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{{Short description|Town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}
{{for|geologic period|Llandeilo Group}} {{for2|the suburb of Sydney|Llandilo|the geologic period|Llandeilo Group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place {{Infobox UK place
| country = Wales | country = Wales
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| constituency_welsh_assembly = ] | constituency_welsh_assembly = ]
| official_name = Llandeilo | official_name = Llandeilo
| static_image_name = St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo
| community_wales = Llandeilo | community_wales = Llandeilo
| unitary_wales = ] | unitary_wales = ]
| lieutenancy_wales = ] | lieutenancy_wales = ]
| constituency_westminster = ] | constituency_westminster = ]
| coordinates = {{coord|51.885|-3.992|display=inline,title}} | coordinates = {{coord|51.885|-3.992|display=inline,title}}
| population = 1795 | population = 1,784
| population_ref = (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11125827&c=SA19+6AY&d=16&e=62&g=6492255&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1429096739021&enc=1|title=Community population 2011 |access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref> | population_ref = (Community, 2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Llandeilo community |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/admin/carmarthenshire/W04000513__llandeilo/ |website=City Population |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>
| post_town = LLANDEILO | post_town = LLANDEILO
| postcode_district = SA19 | postcode_district = SA19
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| dial_code = 01558 | dial_code = 01558
| os_grid_reference = SN625225 | os_grid_reference = SN625225
| module= ]<br />Map of the community
}} }}


'''Llandeilo''' ({{IPA-cy|ɬanˈdeilɔ}}) is a town and ] in ], ], situated at the crossing of the ] by the ] on a 19th-century stone bridge. Its population was 1,795 at the 2011 Census. It is adjacent to the westernmost point of the ]. '''Llandeilo''' ({{IPA|cy|ɬanˈdeilɔ|audio=LL-Q9309 (cym)-Jason.nlw-Llandeilo.wav}}) is a town and ] in ], ], situated at the crossing of the ] by the ] on a 19th-century stone bridge. At the ] the community had a population of 1,784. It is adjacent to the westernmost point of the ]. The town is served by ] on the ].


In 2021, ''The Sunday Times'' called the town one of the top six places to live in Wales.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Times|first=The Sunday|title=Why Llandeilo and the Tywi valley, Carmarthenshire, is one of the best places to live in 2021|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-llandeilo-and-the-tywi-valley-carmarthenshire-best-place-to-live-uk-lgz0n9fwz|access-date=2021-12-22|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> The newspaper praised the town as a ‘sophisticated shopping destination and a great showcase for local arts and crafts’.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gregory|first=Rhys|date=2021-03-26|title=Six Welsh locations named in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2021|url=https://www.wales247.co.uk/six-welsh-locations-named-in-the-sunday-times-best-places-to-live-2021|access-date=2021-12-22|language=en-US}}</ref>
The town is served by ] on the ].


== Early history == ==History==
===Early history===
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2016}}
Roman soldiers were active in the area around Llandeilo around AD74, as evidenced by the foundations of two ] discovered on the grounds of the Dinefwr estate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Llandeilo History - Roman Fort |url=https://llandeilo.org/roman_settlement.php |access-date=2021-12-22 |website=llandeilo.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dyfed Archaeology |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/llandeiloromanforts2003-2007.pdf |access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref> The fortifications measured 3.85 hectares and 1.54 hectares, respectively. Roman roads linked Llandeilo with Llandovery and Carmarthen. A small civil settlement developed outside the gates of the fort and may have continued in use as the embryonic town after the Romans left in around AD120.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LLANDEILO FAWR – Dyfed Archaeological Trust |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/discovery/projects/llandeilo-fawr/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫ Llandeilo is named after one of the better-known ]s of the 6th century, ]. The ] word ] signified a monastery or a church. Saint Teilo, who was a contemporary of ], the ] of ], established a ] (a small monastic settlement) on the site of the present-day parish church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/100867/details|title=St Teilo's Church (Priory Church)|work=Coflein Database Record|publisher=]|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref>


⚫ Llandeilo is named after one of the better-known ]s of the 6th century, ]. The ] word ] signified a monastery or a church. Saint Teilo, who was a contemporary of ], the ] of ], established a ] (a small monastic settlement) on the site of the present-day parish church.<ref>{{Coflein|num=100867|desc=St Teilo's Church Llandeilo|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> There is reasonable evidence to suggest, however, that Saint Teilo was buried in Llandeilo. The ] of Llandeilo Fawr ("Great Llandeilo") is dedicated to Saint Teilo, and until 1880 its churchyard encompassed his ].
Although there is very little factual detail about the life of Saint Teilo, it appears that he was highly respected in his lifetime, and revered after his death: there are 45 places dedicated to him, some as far afield as ].


⚫ The early Christian settlement that developed around the ] prospered, and by the early 9th century it had attained considerable ecclesiastical status as the seat of a Bishop-Abbot. The Church of St Teilo soon became a 'mother church' to the surrounding district, acquiring an extensive estate, and possessing one of Wales' most beautiful and finely illustrated manuscripts – the ''Gospel Book of Saint Teilo''. The discovery of fragments of two large ]es from this period provides further testimony to Llandeilo's importance and indeed prestige as an early ecclesiastical centre. Towards the end of the 9th century, the importance of Llandeilo as a spiritual centre had started to decline.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LLANDEILO FAWR – Dyfed Archaeological Trust |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/discovery/projects/llandeilo-fawr/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>
After Saint Teilo's death, two equally important ecclesiastical centres in Wales, ] and ], laid claim to his body. There is reasonable evidence to suggest, however, that Saint Teilo was buried in Llandeilo. The ] of Llandeilo Fawr ("Great Llandeilo") is dedicated to Saint Teilo, and until 1880 its churchyard encompassed his ].


⚫ ] (anglicised as Dynevor) overlooks the ] near the town. It lies on a ridge on the northern bank of the Tywi, with a steep drop of about {{convert|250|feet}} to the river. Dinefwr was the chief seat of the kingdom of ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=LLANDEILO FAWR – Dyfed Archaeological Trust |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/discovery/projects/llandeilo-fawr/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫ The early Christian settlement that developed around the ] prospered, and by the early 9th century it had attained considerable ecclesiastical status as the seat of a Bishop-Abbot. The Church of St Teilo soon became a 'mother church' to the surrounding district, acquiring an extensive estate, and possessing one of Wales' most beautiful and finely illustrated manuscripts – the ''Gospel Book of Saint Teilo''. The discovery of fragments of two large ]es from this period provides further testimony to Llandeilo's importance and indeed prestige as an early ecclesiastical centre.

Towards the end of the 9th century, the importance of Llandeilo as a spiritual centre had started to decline and the Gospel Book of St Teilo was removed to ], where it became commonly known as the ] or the Book of ]. The ] still use this manuscript to swear allegiance to the Crown.

⚫ ] (anglicized as Dynevor) is a spectacular Welsh castle overlooking the ] near the town. It lies on a ridge on the northern bank of the Tywi, with a steep drop of about {{convert|250|feet}} to the river. Dinefwr was the chief seat of the kingdom of ].
] ]
The foundations of two ] have been discovered on the grounds of the Dinefwr estate, which is in the custody of the ]. The estate of ] lies near the town, and further away, the impressive ], another Welsh stronghold. The remains of ] can be seen {{convert|6|miles}} away to the north of the town. {{convert|10|miles}} further north are the remains of the Roman ], another National Trust property. The estate of ] lies near the town, and further away, the impressive ], another Welsh stronghold. The remains of ] can be seen {{convert|6|miles}} away to the north of the town. {{convert|10|miles}} further north are the remains of the Roman ].


== Medieval period == ===Medieval period===
] ]
In the centuries that followed the ], the ] and ] both claimed Llandeilo for their respective ]. By the early 12th century, Llandeilo came under the patronage of the Bishopric of St David's, an ecclesiastic borough that became responsible for the affairs of the town including its development as an important ] to an extensive agricultural hinterland. Until the middle of the 20th century, a fair called St. Teilo's Fair, which had been authorised initially by ] in 1290, was held annually in the churchyard. Some of the agricultural produce and other goods offered for sale are recorded to have been displayed on the tombstones. Today, the fair has been replaced by a small ], held on the first Saturday of every month in the same place. In the centuries that followed the ], the ] and ] both claimed Llandeilo for their respective ]. By the early 12th century, Llandeilo came under the patronage of the Bishopric of St David's, an ecclesiastic borough that became responsible for the affairs of the town including its development as an important ] to an extensive agricultural hinterland. Until the middle of the 20th century, a fair called St. Teilo's Fair, which had been authorised initially by ] in 1291, was held annually in the churchyard. Some of the agricultural produce and other goods offered for sale are recorded to have been displayed on the tombstones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Llandeilo History - The Rise and Fall of a Saint's Community |url=https://www.llandeilo.org/ch_rise-and-fall.php |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.llandeilo.org}}</ref>

The town was put to the torch during ]'s march through the Tywi Valley in July 1403.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fiery Medieval history as Llandeilo burned three times |url=https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/23176545.llandeilos-fiery-history-three-medieval-torchings/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=South Wales Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Nearby Carreg Cennen Castle was besieged by Yorkist forces in 1461 during the ] and partially demolished.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Llandeilo History - The Burning of Llandeilo |url=https://www.llandeilo.org/h_burning.php |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.llandeilo.org}}</ref>

===Early modern period to the present===
At the Reformation, the town was at the centre of the parish known as Llandeilo Fawr. It was in the ] and part of the ]. In 1560, the ] recorded the population of Llandeilo Fawr as 620 households (perhaps amounting to 2,790 people), many of whom would have lived in Llandeilo itself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Journal of Welsh religious history {{!}} Vol. 5 {{!}} 1997 {{!}} Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales |url=https://journals.library.wales/view/1164385/1164896/53 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=journals.library.wales |language=en}}</ref>

In the middle of the seventeenth century, Llandeilo was in the area of influence of the royalist general Sir Henry Vaughan. A royalist skirmish took place in the town in April 1648, defeating elements of the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SIR HENRY VAUGHAN of Derwydd: A Welsh Colonel of the English Civil War |url=http://www.a40infobahn.co.uk/vaughansk/fr_bio.htm |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=www.a40infobahn.co.uk}}</ref>

In 1887, ] ''Gazetteer of the British Isles'' described Llandeilo as having a population of 1,533. He observed that “the principal trade of the town is in corn and flour; the other industries include woollen cloth mills, timber and saw mills, and tanneries”.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/263 |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=A vision of Britain}}</ref>


== Llandeilo bridges == == Llandeilo bridges ==
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The road and railway bridges over the Tywi are of engineering interest. The single-arched ] was completed in 1848 and is Grade II* ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Llandeilo Bridge (including causeways) (partly in Dyffryn Cennen community), Llandeilo |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-11040-llandeilo-bridge-including-causeways-part |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=10 January 2015 }}</ref> The railway bridge, opened in 1852, is a rare survival of an early ]. The road and railway bridges over the Tywi are of engineering interest. The single-arched ] was completed in 1848 and is Grade II* ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Llandeilo Bridge (including causeways) (partly in Dyffryn Cennen community), Llandeilo |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-11040-llandeilo-bridge-including-causeways-part |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=10 January 2015 }}</ref> The railway bridge, opened in 1852, is a rare survival of an early ].


⚫ In the ], the floods were so severe that the River Tywi (Towy) overwhelmed the railway bridge crossing the river near Llandeilo. Four people, one of them a boy, were drowned when the 05:27 train from ] to ] plunged off the damaged Glanrhyd Bridge into the river.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-10-19 |title=Glanrhyd disaster: Memories of train tragedy 30 years on |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-41637278 |access-date=2022-05-21}}</ref>
== 1987 rail disaster ==
{{Main|Glanrhyd Bridge collapse}}
⚫ In the ], the floods were so severe that the River Tywi (Towy) overwhelmed the railway bridge crossing the river near Llandeilo. Four people, one of them a boy, were drowned when the 05:27 train from ] to ] plunged off the damaged Glanrhyd Bridge into the river.


==Governance== ==Governance==
There are two tiers of local government covering Llandeilo, at ] (town) and ] level: Llandeilo Fawr Town Council (Cyngor Tref Llandeilo Fawr) and ] (Cyngor Sir Gâr). The town council is based at Hengwrt (Old Courthouse) at 8 Carmarthen Street, being the former ], built in 1802.<ref name=towncouncil>{{cite web |title=Contact info |url=https://llandeilo.gov.uk/contact/ |website=Llandeilo Fawr Town Council |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Llandeilo Shire Hall or Town Hall |url=https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/96635/ |website=Coflein |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/19140203.welsh-government-200-000-funding-complete-restoration-works-one-llandeilos-oldest-buildings/ |title= Welsh Government: £200,000 funding to complete restoration works at one of Llandeilo's oldest buildings|date= 6 March 2021| newspaper=South Wales Guardian| access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref>
An ] in the same name exists. This ward stretches south from the confines of Llandeilo with a total population of 2,971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/llandeilo-w05000484#sthash.3fmCUhLF.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011 |access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref> The community is bordered by the communities of: ]; ]; ]; and ], all being in Carmarthenshire.

The Llandeilo community is bordered by the communities of: ]; ]; ]; and ], all being in Carmarthenshire.<ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
Llandeilo historically formed part of the parish of Llandeilo Fawr, which also included extensive rural areas north and south of the town itself.<ref>{{cite web |title=Llandeilo Fawr Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10192791/boundary |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref> In 1859, a ] called Llandilo was established covering the central part of the parish around the town itself.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22256|page=1767|date=29 April 1859}}</ref> Such local government districts were converted into ] under the ]. The 1894 Act also directed that parishes could no longer straddle district boundaries, and so that part of the parish outside the urban district became a separate parish called Llandeilo Fawr Rural.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire and South Wales |date=1895 |page=384 |url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/337746/rec/7 |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>

The official spelling of the name of the urban district was 'Llandilo' until 1957, when it was changed to 'Llandeilo' to better reflect modern Welsh ].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Registrar General's Statistical Review of England and Wales |date=1957 |page=371 |url=https://archive.org/details/sid14149490/page/370/mode/2up |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>

] was abolished in 1974 under the ]. A community called Llandeilo was created instead, covering the area of the abolished urban district. Although the community name is officially just Llandeilo,<ref name=electionmaps/> its community council calls itself Llandeilo Fawr Town Council.<ref name=towncouncil/> 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>

The parish of Llandeilo Fawr Rural also became a community in 1974; it was abolished in 1987, being divided between the communities of ], Manordeilo and Salem, and Dyffryn Cennen. At the same time, the community of Llandeilo was enlarged to take in the area of the abolished community of ] west of the town, which brought Dinefwr Castle and its grounds into the community of Llandeilo.<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=5 January 2025}}</ref><ref name=electionmaps/><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=5 January 2025}}</ref>


==Sports and recreation== ==Sports and recreation==
]
The local rugby union team is ], which was one of the founding clubs of the ]. The town is also home to Llandeilo Town AFC, an ] club currently playing in the ].
Llandeilo has two main parks: Penlan Park and Parc Le Conquet. Penlan Park contains a bandstand and a woodland walk to the ] estate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=bandstand penlan parc llandeilo – Visit Llandeilo |url=http://www.visitllandeilo.co.uk/bandstand-penlan-parc-llandeilo/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |language=en-US}}</ref> Parc Le Conquet is home to the town’s ] club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Llandeilo Bowling Club - BowlsChat |url=https://bowlschat.com/directory/clubs/llandeilo-bowling-club |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=bowlschat.com}}</ref>


⚫ The town has several sports clubs. The local rugby union team is ], which was one of the founding clubs of the ]. The town is also home to Llandeilo Town AFC, an ] club currently playing in the ]. Llandeilo Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1908/9. The club and course disappeared in the late 1960s.<ref>, “Golf’s Missing Links”.</ref> The town also has a thriving cricket club that fields a male, female and junior teams.
In 2008 Llandeilo hosted the ].


The town also hosted a celebrity football event that took place between 2015 and 2017 to help raise funds for ] children's hospice. Celebrities who took part in the event included EastEnders actor Matt Lapinskas, Former Blackburn & Scotland defender Colin Hendry, Big Brother runner-up Glyn Wise, former Wales rugby player Mark Taylor, and Everton & Wales legend Neville Southall. The event helped raise over £4,500 for the hospice.<ref>{{Cite web|title = GALLERY: Celebrities take on locals in Llandeilo charity match|url = http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/pictures/GALLERY-Celebrities-locals-Llandeilo-charity/pictures-26656345-detail/pictures.html|website = Carmarthen Journal|access-date = 2015-12-27}}</ref> The town hosted a celebrity football event that took place between 2015 and 2017 to help raise funds for ] children's hospice. Celebrities who took part in the event included EastEnders actor Matt Lapinskas, Former Blackburn & Scotland defender Colin Hendry, Big Brother runner-up Glyn Wise, former Wales rugby player Mark Taylor, and Everton & Wales legend Neville Southall. The event helped raise over £4,500 for the hospice.<ref>{{Cite web|title = GALLERY: Celebrities take on locals in Llandeilo charity match|url = http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/pictures/GALLERY-Celebrities-locals-Llandeilo-charity/pictures-26656345-detail/pictures.html|website = Carmarthen Journal|access-date = 2015-12-27}}</ref>


In 2008 Llandeilo hosted the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past World Trials - World Sheep Dog Trials |url=https://www.worldsheepdogtrials.org/past-world-trials/ |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=www.worldsheepdogtrials.org}}</ref>
⚫ Llandeilo Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1908/9. The club and course disappeared in the late 1960s.<ref>, “Golf’s Missing Links”.</ref>


==Gallery== ==Gallery==
<gallery> <gallery>
⚫ File:St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo.jpg|St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo
File:Careg Cennen Castle.jpg|] File:Careg Cennen Castle.jpg|]
File:Dinefwr Castle.jpg|] File:Dinefwr Castle.jpg|]
File:The Shire Hall, Llandeilo.jpg|alt=The Shire Hall, Llandeilo|Hengwrt, The Shire Hall File:The Shire Hall, Llandeilo.jpg|]
File:Salem Chapel (3).jpg|alt=Salem Chapel, Llandeilo|Salem Chapel File:Salem Chapel (3).jpg|alt=Salem Chapel, Llandeilo|Salem Chapel
File:LLandeilo Post Office - geograph.org.uk - 1171617.jpg|alt=Llandeilo Old Post Office|Old Post Office
⚫ File:Annual car show, Llandeilo, 2023.jpg|Annual car show, Llandeilo, 2022
</gallery> </gallery>


==Culture== ==Culture==

{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2020}}
Llandeilo hosted the ] in 1996, held on the meadow across the river at ]. The town sign was moved to the far side of the bridge at this time. * Llandeilo hosted the ] in 1996, held on the meadow across the river at ]. The town sign was moved to the far side of the bridge at this time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Past locations {{!}} National Eisteddfod|url=https://eisteddfod.wales/about-us/past-locations|access-date=2021-12-23|website=eisteddfod.wales}}</ref>
*Llandeilo was the birthplace of the ] brewery. *Llandeilo was the birthplace of the ] brewery.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Hurns Beer Company - Tomos Watkin Beer & Brewery|url=https://tomoswatkin.com/pages/the-hurns-beer-company|access-date=2021-12-23|website=Tomos Watkin}}</ref>
*At one time Llandeilo produced its own 'Llandeilo Style' banknotes, and this is recorded on a blue plaque on the wall of the building which used to house ], also known as The Bank of the Black Ox. *At one time Llandeilo produced its own 'Llandeilo Style' banknotes, and this is recorded on a blue plaque on the wall of the building which used to house ], also known as The Bank of the Black Ox.
*Llandeilo gave its name to ]. *Llandeilo gave its name to ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-01-09|title=Llandilo|url=https://penrithhistory.com/suburb-profiles/llandilo/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=Penrith City Local History|language=en-US}}</ref>
*Near Llandeilo, at ], near the village of ] is ]'s only known ] (or ephemeral lake). There is a nature reserve at the site, the ]. *Near Llandeilo, at ], near the village of ] is ]'s only known ] (or ephemeral lake). There is a nature reserve at the site, the ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cernydd Carmel - Special Areas of Conservation|url=https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030070|access-date=2021-12-23|website=sac.jncc.gov.uk}}</ref>
*Llandeilo is ] with ] in ]. *Llandeilo has been ] with ] in ] since 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Llandeilo|url=https://www.llandeilotwinning.co.uk/about-llandeilo|access-date=2021-12-23|website=Llandeilo Twinning|language=en}}</ref>
*The town hosts a literary festival every spring.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Llandeilo feels the literary buzz with fifth Literature Festival |url=https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/20109783.llandeilo-book-lovers-feeing-groove/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=South Wales Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
*Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music (Est 2000). Each July Llandeilo hosts an international Classical Music event.
*Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music (Est 2000). Each July Llandeilo hosts an international Classical Music event.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Llandeilo Festival of Music |url=http://www.llandeilomusicfestival.org.uk/programme/programme.html|access-date=2021-12-23|website=The Llandeilo Festival of Music 2019}}</ref>
*The Llandeilo Festival of Senses - an event involving food stalls, crafts and fireworks - takes place each year in November.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About – Llandeilo Festival of Senses|url=https://fos.wales/about/|access-date=2021-12-23|language=en}}</ref>
* Llandeilo was named one of the best places to live in Wales in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=These towns have been named as the best places to live in Wales|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/towns-named-best-places-wales-12719747|publisher=Wales Online}}</ref> * Llandeilo was named one of the best places to live in Wales in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=These towns have been named as the best places to live in Wales|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/towns-named-best-places-wales-12719747|publisher=Wales Online}}</ref>


==Notable people== ==Notable people==
:''See ]'' :''See ]''
], ca.1912]]
⚫ ] was born in Llandeilo in 1874. A teacher by profession, she later became a prominent member of the ] and became editor of ''The Suffragette'', the mouthpiece of the ].<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=63825 |title=Rachel Barrett|first=Caroline|last=Morrell}}</ref>
* ] (ca.1090 – 1137), Prince of ]
* ] (ca.1574 – 1634), a Welsh courtier and politician
* ] (ca.1575–1641), writer, who promoted colonization of Newfoundland, from ]
* ] (1724–1779), a Welsh politician and courtier from ]
* ] (ca.1752–1804) a Welsh landowner and politician from ]
* ] (1793–1873), a Welsh-Australian merchant, founder of ].
* ] (1806–1890), landowner and Liberal Party politician, MP 1857/1868 & 1885/1890.
* ] (1817–1888), a Welsh church minister and chapel architect
* ] (1853–1946), novelist
⚫ * ] (1874–1953), a teacher, Welsh suffragette and editor of ''The Suffragette'' .<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=63825 |title=Rachel Barrett|first=Caroline|last=Morrell}}</ref>
* ] (1882–1968), a Welsh painter, illustrator, author and businessman
* ] (1890–1976), novelist and short story writer; author of nine published novels.
* ] (1890–1943), a British World War I ]
* ] (born 1947), helped establish the ] in 1981.<ref>{{Cite book |last=King |first=Richard |title=Brittle with Relics: A History of Wales 1962-1997 |publisher=Fabre and Faber |year=2022 |isbn=978-0571295647}}</ref> lived in nearby ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=WalesOnline |date=2011-05-26 |title=I’d do it all again says Greenham Common organiser Ann Pettitt |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/id-again-says-greenham-common-1836108 |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref>
* ] (born 1966), environmental activist, co-founder of ], an organic farmer on a smallholding near Llandeilo
* ] (born 1988), a Welsh theatre and film actor.

== Llandeilo relief road ==
The amount of traffic coming into the town has caused considerable debate. In 2020, town mayor, Owen James, said “As it stands it’s simply dangerous for people to come into Llandeilo. I know of people who don’t want to come into Llandeilo for that reason. Stand on the main road – you know exactly why we need a bypass.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-14 |title='Excellent news' after Welsh Government says Llandeilo bypass not included in new road freeze |url=https://nation.cymru/news/excellent-news-after-welsh-government-says-llandeilo-bypass-not-included-in-new-road-freeze/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref> Work on a bypass road was scheduled to begin in 2019, directing traffic around the town. Commencement of construction work has been delayed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-08-18 |title=Llandeilo bypass delayed until 2025 by Welsh Government |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-53821919 |access-date=2022-05-21}}</ref> A freeze on construction of new roads in Wales did not include the bypass, which the Welsh Government has estimated to cost £50m.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Nino |date=2021-06-28 |title=Welsh Government say Llandeilo bypass can go ahead |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-government-say-llandeilo-bypass-20917711 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref>

A final decision on how best to proceed with the bypass was scheduled for the autumn of 2022, but was delayed until later in the winter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decision on long-awaited Llandeilo bypass or diversion scheme has been put back |url=https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/23172115.decision-long-awaited-llandeilo-bypass-put-back/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=South Wales Guardian |language=en}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
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Latest revision as of 17:25, 7 January 2025

Town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales For the suburb of Sydney, see Llandilo. For the geologic period, see Llandeilo Group.

Human settlement in Wales
Llandeilo
St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo
Llandeilo is located in CarmarthenshireLlandeiloLlandeiloLocation within Carmarthenshire
Population1,784 (Community, 2021)
OS grid referenceSN625225
Community
  • Llandeilo
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLLANDEILO
Postcode districtSA19
Dialling code01558
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Carmarthenshire

51°53′06″N 3°59′31″W / 51.885°N 3.992°W / 51.885; -3.992


Map of the community

Llandeilo (Welsh pronunciation: [ɬanˈdeilɔ] ) is a town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th-century stone bridge. At the 2021 the community had a population of 1,784. It is adjacent to the westernmost point of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.

In 2021, The Sunday Times called the town one of the top six places to live in Wales. The newspaper praised the town as a ‘sophisticated shopping destination and a great showcase for local arts and crafts’.

History

Early history

Roman soldiers were active in the area around Llandeilo around AD74, as evidenced by the foundations of two castra discovered on the grounds of the Dinefwr estate. The fortifications measured 3.85 hectares and 1.54 hectares, respectively. Roman roads linked Llandeilo with Llandovery and Carmarthen. A small civil settlement developed outside the gates of the fort and may have continued in use as the embryonic town after the Romans left in around AD120.

Llandeilo is named after one of the better-known Celtic saints of the 6th century, Saint Teilo. The Welsh word llan signified a monastery or a church. Saint Teilo, who was a contemporary of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, established a clas (a small monastic settlement) on the site of the present-day parish church. There is reasonable evidence to suggest, however, that Saint Teilo was buried in Llandeilo. The parish church of Llandeilo Fawr ("Great Llandeilo") is dedicated to Saint Teilo, and until 1880 its churchyard encompassed his baptistery.

The early Christian settlement that developed around the Saint Teilo's Church prospered, and by the early 9th century it had attained considerable ecclesiastical status as the seat of a Bishop-Abbot. The Church of St Teilo soon became a 'mother church' to the surrounding district, acquiring an extensive estate, and possessing one of Wales' most beautiful and finely illustrated manuscripts – the Gospel Book of Saint Teilo. The discovery of fragments of two large Celtic crosses from this period provides further testimony to Llandeilo's importance and indeed prestige as an early ecclesiastical centre. Towards the end of the 9th century, the importance of Llandeilo as a spiritual centre had started to decline.

Dinefwr Castle (anglicised as Dynevor) overlooks the River Tywi near the town. It lies on a ridge on the northern bank of the Tywi, with a steep drop of about 250 feet (76 m) to the river. Dinefwr was the chief seat of the kingdom of Deheubarth.

Houses along Llandeilo bridge
Houses along Llandeilo bridge

The estate of Golden Grove lies near the town, and further away, the impressive Carreg Cennen Castle, another Welsh stronghold. The remains of Talley Abbey can be seen 6 miles (9.7 km) away to the north of the town. 10 miles (16 km) further north are the remains of the Roman Dolaucothi Gold Mines.

Medieval period

Llandeilo’s Market Street
Market Street, Llandeilo

In the centuries that followed the Norman conquest of England, the Bishop of Llandaff and Bishop of St David's both claimed Llandeilo for their respective diocese. By the early 12th century, Llandeilo came under the patronage of the Bishopric of St David's, an ecclesiastic borough that became responsible for the affairs of the town including its development as an important medieval market centre to an extensive agricultural hinterland. Until the middle of the 20th century, a fair called St. Teilo's Fair, which had been authorised initially by Edward I of England in 1291, was held annually in the churchyard. Some of the agricultural produce and other goods offered for sale are recorded to have been displayed on the tombstones.

The town was put to the torch during Owain Glyndwr's march through the Tywi Valley in July 1403. Nearby Carreg Cennen Castle was besieged by Yorkist forces in 1461 during the Wars of the Roses and partially demolished.

Early modern period to the present

At the Reformation, the town was at the centre of the parish known as Llandeilo Fawr. It was in the Diocese of St Davids and part of the archdeaconry of Carmarthen. In 1560, the bishop of St Davids recorded the population of Llandeilo Fawr as 620 households (perhaps amounting to 2,790 people), many of whom would have lived in Llandeilo itself.

In the middle of the seventeenth century, Llandeilo was in the area of influence of the royalist general Sir Henry Vaughan. A royalist skirmish took place in the town in April 1648, defeating elements of the New Model Army.

In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Llandeilo as having a population of 1,533. He observed that “the principal trade of the town is in corn and flour; the other industries include woollen cloth mills, timber and saw mills, and tanneries”.

Llandeilo bridges

The railway bridge over the Tywi is currently (2011) under restoration.

The road and railway bridges over the Tywi are of engineering interest. The single-arched Llandeilo Bridge was completed in 1848 and is Grade II* listed. The railway bridge, opened in 1852, is a rare survival of an early lattice truss bridge.

In the Great Storm of 1987, the floods were so severe that the River Tywi (Towy) overwhelmed the railway bridge crossing the river near Llandeilo. Four people, one of them a boy, were drowned when the 05:27 train from Swansea to Shrewsbury plunged off the damaged Glanrhyd Bridge into the river.

Governance

There are two tiers of local government covering Llandeilo, at community (town) and county level: Llandeilo Fawr Town Council (Cyngor Tref Llandeilo Fawr) and Carmarthenshire County Council (Cyngor Sir Gâr). The town council is based at Hengwrt (Old Courthouse) at 8 Carmarthen Street, being the former Shire Hall, built in 1802.

The Llandeilo community is bordered by the communities of: Manordeilo and Salem; Dyffryn Cennen; Llanfihangel Aberbythych; and Llangathen, all being in Carmarthenshire.

Administrative history

Llandeilo historically formed part of the parish of Llandeilo Fawr, which also included extensive rural areas north and south of the town itself. In 1859, a local government district called Llandilo was established covering the central part of the parish around the town itself. Such local government districts were converted into urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894. The 1894 Act also directed that parishes could no longer straddle district boundaries, and so that part of the parish outside the urban district became a separate parish called Llandeilo Fawr Rural.

The official spelling of the name of the urban district was 'Llandilo' until 1957, when it was changed to 'Llandeilo' to better reflect modern Welsh orthography.

Llandeilo Urban District was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. A community called Llandeilo was created instead, covering the area of the abolished urban district. Although the community name is officially just Llandeilo, its community council calls itself Llandeilo Fawr 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.

The parish of Llandeilo Fawr Rural also became a community in 1974; it was abolished in 1987, being divided between the communities of Cwmamman, Manordeilo and Salem, and Dyffryn Cennen. At the same time, the community of Llandeilo was enlarged to take in the area of the abolished community of Llandyfeisant west of the town, which brought Dinefwr Castle and its grounds into the community of Llandeilo.

Sports and recreation

View of Llandeilo from Penlan Park
View of Llandeilo from Penlan Park

Llandeilo has two main parks: Penlan Park and Parc Le Conquet. Penlan Park contains a bandstand and a woodland walk to the Dinefwr estate. Parc Le Conquet is home to the town’s bowls club.

The town has several sports clubs. The local rugby union team is Llandeilo RFC, which was one of the founding clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union. The town is also home to Llandeilo Town AFC, an association football club currently playing in the Carmarthenshire League. Llandeilo Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1908/9. The club and course disappeared in the late 1960s. The town also has a thriving cricket club that fields a male, female and junior teams.

The town hosted a celebrity football event that took place between 2015 and 2017 to help raise funds for Ty Hafan children's hospice. Celebrities who took part in the event included EastEnders actor Matt Lapinskas, Former Blackburn & Scotland defender Colin Hendry, Big Brother runner-up Glyn Wise, former Wales rugby player Mark Taylor, and Everton & Wales legend Neville Southall. The event helped raise over £4,500 for the hospice.

In 2008 Llandeilo hosted the World Sheepdog Trials.

Gallery

Culture

  • Llandeilo hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1996, held on the meadow across the river at Ffairfach. The town sign was moved to the far side of the bridge at this time.
  • Llandeilo was the birthplace of the Tomos Watkin brewery.
  • At one time Llandeilo produced its own 'Llandeilo Style' banknotes, and this is recorded on a blue plaque on the wall of the building which used to house Llandovery Bank, also known as The Bank of the Black Ox.
  • Llandeilo gave its name to Llandilo, New South Wales.
  • Near Llandeilo, at Pant-y-llyn, near the village of Carmel, Carmarthenshire is Great Britain's only known turlough (or ephemeral lake). There is a nature reserve at the site, the Carmel National Nature Reserve.
  • Llandeilo has been twinned with Le Conquet in Brittany since 1980.
  • The town hosts a literary festival every spring.
  • Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music (Est 2000). Each July Llandeilo hosts an international Classical Music event.
  • The Llandeilo Festival of Senses - an event involving food stalls, crafts and fireworks - takes place each year in November.
  • Llandeilo was named one of the best places to live in Wales in 2017.

Notable people

See Category:People from Llandeilo
Rachel Barrett, ca.1912

Llandeilo relief road

The amount of traffic coming into the town has caused considerable debate. In 2020, town mayor, Owen James, said “As it stands it’s simply dangerous for people to come into Llandeilo. I know of people who don’t want to come into Llandeilo for that reason. Stand on the main road – you know exactly why we need a bypass.” Work on a bypass road was scheduled to begin in 2019, directing traffic around the town. Commencement of construction work has been delayed. A freeze on construction of new roads in Wales did not include the bypass, which the Welsh Government has estimated to cost £50m.

A final decision on how best to proceed with the bypass was scheduled for the autumn of 2022, but was delayed until later in the winter.

See also

References

  1. "Llandeilo community". City Population. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  2. Times, The Sunday. "Why Llandeilo and the Tywi valley, Carmarthenshire, is one of the best places to live in 2021". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  3. Gregory, Rhys (26 March 2021). "Six Welsh locations named in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2021". Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  4. "Llandeilo History - Roman Fort". llandeilo.org. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. "Dyfed Archaeology" (PDF). Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  6. "LLANDEILO FAWR – Dyfed Archaeological Trust". Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  7. "St Teilo's Church Llandeilo (100867)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  8. "LLANDEILO FAWR – Dyfed Archaeological Trust". Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  9. "LLANDEILO FAWR – Dyfed Archaeological Trust". Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  10. "Llandeilo History - The Rise and Fall of a Saint's Community". www.llandeilo.org. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  11. "Fiery Medieval history as Llandeilo burned three times". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. "Llandeilo History - The Burning of Llandeilo". www.llandeilo.org. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  13. "Journal of Welsh religious history | Vol. 5 | 1997 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales". journals.library.wales. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  14. "SIR HENRY VAUGHAN of Derwydd: A Welsh Colonel of the English Civil War". www.a40infobahn.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  15. "History of Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire". A vision of Britain. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  16. "Llandeilo Bridge (including causeways) (partly in Dyffryn Cennen community), Llandeilo". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  17. "Glanrhyd disaster: Memories of train tragedy 30 years on". BBC News. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Contact info". Llandeilo Fawr Town Council. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  19. "Llandeilo Shire Hall or Town Hall". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  20. "Welsh Government: £200,000 funding to complete restoration works at one of Llandeilo's oldest buildings". South Wales Guardian. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  22. "Llandeilo Fawr Ancient Parish / Civil Parish". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  23. "No. 22256". The London Gazette. 29 April 1859. p. 1767.
  24. Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire and South Wales. 1895. p. 384. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  25. The Registrar General's Statistical Review of England and Wales. 1957. p. 371. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  26. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 6 October 2022
  27. "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 9 October 2022
  28. Langston, Brett. "Carmarthen Registration District". UK BMD. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  29. "Carmarthenshire: Diagram showing administrative boundaries, 1971". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  30. "bandstand penlan parc llandeilo – Visit Llandeilo". Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  31. "Llandeilo Bowling Club - BowlsChat". bowlschat.com. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  32. “Llandeilo Golf Club”, “Golf’s Missing Links”.
  33. "GALLERY: Celebrities take on locals in Llandeilo charity match". Carmarthen Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  34. "Past World Trials - World Sheep Dog Trials". www.worldsheepdogtrials.org. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  35. "Past locations | National Eisteddfod". eisteddfod.wales. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  36. "The Hurns Beer Company - Tomos Watkin Beer & Brewery". Tomos Watkin. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  37. "Llandilo". Penrith City Local History. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  38. "Cernydd Carmel - Special Areas of Conservation". sac.jncc.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  39. "Llandeilo". Llandeilo Twinning. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  40. "Llandeilo feels the literary buzz with fifth Literature Festival". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  41. "The Llandeilo Festival of Music [Overview]". The Llandeilo Festival of Music 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  42. "About – Llandeilo Festival of Senses". Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  43. "These towns have been named as the best places to live in Wales". Wales Online.
  44. Morrell, Caroline. "Rachel Barrett". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/63825. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  45. King, Richard (2022). Brittle with Relics: A History of Wales 1962-1997. Fabre and Faber. ISBN 978-0571295647.
  46. WalesOnline (26 May 2011). "I'd do it all again says Greenham Common organiser Ann Pettitt". WalesOnline. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  47. "'Excellent news' after Welsh Government says Llandeilo bypass not included in new road freeze". Nation.Cymru. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  48. "Llandeilo bypass delayed until 2025 by Welsh Government". BBC News. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  49. Williams, Nino (28 June 2021). "Welsh Government say Llandeilo bypass can go ahead". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  50. "Decision on long-awaited Llandeilo bypass or diversion scheme has been put back". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2022.

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