Editing Llandovery

{{short description|Market town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}
{{for|the geological time period|Llandovery epoch}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = Wales
| official_name = Llandovery
| welsh_name = Llanymddyfri
| static_image_name = Llandovery, Carmarthenshire.jpg
| static_image_caption = Monument to [[Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan]] at Llandovery
| static_image_2_name = [[File:Flag of Llandovery.svg|150px]]
| static_image_2_caption = Flag
| map_type = 
| coordinates = {{coord|51|59|45|N|3|47|50|W|display=inline,title}}
| label_position = left
| os_grid_reference = SN763346
| population = 1,985
| population_ref = (Community, 2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Llandovery community |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/admin/carmarthenshire/W04000514__llandovery/ |website=City Population |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>
| community_wales = Llandovery
| unitary_wales = [[Carmarthenshire]]
| lieutenancy_wales = [[Dyfed]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Caerfyrddin (UK Parliament constituency)|Caerfyrddin]]
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Assembly constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr]]
| post_town = LLANDOVERY
| postcode_district = SA20
| postcode_area = SA
| dial_code = 01550
| module= [[File:Wales Carmarthenshire Community Llandovery map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}

'''Llandovery''' ({{langx|cy|Llanymddyfri}}; {{IPA|cy|ɬanəmˈðəvri|audio=LL-Q9309 (cym)-Jason.nlw-Llanymddyfri.wav}}) is a [[market town]] and [[community (Wales)|community]] in [[Carmarthenshire]], [[Wales]]. It lies on the [[River Tywi]] and at the junction of the [[A40 road|A40]] and [[A483 road|A483]] roads, about {{convert|25|mi|km}} north-east of [[Carmarthen]], {{convert|27|mi|km}} north of [[Swansea]] and {{convert|21|mi|km}} west of [[Brecon]].

==History==
===Etymology===
The name of the town derives from ''{{lang|cy|Llan ymlith y dyfroedd}}'', meaning "church enclosure amid the waters", i.e. between the Tywi and the [[Afon Brân]] just upstream of their confluence. A smaller watercourse, the Bawddwr, runs through and under the town.

===Roman legacy===
The [[Roman fort]] at Llanfair Hill to the north-east of the modern town was known to the [[Roman Britain|Romans]] as [[Alabum]]. It was built around AD 50–60 as part of a strategy for the conquest of [[Roman Wales|Wales]]. A [[Roman road]] heads across [[Mynydd Bach Trecastell]] to the south-east of Llandovery bound for the fort of [[Brecon Gaer]]. Another heads down the Towy valley for [[Carmarthen]], whilst a third makes for the goldmines at [[Dolaucothi]].

===Norman and medieval castle===
[[File:Llandovery Castle, Carmarthenshire.jpeg|left|thumb|[[Llandovery Castle]], Carmarthenshire, by [[Henry Gastineau]], seen about 1830]]
Attractions in the town include the remains of the Norman [[Llandovery Castle]], built in 1110. It was almost immediately captured by the Welsh and changed hands between them and the [[Normans]] until the reign of King [[Edward I of England]] in the late 13th century. The castle was used by King [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]] while on a sortie into Wales, when he executed [[Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan]] in the market place. It was later attacked by the forces of [[Owain Glyndŵr]] in 1403.

===Welsh hero===
A {{convert|16|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} stainless-steel statue to [[Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan]] was unveiled in 2001 on the north side of Llandovery Castle, overlooking the place of his execution 600 years earlier. He had led the army of King [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]] on a "wild goose chase", under the pretence of leading them to a secret rebel camp and an ambush of Glyndŵr's forces. King Henry lost patience with him, exposed the charade and had him half hanged, disembowelled in front of his own eyes, beheaded and quartered – the quarters salted and dispatched to other Welsh towns for public display.

The design of the statue, by Toby and Gideon Petersen, was chosen after a national competition. It was funded by the National Lottery and the [[Arts Council of Wales]].

===Other history===
According to folklore, the [[Physicians of Myddfai]] practised in the area in the 13th century.

The Bank of the Black Ox, one of the first Welsh banks, was established by a wealthy [[droving|cattle drover]]. The original bank building was part of the King's Head Inn. It later became part of [[Lloyds Bank]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.llandoveryhistorysociety.wales/virtual-exhibitions/notable-people/david-jones-his-family-and-the-history-of-banking/ |title=David Jones, his family and the history of Banking |publisher=Llandovery History Society |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref>

The population in 1841 was 1,709.<ref>''The Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge'' Vol. III, London (1847), Charles Knight, p. 1,013.</ref>

==Buildings==
The town has a theatre (Llandovery Theatre), a [[heritage centre]], a private school ([[Llandovery College]]) and a tourist information and heritage centre, which houses exhibitions on the Tonn Press, the area's droving history, and the 19th-century geologist [[Roderick Murchison|Sir Roderick Impey Murchison]], whose work here resulted in the name "[[Llandovery epoch#Llandovery|Llandovery]]" being given to rocks of a certain age across the world. The Llandovery epoch is the earliest in the [[Silurian]] period of geological time.

In the small central market place stands [[Llandovery Town Hall]] (1857–1858) by the architect Richard Kyke Penson. This was designed in the [[Italianate architecture|Italianate style]] with a courtroom over an open market. Behind are police cells with iron grilles; entry to the old courtroom (now a library) is via a door on the ground floor of the tower.<ref>T. Lloyd, et al, ''Buildings of Wales: Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion'', 2006, p. 258.</ref>

[[File:St Dingat's church, Llandovery - geograph.org.uk - 529663.jpg|thumb|St Dingat's Church]]
There are two medieval churches in Llandovery: the 14th-century St Dingat's to the west of the town centre, and the 12th-century [[St Mary's Church, Llanfair-ar-y-bryn|St Mary's]] on the northern outskirts of the town. St Dingat's is a [[Grade II* listed]] building, and one of the largest medieval churches in Carmarthenshire. It stands on a site which appears to have been in religious use since pre-Norman times.<ref>{{cite web |title=St Dingat, Llandingat, Carmarthenshire |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/discovery/projects/churches/st-dingat-llandingat-carmarthenshire/ |website=Heneb |publisher=Dyfed Archaeology |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=St Dingat's Church, Llandovery |url=https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/104065?term=dingat |website=Coflein |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> St Mary's is a [[Grade I listed]] building and was formerly the parish church for the neighbouring parish of [[Llanfair-ar-y-bryn]], despite not being within that parish's boundaries. It subsequently became a [[chapel of ease]] to St Dingat's in 1883 after a new church for Llanfair-ar-y-bryn was built within the parish boundaries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-10967-church-of-st-mary-llandovery |title=Church of St Mary, Llandovery |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=19 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Coflein|num=103828|desc=St Mary's Church, Llanfair ar y Bryn|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=St Mary, Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn, Carmarthenshire |url=https://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/wp/discovery/projects/churches/st-mary-llanfair-ar-y-bryn-carmarthenshire/ |website=Heneb |publisher=Dyfed Archaeology |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>

The [[Williams Pantycelyn Memorial Chapel, Llandovery|Memorial Chapel]] in Stryd y Bont was built as a memorial to the hymnist [[William Williams Pantycelyn]].

==Education==
The town's [[Comprehensive school (England and Wales)|comprehensive school]], Ysgol Pantycelyn, with about 300 pupils,<ref name=BBCfloodfears>{{Cite news |title=Carmarthenshire schools: Flood fears over Ffairfach site |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-13352299 |work=BBC News |date=11 May 2011 |access-date=12 January 2015}}</ref> was closed on 31 August 2013<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/401749#school-links |title=Ysgol Gyfun Pantycelyn |website=Gov.uk |access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref> and merged with [[Ysgol Tre-Gib]] in [[Ffairfach]] to form [[Ysgol Bro Dinefwr]].

The town has an independent day and boarding school, [[Llandovery College]].

==Sport==
Llandovery has a leading Welsh Premiership [[rugby union]] team, [[Llandovery RFC]], nicknamed The Drovers, active as such since at least 1877 and a founder member of the Welsh Rugby Union. It has successful junior and youth sections. A number of former players have gone on to represent Wales (and some other nations) in international rugby. Home games are played at its ground in Church Bank.

Llandovery Junior Football Club has a membership of over 70 from Llandovery and its surrounding area. It provides coaching and competitive scope for all aged 6 to 16 years. The club currently has an Under 14 team in the Carmarthenshire Junior League, and Under 11 and Under 8 teams playing in the Carmarthen Mini Football League.

A Llandovery Golf Club, founded in 1910, survived until the onset of the Second World War.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-64/1056-llandovery-golf-club-carmarthenshire |title=Llandovery Golf Club, Carmarthenshire |website=Golf’s Missing Links |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref> Golfing now takes place on the Llandovery College 9-hole course.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sport.wales/news--events/news--events/our-news/partner-news/llandovery-golf-facilities-improved-thanks-to-ryder-cup.aspx |title=Llandovery golf facilities improved thanks to Ryder Cup |website=Sport Wales |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Llandovery Town Hall 01.JPG|thumb|[[Llandovery Town Hall]]]]
There are two tiers of local government covering Llandovery, at [[Community (Wales)|community]] (town) and [[Principal areas of Wales|county]] level: Llandovery Town Council (Cyngor Tref Llanymddyfri) and [[Carmarthenshire County Council]] (Cyngor Sir Gâr). The town council meets at the Town Hall in the Market Square.<ref>{{cite web |title=Calendar |url=https://llandoverytowncouncil.org.uk/calendar/ |website=Llandovery Town Council |access-date=6 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419125922/https://llandoverytowncouncil.org.uk/calendar/ |archive-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>

The community is bordered by those of [[Llanfair-ar-y-bryn]], [[Myddfai]], [[Llanwrda]], and [[Cilycwm]], all being in Carmarthenshire.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>

Llandovery is [[Sister city|twinned]] with [[Pluguffan]] in [[Brittany]], France.

===Administrative history===
Llandovery historically formed part of the parish of Llandingat. Llandovery was the main settlement in the parish, which was named after its parish church of St Dingat's. The parish included surrounding rural areas as well as Llandovery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Llandingad Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10085548 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> Llandovery appears to have been an [[ancient borough]], although its earliest known [[municipal charter|charter]] was not issued until 1485 by [[Richard III]]. The borough covered the central part of Llandingat parish, including St Dingat's church.<ref>{{cite book |title=First Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Part 1 |date=1835 |page=301 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/First_Report_of_the_Commissioners_Appoin/7pNRAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA1-PA301&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>

The borough was reformed to become a [[municipal borough]] in 1836 under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]], which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country.<ref>{{cite book |title=Municipal Corporations Act |date=1835 |page=463 |url=https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk35britgoog/page/462/mode/2up |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref> The [[Local Government Act 1894]] directed that [[civil parish]]es could no longer straddle borough boundaries, and so Llandingat parish was split into a Llandingat Within parish covering the same area as the borough of Llandovery, and a Llandingat Without parish covering the areas outside the borough.<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=6 January 2025}}</ref>

The borough of Llandovery was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. A community called Llandovery was created instead, covering the area of the abolished borough, with its community council taking the name Llandovery Town Council. District-level functions passed to [[District of Dinefwr|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]].<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> Llandingat Without also became a community under the 1974 reforms; it was abolished in 1987 and split between the community of Llandovery and other neighbouring communities.<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=6 January 2025}}</ref>

==Transport==
Llandovery stands at the junction of the main [[A40 road (Great Britain)|A40]] and [[A483]] roads.

[[Llandovery railway station]] is on the [[Heart of Wales line]], with services in the direction of {{rws|Swansea}} and of {{rws|Shrewsbury}}.

==Notable residents==
In date-of-birth order. ''See also [[:Category:People from Llandovery]]''
*[[Twm Siôn Cati]] (16th c.), figure in Welsh folklore, sometimes as an outlaw and a thief<ref>George Borrow, ''Wild Wales: Its People, Language and Scenery'', Chapter 93.</ref>
*[[Rhys Prichard]] (1579–1644), Welsh-language poet (''Cannwyll y Cymry'' – The Welshman's Candle) and [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] Vicar of Llandovery<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002559/http://www.tlysau.org.uk/en/item1/21436 Casglu'r Tlysau. Retrieved 31 May 2020.]</ref>
*[[William Williams Pantycelyn]] (1717–1791), highly regarded hymnist and prose writer associated with the [[Welsh Methodist revival]]<ref>[Glyn Tegai Hughes, Meic Stephens and R. Brinley Jones, eds, ''Writers of Wales – Williams Pantycelyn, University Press of Wales on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council'', 1983.</ref>
*[[Josiah Rees]] (1744–1804), Welsh Unitarian minister, schoolmaster and writer
*[[David Jones (barrister)|David Jones]] (1765–1816), Welsh barrister known as "the Welsh Freeholder"; came from Bwlchygwynt
*[[William Hallowes Miller]] (1801–1880), Welsh mineralogist, helped found modern [[crystallography]]; born at Velindre
*[[Rice Rees]] (1804–1839), Anglican priest, fellow of [[Jesus College, Oxford]], lecturer at [[St David's College, Lampeter]] and Chaplain to the [[Bishop of St Davids]]<ref>{{Cite DWB|first=Selwyn |last=Jones |title=Rees, Rice (1804–1839), cleric and scholar |id=s-REES-RIC-1804}}</ref>
*[[William Saunders (poet)|William Saunders]] (1806–1851), Welsh-language poet, writer and printer<ref>{{Cite DWB|id=s-SAUN-WIL-1806 |title=Saunders, William (1806 - 1851), poet and writer |access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref>
*[[David Jones (Carmarthenshire MP)|David Jones]] (1810–1869), banker and [[Carmarthenshire]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[member of parliament|MP]]<ref>Election intelligence in ''The Times'', 2 April 1857; 11 April 1859.</ref><ref>[https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3365068/3365075/196 "Deaths", ''Western Mail'', Cardiff, 6 July 1869.]</ref>
*[[John Jones (Carmarthenshire MP)|John Jones]] (1812–1886), banker and Carmarthenshire Conservative MP<ref>"The General Election", ''Western Mail'', Cardiff, 10 March 1880.</ref><ref>[https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3365068/3365075/196 "Deaths", ''Western Mail'', Cardiff, 6 July 1869.]</ref><ref>"Sudden Death of Mr Jones, Bluenose, Llandovery", ''Weekly Mail'', 6 March 1886, p. 7.</ref>
*[[David Hughes Morgan|Major Sir David Hughes-Morgan]] (1871–1941), solicitor and landowner<ref>Obituary, ''[[The Times]]'', 18 March 1941.</ref>

=== Sport ===
*[[Aneurin Rees]] (1858–1932), solicitor, Town Clerk of [[Merthyr Tydfil]], rugby union player for Wales and golfer<ref>David Watkins, 2008, ''Sporting Highlights of Merthyr Tydfil'', Merthyr Tydfil: TCC Books. {{ISBN|0-9539376-6-6}}.</ref>
*[[Edward John Lewis]] (1859–1925), physician and rugby union player for Wales<ref>David Smith and Gareth Williams, 1980, ''Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union''. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. {{ISBN|0-7083-0766-3}}, pp. 40 and 57.</ref>
*[[Conway Rees]] (1870–1932), rugby union player for Wales, and schoolmaster in England and India<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=31830&includeref=dynamic|title=Conway Rees|work=WRU Searchable Player Archive|publisher=[[Welsh Rugby Union]]|access-date=13 May 2008}}</ref>
*[[Carwyn Davies]] (1964–1997), farmer and rugby union player for Wales<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carwyn Davies - Wales |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/wales/rugby/player/10500.html |publisher=ESPN.co.uk |access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref>
*[[Emyr Phillips]] (born 1987), rugby union player for Wales
*[[Wyn Jones (rugby union)|Wyn Jones]] (born 1992), rugby union player for Wales

[[File:llandovery.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Llandovery from the south]]

==Nearby places==
The [[Dolaucothi Gold Mines]] are located {{convert|10|mi|km}} away near [[Pumpsaint]] on the A482. The road follows an original [[Roman road]] to [[Bremia (fort)|Llanio fort]].

Llandovery lies just north of [[Brecon Beacons National Park]] and [[Fforest Fawr Geopark]], whose geological heritage is celebrated. These designated landscapes are centred on [[Bannau Sir Gaer|Bannau Sir Gâr]] or the [[Carmarthen Fans]], themselves part of the [[Black Mountain (range)|Black Mountain]] extending north towards the town, as [[Mynydd Myddfai]] and [[Mynydd Bach Trecastell]]. The village of [[Myddfai]] lies within the National Park, 4 miles (6&nbsp;km) to the south-east of Llandovery.

The [[Llyn Brianne]] dam is {{convert|11|mi|km}} to the north is in rugged countryside above [[Rhandirmwyn]]. The route to the dam also passes [[Twm Siôn Cati|Twm Siôn Cati's Cave]] at the [[RSPB]]'s Dinas reserve.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{wikivoyage inline|Llandovery}}

{{Carmarthenshire}}
{{Communities of Carmarthenshire}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Llandovery| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Carmarthenshire]]
[[Category:Communities in Carmarthenshire]]
[[Category:Market towns in Wales]]