Cwmfelin Mynach
Encyclopedia
Cwmfelin Mynach is a tiny Carmarthenshire
village. It has a population of only 64 residents.
The river Gronw runs through the centre of the village under a stone bridge. In the medieval period the river was used to drive a corn mill. 'Cwmfelin Mynach' means Valley (cwm) of the Monks' (Mynach) Mill (Felin). It was founded in the 6th century by the Cistercian monks or Whitefriars. These monks gave their name to the nearby town, Whitland. Outside Whitland, it is the oldest Cistercian monastery in the UK. Sadly much of the limestone has been looted or used for other buildings after Henry VIII
's dissolution of the monasteries
. Some of the stone from Whitland Priory is suspected to have been used for the building of St. Brynach's Church, Llanboidy
.
Notable curiosities in this bilingual Welsh and English speaking village include the practice of baptising
in the river. The river Gronw which starts at Blaenwaun (one of the highest inhabited villages in the West Wales
peninsula) runs through Cwmfelin Mynach. At the lowest point in the village, persons are brought down stone steps and immersed in the river. The steps, quarried from local slate, can still be seen near the apex of the 'U' bend on a minor country lane heading north east (co-oridinates aproxminately lat 51°53'44.11"N. Long 4°34'20.75"W).
Remnants of two small disused slate quarries can still be seen, hidden within trees and vegetation.
The remains of a cock-fighting bunker is visible deep in a beechwood. This practise has not gone on for many years.
Notable residents include Andy 'Heavy Beard' Walton - Lifelong resident and extreme woodland enthusiast.
or post office
. It has a small garage
repair business.
A Welsh
-speaking chapel has regular services in the village. Carmarthenshire County Council
holds regular meetings at the chapel. The present chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council
Some of the cottages in the village date back to the 19th century. They are remarkable in the sense that they are built with the same form of slate
that is reminiscent of the underlying geology. A blue 'Llandovery' slate in geological terms. The stone for cottage building came from three, now dis-used, quarries in the village.
In recent years there have been new developments which threaten the village's unique character. Bungalow
s of concrete block formation have been approved by the council's planning department.
The village has recently had underground fibre-optic cables laid. This is ready for television when the large TV
mast
at Crymych
is dismantled.
There is no mains gas
in the village or sewage treatment
. Every home uses septic tank
s. The water is pumped to the village from the reservoir
underneath the Preseli Mountains.
and fauna
. Most notable is a pair of red kites
that lives near the village. Buzzard
s are seen everyday and nest by the river on tall trees. Tawny owl
call at night and sparrowhawk roam through woodland. Wood pigeon
, rock dove, heron
and jackdaw
s are common. The latter are particularly adept at nesting in the chimneys of old cottages. Siskin
are autumn visitors. Bullfinch
and brambling
can be seen. Grey wagtail
can be seen fishing by the river.
A profusion of daffodils in early spring is welcomed by the residents. Marsh marigold by the river, wood sorrel and wood avens
on the river bank. The Caraway
flower comes in summer in damp pasture
near the river. The Caraway is the county flower of Carmarthenshire and is similar in appearance to the lady's smock, or cuckoo flower
. Purple orchid near some silver leaf limes at the top of the village. The dominant trees are beech
and ash
. Some sycamore
and oak
s to a lesser degree. Yellow pimpernel
can be seen for short periods in shady banks under ash trees. Red campion
, stitchwort
and bluebell
create a magnificent Red, White and Blue to the hedgerows in spring. Dog violet
and birds foot trefoil
grow for shorter periods.
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
village. It has a population of only 64 residents.
The river Gronw runs through the centre of the village under a stone bridge. In the medieval period the river was used to drive a corn mill. 'Cwmfelin Mynach' means Valley (cwm) of the Monks' (Mynach) Mill (Felin). It was founded in the 6th century by the Cistercian monks or Whitefriars. These monks gave their name to the nearby town, Whitland. Outside Whitland, it is the oldest Cistercian monastery in the UK. Sadly much of the limestone has been looted or used for other buildings after Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. Some of the stone from Whitland Priory is suspected to have been used for the building of St. Brynach's Church, Llanboidy
Llanboidy
Llanboidy is a village and community in the principal area and historic county of Carmarthenshire, West Wales.- Location :According to the 2001 United Kingdom Census, the community had a population of 988. It is located near the border with Pembrokeshire close to the Landsker Line...
.
Notable curiosities in this bilingual Welsh and English speaking village include the practice of baptising
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
in the river. The river Gronw which starts at Blaenwaun (one of the highest inhabited villages in the West Wales
West Wales
West Wales is the western area of Wales.Some definitions of West Wales include only Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, an area which historically comprised the Welsh principality of Deheubarth., an area called "South West Wales" in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics....
peninsula) runs through Cwmfelin Mynach. At the lowest point in the village, persons are brought down stone steps and immersed in the river. The steps, quarried from local slate, can still be seen near the apex of the 'U' bend on a minor country lane heading north east (co-oridinates aproxminately lat 51°53'44.11"N. Long 4°34'20.75"W).
Remnants of two small disused slate quarries can still be seen, hidden within trees and vegetation.
The remains of a cock-fighting bunker is visible deep in a beechwood. This practise has not gone on for many years.
Notable residents include Andy 'Heavy Beard' Walton - Lifelong resident and extreme woodland enthusiast.
Facilities
The village has no public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
or post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. It has a small garage
Automobile repair shop
An automobile repair shop is a place where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and electricians.- Types :The automotive garage can be divided in so many category....
repair business.
A Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
-speaking chapel has regular services in the village. Carmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council is the local authority for the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales, providing a range of services under the control of elected county councillors that include education, planning, transport, social services and public safety...
holds regular meetings at the chapel. The present chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council
Some of the cottages in the village date back to the 19th century. They are remarkable in the sense that they are built with the same form of slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
that is reminiscent of the underlying geology. A blue 'Llandovery' slate in geological terms. The stone for cottage building came from three, now dis-used, quarries in the village.
In recent years there have been new developments which threaten the village's unique character. Bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
s of concrete block formation have been approved by the council's planning department.
The village has recently had underground fibre-optic cables laid. This is ready for television when the large TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
mast
Mast radiator
A mast radiator is a radio mast or tower in which the whole structure itself functions as an antenna. This design is commonly used for transmitting antennas operating at low frequencies, in the VLF, LF and MF ranges, in particular those used for AM broadcasting. The metal mast is electrically...
at Crymych
Crymych
Crymych is a small village of around 400 inhabitants in the north of Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village developed around the former Crymmych Arms railway station on the now closed line, nicknamed the Cardi Bach , which ran from Whitland to Cardigan.Other than the Crymych Arms public house, which...
is dismantled.
There is no mains gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
in the village or sewage treatment
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
. Every home uses septic tank
Septic tank
A septic tank is a key component of the septic system, a small-scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage pipes provided by local governments or private corporations...
s. The water is pumped to the village from the reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
underneath the Preseli Mountains.
Flora and fauna
The village boasts an array of floraFlora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
. Most notable is a pair of red kites
Red Kite
The Red Kite is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species is currently endemic to the Western Palearctic region in Europe and northwest Africa, though formerly also occurred just...
that lives near the village. Buzzard
Common Buzzard
The Common Buzzard is a medium to large bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is usually resident all year, except in the coldest parts of its range, and in the case of one subspecies.-Description:...
s are seen everyday and nest by the river on tall trees. Tawny owl
Tawny Owl
The Tawny Owl or Brown Owl is a stocky, medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Eurasia. Its underparts are pale with dark streaks, and the upperparts are either brown or grey. Several of the eleven recognised subspecies have both variants...
call at night and sparrowhawk roam through woodland. Wood pigeon
Wood Pigeon
The Wood Pigeon is a species of bird in the Columba genus in the Columbidae family. It is a member of the dove and pigeon family Columbidae.- Distribution :...
, rock dove, heron
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
and jackdaw
Jackdaw
The Jackdaw , sometimes known as the Eurasian Jackdaw, European Jackdaw or Western Jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly sedentary, although northern and eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are...
s are common. The latter are particularly adept at nesting in the chimneys of old cottages. Siskin
Siskin
-Birds:The name siskin when referring to a bird is derived from an adaptation of the German dialect words sisschen, zeischen, which are diminuative forms of Middle High German and Middle Low German words, which are themselves apparently of Slavic origin...
are autumn visitors. Bullfinch
Bullfinch
* A Bullfinch is one of two groups of passerine birdsBullfinch can also refer to:* Bullfinch , an obstacle seen on the cross-country course in the sport of eventing* USS Bullfinch, the name of two US Navy ships...
and brambling
Brambling
The Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.- Etymology :The common English name is probably derived from the German "brâma", meaning bramble or a thorny bush. It has also been called the Cock o' the North and the Mountain Finch.- Description...
can be seen. Grey wagtail
Grey Wagtail
The Grey Wagtail is a small member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae. The species looks similar to the Yellow Wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat...
can be seen fishing by the river.
A profusion of daffodils in early spring is welcomed by the residents. Marsh marigold by the river, wood sorrel and wood avens
Wood Avens
Geum urbanum, also known as wood avens, herb Bennet, colewort and St. Benedict's herb , is a perennial plant in the rose family , which grows in shady places in Europe and the Middle East.Usually reaching a height between 20 and 60 cm, wood avens blooms between May and August,...
on the river bank. The Caraway
Caraway
Caraway also known as meridian fennel, or Persian cumin is a biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to western Asia, Europe and Northern Africa....
flower comes in summer in damp pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
near the river. The Caraway is the county flower of Carmarthenshire and is similar in appearance to the lady's smock, or cuckoo flower
Cardamine pratensis
Cardamine pratensis , is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native throughout most of Europe and Western Asia.-Description:...
. Purple orchid near some silver leaf limes at the top of the village. The dominant trees are beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
and ash
Ash tree
Fraxinus is a genus flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45-65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous though a few subtropical species are evergreen. The tree's common English name, ash, goes back to the Old English æsc, while the generic name...
. Some sycamore
Sycamore Maple
Acer pseudoplatanus, the sycamore maple, is a species of maple native to central Europe and southwestern Asia, from France east to Ukraine, and south in mountains to northern Spain, northern Turkey, and the Caucasus. It is not related to other trees called sycamore or plane tree in the Platanus...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s to a lesser degree. Yellow pimpernel
Yellow pimpernel
Lysimachia nemorum is a flowering plant of the genus Lysimachia in the family Myrsinaceae....
can be seen for short periods in shady banks under ash trees. Red campion
Red Campion
Red campion is a flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native throughout central, western and northern Europe, and locally in southern Europe....
, stitchwort
Stitchwort
Stitchwort is the common name of several plants of the following genera:* Minuartia* Stellaria...
and bluebell
Common Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. -Taxonomy:...
create a magnificent Red, White and Blue to the hedgerows in spring. Dog violet
Dog violet
Dog violet is the common name for various species of the plant genus Viola with unscented flowers. The term arose to differentiate them from the scented sweet violet. Species so named include:*Viola canina - heath dog violet...
and birds foot trefoil
Lotus (genus)
Lotus is a genus that includes bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches and contains many dozens of species distributed world-wide. Depending on the taxonomic authority, roughly between 70 and 150 are accepted. Lotus is a genus of legume and its members are adapted to a wide range of habitats, from...
grow for shorter periods.