How well do you know Carmarthenshire? If you are planning a visit, we have compiled some interesting facts about Carmarthenshire to stir your curiosity.

Early History of Carmarthenshire 

Carmarthenshire is a Southern County in Wales, with the three largest towns being Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. The River Towy flows through the county, standing firm with a population of over 16,000.

Carmarthenshire was the most populous borough from the 16th century to the 18th century. The location of the county, with the sea to the South, gave it every chance to prosper. 

Reasons to Visit Carmarthenshire

Camarthen town is recorded as one of the oldest towns in Wales and served as a Roman Fort (or Sea Fort). 

Medieval History

With the town centre residing on the coast in South Wales, it was a tactical location for Carmarthen Castle to be erected. William Fitz Baldwin, Norman invader, built the castle under instruction from King William II in 1094. The current castle site was used throughout the Middle Ages under the title of Llanteulyddog. 

The castle's site is believed to have been used since 1105, despite being destroyed by Llywelyn The Great in 1215. It was rebuilt, and the town was walled, making Carmarthen one of the first medieval walled towns in South West Wales. 

Carmarthen remained protected until the Black Death hit the town due to the thriving river trade established. To this day, people visit the back of St Catherine Street, where the plague pit was located. This was the place where the mass burial of the dead occurred.

Camarthen has also faced other rumours and legends, with it being speculated that when Merlin's Oak fell onto the town, it would bring a downfall for all within. Citizens were fearful of the tree and these Arthurian Legends so they dug it up. Some pieces of the tree are now being shown in the museum.

Moving forward to the 13th Century, the Grey Friars (also known as the Franciscan Friars) established themselves in Camarthen. The Friars built their own friary buildings along Lammas Street, which has now been turned into a new shopping centre.

The Grey Friars Church became a notorious sight for burial due to the wealth and treasures inside. The 1st Earl of Richmond, Edmund Tudor, Sir Rhys Ap Thomas and Tudur Aled were among the more recognisable burials at the church. This was only three months before the future King Henry VII was born, leaving him fatherless. 

Extensive archaeological excavations have happened at the site since then. First, the monastic buildings and then the nave were discovered. Much has been lost to time, however, and the cathedral moved through the centuries.

Priory Road

A Grammar School was eventually built along Priory Street, where we currently have a hospital. This was a Boy's Grammar School that ran for many years. It had moved from Priory Row to Richmond Terrace in the 1840s.

Interestingly, where the school rugby pitch once was is the site where a local travelling circus buried an elephant after it fell sick and died.

Tudor Carmarthenshire

As Henry VIII's reign ended, the land was returned to the monarchy. The town's Priory and Friary were abandoned, and St Catherine's and St Barbara's chapels were lost. This priory had switched hands and been replaced from the Benedictine of St Peter to the Augustinian of St John.

Buildings being demolished and repurposed was the case for many properties owned by Carmarthenshire County Council during this time. 

In 1789 Camarthen Gaol (jail) opened and was in action until 1922. This was designed by John Nash and stood for many years. The County Hall now stands on the land. Sir Percy Thomas designed this hall which can still be seen today. 

Rebecca Rioters attacked the goal and workhouse in 1843, and the origins of Chartism have been traced to the Carmarthen Working Men's Association in that Autumn. This movement aimed to gain political rights for working-class people.

The eisteddfod, a festival that consists of 'Sitting Together', music and poetry, has been held in Carmarthen many times. The town hosted the National Eisteddfod throughout 1867, 1911 and 1974.

During the Second World War, the old hospital served a different purpose, and prisoner of war camps (POWs) were set up throughout the town. This was called Johnstown at the time but is now the site where the Davies Estate stands. 

You may not realise the ancient history Camarthen has, but it has been through a lot. Today, shopping centres have opened, and developments have taken place, with restaurants and multi-storey car parks on top of the ancient land. 

The former cattle market has been developed since its conception, making way for a new market hall opened on the land. 

These stories are still deeply intertwined with the town, and they won't be forgotten. They are written in their Welsh version across the town on their landmarks. 

Landmarks of Carmarthenshire 

Few landmarks remain from this time in Carmarthen, but a few are still available to be seen by the public. 

St. Peter's Church

St David's Diocese covers Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, and St Peter's Church is the largest parish church in that diocese.

The West porch to East window nave measures 60 metres and 15 metres wide across the nave and South aisle.

The church is built from local red sandstone and grey shale, both found naturally in the surrounding areas. There remains a West tower, South Aisle, Consistory Court, nave and chancel. 

Picton's Monument

This was erected at the West end of Carmarthen to commemorate Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, who died in the Battle Of Waterloo in 1815.

The monument features a statue of Picton wearing a cloak and supported by a baluster, all above emblems of spears on a square pedestal.

Each side of the structure holds a different message, some in English and some in the Welsh language. The West side shows Picton scaling a wall during a battle, and the South side describes his life for all to see. 

This statue became worn down by the weather and was taken down in 1846, with the parts being featured in the Carmarthenshire County Museum.

A new structure honoring Sir Picton was redesigned by Frances Fowler in 1847 and stood for another century, but the top section was taken down in 1984 because it was unsafe.

This foundation stone lay atop Monument Hill for many years and is still a recognisable sight today. It had been rebuilt stone by stone to ensure better foundations are achieved. 

This castle, as with all of these landmarks, were unable to withstand Carmarthen's inclement weather over long periods, but some parts still dominates Nott Square and are an impressive sight to see. 

General Nott Statue

General Nott was a military officer who fought in the Bengal Army in British India, and he died in 1845. After his death, a statue was erected in Nott Square, with Queen Vicotria funding the memorial fund.

This statue occupies Nott Square, formally market square and where the market cross once was. Market Square was disbanded, and Nott Square created in 1846 and remains so today.

Pont King Morgan

A bridge needed constructing to improve pedestrian walkways from the railway station to the town centre, and in 2005 this was built. This cable-stayed bridge cost £2.8 million but connects Blue Street to the railway station.

To this day, the town has many daily direct intercity trains and connects itself to the rest of Wales and the UK with pride. There have been many rail closures since the 1960s under the Beeching Axe. 

Surprising Facts About Carmarthenshire 

While there are many common facts about this South West Wales county, you will be surprised about some of the facts about this part of the country. 

Early Form Of Football

Cnapan, an early form of football, has been noted in the area of Carmarthenshire. 

This game was more primitive than the football we have now and sometimes involved hundreds of people from neighbouring parishes attempting to kick a ball. 

First Woman To Fly The Atlantic

Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly over the Atlantic in 1932, had crash-landed in Burry Port just four years before her fantastic feat. 

Britain's First Drink-driving Warning

Edward Jenkins was a stagecoach driver who was driving whilst intoxicated in 1835. He was driving a mail coach along the A40 when it veered onto the wrong side of the road and then off a 120ft precipice.

This was the first drink-driving warning in Britain, and the Royal Mail established an obelisk on the crash site to warn people of the dangers of drink-driving. 

The Mayor Of Carmarthen Killed A King Of England

Sir Rhys Ap Thomas was the Mayor of Camarthen in the 15th century and was a very powerful and influential man. He aided in getting Henry Tudor on the throne of England, and was a critical many across Tudor Wales.

Rhys had initially sworn loyalty to Richard III but changed sides at a later time. Some local historians believe that Rhys was the one that struck the killing blow to Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. This makes him the last king of England to die on a battlefield. 

Earliest Recorded Cricket Match

In 1783 it was believed that an early game of cricket took place on Court Henry Down, Dryslwyn. Both genty and clergymen played in this match.

The Man Who Died Of Rabies

In 1902, a carpenter from Carmarthen had conducted rabies from a dog bite. The Carmarthen Journal noted that Thomas Bowen had become violent and raving mad, which ended with multiple men holding him down. He was killed by a doctor smothering him. 

If you are interested in visiting this wonderful county and town in Wales, get in touch with our team today.

If you are planning a stay in Carmarthenshire we hope this page has offered some good reasons to come visit us. For accommodation in Carmarthenshire you can find no better location than Laugharne, the home of Dylan Thomas.

Contact Longshore House today to book your luxury holiday cottage in Laugharne.