by regular bus services. The nearest airport with domestic and international scheduled flights is Cardiff International Airport
Cardiff International Airport
Cardiff Airport is an international airport serving Cardiff, and the rest of South, Mid and West Wales. Around 1.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010....
.
Walking- There are numerous public footpaths and bridleways in Kidwelly and Mynydd-y- Garreg, including Glan yr Afon, just behind the Wesleyan Chapel on the Bridge and Summer Way (Maes yr Haf) off Water Street. Information and maps are obtainable from the Town Council Offices in Bridge Street.
Government
Kidwelly is governed on a local level by Carmarthenshire County CouncilCarmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council is the local authority for the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales, providing a range of services under the control of elected county councillors that include education, planning, transport, social services and public safety...
and on a community level by Kidwelly Town Council
Kidwelly Town Council
Kidwelly Town Council is the community council serving the town of Kidwelly and the village of Mynydd-y-garreg in the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales...
, who appoint a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kidwelly and Mynydd-y-garreg
Mynydd-y-garreg
Mynydd-y-garreg or Mynyddygarreg is a village in the county of Carmarthenshire, West Wales, bordering the historical town of Kidwelly. Mynydd-y-garreg Tower is the name given to a Roman Pharos in the county of Flintshire, near Whitford....
.
Sport
The local rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team is Kidwelly RFC
Kidwelly RFC
Kidwelly Rugby Fottball Club is a rugby union club representing the town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Rugby was first played in Kidwelly around 1880, though as is usual within early Welsh rugby history, no written evidence exists to give an exact year of formation...
, a club formed in the 1880s which now plays in the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
league they play their home games at Parc Stephen's, Kidwelly. Parc Stephen's is also the home venue of local football, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and lawn bowls teams. The football team, Kidwelly Town AFC (nicknamed The Black Cats), currently play in Carmarthenshire League Division 3 in the Welsh football pyramid.
The town also boasts a large number of junior football, rugby union and cricket teams.