Llangain is a village and

community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire ( cy, Sir Gaerfyrddin; or informally ') is a county in the south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. The county is known as ...

, in the south-west of

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. Located to the west of the

River Towy The River Towy ( cy, Afon Tywi, ) is one of the longest rivers flowing entirely within Wales. Its total length is . It is noted for its sea trout and salmon fishing. Route The Towy rises within of the source of the River Teifi on the lower s ...

, and south of the town of

Carmarthen Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...

, the community contains three standing stones, and two chambered tombs as well as the ruins of 15th century great house, Castell Moel. In 2001 the community's population was recorded at 574, decreasing slightly to 573 at the 2011 census.

Location

Situated near the bank of the Afon Tywi, the parish extends from near Johnstown to Llansteffan in one direction and from Llangynog to the river in another and consists of very pleasant countryside with gentle hills reaching 350 ft/105m (Trig Point) and stretches of woodlands. The parish encloses an area of almost . Prehistory There are a few cromlechs or dolmens, the best examples being Meini Llwydion (Greystones) and Merlin's Quoits. They were communal burial places for family groups dating back to the Neolithic period (c.3000 BC). The community is bordered by the communities of:

;

Llandyfaelog Llandyfaelog () is a community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales. According to the 2001 census the community has a population of 1,272, of which 71.88 percent are Welsh speaking. The population at the 2011 Census had increased to 1,304. The commu ...

;

Llansteffan Llansteffan, is a village and a community situated on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tywi, south of Carmarthen. Description The community includes Llanybri and is bordered by the communities of: L ...

; and

Llangynog Llangynog (; ) is a village and community at the confluence of the Afon Eirth and the Afon Tanat at the foot of the Berwyn range in north Powys (previously Montgomeryshire), Wales. It lies at the foot of the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass on t ...

, all being in Carmarthenshire.

Education

In 1846 the only school was a Sunday School. Llangain Board School was built in 1875 and officially opened in 1876, and was in use until superseded by the new school in 1977, to which only about 30-35 children go. There was an after school club but it closed down because not enough children went.

Religion

The present church of St Cain was built in 1871. There is a tiled mural on either side of the altar in memory of the Gwyn family of Pilroath and Plas Cwrthir. An Elizabethan chalice is dated 1576. Capel Smyrna, a congregational chapel, is a prominent landmark within the parish. Originally built in 1835, it was rebuilt in 1865 and restored in 1915. The white building provided stabling for horses during chapel services. The loft served as the vestry.

Notable buildings

Castell Moel (Green Castle) is a local landmark at the sharp bend on the B4312. The ruins of the impressive, late medieval residence still stand. It was never a castle but a residence built for the Reed family in the early 15th century and was in ruin in Elizabethan times. It is possible there had been some earthen fortification there at one time. Some believe this to be at Old Castle. Doubtless this would have been a motte and bailey. Until recent times ships used to lie at anchor below to off load onto lighter vessels for transport to Carmarthen. Coedmor was built in 1968 for Mr and Mrs E.J.Williams, retired farmers of Penycoed. Coedmor Avenue is named in recognition of their ownership of the land and the family's continuing local connection. Bwthyn-y-Felin is an old woollen mill which employed four full-time workers in its heyday. Llangain Mill closed in the 1940s. Llwyndu mansion, a Grade II listed building, was built in the early 19th century. In 1821-1823 Captain Henry Harding lived there and it was afterwards the home of Frederick Philipps, JP. In 1906 the owner was Charles Bankes Davies. It has an upper and lower lodge. The original name for the upper lodge The Beeches, was Chweched meaning Sixth, indicating the six lanes. The main mansion building was largely destroyed by fire in June 2015 with only the front and side elevations remaining. Pilroath mansion is situated at the southern end of the parish above the confluence of the Rhoth Brook and the Afon Tywi. In 1902 the property was purchased by T J Harries, Esq. who built the present mansion. The property was occupied by the Harries family for three generations and owned until 1994 by County Councillor Arthur Harries, in which year it was purchased by

David Lyn David Lyn Jenkins (30 April 1927 – 4 August 2012), known professionally as David Lyn, was a Welsh television, film Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Under ...

(1914–1953), it became immortalised in one of his best-known poems, Fern Hill. Fernhill is also known for its association with the notorious county hangman, Robert Rickets Evans who lived there at the turn of the 20th century. His daughter was heiress to a fortune. He imprisoned her in a cell in the courtyard (which can still be seen today) to gain her fortune, but her lover helped her to escape, according to folklore. The story has been confirmed in more recent research, which has also described Thomas' stays at Fernhill and the extent of his family connections in the Llangain area.D. N. Thomas (2014) ''A True Childhood: Dylan’s Peninsularity'' in ''Dylan Thomas: A Centenary Celebration'' ed. H. Ellis, Bloomsbury. Pantydderwen was a small cottage originally and once housed the Post Office and local sweet shop. It became a public house c.1979. The golf course opened in 1993. Pantyrathro mansion was built by James Richards in the early 19th century. It was developed as a direct result of selling local milk products to London with the coming of the railway to Carmarthen. It became a local hotel in 1970.

References

External links

Llangain village websiteCensus information about Llangain wardHistory of Llangain on the BBCwww.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llangain and surrounding area
{{authority control Communities in Carmarthenshire Villages in Carmarthenshire