Llangwm, Pembrokeshire

Llangwm (/ˈlæŋɡəm/; Welsh pronunciation: [ˈɬangʊm]) is a small village, parish and community of around 450 properties situated on the Llangwm Pill off the River Cleddau estuary near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It has a history of mining and fishing and is in the largely English-speaking south of the county.

Llangwm
Llangwm
Location within Pembrokeshire
Population875 (2011)[1]
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHaverfordwest
Postcode districtSA62 4HS
Dialling code01437
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

History

The parish was in the hundred of Roose, at the heart of Little England beyond Wales, and has been largely English-speaking since the 12th century, when it was settled by Flemish immigrants. Flemish occupation is under investigation by Dyfed Archaeological Trust,[2] but the Trust's investigations have also uncovered evidence of occupation in the late Mesolithic period of the Stone Age, some 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.[3][4]

Llawgwm was part of a discontiguous subsidiary manor of Walwyn's Castle, having its caput at Benton Castle nearby, in the coastal woodland to the south east of Llawgwm.[5]

Principal occupations in the early 19th century were oyster fishing and coal production; coal was shipped from Hook.[6]

Governance

An electoral ward with the same name exists. This ward stretches north west with a total population of 2,336.[7]

Amenities

The parish church, a medieval Grade II listed building, is dedicated to St Jerome. The church dates from the 14th century, but was substantially altered in the 19th century.[8]

The village has two nonconformist chapels, a primary school, pharmacy and shop and a pub, The Cottage Inn.[9]

Popular with visitors throughout the year, with extensive use of the river estuary and local walks, the village holds a festival in the last week of June and the first week of July.

Sport

Llangwm Rowing Club uses Celtic Longboats at sea. Llangwm Rugby Club and cricket club are both active and consistently highly placed in their respective Pembrokeshire Leagues.[10]

Culture

In 2014, residents of the village performed a musical piece to mark the centenary of the beginning of World War I. Entitled "WW1 – A Village Opera", the work, written by Pembrokeshire author and poet Peter George, with music by Llangwm resident Sam Howley, wove the stories of villagers affected by the war into the greater political narrative of the buildup to war.[11]

Llangwm is home to Pembrokeshire's newest literary festival, established by Michael Pugh. The festival, held each August, includes activities for both adults and for children, including creative writing and art workshops. Festival events are hosted in venues around the village, with accessible pricing. The festival has welcomed various well-known people including Griff Rhys Jones, Tristan Gooley, Ferdinand Mount, Peter Chand, Diana Darke, Harry Mount, David Horspool, Bobo Lo and Brian John to talk about such subjects as Wales, comedy, history, tragedy and navigation. Local artists, including Graham Brace, Ian Jacob, Anne Farrell-Doyle, Fran Evans and Fiona Cutting, have also featured.[12]

References
  1. "Community population 2011". Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  2. "Llangwm archaeological dig to unearth Flemish past". BBC. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. Rachael Misstear (17 June 2016). "They went looking for the Flemish...and found evidence of Stone Age man". Wales online. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  4. "Archaeological dig in Llangwm unearths the unexpected". BBC News. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  5. "Dyfed Archaeological Trust: Benton". Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  6. "GENUKI: Llangwm, Pembrokeshire". Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  8. "British Listed Buildings: Church of Saint Jerome, Llangwm". Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  9. "The Cottage Inn, Llangwm". Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  10. "Llangwm Sports Clubs". Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  11. "The 800-population of Llangwm in Pembrokeshire turn opera stars for the day as they remember the village's World War I heroes". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  12. "Llangwmlitfest". www.llangwmlitfest.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
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