Carmarthen gaol, designed by john nash, was in use from about 1789 until its demolition in 1922. The felons register of the gaol, 184371 contains some of the earliest mugshots in britain. Here are our favourite facts about carmarthen county. Members of extinction rebellion in carmarthen unfurl banners reading act now gweithredwch nawr in welsh on the sides of county hall in carmarthen.
There is a pay and display car park surrounding county hall and next to the castle ruins, but it is only open to the public at weekends satsun 8am 6pm there are several disability spaces. A great half hour spent in the very middle of original carmarthen, and only 2 minutes from the shops lots of information. Records relating to carmarthenshire county council, 18371997, including register of. Geograph carmarthenshire county council has a number of office buildings including county hall, which was designed in 1935 by sir percy thomas but not completed until 1955. The building was designed by percy thomas 1883 1969, who also designed swansea civic centre in the 1930s, however it would take another 2 decades before it was ready for use. I made extensive use of the archives in two of my nonfiction books, britannias.
The gaols felons register of 18431871 contains some of the earliest photographs of criminals in britain. Carmarthen castle 2020 all you need to know before you. Carmarthenshire archive service the national archives. First built by walter, sheriff of gloucester in the early 1100s, the castle was captured and destroyed on several occasions before being rebuilt in stone during the 1190s. Site description carmarthen county hall was designed in 1935 by sir percy thomas but not completed until 1955.
Carmarthen the british isles were the limit, but now the. It was here that the new testament and the book of common prayer were first translated into the welsh language in 1567 during the episcopate of bishop richard davies. The original county council was based in llandovery from 1889 to 1907, when it moved to bank house. This book covers the history of the 15th battalion, welsh regiment during the great war, which was raised as the carmarthenshire battalion of the regiment. Carmarthens guildhall, which was a courthouse up until 2016, will be transformed into a town centre bar and cafe after planners at carmarthenshire council gave the. Nov 25, 20 these days carmarthen is a pleasant little market town that has recently undergone a major redevelopment and witnessed the creation of an uptodate shopping complex, but its history is both old. Carmarthenshire county offices, designed in 1935 by sir percy thomas priba but not completed until 1955.
The initial fort is believed to date from about ad 75, possibly replacing the hillfort on merlins hill. Newyddion y newyddion diweddaraf yn sir gaerfyrddin. County hall car park located at carmarthen sa31 1jw tel. The name carmarthen is an anglicised form of the welsh caerfyrddin, caer is welsh for fort and fyrddin is the mutated myrddin, welsh for merlin in welsh the first letter of a word changes according to what precedes it. Carmarthenshire county council, carmarthen local government. The name carmarthen is an anglicised form of the welsh caerfyrddin, caer is welsh for fort and fyrddin is the mutated myrddin, welsh for merlin in welsh the first letter of.
The county hall replaced the carmarthen gaol built by john nash on part of the site of carmarthen castle. Due to a serious outbreak of mould, the archive is closed whilst work is undertaken to remove the problem the collection has been moved to glamorgan archives and swansea university. Home to a large proportion of welsh speakers, carmarthen hosted the national eisteddfod in 1867, 1911 and 1974. Archives collections carmarthenshire county council.
County hall is a municipal facility in carmarthen, wales. Carmarthen photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. This book puts carmarthen castle back at the heart of the history of medieval wales, and in its proper place in castle studies and architectural history, the whole study combining to make a major. Carmarthenshire county council has a number of office buildings including county hall, which was designed in 1935 by sir percy thomas but not completed. Carmarthen castle all you need to know before you go.
Once wales largest town before the industrial revolution, the tywi valley town of carmarthen is a living history of wales, with welsh folk tales citing it as the birthplace of king arthurs mentor, the magician merlin, the towns welsh name caerfyrddin even translates as merlins fort. It is the headquarters of carmarthenshire county council. Carmarthenshire county museum is located at abergwili, carmarthen. There are over 19,000 comic and books free for you to download. If you wish to establish if the records you want to view are amongst those listed here, or if you have any queries, please call carmarthenshire archive service on 01267 228232 or email us at archives. Carmarthen castle was one of the largest castles in medieval wales. Largely demolished during the seventeenth century, it was subsequently redeveloped, first as a prison and later as the local authority headquarters. Shows carmarthen in 1830 shows carmarthen in 1901 shows carmarthen in 1923. The museum tells the rich history the county through a diverse collection of. With over half a million books on offer between 3 regional, 15 branch and mobile libraries youre never too far away from a centre of knowledge. The scraps of history that exist from the dark ages have been blended with.
See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building. Every town is unique, but carmarthen is especially so, because of its blend of geographical location, long and varied history, culture, and role as county town. The black book of carmarthen, written at the priory, contains arthurian legends. He has an indepth knowledge of the county and its history, and has written popular and academic articles and books for local magazines such as carmarthenshire life and the university of wales press. It is on the river towy2 8 miles km north of its mouth at carmarthen bay.
It is advisable to book in advance, and necessary for use of microform. At actif sport and leisure we offer a wide range of sport and fitness activities, comprehensive swimming programme across 4 swimming pools, and access to 6 gyms with the latest fitness equipment that are available across carmarthenshire, 7 days a week. Carmarthen has a strong claim to being the oldest town in wales but the two. Masonic hall in painted stucco with raised painted plinth. Carmarthen the british isles were the limit, but now the world. These days carmarthen is a pleasant little market town that has recently undergone a major redevelopment and witnessed the creation of an uptodate shopping complex, but its history. The portico of the nash gaol was dismantled for reerection, but the stones were mislaid during the war. So this is county hall, the home of carmarthenshire county council since 1955. Masonic hall is a grade ii listed building in carmarthen, carmarthenshire, wales. Carmarthen castle is a ruined castle in carmarthen, west wales, uk.
Henry viis father died at carmarthen castle in 1456. Entrance bay to left and first floor hall in 3bay right section. Carmarthen caerfyrddin carmarthen caerfyrddin, an inland port, a borough, markettown, and parish, the head of a union, and a county of itself, locally in the hundreds of elvet and derllys, county of carmarthen, in south wales, 216 miles w. Carmarthenshire county museum is a museum in the old county town of carmarthen, carmarthenshire in.
The county hall replaces the carmarthen gaol built by john nash on part of the site of carmarthen castle. The townspeople reflect this diverse mix, for it is the people who make the town what it is today with its relaxed intermixing of the welsh and english languages. Carmarthenshire county museum has on display a fine collection of paintings that are distributed throughout its galleries. Our vision is to lead and transform information management, guarantee the survival of todays information for tomorrow and bring history to life for everyone. Our archives collections are now available to view at the glamorgan archives cardiff and the richard burton archive at swansea university. An act of parliament authorised the building of a railway from carmarthen to cardigan. Sited on the river towy, the towns history stretches to preroman times, and lays claims to be the the oldest town in wales. Drawing on recent archaeological excavations and documentary research, neil ludlow sheds light on what daily life was like for castle officials and other occupants and provides details of their. Carmarthenshire county council is one of the largest an.
It gives a unique picture of an elizabethan welsh town. In carmarthenshire, blue badge holders can park for up. The fort lasted until about 120, when the associated civilian vicus took over and the place became a town. Carmarthen, caerfyrddin, county town of carmarthenshire.
Various items on the peoples collection wales site talley abbey around 1900. Visit the county town of carmarthen and soak up welsh history at carmarthen castle or learn more about local legend at carmarthen museum, where you can see merlins oak, reputed to be the last remaining fragment of the tree which marked the birthplace of the famed magician. Jul 01, 2018 carmarthenshire county museum, carmarthen. Our range of memberships include everything you need to make fitness part of your life. Carmarthen castle is one of waless most important but leastknown castles. Carmarthenshire county council records archives hub.
Carmarthen castle and county hall, carmarthenshire, wales. Russell grigg has taught history in the university of wales trinity saint david for more than 20 years. In my principal field of naval history, the record office holds a remarkable series. Get contact details, videos, photos, opening times and map directions. Amazingly, its a throughroute from carmarthen county hall the old jail spectacular in itself. It is on the river towy 8 miles km north of its mouth at carmarthen bay. Carmarthen county a guide to carmarthenshire, wales. St peters civic hall, home of carmarthen town council. During the wars of the roses the castle fell to william herbert and, during the civil war, was captured by parliamentary forces. The museum tells the fascinating story of carmarthenshire. Other car parks in carmarthen are open all day, every day, but are at least a 10minute walk away. This book examines the history and development of this center of government from the medieval period to the present day. Apr 18, 2018 carmarthens guildhall, which was a courthouse up until 2016, will be transformed into a town centre bar and cafe after planners at carmarthenshire council gave the. Search for local local government near you on yell.
At carmarthen priory, one of the towns two great monastic houses, the celebrated black book of carmarthen was written the oldest surviving manuscript in the welsh language. He has an indepth knowledge of the county and its history, and has written popular and academic articles and books for local magazines such as. It was also one of the most important, in its role as a centre of government and as a crown possession in a region dominated by welsh lands and marcher lordships. The line leads to a trinagular junction, with trains for swansea and cardiff heading north, and trains for pembroke, milford haven and fishguard heading due. Following the acts of union, carmarthen became judicial headquarters of the court of great sessions for southwest wales. The book of ordinances, 15691606, is one of the earliest surviving minute books of a town in wales. The revival of the eisteddfod took place in carmarthen in 1819 and the town hosted the national eisteddfod in 1867, 1911 and 1974 although, at least in 1974, the maes was at abergwili. From the fantastical to the alltooreal, carmarthenshire boasts an amazing story. A cynic might conclude from all this that the county council is. Two storey, irregular 4window range with roof behind parapet. Carmarthen is the county town of carmarthenshire, wales.
The site is now occupied by county hall, designed by sir percy thomas. Neuadd y sir caerfyrddin is a municipal facility in carmarthen, wales. In 1843 the workhouse in carmarthen was attacked by the rebecca. County hall, designed by sir percy thomas, stands on the same site. History of the welsh militia and volunteer corps, 17571908 wrexham, clywd. The museum is housed in a former bishops palace at abergwili, near carmarthen, and stands in its own grounds near the historic merlins hill. Visit our newsroom for the latest guidance and updates to services. See all maps map of carmarthen in 1898 map of carmarthen in 1901 map of carmarthen in 1923 map of carmarthen in 1946 map of carmarthen in 1886. Carmarthenshire genealogy heraldry and family history. Oct 09, 2015 so this is county hall, the home of carmarthenshire county council since 1955. Find carmarthenshire county council in carmarthen, sa31.
In carmarthenshire, blue badge holders can park for up to three hours in a council car park without charge. Check carmarthenshire county council in carmarthen, neuadd y sir county hall on cylex and find. Everywhere you look, the area is filled with amazing legends, myths, and historical figures. Carmarthenshire county council carmarthen, neuadd y sir. Following the implementation of the local government act. Our indoor markets at llanelli and carmarthen, and our outdoor market at ammanford, are open and well stocked with fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish as well as items like newspapers, books, music, puzzles, games and more.