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A History of

Carmarthenshire

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Extract - Preface

Sir John Edward Lloyd, M.A., D.Litt. F.B.A was Professor of History at the University College of North Wales, Bangor.

A History of Carmarthenshire was published in two volumes — Volume I “From Prehistoric Times to the Act of Union (1536)” in 1935, followed by Volume II “From the Act of Union (1536) to 1900” — in 1939. It is recognised as a definitive reference work by researchers world-wide.

This version is fully bookmarked and searchable, and includes original reference sources and the Index which appeared in the second volume.

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PREFACE

THE design for the publication of A History of Carmarthenshire took shape in the year 1930, when the London Carmarthenshire Society, who had for some time contemplated a scheme of the kind, entrusted the superintendence of the work to the present writer. Public attention was called to the matter at the Llanelly National Eisteddfod of that year, by means of an address at the Cymmrodorion Section on “County Histories and National Memorials.” It was then pointed out that the County of Carmarthen, though the largest in area of the Welsh counties, had not hitherto been the subject of a separate history, even of the old-fashioned, discursive kind which was popular at the beginning of the 19th century.

       The field was, nevertheless, an attractive one, rich in historic interest, as the names of Maridunum, Whitland, Talley, Dinefwr, Llanddowror, and
Pantycelyn bore witness. A resolution approving the project was thereupon adopted and the work set in hand.

       From the first it was realised that the task demanded more than could be achieved by a single narrator, and that it must be carried through on the basis of co-operation among a number of scholars. An Editorial Board was formed, with the Editor as Chairman and the Rev. D. T. Davies, M.A., B.D., as Secretary, the other members being Mr. Ernest Collier, Sir William Davies, Mr. D. L. Evans, B.A., B.Litt., Sir Vincent Evans, and the Rev. H. Elvet Lewis, M.A., D.D. With the aid of this Board, the ground to be covered, viz. from prehistoric times to the end of the 19th century, was parcelled out among a number of contributors, each an acknowledged authority in his own special field. Publication, it was resolved, should be in two volumes, and it is the first volume, carrying the narrative to the Act of Union of 1536, which is now submitted to the subscribers and other friends of the movement.

       It would be unfitting that this craft, the object of so many anxious cares on the part alike of the editor and of the promoters, should put out to sea without a special tribute to the zeal and vigilance of one who may be regarded as, in a peculiar degree, its architect. Mr. T. B. Stephens has been, throughout, the prime mover in securing the financial success of the project; no labour has been too great, no task too irksome in the pursuit of this end.

       Some matters of detail remain to be mentioned. Considerable freedom has been allowed to each contributor in respect of the treatment of his subject. In some cases there is a liberal use of foot-notes; in others, this has not been deemed necessary. To most of the chapters, bibliographical notes have been appended.

       As to the orthography of placenames, these appear in the English form, where one is in common use. Hence the spellings Carmarthen, Kidwelly (for the town), Laugharne, Llandovery, Llandilo, Llangadock, Pembrey. In all other cases, the Welsh form is used, spelt in accordance with the canons now adopted by all Welsh scholars.

       The arms illustrated on the cover and on the title page are those of the County of Carmarthen, adopted by the County Council, with the approval of the College of Arms, on July 30, 1935. On the back of the volume is a representation of “Llech Eidon,” for which see page 123.

The general index is reserved for the second volume.

J. E. LLOYD,
Editor,
November 1st, 1935

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