Llangyfelach
Encyclopedia
The village of Llangyfelach is located in the City and County of Swansea
, Wales
, UK
. Llangyfelach is situated about 4 miles north of the centre of Swansea, just west of Morriston
. It falls within the Llangyfelach ward
. To the west is open moorland.
Llangyfelach was once the name of a parish
that covered much of the former Lordship of Gower
. Today's community covers a smaller area including the site of the former Felindre
tinplate works, which hosted the National Eisteddfod in 2006.
Bordering the village to the north is the M4 motorway
Junction 46. The village has its own primary school, crematorium, a former post office, The 'Plough and Harrow' pub, and a Scout hall.
At the centre of the village is the Parish Church of St David and Cyfelach. The site dates back to the 6th Century: St. David
the Patron Saint of Wales founded an early Celtic monastery
there. The present church has a 12th Century detached tower and a converted tithe barn
as the present church. Contained with in the church is the Llangyfelach Cross, a 9th Century Celtic stone
.
Llangyfelach was the birthplace of the painter Evan Walters, and is mentioned in a folk song about the practice of 'pressing'
men into military service.
. Part of the development will include residential housing and a clubhouse with fitness and leisure facilities.
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, 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...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Llangyfelach is situated about 4 miles north of the centre of Swansea, just west of Morriston
Morriston
Morriston is a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales and falls within the Morriston ward. Morriston is sometimes referred to as a distinct town , however Morriston never had a town charter, and is now part of the continuous urban area around Swansea, the centre of which lies three...
. It falls within the Llangyfelach ward
Llangyfelach (electoral ward)
Llangyfelach is the name of an electoral ward, a community in the county of Swansea, Wales, UK. The community has its own elected community council....
. To the west is open moorland.
Llangyfelach was once the name of a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
that covered much of the former Lordship of Gower
Gower (Lordship)
thumb|350px|right|Map of the Lordship, showing the area detached , the area added and the Town and Franchise of Swansea. The language boundary is shown as a dotted line....
. Today's community covers a smaller area including the site of the former Felindre
Felindre
Felindre is a rural village in south Wales. The village can be found in the far north of Swansea, in the electoral ward of Mawr.The nearby Lower Lliw Reservoirs are a popular venue for walking and fishing. The water mill in the village was working until the late 1960s, there was also an abbatoir...
tinplate works, which hosted the National Eisteddfod in 2006.
Bordering the village to the north is the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
Junction 46. The village has its own primary school, crematorium, a former post office, The 'Plough and Harrow' pub, and a Scout hall.
At the centre of the village is the Parish Church of St David and Cyfelach. The site dates back to the 6th Century: St. David
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
the Patron Saint of Wales founded an early Celtic monastery
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
there. The present church has a 12th Century detached tower and a converted tithe barn
Tithe barn
A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
as the present church. Contained with in the church is the Llangyfelach Cross, a 9th Century Celtic stone
Celtic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
.
Llangyfelach was the birthplace of the painter Evan Walters, and is mentioned in a folk song about the practice of 'pressing'
Impressment
Impressment, colloquially, "the Press", was the act of taking men into a navy by force and without notice. It was used by the Royal Navy, beginning in 1664 and during the 18th and early 19th centuries, in wartime, as a means of crewing warships, although legal sanction for the practice goes back to...
men into military service.
Future developments
There are proposals to develop a new 18 hole championship golf course and leisure complex near the village called Royal Fern Park. In August 2008, it was announced that the plan was approved by the local council and would not be blocked by the Welsh AssemblyWelsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
. Part of the development will include residential housing and a clubhouse with fitness and leisure facilities.