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Pembrey

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"PEN-BREY, otherwise PEMBREY (PEN-BRE), a parish in the hundred of KIDWELLY, county of CARMARTHEN, SOUTH WALES, 5 miles (S.S.E.) from Kidwelly, contains 2645 inhabitants . . . The name of this place, signifying literally the head of a hill or promontory, is derived from its situation at the extremity of a mountainous ridge, beyond which a low promontory extends into the bay of Carmarthen. . . The substrata abound with mineral wealth, this district being thought to be the richest in South Wales in both bituminous and hard coal, both being worked to a very great extent. The quality of the soft coal is peculiarly adapted to the production of gas, the working of iron, and other manufacturing purposes; and vast quantities of both sorts are exported to various parts of the kingdom. . . a capacious harbour was constructed in 1819. . . This part of the coast is of difficult navigation, and to sailors unacquainted of it the most fatal on the shores of the Bristol Channel." [From A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (S. Lewis, 1833).]

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Business & Commerce Records

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

  • Glanrhyd Farm, Pembrey Records "Records, c. 1945-1970, relating to Glanrhyd Farm and Pembrey Airfield, including correspondence; accounts; schedules; and Pembrey Airfield sales particulars, 1964."
  • Records of The Stores, Pembrey 1854-1959 "The Stores, 5 Randall Square, Pembrey, Carmarthenshie, was in existence by the 1880s and active into the 1980s......."
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Churches

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Church History

Some church and chapel data from The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 1, South Wales. Ed. by I.G Jones, & D. Williams. UWP, Cardiff, 1976. The names are those of the informants

  • Llanddury, Llandury Bryn Williams [no indication of status, presumably a church - under Pembrey below there is a reference to a commodius chapel of ease at Llandury Hamlet]
  • St Mary [no indication of status, presumably a church] John Thomas
  • Pembrey Erected two or three hundred years [a discharged vicarage with Llandury] Benj. Williams
  • Gusgam Baptist Erected in 1839 David Rogers, Deacon in Chapel, Achildu Ucha Farm
  • Ebenezer WM Erected in 1832 Alexander Davis, Chapel Steward, Red Lion, Pembrey
  • Bethel CM Erected in 1812 John Williams, Steward, [?] Tarvincanal, Pembrey
  • Jerusalem Independent Dissenters Erected in 1812 Henry Edmunds, Deacon
  • Sardis Ind Erected in 1831 David Jones, Minister
  • Rehoboth, Penbre Ind Erected in 1827 Henry Evans, Minister, Rehoboth, Pembrey
  • Bethlehem, Pool Bembrey Baptist Particular Erected in 1835 Daniel Ungoed, Deacon, Pool Pembrey
  • Carmel Independent Dissenters Erected in 1827 John Williams, Deacon. Pantachddy

Parish entry from The Welsh Church Year Book, 1929 (Cd by (Archive CD Books).

  • St Illtyd & Llandyry Chapel of Ease & St Mary, Burry Port & Holy Trinity, Pwll
  • Incumbent and Curates; D J Morgan (J B Thomas, D Harries, W D Morgan, E Thomas)
  • Rural Deanery of Kidwelly
  • Acreage 15,817; Population 11,351

    See John Ball's site Welsh Churches and Chapels Collection for a photograph/data re St Mary's Church, Burry Port

      Hughes, John Llewelyn. Hanes Capel Clement a Rehoboth ger Llanelli, yn nghyda chryn lawer o hanes Jerusalem, Carmel a Seion, Penbre, hefyd crynhodeb o hanes y Parchn Thomas Clement, David Davies, Rehoboth; Evan Davies, Carmel, Henry Evans, Burry Port, ac ereill (Llandeilo, 1907), 52p.

      Jones, Herman. Hanes eglwys Annibynnol Jerusalem, Burry Port, 1812-1962 (Llanelli, 1962), 80p.

      Nicholson, John A. Pembrey's Welsh Wesleyanism: Ebenezer, 1833-1858, Hermon 1858. [Pembrey]: John A. Nicholson, 1989. 46p: ill, maps; 22cm.

      Nicholson, John A. St. Illtyd's Church, Pembrey: a brief history and guide. Pembrey: St. Illtyd's Church, [1989] [7]p: plans; 21cm.

      Roberts, E. and Pertwee, H.A. St. Illtyd's Church, Pembrey: its history and its architecture, Swansea, C. E. Willing (1898).

      Williams, Wyndham H. Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru Bethel Penbre: hanes yr eglwys. [Penbre]: [Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru, Bethel Penbre], [1977] 55p: ill, ports; 22cm.

      Williams, W. Braslun o Hanes Bethlehem, Pwll, Llanelli [ A Brief History of Bethlehem, Pool, Llanelli].Llanelli, 1934 [LDS GS 942.95/L1 K2b]. The translation by Ivor Griffiths is available for purchase, see Wales - Genealogy Help Pages

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      Church Records

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

      Parish registers: Christenings (1700-1958) and Llandyry (1904-57), Marriages (1700-1964), Banns (1823-1973) and Burials (1700-1965) and Llandyry (1904-86) are at the Carmarthenshire Record Office.

      Copy ts PR C (1701-71) M (1701-54) B (1701-71) and ts PR index C (1772-1833) M (1700-1894) B (1800-1900) at Carm.RO

      Bishops' Transcripts, covering the period (1716, 1718, 1721-2, 1724-5, 1727, 1743-74, 1776-1800, 1802-83) 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. 19 - Carnwallon Hundred (Dyfed Family History Society, c1989)

      An index to Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1701-1771 is available on microfiche from DFHS

      See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg

      Burry Port/Porthtywyn [formed out of Pembrey]
      Christenings (1903-79) Pwll (1904-76) Marriages (1902-76) are at the Carmarthenshire Record Office.

      Nonconformist Chapels:

      • Tabernacle (Baptist, c1834/39), Ashburnham Rd, Burry Port SN4435100731 Built 1856, enlarged 1865, completely renovated 1901 Still open 1998 Coflein
      • Elkington Rd English Baptist chapel, Burry Port SN4443101083 Opened 1897,corner of Stepney & Pencoed Roads, timber & zinc-sheeted; new chapel built 1913 Still open 1998 Coflein
      • Stepney Rd English Baptist chapel, Burry Port See above SN4000 Opened in 1897?, a zinc-sheeted chapel, vacated 1913 for the new Elkington Road English Baptist Church Coflein
      • Bethlehem (Baptist, c1794), Pwll Records bef 1834 with those of Adulam, Llanelli SN47370107 Built 1834/5, present chapel dates from 1874/5, possibly enlargement of 1830s chapel; Still open 1998 Coflein On Dyfed FHS
      • Salem Baptist Sunday school, Pwll SN48450093 Built 1905 Coflein
      • Noddfa Welsh Baptist chapel, Heol Waun-y-clyn, Trimsaran SN45140449 Formed 1879 Still open 1998 Coflein
      • Bethany Welsh CM chapel, New St, Burry Port SN4509100884 Built 1861; rebuilt/enlarged 1896. Still open 2000 Coflein
      • Bethel (Calvinistic Methodist, 1800), Ciwscwm Rd, Pembrey village Births and baptisms (1818-37) PRO RG4/3831, LDS 828108, IGI. On Dyfed FHS Bethel Gwscwm Road, Penbre CM chapel is still open in 2006
      • Free Presbyterian (CM)church, Springfield Terrace, Burry Port SN4457200842 Opened 1994 Still open 1998 Coflein
      • Tabernacle (Calvinistic Methodist, 1872), Heol Llanelli, Trimsaran SN45080485 Built 1873 / 1876, enlarged 1980 Coflein Tabernacle, Heol Morlais, Trimsaran CM chapel still open in 2006
      • Seion Welsh Independent, Parc-y-Minos, Burry Port SN4469500812 Built 1873?, opened 1875 Coflein Seion Ind chapel, Burry Port shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)
      • English Congregational chapel (Independent, bef 1871), Parc-y-Minos St, Burry Port SN4465400873 Built 1870, assisted financially by Jerwsalem Chapel & by Park Chapel, Llanell Still open 1995 Coflein
        Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches),4 volumes (published 1871+). Here is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh ) - with translation by Gareth Hicks (Jan 2009)
      • Jerusalem (Independent, bet 1725-40), Colby Rd, Burry Port Births and baptisms (1814-37) PRO RG4/2517, LDS 815972, IGI On Dyfed FHS See Welsh Chapels and Churches for a photograph Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)
        Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh ) - with translation by Gareth Hicks (Jan 2009)
      • Carmel (Independent, c1826), Cwm Firman Records with those of Jerusalem SN45790224 Built 1827/28, enlarged 1833, rebuilt 1882 & enlarged again 1929 Coflein Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)
        Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh ) - with translation by Gareth Hicks (Jan 2009)
      • Rehoboth (Independent, 1818), Pump-hewl [Five Roads] (just within this parish and not Llanelli) SN47620447 Built 1819, rebuilt/modified 1827, 1855 & 1875 Coflein Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)
        Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh ) - with translation by Gareth Hicks (Jan 2009)
      • Sardis (Independent, c1830), Bryncaerau, Trimsaran Records with those of Capel Sul, Kidwelly SN44510516 Built 1831 & [re]built 1874 Still open 1998 Coflein On Dyfed FHS Sardis Ind chapel, Trimsaran shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)
        Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here is the entry from this book for this chapel (in Welsh ) - with translation by Gareth Hicks (Dec 2008)
      • Libanus Ind chapel, Pwll SN48280109 Built 1879, rebuilt/modified 1898 Coflein On Dyfed FHS Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)
      • Ebenezer / Hermon (Wesleyan Methodist, 1809), Pembrey village Records with those of Ebenezer, Carmarthen SN4288501052 Built 1832/3, new site 1857 at SN4312501110 & chapel rebuilt in 1858, re-named Hermon Not still open 1994 Coflein
      • Burry Port English Wesleyan Methodist, Glan-mor Terrace, Burry Port SN4489600665 Built 1866 Still open 2000 Coflein
      • Free Brethren Gospel Hall, Heol Llanelli, Trimsaran SN4504 Built in the late 20th c style Still open 2002 Coflein

      Nicholson, J.A. Pembrey Parish Church registers: selected entries from 1701 to 1900, Pembrey Parish Church, Carmarthen, n.d.

      Parish Church photograph and basic information from Dyfed FHS.

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      Description & Travel

      The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 1, South Wales., byJones, I.G. & Williams, D. UWP, Cardiff, 1976. These statistics for this parish are extracted from this book which in turn got them from the 1851 census itself;

      • Area 26735 acres; Population 1622 males, 1688 females, total 3310

      Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage Project - contains a wealth of local material

      You can see pictures of Pembrey which are provided by:

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      Directories

      Pigot & Co. South Wales Directory for 1844. Here are Extracts relating to Llanelli with Loughor, Pembrey, Burry Port and Neighbourhoods

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      Gazetteers

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

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      Genealogy

      On the site Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage Project is an article on the life and family background of Francis Randell,

      Quote
      "According to Pembrey Parish Registers, Randell Square is named after Francis Randell, baptised 28th May 1800 in Kidwelly and died 10th February 1870 in Pembrey parish. He is buried in St Illtyd’s churchyard Pembrey. His father, Captain Francis Randell, was born in Clovelly, Devon in 1772. Coastal shipping was the primary means of conducting trade and the Randells had been trading with Welsh ports for centuries.........."

      Carmarthenshire Families

      Evans, Margaret. PHILLIPS of Pembrey. Dyfed FHS journal (3/288) The rise and fall of the Iron Industry, in the UK and USA, and its affect on a Welsh migrant family.

      Hughes, John. The Dunns of Dyfatty. Dyfed FHS journal vol 9/1, Dec 2005.

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      History

      Men who made Burry Port on Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage Project

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

      • Pembrey, H. M. Munitions Factory, archive 1926 "A munitions factory was first set up in Pembrey c. 1881, producing gunpowder and dynamite. .............."

       

      Craig, R S & Robert P. Jones & & M V Symons. The Industrial and Maritime History of Llanelli and Bury Port 1750-2000. Llanelli 2002

      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

      Nicholson, J.A. Pembrey and Burry Port, Their Harbour, Shipwrecks and Looters, Llanelli Borough Council (n.d.) 171 p. [ISBN 0 906821 04 5]

      Nicholson, J.A. Pembrey and Burry Port: Aspects of Their History. Book One, Llanelli, Wales, Llanelli Borough Council (1993) 145 p. [The main coverage is of: (i) the census returns for 1841, 1851 and 1861, with notes on selected people and places, (ii) the Ashburnham Family, and (iii) the various schools. Illustrated with maps and photographs, and provided with detailed source references.]

      Nicholson, J.A. Pembrey and Burry Port: A historical miscellany: Book Two, Llanelli, Llanelli Borough Council (1994) 135 p. [Includes a lengthy account of the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway, and brief chapters relating to various local 19th century industrial organizations and industrialists, and on Field Names, Tithes, the 1871 Census, and the Rev. Thomas Evans (Vicar of Pembrey, 1817-1838).]

      Nicholson, J.A. Pembrey and Burry Port: Further historical glimpses: Book Three, Llanelli, Llanelli Borough Council? (1996).

      Nicholson, J.A. Pembrey and Burry Port: Some historical events and recollections: Book Four, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire County Council (1994) 187 p.

      Thomas, R.G. Pembrey Parish - Early Industrial Efforts, Trans. Carms. Antiq., vol. 20, no. Part XLIX, (1929) pp.39.

      Williams, R J. Meat Poisoning at Burry Port: 1893. Dyfed FHS Journal Vol 8/5 April 2004.

      Documents at the National Library of Wales:

      • Research material of D. G. Lloyd Hughes relating to the history of Burry Port and Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, and Pwllheli.
      • Papers of Richard Ellis Williams (1862-1926), Baptist minister in Cwmavon, London and Pembrey.
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      Land & Property

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

      • Ashburnham Welsh Estates Records 1392-1968 (predominantly 1600-1925] "Before 1677 the Ashburnham Welsh estate belonged to the Vaughan family, originally of Brodwardine, Herefordshire. Following the marriage of Sir Richard Vaughan to Anne, daughter and heiress of John Butler of Pembrey the family acquired both the Pembrey and Dunraven estates..........."

      Documents at the National Library of Wales:

      • Records of the Welsh estates of the earls of Ashburnham, 1392-1923. The chief estates were Porthamal, Breconshire, and in the parishes of Llanddeusant, Myddfai and Pembrey.
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      Maps

      A map of the parish of Pembrey, Carmarthenshire - on the People's Collection Wales site

      Parish map(Kain/Oliver)

      You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SN428037 (Lat/Lon: 51.709973, -4.276814), Pembrey which are provided by:

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      Merchant Marine

      Pembrey Harbour Interpretation Board - on Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage Project

      Burry Port Harbour Interpretation Board on Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage Project

      Aerial photograph of Burry Port Docks from the east. Taken on 09 June 2005.  -  on the People's Collection Wales site

      Nicholson, J.A.. Pembrey and Burry Port, Their Harbour, Shipwrecks and Looters, Llanelli Borough Council, n.d., 171 p. ISBN 0 906821 04 5.

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      Names, Geographical

      Places, villages, farms etc within Pembrey as shown on the online parish map from the CD of Historic Parishes of England and Wales: an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata [computer file]. (Kain, R.J.P., Oliver, R.R.). (Extracted by Gareth Hicks)

      • Pembrey (82); Achddu; Afon Morlais; Barclay; Bigin; Brick works; Bryn-dias; Burry Port (town); Burry Port Urban; C.G Sta.; Cenrhos; Cil-y-maen-llwyd; Coll.; Colliery(3); Craig-capel; Cwm Capel; Dafatty; Draenog; Dythel; Garn; Glassberry; Golf Links; Great Western Railway; Llandyry; Lletty-rychen; Moat; Moreb; Morfa; Mynydd Pembrey; Pant; Pant Hywel; Parc wilws; Pembrey(village); Pembrey Burrows; Pen-llwyn-isaf; Pen-llwyn-uchaf; Pen-y-bedd; Pinged; Plas-newydd; Pont-newydd; Pont Spwdwr; Pwll; Rhiw las; Rhos; Swan Pool Drain; Syddyn melyn; Towyn Burrows; Towyn canol; Towyn mawr; Tre-goch; Trim-saran (village); Twyn-bach; Ty-cornel; Ty-gwyn; Ty-mawr; Waun Baglam; Waun clyn
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      Occupations

      The Copper Works Interpretation Board on Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage Project

      Ashburnham Tinplate Works on Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage Project

      Trimsaran Colliery Washery on the Welsh Coal Mines site

      Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

      • PEMBREY COPPER WORKS; IMPERIAL SMELTING CORPORATION LTD., PEMBREY
      • The Garden Suburb at Burry Port was built 1915-1919 for workers at Pembrey explosives factory by Burry Port Garden Suburb Ltd
      • Photograph of Olwen Leyshon in uniform,WW1- worked in ‘Powder Factory’ in Pembrey, Llanelli.

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

      • Trimsaran Estate "Plan of Trimsaran Estate, Pembrey showing seams of coal, undated (?c1850-1950)."
      • O J Anthony [lecture] "During the 1930s O J Anthony worked at Pembrey Collieries Ltd., as a boy collier or carter at the colliery known locally as 'Y Ffrwd' Burry Port. The lecture relates his memories of life in the mine during this period."
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      Schools