Pencader, Carmarthenshire
Encyclopedia
Pencader is a small village in the Welsh
county of Carmarthenshire
, and is part of the Community and Parish of Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
. It is located around 5 km south-east of Llandysul
and 10 km south-west of Llanybydder
.
It is a quiet village set in a west Wales valley with little more than 500 houses two shops and two pubs. Pencader's history goes back a long way. For many years it was one of the main stops on the Carmarthen
- Aberystwyth
rail route, and was the junction for the service to Newcastle Emlyn
. The decline of the railways saw the Newcastle Emlyn
branch line closed in 1952 and the main line closed to passengers in 1965.
in 1145.
An old man of Pencader made this declaration to Henry II
"This nation, O King, may now, as in former times, be harassed, and in a great measure weakened and destroyed by your and other powers, and it will also prevail by its laudable exertions, but it can never be totally subdued through the wrath of man, unless the wrath of God shall concur. Nor do I think that any other nation than this of Wales, nor any other language, whatever may hereafter come to pass, shall on the day of severe examination before the Supreme Judge, answer for this corner of the earth.", according to Gerald of Wales, who recorded it at the end of his Descriptio Cambriae.
built line to Newcastle Emlyn
.
However the Gwili Railway currently own around 8 miles in length (from Abergwili Junction to as far as Llanpumsaint), Although the railway could someday purchase a futher mile or two into Pencader (which could involve restoring and re-using the old Pencader Tunnel
). As there's is hope the welsh village could see trains again once fundraising for a possible Pencader extension is considered.
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...
county 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...
, and is part of the Community and Parish of Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth is a village and a civil parish in the Welsh county of Carmarthenshire, West Wales, United Kingdom.The area includes six villages namely: Alltwalis, Dolgran, Gwyddgrug, Llanfihangel-Ar-Arth, New Inn and Pencader.- Location :...
. It is located around 5 km south-east of Llandysul
Llandysul
Llandysul is a small town in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. The community of Pont Tyweli lies directly across the Teifi River in Carmarthenshire. It is in the valley of the River Teifi and is visited for its fishing and canoeing....
and 10 km south-west of Llanybydder
Llanybydder
Llanybydder is a market town straddling the River Teifi in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, West Wales, with a population of 1,423, almost three quarters of whom are Welsh-speaking according to the United Kingdom Census 2001. The nearest university is the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David,...
.
It is a quiet village set in a west Wales valley with little more than 500 houses two shops and two pubs. Pencader's history goes back a long way. For many years it was one of the main stops on the 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....
- Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
rail route, and was the junction for the service to Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn is a town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales and lying on the River Teifi.Adpar is the part of the town that lies on the Ceredigion side of the River Teifi...
. The decline of the railways saw the Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn is a town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales and lying on the River Teifi.Adpar is the part of the town that lies on the Ceredigion side of the River Teifi...
branch line closed in 1952 and the main line closed to passengers in 1965.
History
It hosts the site of an old castle, which was probably erected by Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of PembrokeGilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke
Gilbert fitz Gilbert de Clare , son of Gilbert Fitz Richard and Alice de Claremont, was sometimes referred to as "Strongbow", although his son is better remembered by this name, was the first Earl of Pembroke from 1138....
in 1145.
An old man of Pencader made this declaration to Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
"This nation, O King, may now, as in former times, be harassed, and in a great measure weakened and destroyed by your and other powers, and it will also prevail by its laudable exertions, but it can never be totally subdued through the wrath of man, unless the wrath of God shall concur. Nor do I think that any other nation than this of Wales, nor any other language, whatever may hereafter come to pass, shall on the day of severe examination before the Supreme Judge, answer for this corner of the earth.", according to Gerald of Wales, who recorded it at the end of his Descriptio Cambriae.
Railway Village (past and present)
The old Camarthen to Aberystwyth line once passed Pencader for over a 100 years until closure to passengers in 1965 and to freight/goods in 1973. The station was also a terminus for a Great Western RailwayGreat Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
built line to Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn is a town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales and lying on the River Teifi.Adpar is the part of the town that lies on the Ceredigion side of the River Teifi...
.
However the Gwili Railway currently own around 8 miles in length (from Abergwili Junction to as far as Llanpumsaint), Although the railway could someday purchase a futher mile or two into Pencader (which could involve restoring and re-using the old Pencader Tunnel
Pencader Tunnel
Pencader Tunnel is an abandoned railway tunnel on the old trackbed of the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth main line in south-west Wales. It was originally bored for the Llanpumsaint-Pencader section of the Carmarthen & Cardigan Railway....
). As there's is hope the welsh village could see trains again once fundraising for a possible Pencader extension is considered.