Cilgerran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cilgerran | |
  Cilgerran shown within the United Kingdom |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Principal area | Pembrokeshire |
| Ceremonial county | Dyfed |
| Constituent country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CILGERRAN |
| Postcode district | SA43 |
| Dialling code | 01239 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| European Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Preseli Pembrokeshire |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Pembrokeshire | |
Cilgerran is a town in the Hundred of Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Teifi. It is the site of Cilgerran Castle, built in 1100, from which Owain of Powys is said to have abducted Nest in 1109. It is first mentioned by name in 1164. This is probably one of the most picturesque castles in Wales and has been painted by many artists including Turner.
The town is first mentioned in 1204 from when it was the administrative centre for a lordship until the sixteenth century. Although the town remained small it was considered one of the main market centres in Pembrokeshire in the seventeenth century. It was a marcher borough. Owen, in 1603, described it as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve,[1] and it still retains some of its corporate traditions.
Other attractions in the town include annual coracle races. This event, started in 1950, attracts competitors from all over the world.
The churchyard of St Llawddog contains a megalithic standing stone or Ogham stone upon which Ogham writing can still be seen. Also contained in the churchyard is the burial site and memorial to William Logan on Mount Logan, Canada fame. Logan was the first Director of Geological Survey in Canada and mapped the coal mines of South Wales. The memorial was erected in the centenary of his death.
The town was renowned for the quality of the slate that was mined there and exported through the port at Cardigan The population of the parish of Cilgerran was: 854 (1801): 1266 (1851): 1033 (1901): 815 (1951): 703 (1981). The percentage of Welsh speakers was: 96 (1891): 94 (1931): 78 (1971).
The community of Cilgerran includes the parishes of Bridell and Llantood, and had a population of 1453 in 2001. Cilgerran is also an electoral ward of Pembrokeshire (including Manordeifi community); its population was 1931 in 2001, with 53% Welsh speakers. Cilgerran has its own elected town council.
[edit] References
- ^ Owen, George, The Description of Penbrokshire by George Owen of Henllys Lord of Kemes, Henry Owen (Ed), London, 1892
