Felinfoel
Encyclopedia
Felinfoel is a small village
and community council
ward on the River Lliedi
on the northern border of Llanelli
, Carmarthenshire
, West Wales
, with a population of about 2,000.
The Felinfoel Brewery, home of Double Dragon Ale, is the oldest in Wales. The rugby union
fly-half Phil Bennett
, who played for Llanelli, Wales
and the British Lions
, is one of Felinfoel's most famous residents.
Felinfoel is part of the Llanelli Rural
ward of Carmarthenshire
County Council
. It is generally considered a suburb
of the town of Llanelli
.
The village is renowned for its close community and ties with many famous names that have starred in past Llanelli RFC
line-ups.
's, a bakery
, a fish and chip shop, locally produced real ale from the historic Felinfoel Brewery (famous pioneers of canned beer) and shop, a Co-op supermarket
, a post office
and a computer shop within the village.
It is a small village with a parish church
and Nonconformist chapel
. The Diplomat Hotel and Chasens health spa also fall within the village's borders.
To the north of the village and on the River Lliedi
is a picturesque double reservoir
which gives the Swiss Valley area its name.
Felinfoel's main Baptist
chapel, 'Adulam', plays a significant role in the history of that Nonconformist sect, built as it is on the site of 'Ty Newydd', said by some to be the oldest Baptist settlement in Wales. Previously, the outlawed creed held its meetings in secret in Ogof Goetre Wen on the Morlais River some four miles away. Baptism
, which was then exported to the plantations of Alabama
, Mississippi
and Tennessee
, where it became a key influence on the culture of the enslaved African population. Adulam's baptismal pool on the River Lleidi was in use for total immersions until the 1970s. The congregation would sit on the railway sleeper benches, and on the bridge over the river, and sing as the person was raised from the water.
Felinfoel is also home to world darts championship runner-up marshall james.
which leads to Swansea
and Cardiff
to the east and Carmarthen
and Pembrokeshire
in the west. The village is also linked by regular local bus services to Llanelli railway station
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and community council
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies...
ward on the River Lliedi
River Lliedi
The River Lliedi has its source in the hills near Llanelli and Llannon in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The river fills the Swiss Valley reservoir and meets the sea at the Bury estuary at the former Carmarthenshire Dock, Llanelli....
on the northern border of Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
, Carmarthenshire
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...
, 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....
, with a population of about 2,000.
The Felinfoel Brewery, home of Double Dragon Ale, is the oldest in Wales. The rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
fly-half Phil Bennett
Phil Bennett
Phillip Bennett was a Welsh international rugby union fly half from 1969 to 1978. His flair and range of tricks, including his famous sidestep and swerve, meant he was a firm favourite with crowds.-Rugby career:...
, who played for Llanelli, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
, is one of Felinfoel's most famous residents.
Felinfoel is part of the Llanelli Rural
Llanelli Rural
Llanelli Rural is a community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 21,043.Despite its name it covers large parts of the Llanelli urban area, including Bynea, Llwynhendy, Cefncaeau, Pemberton, Bryn, Penceiliogi, Dafen, Felinfoel, Swiss Valley, along with...
ward of Carmarthenshire
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...
County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
. It is generally considered a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of the town of Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
.
The village is renowned for its close community and ties with many famous names that have starred in past Llanelli RFC
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
line-ups.
Local amenities
Felinfoel has an osteopath, a butcherButcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
's, a bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
, a fish and chip shop, locally produced real ale from the historic Felinfoel Brewery (famous pioneers of canned beer) and shop, a Co-op supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
, a 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...
and a computer shop within the village.
It is a small village with a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
and Nonconformist chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
. The Diplomat Hotel and Chasens health spa also fall within the village's borders.
To the north of the village and on the River Lliedi
River Lliedi
The River Lliedi has its source in the hills near Llanelli and Llannon in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The river fills the Swiss Valley reservoir and meets the sea at the Bury estuary at the former Carmarthenshire Dock, Llanelli....
is a picturesque double 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...
which gives the Swiss Valley area its name.
Felinfoel's main Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
chapel, 'Adulam', plays a significant role in the history of that Nonconformist sect, built as it is on the site of 'Ty Newydd', said by some to be the oldest Baptist settlement in Wales. Previously, the outlawed creed held its meetings in secret in Ogof Goetre Wen on the Morlais River some four miles away. Baptism
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...
, which was then exported to the plantations of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, where it became a key influence on the culture of the enslaved African population. Adulam's baptismal pool on the River Lleidi was in use for total immersions until the 1970s. The congregation would sit on the railway sleeper benches, and on the bridge over the river, and sing as the person was raised from the water.
Felinfoel is also home to world darts championship runner-up marshall james.
Transport
Felinfoel has good links with the M4 motorwayM4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
which leads to Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
to the east and Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
and Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
in the west. The village is also linked by regular local bus services to Llanelli railway station
Llanelli railway station
Llanelli railway station is the railway station serving the town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the West Wales Line and the Heart of Wales Line...
.
External links
- LLanelli History
- Adulam Chapel
- Felinfoel Brewery
- Llanelli Community Heritage Felinfoel Brewery and the first British beer cans
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Felinfoel and surrounding area
