Llanybydder
Encyclopedia
Llanybydder (ˌɬanəˈbəðɛr, sometimes formerly spelt Llanbydder) is a market town
straddling the River Teifi
in Carmarthenshire
and Ceredigion
, West Wales
, with a population of 1,423, almost three quarters of whom are Welsh-speaking according to the United Kingdom Census 2001
. The nearest university
is the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, located in the nearest town, Lampeter
(Llanbedr Pont Steffan). Mynydd Llanllwni (408 m) and Mynydd Pencarreg (415 m) are mountains to the east/south east of Llanybydder.
The name Llanybydder translates as "The church of St Peter".
settlement on the hill that overlooks the town. Highmead, once a country house, is now a centre of religious studies for the Muslim
faith.
Llanybydder gained a connection to the national rail network on the Carmarthen Aberystwyth Line in 1867, which was originally part of an ill-fated scheme to link Manchester
to the deepwater port at Milford Haven
. However, financial pressures led the route to be diverted, and it remained a cross country route, with passenger services running until flooding severely damaged the line south of Aberystwyth
in December 1964. The cost of repairs to a little-used rural line was deemed prohibitive, and although a limited service continued running from Carmarthen
to Tregaron
for another few months this was the era of the Beeching Axe
and the line was closed to passengers in February 1965.
fairs held there on the last Thursday of every month. These attract dealers and buyers from all parts of the UK
and Ireland
. The biggest is held in September & October. Of particular interest are the sales of local Welsh Cobs.
Dunbia
(Dungannon Meats) is the largest business in Llanybydder, an abbatoir, providing around 400 jobs. Around 260 migrant workers, mainly Poles
are employed there, and the presence of such a large Polish community has had a significant impact on the rural community. They specialise in Welsh lamb; the business was formerly known as "Oriel Jones" - a family run business owned by a farmer, who still lives locally.
Llanybydder also has a number of other businesses, including cafes, farmers' co-operatives, a Post Office
, a solicitors practice, and a hotel in the village square.
The National Farmers Union also has a small office in the village.
team and are currently in the Swalec Division 4 (West).
workers also live in Llanybydder as well as Slovaks
and Czechs, most of whom work for Dunbia and have become an integral part of the local community.
, is thought to have been born in the parish in c.1420.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
straddling the River Teifi
River Teifi
The River Teifi forms the boundary between the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales for most of its 75 mile length, flowing into the sea below the town of Cardigan. The catchment of the river is estimated to be 1,008 square kilometres yielding an average flow at Glan...
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...
and Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, West Wales
West Wales
West Wales is the western area of Wales.Some definitions of West Wales include only Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, an area which historically comprised the Welsh principality of Deheubarth., an area called "South West Wales" in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics....
, with a population of 1,423, almost three quarters of whom are Welsh-speaking according to the United Kingdom Census 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
. The nearest university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
is the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, located in the nearest town, Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
(Llanbedr Pont Steffan). Mynydd Llanllwni (408 m) and Mynydd Pencarreg (415 m) are mountains to the east/south east of Llanybydder.
The name Llanybydder translates as "The church of St Peter".
History
There is evidence of an iron ageIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
settlement on the hill that overlooks the town. Highmead, once a country house, is now a centre of religious studies for the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
faith.
Llanybydder gained a connection to the national rail network on the Carmarthen Aberystwyth Line in 1867, which was originally part of an ill-fated scheme to link Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to the deepwater port at Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
. However, financial pressures led the route to be diverted, and it remained a cross country route, with passenger services running until flooding severely damaged the line south of Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
in December 1964. The cost of repairs to a little-used rural line was deemed prohibitive, and although a limited service continued running from 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....
to Tregaron
Tregaron
Tregaron is a market town in the county of Ceredigion, Wales, lying on the River Brenig , a tributary of the River Teifi. The town is twinned with Plouvien, in Finistere, France. According to the 2001 Census, Tregaron's population was 1,183, of whom 68.8% spoke Welsh fluently.-History:Tregaron...
for another few months this was the era of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
and the line was closed to passengers in February 1965.
Today
Llanybydder is famed for the horseHorse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
fairs held there on the last Thursday of every month. These attract dealers and buyers from all parts of the 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...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The biggest is held in September & October. Of particular interest are the sales of local Welsh Cobs.
Dunbia
Dunbia
Dunbia, founded in 1976 and headquartered in Dungannon Northern Ireland, is a red meat processor that sources andmanufactures beef, lamb and pork products for retail, commercial and foodservice markets locally, nationally and internationally. Ten abattoirs collectively employ 3,200 staff at...
(Dungannon Meats) is the largest business in Llanybydder, an abbatoir, providing around 400 jobs. Around 260 migrant workers, mainly Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
are employed there, and the presence of such a large Polish community has had a significant impact on the rural community. They specialise in Welsh lamb; the business was formerly known as "Oriel Jones" - a family run business owned by a farmer, who still lives locally.
Local businesses
At one point there were seven bakeries in the village, and at least ten pubs. Now only one bakery remains, and five pubs.Llanybydder also has a number of other businesses, including cafes, farmers' co-operatives, a Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, a solicitors practice, and a hotel in the village square.
The National Farmers Union also has a small office in the village.
Llanybydder Rugby Club
Llanybydder has a 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 and are currently in the Swalec Division 4 (West).
Llanybydder Football Club
Llanybydder has 3 football teams - 2 mens and 1 ladies, and play their home matches in Alltyblaca. They have an official website which includes match reports.Nationalities
About 250 PolishPoles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
workers also live in Llanybydder as well as Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
and Czechs, most of whom work for Dunbia and have become an integral part of the local community.
Famous residents
One of Wales' most important mediaeval poets, Lewys Glyn CothiLewys Glyn Cothi
Lewys Glyn Cothi , also known as Llywelyn y Glyn, was a prominent Welsh poet who composed numerous poems in the Welsh language. He is one of the most important representatives of the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr or Cywyddwyr , the itinerant professional poets of the period between the 1284 Statute of...
, is thought to have been born in the parish in c.1420.
External links
- Llanybydder and Rhydcymerau Community Council website
- Llanybydder demographics
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llanybydder and surrounding area