Llangennech Explained

Country:Wales
Constituency Welsh Assembly:Llanelli
Official Name:Llangennech
Coordinates:51.693°N -4.092°W
Community Wales:Llangennech
Unitary Wales:Carmarthenshire
Population:5153
Population Ref:[1]
Lieutenancy Wales:Dyfed
Constituency Westminster:Llanelli
Post Town:LLANELLI
Postcode District:SA14
Postcode Area:SA
Dial Code:01554
Os Grid Reference:SN560015
Type:Village
Language:Welsh and English
Static Image Name:Salem Chapel (geograph 5898299).jpg
Static Image Caption:Capel Salem in the village centre
Static Image 2 Name:Llangennech Welcome Sign.jpg
Static Image 2 Caption:A welcome sign to the village

Llangennech (in Welsh pronounced as /ɬæn'ɡenƏx/[2]) is a village and community in the area of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, which covers an area of 1222ha.[3]

It is governed by Llangennech Community Council and Carmarthenshire County Council. Llangennech is also the name of the county electoral ward coterminous with the village. It falls in the Llanelli parliamentary and Senedd constituency. It lies in the Mid & West Wales region for regional Senedd members.

Llangennech was a coal mining community, with several local collieries mining steam coal. There is also a large Labour tradition in the village originating with the mine workers. There was a large Royal Navy depot in the village, which was closed in 2007 in Ministry of Defence restructuring.

Llangennech has a strong rugby union team, Llangennech RFC, that feeds many players into Llanelli RFC and then on to the Llanelli Scarlets regional rugby union team.

The town is served by Llangennech railway station on the Heart of Wales Line with trains to Swansea to the south and Shrewsbury to the north.

The community is bordered by the communities of Llanelli Rural, Llannon, and Llanedi, all in Carmarthenshire; and by Grovesend and Waungron and Gorseinon in the City and County of Swansea.

History

Etymology

The village has been known by many names over the years. These include Llangennydd, Llangennich, Llangenardh, Llangennach, Llangenarth, Llangenneth, Llangenyth, Llangennych and Langenardh.[4] The likely origin of the village's name comes from the parish church, known as both St. Cennech's or St. Gwynnog's. The church is believed to have been dedicated to the brothers St. Cennydd and St. Gwynog, the sons of St. Gildas. Documents reveal that the village has commemorated St. Gwynog since at least the 16th century.

Llangennech Estate

The Llangennech Estate, covering around 4,000 acres of land, was formed between 1801 and 1803 when John Symmonds bought land from Sir John Stepney and various others. In 1804 it entered the hands of the Earl of Warwick and John Vancouver, brother of George Vancouver. After surrendering the estate back to Symmons in 1806, it was sold to the MP Edward Rose Tunno in 1821 or 1824. Tunno leased much of the estate. Thomas Margrave of the Llangennech Coal Company leased the "Llangennech Mansion" in 1826. The industrialist Richard Janion Nevill leased the mansion among other lands. He suffered a stroke at the Mansion and died the same day on ;[5] his son and wife lived there until 1870. After Tunno's death, Edward Sartoris, Nevill's nephew and MP for Carmarthenshire, received the Llangennech estate. He went on to marry Nellie Grant, daughter of President Ulysses Grant.[6]

Llangennech Park House was a country estate in what is now Maes Tŷ Gwyn. Attempts at securing protected site status were futile and it now stands abandoned.[7]

The Rebecca Riots

On 28 June 1843, rioters attacked and destroyed the Bridge End toll gate, which stood near where The Bridge public house stands today.

Whilst this is the only recorded occurrence of the Rebecca Riots in the village, residents still took part in them elsewhere. The Welshman reported that the murderer of Sarah Williams, who is believed to be the only victim killed during the riots, was a "named shoemaker of Llangennech".[8]

Industry

Coal

The village's coal industry dates back to at least the 17th century, where the Duchy of Lancaster survey in 1609 talks of a Thomas Lloyd's "coleworks" in the Allt area of the village. "Llangennech Coal", as it was known, was used extensively around the world.[9]

The 'RN'

The village was home to a Royal Navy Stores Depot colloquially known as the 'RN'.[10] [11] Over 1,000 workers were employed by the depot during the Second World War.

Its closure in 1988 exacerbated the unemployment caused by the closures of other industry in the area.[12]

Though it no longer belongs to the Royal Navy, the site still operates as a contractor for the Ministry of Defence, helping to equip the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier vehicles which were used by the British Army during the war in Afghanistan.[13]

Aircraft crashes

Demographics

Llangennech community's population was 4,964, according to the 2011 census;[3] an increase of 10.07% since the 4,510 people noted in 2001.[18] The 2019 ONS estimates put the population at 5,153.[19]

The 2011 census showed 39.9% of the population could speak Welsh, a fall from 46.8% in 2001.[20]

Geography

The Afon Morlais runs through the village. The Troserch Woodlands lie near the Afon Morlais, approximately one mile to the north of the village. It is owned by the Troserch Woodland Society. The woodland received a community Green Flag award in 2021.[21] The remains of the old Troserch Mill stands in the woodland.

Animals including otters, hedgehogs and species of reptile including grass snakes, the common lizard and adders have been recorded in the village.[22]

Governance

Llangennech is currently represented in the UK Parliament by Nia Griffith MP[23] and in the Welsh Senedd by Lee Waters MS,[24] both under the Llanelli constituency. Both are members of the Labour party.

The Local Authority for the area is Carmarthenshire County Council and the village's county councillors are Gary Jones and Jacqueline Seward.

Llangennech Community Council

See also: Llangennech Community Council. On a community level, Llangennech is run by Llangennech Community Council. It currently seats 12 councillors who are elected on a quadrennial basis. Meetings are held in the Llangennech Community Centre and Bryn Hall.

Transport

Llangennech is a commuter village[25] - 85.1% of households own at least one car.[26] The main thoroughfare of the village, the B4297, connects with the A4138 road - northeast from Hendy and southwest from Bryn - which itself connects with junction 48 of the M4.

Two bus services operate in the village: the L3 and L7. These are run by First Cymru. Residents complained about the reliability of these services, leading local politicians to secure promises from the operator that the services would improve.[27] [28]

Llangennech is served by the Heart of Wales line, with train services between Swansea and Shrewsbury. The franchise for the line is currently run by Transport for Wales (TfW).

Derailment incident

On 26 August 2020, ten tankers derailed near the village and spilled around 446,000 litres of fuel. The area of the spillage included a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The incident caused major damage to these environments.

Education

Ysgol Gymraeg Llangennech is the only school in the village. As of 2021, there were 420 pupils on roll at the school.[29]

It is notable for its choir, which has competed in the Urdd Eisteddfod[30] and the BBC's Song of Praise's School Choir of the Year competition which it won in 2015.[31] [32]

In 2017, Carmarthenshire County Council voted 38-20 in favour of somewhat controversial plans for the school to switch from dual stream education to an exclusively Welsh-medium education.[33] [34] [35]

The school historically feeds into Ysgol Gyfun y Strade and Bryngwyn Comprehensive School for secondary education.[36]

Religious sites

There are 4 religious sites in the village: Bryn Seion, Capel Bethesda, St Gwynog's and Capel Salem. The latter 3 all contain Grade II listed buildings.[37] [38] [39] [40] Bryn Seion, a Presybterian chapel, was the subject of a book written by the local resident and renowned historian Hywel Teifi Edwards.

St Gwynog's contains a church built in 1908 at an estimated cost of £2,000. The architect was E. M. Bruce Vaughan. Officially it is known as St Gwynog's, though it has also been known as St Cennych's. The site of St Gwynog's has been home to a church since 1345.

Sports

In late 2018, the Llangennech and Bryn Sports Association (LBSA) was formed. It is a charitable organisation focused on promoting sports in the villages of Llangennech and Bryn, and lobbying for better sporting facilities.[41]

Rugby

The village's rugby team is Llangennech RFC. There are a range of age groups able to play, and the main team play in the WRU Division One West league. Notable players include the bodybuilder Flex Lewis.

Football

The village is represented in football by Llangennech AFC in the Carmarthenshire League.

Cricket

Cricket made its way to the village in 1881.[42] It is currently represented by Llangennech Cricket Club. It has three senior sides, all playing in the South Wales Cricket Association's leagues. In 2019 the club won both the All Wales Sport midweek league and cup.[43]

Bowls

There is a bowling green in the village used by the Llangennech & Bryn bowls club.

Notable residents

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. ONS 2019 Mid-Year Population Estimates
  2. Book: Pointon, Graham E. . BBC pronouncing dictionary of British names . . 1990 . 148.
  3. Web site: Area: Llangennech (Ward) . . 30 January 2013 . 13 February 2017.
  4. Book: Charles, Alwyn . History of Llangennech . Llangennech Community Council . 1997 . 0953080706 . 1st . 11 . en . 38340509.
  5. Nevill family (per. c. 1793–1973), copper smelters and colliery proprietors . 2023-08-28 . 2004 . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/47502 . Richard Janion Nevill suffered a stroke and died at Llangennech Park on 14 January 1856, aged seventy. . Jones . R. Protheroe . Symons . M. V. .
  6. Llangennech/Carson . Heir Hunters . Heir Hunters . BBC . 2014-07-09 . 3 . 7 .
  7. Web site: Llangennech house, Llangennech, Carmarthenshire . 2022-08-28 . www.welshruins.co.uk.
  8. Book: Williams, David . The Rebecca Riots . University of Wales Press . 1955 . 9780708309339 . 350 . en . 1275631375 .
  9. News: 1834-07-19 . LLANELLY FLOATING DOCK AND RAILWAY . The Cambrian . 2022-09-06 . The neighbourhood of Llanelly is famous for the coal it produces, especially that description of coal known by the name of 'Llangennech Coal' . National Library for Wales.
  10. News: 2017-02-20 . Back to school . cy . BBC Cymru Fyw . 2023-08-17.
  11. Web site: MILITARY BASES The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales - Credo Reference . limited . 2023-08-18 . search.credoreference.com.
  12. Web site: LLANGENNECH, Carmarthenshire (1222 ha; 4510 inhabitants) The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales - Credo Reference . limited . 2023-08-18 . search.credoreference.com.
  13. News: 2009-11-19 . New base to equip Afghan vehicles . en-GB . 2023-01-19.
  14. Web site: REF: EW/C92/3/3 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190725191749/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/54230294ed915d1371000bc9/Piper_PA-30_Twin_Comanche__G-ASSR_06-92.pdf . 2019-07-25 . 2022-08-28 . gov.uk . Air Accident Investigation Branch . en.
  15. Web site: Huckfield . Paul . Burton . John . 2013-03-01 . Military Aircraft Crash sites in Southeast Wales . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419140010/http://www.ggat.org.uk/timeline/pdf/Military%20Aircraft%20Crash%20Sites%20in%20Southeast%20Wales.pdf . 2022-04-19 . 2022-08-28 . The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust.
  16. News: 1958-01-14 . Pilot's body is found in shattered Canberra . en . Western Mail.
  17. News: 1958-01-18 . Jet crash shakes infants' school . Llanelly Star.
  18. Web site: Area: Llangennech (Ward) . . 18 November 2004 . 13 February 2017.
  19. Web site: 2021 . Llangennech Ward: Electoral Division Profile . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831202907/https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/media/1225642/llangennech-ward.pdf . 2022-08-31 . PDF . 2023-08-28 . carmarthenshire.gov.wales .
  20. Web site: 2011 Census results by Community . . 2016 . 13 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170914001036/http://www.comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru/English/Policy,%20research%20and%20data/Census%20Data/Pages/2011CensusresultsbyCommunity.aspx . 14 September 2017 . dead .
  21. Web site: Withers . Emily . 2021-10-14 . The full list of the 248 best parks in Wales . 2023-08-30 . WalesOnline . en.
  22. Web site: Wildlife in your Ward – Llangennech . 2023-08-19 . Carmarthenshire County Council.
  23. News: Llanelli parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News . en-GB . 2023-08-15.
  24. Web site: 2021-05-08 . Senedd 2021: Labour's Lee Waters 'blown away' with Llanelli win . 2023-08-15 . South Wales Argus . en.
  25. Book: Davies, Geoffery . Carmarthenshire Villages . Sigma Leisure . 2012 . 978-1-85058-943-3 . 98–99.
  26. 2011. KS404EW - Car or van availability. Car or van availability. 2023-08-30.
  27. News: Lewis . Ian . 2021-11-17 . Hopes for bus service to be more dependable . 7 . Llanelli Star.
  28. Web site: 2021-10-11 . First Cymru makes promise to mend bus service from Llanelli to Llangennech . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206024645/https://walesnewsonline.com/first-cymru-makes-promise-to-mend-bus-service-from-llanelli-to-llangennech/ . 2021-12-06 . 2023-01-10 . Wales News Online.
  29. Web site: Ysgol Gymraeg Llangennech . 2022-10-09 . mylocalschool.gov.wales.
  30. Web site: heraldwales . 2016-03-16 . Theatre Ffwrnes St David's Day Celebrations . 2023-08-17 . Herald.Wales . en-GB.
  31. News: Junior school choir takes top prize . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-08-17.
  32. Web site: Misstear . Rachael . 2015-05-18 . Llangennech Junior School 'bursting with pride' after choir take home title . 2023-08-17 . WalesOnline . en.
  33. News: 2017-01-18 . English stream education removed from Ysgol Llangennech . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-08-28.
  34. Web site: Sinclair . Tom . 2017-01-18 . Llangennech School to become Welsh-Medium . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508014003/https://www.llanelliherald.com/11508/llangennech-school-to-become-welsh-medium/ . 2021-05-08 . 2022-07-24 . The Llanelli Herald . en-GB.
  35. Web site: Shipton . Martin . 2017-02-14 . A village's Welsh schools row has become a national controversy . 2023-08-17 . WalesOnline . en.
  36. Web site: Catchment areas . 2022-10-09 . www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales.
  37. Web site: Capel Salem - Cadw Listed Buildings . 2023-08-31 . cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net.
  38. Web site: Church of St Cennych - Cadw Listed Buildings . 2023-08-31 . cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net.
  39. Web site: Bethesda Capel Bach - Cadw Listed Buildings . 2023-08-31 . cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net.
  40. Web site: Capel Bethesda - Cadw Listed Buildings . 2023-08-31 . cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net.
  41. Web site: LLANGENNECH AND BRYN SPORTS ASSOCIATION - Charity 1183362 . 2022-09-11 . register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk . en-GB.
  42. Book: Bevan . Kenny . Bois y Llan: Llangennech RFC . James . Gordon . Jones . Llew . Martin . Rhys . Kenny Bevan . 1985 . 656726362.
  43. Web site: Llangennech CC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201118135412/http://llang.play-cricket.com/ . 2020-11-18 . 2022-07-24 . llang.play-cricket.com.
  44. Web site: 2012-09-28 . Eileen Beasley: Welsh language campaigner . 2022-08-31 . The Independent . en . The Rosa Parks of the language movement in Wales was a polite but steel-willed housewife who, with her husband, refused to pay rates on their house in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, while Llanelli Rural District Council issued demands in English only..
  45. Beasley [née James], (Catherine) Eileen (1921–2012), teacher and Welsh-language campaigner ]. 2023-08-28 . 2016 . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/105629 . In 1952 Trefor and Eileen Beasley moved into their first married home, 2 Yr Allt, Llangennech. . Williams . Colin H. . James . E. Wyn .
  46. Web site: Harry Jones profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos . 2022-09-08 . ESPNcricinfo . ESPN.
  47. News: 2022-08-05 . Urddo Mark Drakeford a Huw Edwards i'r Orsedd . cy . BBC Cymru Fyw . 2022-08-31.
  48. Web site: Rees . D. Ben . 2010-01-26 . Hywel Teifi Edwards obituary . 2022-08-31 . The Guardian . en.
  49. Edwards, Hywel Teifi (1934–2010), literary scholar and cultural historian . 2023-08-28 . 2014 . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/102696 . Appointment as an extra-mural lecturer in Welsh literature at University College, Swansea, saw Edwards move in 1965 to his final home in Llangennech, near Llanelli, and marked the beginning of an idyllic thirty-year period of knowledge exchange with the working men and women he regarded as the backbone of Welsh culture. . Thomas . M. Wynn .
  50. Web site: GABE, RHYS THOMAS (REES THOMAS GAPE; 1880 - 1967), rugby player Dictionary of Welsh Biography . 2022-08-31 . biography.wales.
  51. Web site: GABE, Rhys T. (1880-1967) Rugby player The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales - Credo Reference . 2023-08-18 . search.credoreference.com.
  52. Web site: Langdon . Julia . 2020-03-30 . Lord Garel-Jones obituary . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517134809/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/30/lord-garel-jones-obituary . 2021-05-17 . 2022-08-28 . The Guardian . en.
  53. News: From Llangennech to cricket's grandest tournament . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-08-26.
  54. Nevill family (per. c. 1793–1973), copper smelters and colliery proprietors . 2023-08-28 . 2004 . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/47502 . Jones . R. Protheroe . Symons . M. V. .

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