Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Encyclopedia
Narberth is a town in Pembrokeshire
, Wales
. (Population 2,150, of which a third are Welsh-speaking). It was founded around a Welsh court, but later became a Norman
stronghold on the Landsker Line
. It became the headquarters of the hundred of Narberth
. It was once a marcher borough. George Owen described it in 1603 as one of nine Pembrokeshire "boroughs in decay".
Narberth is a mile south of the A40 trunk road
(on the A478
) and benefits from a railway station
on the line to Tenby
and Pembroke
.
The town plays a high-profile role in Welsh mythology
, where it is the chief palace of Pwyll
, Prince of Dyfed
, and a key setting in both the first and third branches of the Mabinogi
. A drama specially adapted for children based on the story of Culhwch and Olwen from the Mabinogian was staged at Narberth Castle
when it was reopened to the public in 2005. Its most famous son is possibly Sir Thomas Foley.
Attractions in the town include several art galleries, the Narberth Museum
, the former town hall which still houses the cell where the leaders of the Rebecca Riots
were imprisoned and a ruined castle
. Narberth is well known for its range of independent shops, including a Daily Telegraph sponsored 'Best Traditional Business', national award-winning butcher, women's boutiques, gift shops and has developed a reputation as an antiques
center.
Other attractions near to Narberth include Blackpool Mill, at the highest tidal reach of the River Cleddau
, where otters and other wildlife may be seen and Oakwood Theme Park
.
There are a number of civic events held each year, designed to reinforce the sense of community
within the town.
Narberth Civic Week is held during the last full week of July and begins on the Sunday with a parade through the town to one of the Churches, where a service is held to welcome the newly-appointed Mayor. In 2008, the Civic Service was held in the grounds of Narberth Castle for the first time, by special request of the then-Mayor, Councillor Radford-Smith. During Civic Week, there are various activities arranged for children, families and visitors to the town. The culmination of Civic Week is the annual Carnival Day Parade
, a tradition dating back over 100 years. Narberth's Winter Carnival, held in December, was revived in 2009, after a break of 4 years.
The town's cultural and arts centre, the Queen's Hall, has recently played host to live bands such as Therapy?
, The Blockheads
, The Automatic
, Sonic Boom Six
, Skindred
, Send More Paramedics
, Pendulum
and Enter Shikari
. Concerts, plays and many classes, such as Kung Fu, yoga
and line dancing are held there and it boasts a contemporary art
gallery on the top floor as well as a restaurant on the ground floor.
The Bloomfield House Community Centre is a Community association
and a registered charity
. Narberth and District Community and Sports Association is the parent body and the Centre offers a very wide range of educational courses, leisure courses and sports and fitness facilities. Bloomfield also has a day nursery, after-school club, Cylch Meithrin, Cylch Ti a Fi, day care facilities for older people and a community bus available for hire.
Narberth is twinned with the English town of Ludlow
, and both towns celebrate an annual food festival
.
who currently play in the Division One West league, Narberth Football Club, and a Cricket club.
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....
, 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...
. (Population 2,150, of which a third are Welsh-speaking). It was founded around a Welsh court, but later became a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
stronghold on the Landsker Line
Landsker Line
The Landsker Line is a term commonly used for the language boundary between the Welsh-speaking and English-speaking areas in southwest Wales. The English-speaking areas, known as Little England beyond Wales, are notable for having been English linguistically and culturally for many centuries...
. It became the headquarters of the hundred of Narberth
Narberth (hundred)
thumb|200px|right|Pembrokeshire showing Narberth HundredThe Hundred of Narberth was a hundred in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was formed by the Act of Union of 1536 from parts of the pre-Norman cantrefs of Penfro and Cantref Gwarthaf...
. It was once a marcher borough. George Owen described it in 1603 as one of nine Pembrokeshire "boroughs in decay".
Narberth is a mile south of the A40 trunk road
A40 road
The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road in all legal documents and Acts...
(on the A478
A478 road
The A478 road is a major route in the Welsh counties of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, connecting Cardigan and Tenby.RouteFrom north to south it runs through:*Cardigan;...
) and benefits from a railway station
Narberth railway station
Narberth railway station serves the town of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The station is on the West Wales Line, 32 km west of .- Services :...
on the line to Tenby
Tenby
Tenby is a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, lying on Carmarthen Bay.Notable features of Tenby include of sandy beaches; the 13th century medieval town walls, including the Five Arches barbican gatehouse ; 15th century St...
and Pembroke
Pembroke, Pembrokeshire
Pembroke is an historic settlement and former county town of Pembrokeshire in west Wales. The town and the county derive their name from that of the cantref of Penfro: Pen = "head" or "end", and bro = "region", "country", "land", and so it means essentially "Land's End".-History:The main point of...
.
The town plays a high-profile role in Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
, where it is the chief palace of Pwyll
Pwyll
Pwyll Pen Annwn is a prominent figure in Welsh mythology and literature, the lord of Dyfed, husband of Rhiannon and father of the hero Pryderi...
, Prince of Dyfed
Dyfed
Dyfed is a preserved county of Wales. It was created on 1 April 1974 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and covered approximately the same geographic extent as the ancient Principality of Deheubarth, although excluding the Gower Peninsula and the area west of the River Tawe...
, and a key setting in both the first and third branches of the Mabinogi
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
. A drama specially adapted for children based on the story of Culhwch and Olwen from the Mabinogian was staged at Narberth Castle
Narberth Castle
Narberth castle is a ruined Norman fortress in the town of Narberth, West Wales. It was first mentioned in 1116 and forms part of the Landsker Line.-Origins:...
when it was reopened to the public in 2005. Its most famous son is possibly Sir Thomas Foley.
Attractions in the town include several art galleries, the Narberth Museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, the former town hall which still houses the cell where the leaders of the Rebecca Riots
Rebecca Riots
The Rebecca Riots took place between 1839 and 1843 in South and Mid Wales. They were a series of protests undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers in response to perceived unfair taxation. The rioters, often men dressed as women, took their actions against toll-gates, as they were...
were imprisoned and a ruined castle
Narberth Castle
Narberth castle is a ruined Norman fortress in the town of Narberth, West Wales. It was first mentioned in 1116 and forms part of the Landsker Line.-Origins:...
. Narberth is well known for its range of independent shops, including a Daily Telegraph sponsored 'Best Traditional Business', national award-winning butcher, women's boutiques, gift shops and has developed a reputation as an antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
center.
Other attractions near to Narberth include Blackpool Mill, at the highest tidal reach of the River Cleddau
River Cleddau
The River Cleddau consists of the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers in Pembrokeshire, west Wales. They unite to form the Daugleddau estuary, which forms the important harbour of Milford Haven....
, where otters and other wildlife may be seen and Oakwood Theme Park
Oakwood Theme Park
Oakwood Theme Park is a theme park in Pembrokeshire, Wales which attracts over 400,000 visitors each year....
.
There are a number of civic events held each year, designed to reinforce the sense of community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
within the town.
Narberth Civic Week is held during the last full week of July and begins on the Sunday with a parade through the town to one of the Churches, where a service is held to welcome the newly-appointed Mayor. In 2008, the Civic Service was held in the grounds of Narberth Castle for the first time, by special request of the then-Mayor, Councillor Radford-Smith. During Civic Week, there are various activities arranged for children, families and visitors to the town. The culmination of Civic Week is the annual Carnival Day Parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
, a tradition dating back over 100 years. Narberth's Winter Carnival, held in December, was revived in 2009, after a break of 4 years.
The town's cultural and arts centre, the Queen's Hall, has recently played host to live bands such as Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
, The Blockheads
The Blockheads
The Blockheads are an English rock and roll band. Originally fronted by vocalist Ian Dury as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the band has continued to perform since Dury's death in 2000. Current members include Chaz Jankel , Norman Watt-Roy , Mick Gallagher , John Turnbull and Davey Payne...
, The Automatic
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
, Sonic Boom Six
Sonic Boom Six
Sonic Boom Six are a five-piece rock band from Manchester, United Kingdom. Their eclectic sound combines different elements of several genres and has been described by Kerrang! as "taking ska, pop, grime, dubstep, punk and metal apart, then rebuilding them as a hyperactive hybrid"...
, Skindred
Skindred
Skindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae...
, Send More Paramedics
Send More Paramedics
Send More Paramedics were a horror film-influenced crossover thrash band from Leeds in the north of England.-Biography:The name is a reference to the 1985 horror/comedy Return of the Living Dead...
, Pendulum
Pendulum (band)
Pendulum is an Australian drum and bass and electronic rock band founded in 2002 in Perth by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, and Paul Harding.Swire and McGrillen were members of the rock band known as Xygen. After hearing Konflict's "Messiah" at a club, they were inspired to enter into the drum and...
and Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
. Concerts, plays and many classes, such as Kung Fu, yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and line dancing are held there and it boasts a contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
gallery on the top floor as well as a restaurant on the ground floor.
The Bloomfield House Community Centre is a Community association
Community association
A community association is a nongovernmental association of participating members of a community, such as a neighborhood, village, condominium, cooperative, or group of homeowners or property owners in a delineated geographic area. Participation may be voluntary, require a specific residency, or...
and a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. Narberth and District Community and Sports Association is the parent body and the Centre offers a very wide range of educational courses, leisure courses and sports and fitness facilities. Bloomfield also has a day nursery, after-school club, Cylch Meithrin, Cylch Ti a Fi, day care facilities for older people and a community bus available for hire.
Narberth is twinned with the English town of Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, and both towns celebrate an annual food festival
Food festival
A food festival is a festival, usually held annually, that uses food, often produce, as its central theme. "These festivals have always been a means of uniting communities through celebrations of harvests and giving thanks for a plentiful growing season...
.
Sport
Narberth is home to several sporting teams, including Narberth RFCNarberth RFC
Narbeth RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Narberth in Pembrokeshire. They are the presently members of the Welsh Rugby Union playing in the Division One West league and are a feeder club for the Scarlets. The Otters have also won the Pembrokeshire County Cup competition for the last two years...
who currently play in the Division One West league, Narberth Football Club, and a Cricket club.