Editing Cenarth

{{short description|Village in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}
{{about|the village|the ward|Cenarth (electoral ward)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                     = Wales
| welsh_name                  = Cenarth
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Assembly constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr]]
| static_image_name           = CenarthWestWales.jpg
| static_image_width          = 200
| static_image_caption        = View of River Teifi downstream (westwards) from Cenarth Bridge
| official_name               = Cenarth
| coordinates                 = {{coord|52.046|-4.527|display=inline,title}}
| community_wales             = Cenarth
| unitary_wales               = [[Carmarthenshire]]
| lieutenancy_wales           = [[Dyfed]]
| constituency_westminster    = [[Caerfyrddin (UK Parliament constituency)|Caerfyrddin]]
| population                  = 1,030
| population_ref              = (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11121754&c=SA38+9LD&d=16&e=62&g=6492081&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1428940590860&enc=1|title=Community population 2011 |access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref>
| post_town                   = NEWCASTLE EMLYN
| postcode_district           = SA38
| postcode_area               = SA
| dial_code                   = 01239
| os_grid_reference           = SN268416
| module= [[File:Wales Carmarthenshire Community Cenarth map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}

'''Cenarth''' ({{pronunciation|Cenarth.ogg|Welsh pronunciation|help=no}}) is a village, [[parish]] and [[community (Wales)|community]] in [[Carmarthenshire]], on the border between [[Ceredigion]] and Carmarthenshire, and close to the border with [[Pembrokeshire]], Wales. It stands on the banks of the [[River Teifi]], {{convert|6|mi}} east of [[Cardigan, Ceredigion|Cardigan]] and {{convert|4|mi}} west of [[Newcastle Emlyn]], and features the [[Cenarth Falls]], a popular visitor attraction, and several other listed structures including an 18th-century corn mill incorporating the National Coracle Centre.<ref>{{cite web|title=British Listed Buildings: Cenarth|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/search/?q=Cenarth#.XTWFTtNKhbX|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>

== History and governance ==
The ancient [[parish]] extended south of the river, and included the town of Newcastle Emlyn. In 1934, it annexed the adjoining parish of [[Cilrhedyn (Dyfed parish)|East Cilrhedyn]], and the enlarged parish corresponds with the modern community, which had a [[population]] of 1,022 in the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]]. With the community of [[Newcastle Emlyn]], it makes up the Carmarthenshire [[Cenarth (electoral ward)|electoral ward of Cenarth]], which had a population of 1,995 in 2001, with 60 per cent [[Welsh language]] speakers. The ancient parish (less Newcastle Emlyn) had an area of {{convert|6420|acre}}.<ref name=GEN>{{cite web|title=GENUKI: Cenarth|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/Cenarth/|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> Its [[Census in the United Kingdom|census]] populations were: 672 (1801); 897 (1851); 638 (1901). The percentage of Welsh-speakers was 98 (1891); 96 (1931).

The enlarged parish (post-1934) had an area of {{convert|12100|acre}}. Its census populations were: 1098 (1951); 1066 (1961); 926 (1971); 971 (1981). The percentage of Welsh-speakers was 92 (1951); 91 (1961); 82 (1971); 69 (1981).

The [[Community (Wales)|community]] is bordered by the communities of: [[Newcastle Emlyn]]; [[Llangeler]]; [[Cynwyl Elfed]]; and [[Trelech]], all being in Carmarthenshire; by [[Clydau]] and [[Manordeifi]] in [[Pembrokeshire]]; and by [[Beulah, Ceredigion|Beulah]] and [[Llandyfriog]] in [[Ceredigion]].

==Features==
East of the village, the River Teifi emerges from a deep [[ravine]] over a ledge that produces a spectacular [[Cenarth Falls|waterfall]] when the river is in full spate and this attracts many visitors throughout the year. A dramatic painting of the falls was made by [[Frank Miles]] and is now at Nottingham City Museum. Miles's father inherited Cardigan Priory from his father, Philip John Miles, but lived in Nottinghamshire as Rector of Bingham.<ref name="artuk">{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/salmon-leap-cenarth-falls-cardiganshire-47218|title=Salmon Leap, Cenarth Falls, Cardiganshire|website=Art UK|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Cenarth Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1122380.jpg|thumb|180px|Cenarth Bridge viewed from the west]]
A dominant feature of the village is [[Cenarth Bridge]] over the Teifi west of the falls; the bridge was built in 1787 by [[William Edwards (architect)|William Edwards]] of [[Eglwysilan]] and his son David. The bridge features their trademark series of circular holes (perforated [[spandrel]]s that allow the weight of the structure to be reduced without losing strength. The bridge is a Grade II*-[[listed building|listed]] structure and is partly in Carmarthenshire<ref>{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num=9881 |desc=Cenarth Bridge (Carmarthenshire) |grade=II* |access-date=22 July 2019 }}</ref> and partly in Ceredigion.<ref>{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num=9374 |desc=Cenarth Bridge (Ceredigion) |grade=II* |access-date=22 July 2019 }}</ref>

Other visitor attractions are a seventeenth-century [[gristmill|flour mill]] and [[coracle]] museum. The village is home to the [[National Coracle Centre]].<ref name=SC164>{{cite book |title=Far from the Sodding Crowd |last=Halstead |first=Robin | first2=Jason |last2= Hezaley |first3=Alex |last3=Morris |first4=Joel |last4=Morris |year=2007 |publisher=Penguin books |isbn=978-0-7181-4966-6 |pages=164–169}}</ref>

==Worship==
The [[parish church]] is dedicated to the local [[saint]], [[St Llawddog]]. Although the present building is relatively modern, it is on an important ancient site, and was the "bishop house" of the [[cantref]] of [[Emlyn]].

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Cenarth}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/Cenarth/index.html Cenarth on Genuki]
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2747318 Photographs of Cenarth and surrounding area on Geograph]

{{Communities of Carmarthenshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Communities in Carmarthenshire]]
[[Category:Villages in Carmarthenshire]]