Begelly 
Contents
BEGELLY
From
From Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Wales
(1844)
"BEGELLY (BUGELI), a parish, in the union of and hundred of
NARBERTH, county of PEMBROKE, SOUTH WALES, 5 miles (S. by E.) from
Narberth, on the road to Tenby; containing, with the chapelry of
Williamston, which supports its own poor, 1159 inhabitants. The
substratum of the soil in this parish is coal, of excellent
quality, and in great request for the drying of malt and hops by
the proprietors of breweries and distilleries: it is chiefly
procured by a company under Sir R.B.P. Philipps, Bart., and J.M.
Childe, Esq., who are the chief proprietors of the soil, and
receive one-sixth part, as their share of the produce: there are
also some smaller proprietors, who exact one-fifth, and even
one-fourth, part from those who work only on a limited scale. A
railway leads over King's Moor to Saundersfoot, in the parish of
St. Issels, and greatly contributes to promote the interests of the
surrounding neighbourhood. Iron-ore is also found, both above and
below the strata of coal, and during the existence of the Pembrey
Iron Company, was procured in great quantities and with
considerable benefit to the proprietors; but, since the stoppage of
those works, the search for it has been discontinued. The shale
which is found with the coal exhibits many interesting specimens of
the fern and reed plants, and pyrites of iron have also been
discovered. The rateable annual value of the whole parish has been
returned at £1770. 10. 2., but the portion exclusively of the
chapelry of Williamston, at £1104. 12. 5. The living is a
discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £12. 19. 2.;
present net income, £216; patron, Sir R.B.P. Philipps. The
church is an ancient structure, in the early style of English
architecture, with a lofty tower, and is pleasantly situated near
Begelly Hall, by the trees surrounding which it is partly
concealed. The chapel of Williamston is a rude structure without a
tower, standing in the hamlet of that name. The parsonage-house is
situated on part of a stratum of coal, which has been wrought all
round it, and, if the excavation had been continued, it would have
endangered the stability of the building. There is a place of
worship for Calvinistic Methodists. Here is a day school, in which
from 20 to 30 children are instructed at the expense of their
parents; and there are two Sunday schools conducted gratuitously,
and in one of which, in connection with the Established Church, are
about 220 children; and in the other, which belongs to the
Calvinistic Methodists, are about 25. Near the parsonage-house are
the remains of a cromlech, which has been thrown down; and in its
vicinity is a tumulus, supposed to have been raised to the memory
of some unknown chieftain."
Gareth Hicks, 16 Dec 1999
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