Llandybie

Beckley, S. Focus on Ammanford and the Amman Valley. J. of the Dyfed FHS, vol. 2, no. 3, (1986) pp.70-73. [Listing of Documentary Sources at Carmarthenshire R.O.]

Griffiths, Pennar. Cofiant Watcyn Wyn. Cardiff, 1915

Thomas, Averil. Canon Griffith Jones (1845-1907). Dyfed FHS journal Vol7/6 Dec 2001. Griffith Jones was born in Cross Inn, the son of a labourer, became a Canon of St Asaph Cathedral.

Wynne Davies, J E (ed). Gwanwyn Duw (The Spring of God). Gwasg Pantycelyn, Caernarfon; 1982. A tribute to the Rev. Gomer Morgan Roberts, details of his life and works with a collection of essays in his honour published by his colleagues in the Historical Society, contains a full bibliography of his writings. The essays are titled;

• John Penry A'i Genedl (Glanmor Williams)
• Williams Hyd At Thirlwall (R Buick Knox)
• Howel Harris: Ymgeisydd Am Ordeiniad (Griffith T Roberts)
• Rhyfel A Gorfoledd Yng Ngwaith William Williams, Pantycelyn (Derec Llwyd Morgan)

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

• T. M. Williams, Ironmonger, Llandybie, Records 1934-1973 "

See the Cwmgors/Waun site for a history database of Amman Valley chapels and churches

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

• Photograph: Capel Newydd y Betws Sunday school, Ammanford 1955  
• Postcard of Norton Road, Penygroes, Ammanford showing Jerusalem Methodist Chapel.

Cwmamman Auxiliary of the British & Foreign Bible Society. Subscribers' List from the 1931-1932 report, compiled by Rina Callingham

Davies, W M. Hanes Cychwyniad a chynydd y Trefnyddion Calfinaidd yn Nosbarth yr Hendre [A History of the Rise and Progress of the Calvinistic Methodists in the Hendre District]. Llanelli, 1908.

James, John. 150 mlynedd y Christian Temple (Gellimanwydd), Rhydaman: cyfarfodydd dathlu'r iwbili. (Merthyr Tydfil, 1932), [16]p.

Lewis, T.H. Sion, Llandybïe: braslun o'i hanes, 1895-1945, (Porth, 1945), 24p.

Richards, John. Hanes eglwys y Christian Temple, Ammanford: papyr a ddarllenwyd yn nghyfarfodydd jubili yr eglwys uchod, dydd Llun, Mehefin 15fed 1903, (Ammanford, 1903), 8p.

Rhys, W.J. Braslun o hanes Carmel, ger Llandybie: erbyn dathlu canmlwyddiant y corfforiad, Mai 1960 [A Brief History of Carmel, near Llandybie]. Llandysul, Gwasg Gomer (1960) 91 p., [6]p. of pl., ill., ports.

Thomas, Eirina. Llandybie Church. Amrywiaeth Llanelli Miscellany (1990), p. 15-18

Thomas, Rachel. Christian Temple: eglwys Annibynnol Gellimanwydd, Rhydaman, 1782-1982, (Abertawe, 1982), 72p.

Dyfed FHS have photographs and data relating to various churches and chapels on their site

Parish registers: Christenings (1695-1765, 1778-1919), Marriages (1695-1925), Banns (1823-63, 1866-1962) and Burials (1695-1765, 1778-1948) are at the Carmarthenshire Record Office.

Copy ts PR index CB (1813-75) M (1695-1875) at NLW and Carm.RO

Bishops' Transcripts, covering the period (1672, 1677-8, 1681-2, 1711, 1713, 1717-22, 1724-5, 1730-3, 1735-7, 1739-57, 1761, 1763, 1767-73, 1776-84, 1787-99, 1802-70) are at the National Library of Wales, and have been microfilmed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Marriage index for this parish - see Dyfed Marriages, 1813-1837, Vol. 18 - Iscennin Hundred (Dyfed Family History Society, c1989)

See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg

Nonconformist Chapels: (See also the Cwmgors/Waun site for a database of Amman Valley chapels and churches)

Ammanford/Rhydaman, All Saints
Christenings (1915-40) Marriages (1915-23, 1935-43, 1953-71) Banns (1915-73) are at the Carmarthenshire Record Office.

Cwmaman [formed out of Betws, Llandybie, Llandeilo fawr and Llangiwg in 1843]
Christenings (1840-1930) Marriages (1842-1948) Banns (1842-67, 1887-1949) Burials (1842-1959) at Carm. RO
BTs ; 1840-52, 1854-67, 1869-74 NLW

New Saron Chapel photograph and Old Saron Chapel photograph from Dyfed FHS.

Llandybie Lime Kilns - on David Kitching's site

Various landscapes of Ammanford  - on the People's Collection Wales site

This is an extract from the Llanelly section of Pigot's Directory of South Wales, 1844.

• Conveyance by Railway; The Llanelly Railway & Dock Company's Trains leave the New Dock, for Cwm Ammon [sic] and Cross Inn, every morning at half-past six and nine, and afternoon at half-past twelve and three.
  Parcels and merchandise are forwarded from Cross Inn Station by Nathaniel Rees' Waggons, to Llandilo, Llangadock, Llandovery, and all places adjacent

• Geograph
• Flickr

Kelly's Directory of South Wales, 1910. Here are Extracts relating to Ammanford

Kelly's Directory of South Wales, 1923. Here are Extracts relating to Ammanford

Jones, Bill & Dr Huw Walters. On the American Frontiers: Amman Valley Emigrants in Texas, 1879-1880. The Carmarthenshire Antiquary, 37/2001. This article describes the background of the emigration to Texas of Hopkin Hopkin and his family from Gwauncaegurwen, a journey that started at Brynaman Station. Hopkin had links to Carmel, GCG; Bethesda, Cwmamman; and the famous Swansea Valley based choral society of Ivander Griffiths. They went to New Philadelphia under the scheme known as the Texas Freehold Farm and Emigration Company Ltd., one of whose key promoters was Mabon. They were in the first group from South Wales, the other family being that of George and Catherine Davies from Ton Pentre, Rhondda.There are quotations from letters from Hopkin home to GCG, published in Tarian y Gweithiwr; people they met in Texas included; in Dallas, Elias Thomas of Neath; in McAlaster(now in Oklahoma), John Williams of Glynbeudy, Brynaman; and in New Cambria (near Jacksboro), Morgan and Mary Hughes who had links to Ty'nywern Farm, Glanaman.
Includes biographical notes on Hopkin Hopkin by Rina Callingham

The transcription of the section for Llandybie from The National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from Llandybie to another place.

Carmarthenshire Families

Held at Carmarthen Archives;

• Wills and material relating to the Davies family of Ammanford, inc. the deeds of Glynreithin,C19-C20.

See Not everyone knows this.. for random snippets about this parish

Page from midwifery case register, Ammanford area.  1904 - 1915 - on the People's Collection Wales site

Ammanford - Terry Norman's site . A treasure trove of local history articles, for example ;- THE DYNEVORS - FROM DYNASTY TO DINOSAUR A brief history of a Carmarthenshire dynasty and the building of Ammanford

THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND EARLY HISTORY OF AMMANFORD "...a brief summary of the archaeology of Llandybie, the Amman Valley, and Betws taken from the Amman Valley Heritage Audit prepared by Cambria Archeology in January 2003 (Report No: 2003/5), by Paul Sambrook and Jenny Hall). The study area encompasses the modern parishes of Llandybie, Llanfiangel Aberbythych (Carmel), Cyngor Bro Dyffryn Cennen, Cwmamman, Llandadog and Quarter Bach (Brynamman) to the north of Ammanford and Llanedi, Betws and Gwaun Cae Gurwen to the south.." - on Terry Norman's site

Edwards, Hywel Teifi [ed.] Cwm Aman [Amman Valley] .Gomer 1996. In Welsh. Here is a list of chapter headings and photographs

Evans DA & Walters H. Dyffryn Aman 'Slawer Dydd [The Amman Valley Long Ago: A Collection of Photographs];Gomer 1987. Bilingual. Here is the book's introduction and an Index by Gareth Hicks

Lewis, Brian The Amman Valley: A Photographic Portrait. (1996). Here is an Index by Gareth Hicks

Llandybie: 1940-1990, Llandybie, Llandybie Village Community Project (1990) 96 p., ill. (some col), ports.

Lloyd, Sir John E., (Ed.). A History of Carmarthenshire (2 vols.), Cardiff, London Carmarthenshire Society (1935, 1939). Extracts from this book can be accessed on some parish pages, see here for this parish.

Locksmith, W T H. Ammanford: Origin of Street Names and Notable Historical Records. Cultural Services Department, County Hall, Carmarthen, 2000 ?.

Roberts, Gomer M. Hanes plwyf Llandybie. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru dros Gyngor yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, 1939. 334p: ill, map, folded; 21cm. See also below

Roberts, G.R. The History of the Parish of Llandybie, Ivor Griffiths (1995).Translation of Gomer Roberts' original. (1939). Here is a contents listing and an Index by Gareth Hicks, and here are snippets from the book.

Rowlands, J. Llandebie. In Historical Notes of the Counties of Glamorgan, Carmarthen, & Cardigan, and a list of the Members of Parliament for South Wales, from Henry VIII, to Charles II., Cardiff, Hugh Bird (1866), pp.54-58.

Walters, Huw [Dr]. Canu'r Pwll a'r Pulpud. Cyhoeddiadau Barddas, Swansea; 1987, 397 pp. A study of the Welsh culture of the anthracite coalfield before 1914 - particularly Brynaman, and the Aman Valley areas. There are chapters on folk-lore, growth of industry and population, nonconformity, the eisteddfod etc. It brought the author the Welsh Arts Council Prize for the best work of literary criticism in 1988, the Board of Celtic Studies Prize and the Sir Ellis Jones Ellis-Griffith Prize in 1989. Here is a translation of the Preface by Professor Caerwyn William, list of Contents and brief Introduction.

Extracts from A History of Carmarthenshire Lloyd, Sir John E., (Ed.). 2 vols., Cardiff, London Carmarthenshire Society (1935, 1939)

The Later Middle Ages; Iscennen---The Commote

• "Near the castle of Carregcennen were the demesne lands of the maerdref of its former arglwydd.........the commote west and south of the demesne and forest lands was divided into maenors. Maenors Vouwen and Gryngar, bordering on Kidwelly commote, corresponded roughly to the ancient ecclesiastical parishes of Llanarthney and Llanddarog;  Maenors Llys and Methennich to Llanfihangel Aberbythych and Llandybie; and, 'between Amman River and the lordship of Gower, bounded by Cathau brook and Lle'r Castell' was Maenor Bettws or Stryveland."
• "............the gwestfa paying areas were peopled by descendents of the Welsh freemen. They also paid dofraeth; this was regarded as an imposition ' against the liberty of the men of Iscennen'..............there was also the tribute of the equivalent of forty cows paid triennially..............and the freemen 'beyond Amman' (that is of Maenor Bettws) paid a separate 'rent of assize'............."

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

• Stepney of Llanelli additional collection Includes; "Rent books relating to property in Llannon, Llandybie, and Llanedi, Carmarthenshire, 1909-1953............."

Documents at the National Library of Wales:

• Records of the "Glanamman Lodge" of the True Ivorites, Ammanford, 1840-1946.
• Estate and family records of Lewes of Llysnewydd, parish of Llangeler, and Dyffryn, parish of Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, mainly C16-C20.

Derwydd, various - on the People's Collection Wales site

Held at Carmarthen Archives;

• Printed tithe apportionments 1841-1843 for Llandybie, Llanfynydd and Llandeilo fawr parishes.

The parish of Llandybie in the County of Carmarthen - on the People's Collection Wales site

Parish map(Kain/Oliver)

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SN619144 (Lat/Lon: 51.810694, -4.00516), Llandybie which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• OpenStreetMap Cymru (Welsh counties only)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

Place Names in the Amman Valley - on Terry Norman's site

Extracts from newspapers - Ammanford

"Glo-man is the papur bro (local Welsh language newspaper) for Ammanford and the Amman Valley, first published in September 1977. Issues 1-49 of 'Glo-man', 1977-1982; and calendars printed with reproductions of old photographs of the Aman Valley, 1981-1984 are held at Carmarthenshire Archives Services." [From Archives Network Wales]

"The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News was established in 1913 in Ammanford. It was absorbed by the South Wales Guardian Group, publishers of the South Wales Guardian, in 1959, which then became the South Wales Guardian and Amman Valley Chronicle. The newspaper is now part of the Newsquest Media Group. Copies of South Wales Guardian, 1983, and bound copies, 1969-1971; and copy of Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News, 12 October 1950 are held at Carmarthenshire Archives Services" [From Archives Network Wales]

Excerpts from the the Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthenshire News .  Contributed by David Smith. Now included here

Various items  - on the People's Collection Wales site

• Ammanford Colliery, 1974, Gerald Gibson drilling a shot hole on the coal face.
• Ammanford Colliery, 1974, a journey of empty drams being lowered into the slant
• Ammanford Colliery, 1974, Mr P.A. Jones, Safety Officer inspecting the roof on the last coal face.
• Ammanford mining strike in August 1925
• Photographed by Geoff Charles. Most of the employees of the Pullman Factory, Ammanford, had previously been employed in the coalmining industry. 1950
• Ammanford Colliery and Brickworks pre 1920
• Bettws Drift Mine.
• Black and white film negative showing Ammanford Colliery yard, 19 February 1977. + many others
• Photograph of Corgi Hosiery, Ammanford workers early 1950s
• BLAINA COLLIERY

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

• Pwll-y-Lord Colliery, Llandybie, Notes 1980 "Pwll-y-Lord Colliery was located between Blaenau and Saron in the parish of Llandybie.."

• Ammanford Colliery on the Welsh Coal Mines site
• Caerbryn Colliery (between Tir-y-dail and Cross Hands) on the Welsh Coal Mines site
• Cwmgwili Colliery on the Welsh Coal Mines site
• Emlyn Colliery, Penygroes on the Welsh Coal Mines site
• Saron Colliery on the Welsh Coal Mines site

Davies, Ifor. History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley . Bi-lingual. Published by the author, 2001. Here is a list of chapter headings and photographs.

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

• Llandybie Parish Council Records 1837-1971

Article in the Carmarthenshire Historian, 1978 ) (offline Oct 2015)

Sin-eating in the Amman Valley  By HUW WALTERS, B.LIB. "....No doubt the proclamation of the Gospel and the elevated faith which its great truths bring in its train, broke the fascination, the charm and power of many of these superstitions, but they lingered even until the last forty or fifty years  - indeed the superstition of the sin-eater is said to linger even now in the secluded vale of Cwmaman in Carmarthenshire . ."  (Paxton Hood, Christmas Evans, the Preacher of Wild Wales, London, 1881.)

Ammanford Band c1910  - on the People's Collection Wales site

Davies, Howard G. The Centenary History of Amman United Rugby Football Club, 1903 - 2003. (Roll Along, Amman United, Roll Along) 2003. Here is a Contents listing and a listing of photographs by Gareth Hicks

Smith, Beverley. 'James Griffiths: An Appreciation' in James Griffiths and His Times [s.l.: s.n.]. 1977. An illuminating essay on the culture of the Aman Valley area

Walters, Huw. Cynnwrf Canrif : Agweddau Ar Ddiwylliant Gwern. Cyhoeddiadau Barddas, Abertawe, 2004. ISBN: 1900437678. Paperback, 372p.
A comprehensive collection of eight interesting and informative essays reflecting various aspects of the rich folk culture of the Aman and other south Wales valleys in the 19th century, written by a thorough researcher. Here is a review of the book by Tegwyn Jones (in Welsh)