Tycroes is a village in Carmarthenshire, Wales. As measured in the 2001 Census, the population of Tycroes was 2,156 persons (49% male, 51% female). Tycroes School has around 180 pupils.

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The village forms the westernmost fringe of the Amman valley and rests mainly on the anthracite coal measures, part of the South Wales coalfield. It straddles the A483 Swansea to Manchester Trunk road and has a linear village structure, having developed substantially along roads which meet at the centre of the village. The trunk road is in the main artery from north to south of the country and is connected to the M4 motorway network which affords transportation from mainland Europe to Ireland. The rail link at nearby Pantyffynnon contributes a daily service to Swansea, Llanelli and Shrewsbury.

 

Topographically, the village slopes in a general south west to north east direction thus affording panoramic views of the Black Mountain in the east with its peaks – Tair Cairn 482 m, Garreg Lwyd 616 m and behind them Fan Hir 802 m. To the south there are views from Betws Mountain to Mynydd y Gwair above Garnswllt. To the north there is the limestone ridge from Llandybie to Upper Tumble.

 

The Fferws brook which flows from the west to the east divides the local authority administrative areas between Llanedi and Llandybie Community Councils. The name Fferws is possibly derived from the fact that the river flows over mineral rocks which contain iron ore (ferrous being the chemical name for iron). Others say it derives from a delightful house that once stood on its banks – “fairhouse”.

 

History

Pre-nineteenth century the area was sparsely populated owing to the agricultural land being poor of quality. The best land was found to be along the banks of the River Loughor where two properties of notable character stood. The first is Plas Mawr also known Plas Llanedy and Cwrt y Ceidrim. The main portion of the house dates from the 16th century. This was the seat of the Penry family and their descendants, Jones. William Penry and his son Henry were High Sheriffs in 1736 and 1756 respectively. The Penry family descended from Bleddyn ap Maenarch and were at Cwrt y Ceidrim in the Elizabethan era. In 1876 Plas Mawr Estate nearly 850 acres was offered for sale. Later the Buckley family acquired it and in 1921 they offered for sale the freehold farm 129 acres.

 

A field belonging to the farm was called Ynys y Capel and, according to tradition, a chapel had once stood there; another tradition states that a ‘tunnel’ connected the mansion to Carreg Cennen Castle. It is also rumoured that Oliver Cromwell rested there during his campaign in the principality during the Second English Civil War in Wales. Today Plas Mawr is in a state of ruin.

 

The other property is Erw Wasted located three-quarters of a mile from Plas Mawr. This was the home of the Price family from the 17th century. Francis Price was the High Sheriff in 1723. Later in the 18th century the price family moved to Plas Newydd in Llanedy.

 

The village owes its existence to the development of the coal mining industry during the 19th century. A few shallow shafts and drift was constructed to the rear of Bethesda Chapel at Mynydd Bach. Mynydd Bach was the former name for the village or hamlet. A tramway ran from the mine along Pontardulais road, part of Tycroes road and Heol Brown to the Brown Colliery at Waun y Wernos beyond Heol Brown and then to the sidings of the old Wernos Colliery.

 

The placename “Tycroes” is derived from the cottage or house (Ty) that stood at the crossroads, which is now the village square. In 1900 the village consisted of less than 100 homes but today there are about 800. The population at the turn of the century was approximately 400 and today is 2,122. During the late 1930’s and early 40’s children’s recreation during school holidays was mostly spent along Penygarn Road. It was cricket in the summer and football in the winter. Coats were used for wickets and goalpost and the ‘pitch’ was between the entrance between the Mission Hall and Pantyboblen. Interruption to the game was only twice a day – the milk lorry and ‘Jenkins the Plas’ in his Jaguar car.

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Since 1965 and especially during the house building boom of the early 70’s, housing development erupted spreading its wings in all directions and this changed the face of the village. Frontage development took place along the existing roads and private housing estates at Penygarn Road, Pontardulais Road and the lower end of Tycroes Road. This trend reflects Tycroes’s attractive situation.

 

The Brynhafod area reminds us of the connection with Canada. A Canadian maple tree grows at the bottom of the garden of ‘Fernhill’ (on Ammanford Road) where in previous years the Parry family once lived and some members of the family emigrated to Canada at the beginning of the 20th century and became a prominent family in Hamilton City, Ontario.

 

Mining is no longer a major source of employment. Local employment opportunities are varied and limited but is improving with the continued extension of factory units at nearby Capel Hendre and Cross Hands Industrial estates.

 

Education

From 1863 till 1904, primary education was provided at the local Church School, which is today used as the Church Hall. In 1904 the present county Primary School was built and was then known as the Board school.

 

Places of worship

There were no places of worship in the village pre-1870 and people had to walk either to St. Edith’s Church in Llanedi or the chapels in Ammanford (then known as Cross Inn) or to Capel Hendre and Saron. It was in 1876 that the first chapels were built; Moriah (Congregational) was the ‘daughter’ of Christian Temple Ammanford and Caersalem (Calvinistic Methodist) was the ‘daughter’ of Capel Hendre. Then at the earlier part of this century Bethesda (Baptist) was built in 1913 and building work commenced at St. Edmund’s Church on the 29th January, 1914. Later in 1932 the Neuadd Efengylu, locally known as the Mission Hall or Gospel Hall, was opened.

 

Facilities

There are good facilities available at the village hall, church hall, and the Scout’s hall for the social, cultural, community events and other functions. The Senior Citizens Association, St. Johns Ambulance Brigade, Local Charities Committee, Ysgol Feithrin are some of the institutions which are accommodated at these halls, not forgetting the Library. The village hall was originally built as a Billiards hall. It was later sold to the ‘Urdd Gobaith Cymru’ who later sold it to the Miners Welfare Association – and is today the village hall which the residents can be proud of.

 

The Rugby Union Club at Penygarn Road provides good recreational facilities for both children, youth and senior players and, over the years, has produced some fine rugby players who were honoured to represent their country. Lately a football pitch has been provided by the County Council at Heol Brown where the public park is also located. Despite the gradual change now being witnessed in its communal character, the village of Tycroes is still widely acclaimed to be a delightful place to live in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trimsaran is a former mining village which lies on the B4308 between Llanelli and Kidwelly, in the Welsh county of Carmarthenshire.

Trimsaran is six miles (10 km) from Llanelli, and 13 miles (21 km) from Carmarthen. It is close to Burry Port harbour, Pembrey Country Park and the Millennium Coastal Park.

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Trimsaran Colliery

There are historical reports of mining activities taking place in the Trimsaran area dating back hundreds of years. By 1896, the Inspector of Mines noted that Trimsaran employed 144 men, producing coal, anthracite, and fireclay.

By the early 1900s, three drift mines made up Trimsaran colliery: Caedean (deepest), Waunhir and the Upper slant; all connected underground and on the surface by a tramway. By 1908, Waunhir and Cadean employed 198 men, while by 1918 the workforce had grown to 435. By 1923 352 men employed at Caedean Slant, Upper Slant employed 63 men and Waunhir 126 men.

There were three notable mining accidents:

• February 1907, Waunhir slant – 6 men died when a coupling plate broke and full mine-cars ran down the drift – the men had no chance.
• 1909 – an explosion in the Caedean Slant killed 4 men, possibly caused by firedamp.
• 26 April 1923- 12 men died whilst travelling out of the mine the end of the day shift, when part of the journey of drams, in which they were riding suddenly careered back down the slope after a connecting shackle broke.

By 1931 the mine was owned by Amalgamated Anthracite Ltd. and employed 700 men on the existing working. These drifts closed in 1934 and was replaced by the Waunffynhonnau drift (new drift or Wimpey drift), which employed over 300 men in 1945. The mine was closed by the National Coal Board in April 1954, with most of the workforce going to Carway or Pentremawr Colliery.

The site was later opened up as part of Celtic Energy’s thrust into opencast mining, called Ffos Las,^[2] but was closed in 1997.

As part of the redevelopment of the site, it has been approved to become a coarse fishing lake, quad bike and mountain biking centre,^[3] before proposed redevelopment of the site as a £16 million/1000m horse racing course, training centre and a grandstand for 1,000 spectators. A hotel and up to 250 houses would also be built on the site of the 608-acre (2.46 km²) site.^[4]

Trimsaran Rugby Club

Trimsaran is well known for its rugby union involvement, and is a sport that plays a huge part in the local community. Rugby was first played in Trimsaran in 1910 but the first recorded captain was Bill Bailey in 1927.

Players who have graduated from Trimsaran RFC onto represent Wales include:

• Jonathan Davies

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Pontyberem is a village situated in the Gwendraeth Valley halfway between Carmarthen and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, West Wales.

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History

The village grew during the late 19th century and early 20th century with the growth of the coal mining industry in the area. There were four principal mines in the Pontyberem Area; Pontyberem colliery which was opened in 1845, Pentremawr (1889-c1974), Glynhebog(1892-1949) and Gwendraeth colliery (Watney pit). It was in the Gwendraeth colliery (Watney pit)in 1852 that a terrible disaster took place : 26 men and boys died when water flooded the mine killing all the miners on the night shift. It is said that it took 18 months to recover the bodies .^[1] Due to the demise of the coal industry in the South Wales Coalfield, there are now no high quality anthracite coal mines operating in the Gwendraeth Valley.

The renowned Pontyberem safety lamps were made by John Jones (1879-1976) who worked as Colliery Chief Mechanic at Pentremawr Colliery.^[2]

The name Pontyberem originates from three separate Welsh language words, pont meaning bridge, aber meaning mouth of a river (into the sea), estuary, confluence of a lesser with a larger river and Beran after Nant Beran the river that flows through Pontyberem .^[3]

‘Although not immediately obvious the element aber once formed part of this place name and referred to the location of the pont (bridge) over the river Gwendraeth Fawr just below its confluence with Nant Beran. It was probably lost through the contraction of aber and the river name Beran. The -a- of aber was then interpreted as the definite article y and Beran was probably influenced by berem, a variant of burum (yeast).’

Local people understand the name Pontyberem to originate from a simple combination of words. The ‘Berem’ refers to the frothy buildup (like yeast) on the surface of the water of the Nant Beran, especially near the bridge (Pont) over the Gwendraeth Fawr.

Welsh Language

The Welsh language is a very important element in the daily life of the people of Pontyberem. In 1991 Pontyberem was recorded as having, with Cwarter Bach, the highest levels of Welsh speakers in Carmarthenshire. ^[4] According to the 2001 Census, 81.28% (1961:91% :1991:80.5%) of the population have one or more skills in Welsh with 60.83% able to speak, read and write it.^[5] In a survey conducted by Mori for Carmarthenshire County Council in 2000 people were asked how well they spoke Welsh. In the Gwendraeth valley 47% said very well, 17% said fairly well , 10% said not very well with 25% saying not at all.^[6] Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, the first community Welsh language initiative is based at Pontyberem. Menter Cwm Gwendraeth started in 1991 following the successful Urdd Gobaith Cymru National Eisteddfod held in the Gwendraeth Valley.

Both primary schools in Pontyberem, Pontyberem Primary School and Bancffosfelen Primary School , are Category A schools where the majority of the curriculum is taught through the medium of Welsh.

Schools

Ysgol Gynradd Pontyberem / Pontyberem Primary School

Ysgol Gynradd Bancffosfelen / Bancffosfelen Primary School

Sport

• Rugby union – Pontyberem Rugby Football Club : 28 Pontyberem Recreational Park, Heol Y Parc, Pontyberem
• Football (soccer) – Bancffosfelen A.F.C. : 28 Pontyberem Recreational Park, Heol Y Parc, Pontyberem
• Cricket – Pontyberem C.C.

Notable people

• Arthur Daniels – Wales and Great Britain rugby league international
• Victor Bach – Widnes rugby league player
• John Jones – Maker of Pontyberem Miner’s Lamp
• Dorothy Squires Singer
• Gwenda Owen Singer
• David Davies (Dai Cantwr) Leader of Glamorgan Rebeccaites
• Lewis Thomas (1877-1955) Pioneer of the art of Cerdd Dant (Singing to harp accompaniment)
• Ieuan Rees World renowned lettering designer and artist
• John Jones (Shoni Sguborfawr), (1811-1858) Demolished the tollgates at Pontyberem during the Rebecca Riots
• Nigel Owens – International rugby union referee

Llywnhendy is a village on the edge of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales with a population of 4,276.^{[citation needed]}

 

It is bordered by Bynea, Pemberton and the Bryn. It is an old village with strong industrial roots. The (now closed) steel-works in nearby Bynea was a major employer until the decline of the steel industry.

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Llannon is a small village and community in the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the A476 road 11 miles south east of the county town, Carmarthen, between Tumble and Swiss Valley. The community of Llannon, contains Llannon village, Tumble and Cross Hands. ^[1]

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History and amenities

Llannon has deep historical links with the Rebecca Riots and there is even rumoured to be a “secret passage” under the main road running through the village.^{[citation needed]} This passage was said to have been used by Oliver Cromwell and possibly the Rebecca Rioters as an escape route. The passage runs from the Red Lion public house to the parish church.

 

Another public house lies on the Llannon to Hendy road junction, called the Greyhound Inn. It is unknown which is older, but the road that the Greyhound Inn lies on has a watering fountain which was built to water horses of passing carts.

 

The village has a primary school and aside from the two pubs it lacks any other amenities such as a shop which closed in the late 1990s.

 

Present day

The village continues to grow with new housing constantly being constructed. The area is now considered more of a commuter village due to its proximity to the M4 in Hendy. The local school recently underwent a large extension programme to cope with the increasing demand for schooling from the ever-growing population.