Llanybydder

Llanybydder
Llanybydder  Llanybydder shown within Carmarthenshire
Population	1,638
OS grid reference	SN523438
Community	Llanybydder
Principal area	Carmarthenshire
Ceremonial county	Carmarthenshire
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LLANYBYDDER
Postcode district	SA40
Dialling code	+44 (0) 1570
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Welsh Assembly	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
List of places UK Wales Carmarthenshire

Llanybydder (Welsh pronunciation: [ˌɬanəˈbəðɛr], sometimes formerly spelt Llanbydder) is a community and market town straddling the River Teifi in Carmarthenshire, West Wales, with a population of 1,423, almost three quarters of whom are Welsh-speaking according to the United Kingdom Census 2001. The population had increased to 1,638 at the 2011 Census. The nearest university is the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, located in the nearest town, Lampeter (Llanbedr Pont Steffan). Mynydd Llanllwni (408 m) and Mynydd Pencarreg (415 m) are mountains to the east/south east of Llanybydder.

The name may be a corruption of 'Llanbedr', the church dedicated to St Peter; or of 'Llanybyddair', the church of the Ambuscade.

History

There is evidence of an iron age settlement on the hill that overlooks the town. Highmead, formerly the country mansion Dolau Mawr, built in 1777, is now a centre of religious studies for the Muslim faith.

Llanybydder gained a connection to the national rail network on the Manchester and Milford Railway in 1867, which was originally part of an ill-fated scheme to link Manchester to the deepwater port at Milford Haven. However, financial pressures led the route to be diverted, and it remained a cross country route, with passenger services running until flooding severely damaged the line south of Aberystwyth in December 1964. The cost of repairs to a little-used rural line was deemed prohibitive, and although a limited service continued running from Carmarthen to Tregaron for another few months this was the era of the Beeching Axe. The line was closed to passengers in February 1965.

Llanybydder is notable for the horse fairs held there on the last Thursday of each month. These attract dealers and buyers from all parts of the UK and Ireland. The biggest are held in September and October. Of particular interest are the sales of local Welsh cobs.

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches north east to Pencarreg. The total population of the ward at the 2011 Census was 2,807.

The community is bordered by the communities of: Pencarreg; Llansawel; Llanfihangel Rhos-y-Corn; and Llanllwni, all being in Carmarthenshire; and by Llanwenog in Ceredigion.

Local businesses

As of October 2012, Dunbia (Dungannon Meats) was the largest business in Llanybydder, an abattoir, providing around 650 jobs. Some 350 migrant workers, mostly Poles but also Slovaks and Czechs, were employed there, and the presence of such a large Polish community has had a significant impact on the rural community. They specialise in Welsh lamb; the business was formerly known as "Oriel Jones" - a family-run business owned by a local farmer.

At one time there were seven bakeries in the village, and at least ten pubs. As of 2012 only one bakery and three pubs remained. Other businesses include cafes, farmers' co-operatives, a post office, a solicitor's practice, and a hotel in the village square. The National Farmers Union also has a small office in the village.

Sport

The town's rugby union team competes in the SWALEC Division 4 (West). Llanybydder's soccer teams play in Division 1 and (reserves) Division 2 of the Costcutter Ceredigion League.

Notable residents

One of Wales's most important medieval poets, Lewys Glyn Cothi, is thought to have been born in the parish in c.1420.

External links

• Llanybydder and Rhydcymerau Community Council website
• Llanybydder demographics
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llanybydder and surrounding area