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A Llanelli Chronology

The information in this section is an edited version taken from Llanelli - Birth of a Town a CdRom by William and Benita Rees

1300 to 1399

Chronology 

1300 Llanelli was growing into an important trading centre with a healthy import and export trade. Sailing vessels which used the local shipping places to load and unload their cargoes would have been small and timber built.

An early 14th century reference to Machynys occurs on a map produced by William Rees where the location is marked as ‘Machennys’ and Morfa Mawr is noted as being ‘partly submerged’.

1307 The residence known as New Castle, Castro Novo, or Pen-y-Castell, was probably a fortified residence and is thought to have been built on the site of the Roman Marching Camp, were Castle Buildings stand today [2002]. It was first mentioned in the reign of Edward II (1307-1327).

New Castle was the home of Morris ap Elidir (a descendant of Elystan Glodrudd). Because of his residence, Morris ap Elidir was also known as Morris Castle, Mores Castle or Morris de Castro Novo of Llanelly.

1310 It is thought that Llanelli had been granted a Charter which gave it Borough status. Unfortunately no one has been able to find the Charter since it was lost.

1318 Morris ap Elidir of Llanelli married a daughter of John Wiltshire, Captain of Dinefwr Castle in 1318 or 1319. Morris ap Elidir and his wife had three sons and the eldest son Walter settled with his family in Llanelli.

In the years 1318-1319 Trebeddrod was said to be the ‘Chief House’ of Morris Castle, Mores Castle, Morris de Castro Novo of Llanelli. Deeds of 1318-1332 show that both Trebeddrod and New Castle belonged to Morris Castle. Some of his descendants adopted the Welsh form of nomenclature (ap) whilst others retained the name Castle.

1330 Henry, 1st Duke of Lancaster, like other Marcher Lords administered his estates using Welsh Agents who were richly rewarded with grants of land for their loyal services.

1340 The wealthy and influential Dwnn family settled in and round the Cydweli area around this period.

1345 Henry of Grosmont, 4th Earl of Lancaster, held Lordships until he died in 1361.

1348 The Plague (also known as the Black Death) devastated towns and villages when approximately 1/3 of the population of Wales was wiped out. Tydu or Black House near Trebeddrod is thought to be the burial place of plague victims.

Because revenues for the Crown were greatly reduced, landowners looked for alternative sources of income leading to the breakdown of the old manorial system.

Llanelli, like other small lowland coastal towns, was established as a port with a lucrative import and export trade with foreign parts. Many of these towns became dominated family groups as the English settlers married into the local Welsh families and became members of the Welsh gentry.

1359 Blanche of Lancaster (daughter and heiress of Henry, 4th Earl of Lancaster), married John of Gaunt when she was 12 years old. John of Gaunt (Ghent where he was born) was one of the many sons of Edward III.

1362 Philip ap Elidir, a member of a well-established family at Llandeilo Fawr and Newton, was one of the Agents who witnessed the formal transfer of Iscennen, and its impregnable castle of Carreg Cennen, to John of Gaunt. The Lordship of Kidwelly then held the three Commotes of Cydweli, Carnwallon and Iscennen.

1367 Henry Bolingbroke (later King Henry IV of England), son of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster, was born.

1369 John of Gaunt held the Duchy of Lancaster when Blanche died of the Plague at the age of 22.

1375 Johan Wrench, tenant of Makeneys Farm in the Hundred of Llanethly, agreed to pay the Exchequer of Kidwelly £8 at Easter and St Michael.

1393 John of Gaunt did not visit his Duchy but used Judicial tours by his Chief Steward in 1393 and 1395 to raise communal fines. Tithes from St Elli Parish Church were appropriated by John of Gaunt for the Collegiate Church of St Mary in Leicester.

1399 Henry Bolingbroke (b. 1367, son of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster), became Henry IV, King of England, when the Lordships of Cydweli and Carnwallon passed to the Crown as part of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Ruins of Carreg Cennen

1400-1499