KENARTH

"KENARTH, a parish in the hundred of Elvet, county Carmarthen, 2 miles W. of Newcastle-Emlyn, its post town. It is a village situated near the river Teifi. The parish contains the hamlets of Dolbryn, Emlyn, and Gellygally. It is noted for its 12 feet salmon leap, from which 100 fish are sometimes taken at a time. In this parish is situated the Newcastle union poorhouse. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of St. David's, value £158, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is situated near the fall, and is dedicated to St. Llawddog."

"ABERARAD, a village in the hamlet of Emlyn, parish of Kenarth, and hundred of Elvst, in the county of Carmarthen, 1 mile distant from Newcastle Emlyn."

"DOLBRYN, a hamlet in the parish of Kenarth, in the county of Carmarthen, near Newcastle-Emlyn."

"EMLYN, a hamlet in the parish of Kenarth, hundred of Elvet, county Carmarthen. It is situated in the N.W. of the county, near the river Teify, and includes Newcastle-Emlyn and Aberarad. Earl Cawdor takes the title of viscount from this place."

"GELLYGALLY, a hamlet in the parish of Kenarth, county Carmarthen, South Wales, within a short distance of Newcastle-Emlyn."

"NEWCASTLE-IN-EMLYN, a town in the parish of Kenarth, hundred of Elvet, county Carmarthen, 10 miles from Cardigan, and 16 from Carmarthen. The Carmarthen and Cardigan railway has a station at Llandyssil for this town. One portion of this town, called Adpar, is situated in Cardiganshire, while the greater part is in Carmarthenshire. It is supposed to have been of Roman origin, but took its present name from the castle built by Sir Rhys-ap-Thomas, who made it one of his principal seats. The castle during the civil war of Charles I. was garrisoned by the parliamentarians. The town, which contains about 1,000 inhabitants, is governed by the county magistrates, who hold their meetings once a fortnight. It is situated in the valley of the Teifi, and on the direct road from Cardigan to Lampeter. The river is crossed at a short distance above the town by the bridge of Kenarth, famous throughout Wales for its salmon leap, at which 100 fish have been taken in a single morning. The Teifi, after entering the valley from the N.E., flows in a straight line till it arrives nearly underneath the castle walls; it then takes a sudden turn, and instead of winding immediately round the foot of the castle hill, runs back again for a considerable distance nearly parallel with its former channel, it then sweeps in front of the castle, which it almost surrounds, as though by a natural moat. The arched gateway of the castle, about 14 feet high, is supported by two octagonal towers. Newcastle is the head of a Poor-law Union, and contains the union workhouse, which is capable of accommodating 100 inmates. Manorial courts are held in the town. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of St. David's, value £71, in the patronage of the Vicar of Kenarth. The church is a small unpretending structure, and was formerly a chapel-of-ease to Cennart. There is also the district church of the Holy Trinity, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £150. The Calvinistic Methodists have a chapel. The Earl of Cawdor derives his second title of baron from this place. Friday is market day. Fairs are held on 23rd March, 10th May, 22nd June, 20th July, 20th August, 20th September, the second Friday after Michaelmas Day, and 22nd November, for cattle, horses, and sheep."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018