:Cilgerran

Cilgerran lies {{convert|50|m|ft}} above sea level on the southern bank of the River Teifi. The stream Afon Plysgog which rises on nearby Rhoshill runs under the road to the west of Cilgerran to join the Teifi. A mixture of woodland and pasture surrounds the town, which is strung out along a fairly level C-class road in an east{{ndash}}west orientation connecting with the A484 at Llechryd to the east and the A478 at Pen-y-bryn to the west.

File:A view of Cilgerran castle from the quarry NLW3361149.jpg

Cilgerran Castle, strategically built in 1100 at "Cenarth Bychan", high above the River Teifi, is the castle from which Owain of Powys is said to have abducted Nest in 1109. Originally in Cantref Emlyn (Emlyn Is-Cych), Cilgerran came under Norman control with the building of the castle, from where the Lordship of Cilgerran was administered. The Welsh under the Lord Rhys regained control from 1164-65 (the date of the first recording of the name "Cilgerran"{{cite web|title=CADW: Cilgerran Castle|url=http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/cilgerran-castle/?lang=en|access-date=16 October 2017|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715000729/http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/cilgerran-castle/?lang=en|url-status=dead}}) to 1223. By 1204 the town was beginning to grow, with 22 taxpayers recorded in 1292.{{cite web|title=Dyfed Archaeological Trust: Cilgerran (with original citations)|url=http://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/lowerteifivalley/cilgerran.htm|access-date=10 June 2014}}

The Hundred of Cilgerran was established in 1536. It was a marcher borough; Owen, Lord of Kemes, described it in 1603 as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve.{{cite work|last=Owen|first=George|title=The Description of Penbrokshire|publisher=Henry Owen (Ed), London|date=1892}} Cilgerran (as Kilgarren) appears on a 1578 parish map of Pembrokeshire.{{cite web|title=Penbrok comitat|publisher=British Library|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927183108/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/unvbrit/p/001map00000c7c1u00035000.html|access-date=22 July 2024}} Although the town remained small it was considered one of the main market centres in Pembrokeshire in the early 17th century, with mainly Welsh demographics.

File:Cilgerran old building 120904 (Tony Holkham).jpg

File:Cilgerran fair NLW3361159.jpg

The principal occupations throughout Cilgerran's history were farming, salmon fishing and slate quarrying. In 1895 salmon of 38 and 43 1/2lb were caught in coracle nets.{{cite web |title=Times |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Newspapers&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm¤tPosition=22&docId=GALE%7CCS235593261&docType=Letter+to+the+editor&sort=Pub+Date+Forward+Chron&contentSegment=ZTMA-MOD1&prodId=TTDA&contentSet=GALE%7CCS235593261&searchId=R1&userGroupName=surttda&inPS=true&ps=2&cp=22 |website=The Times Digital Archive |publisher=The Times |access-date=8 June 2020}} The town's market ended in the early 20th century, there was no further quarrying after 1936 and the castle had been allowed to become a ruin since the 16th century, partly as a result of nearby quarrying. At least since 1833 Cilgerran has been referred to as a village.

A rare visit by a white stork to the village was photographed in April 2016.{{cite news|publisher=Pembrokeshire Herald|date=28 April 2016|title=Rare stork spotted in Cilgerran|url=http://www.pembrokeshire-herald.com/24419/rare-stork-spotted-in-cilgerran/|access-date=3 May 2016}}

File:Tyrhos Congregational Chapel - geograph.org.uk - 427568.jpg

The parish church of St Llawddog is a grade II* listed building.{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num=11972 |desc=Church of St Llawddog |grade=II* |access-date=22 July 2019 }} The church's tower is mediaeval and the remainder, in decorated Gothic style, dates from 1855. The font and pulpit are carved Bath stone.{{cite web|url =http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-11972-church-of-st-llawddog-church-street-s-sid|title= Church of St. Llawddog,church Street (S Side), Cilgerran|publisher = British Listed Buildings|access-date = 29 December 2013}}{{cite web|title=Parish of Cilgerran with Eglwyswrw, Bridell and Llantood|url=https://parish.churchinwales.org.uk/d855/churches-en/st-llawddog-cilgerran_-en/|access-date=4 March 2018|archive-date=4 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304173646/https://parish.churchinwales.org.uk/d855/churches-en/st-llawddog-cilgerran_-en/|url-status=dead}} The churchyard contains a megalithic standing stone or Ogham stone upon which Ogham writing can still be seen.

Image:Ogham Stone, Cilgerran.jpg

Penuel Baptist Chapel (a Grade II listed building){{cite web|title=Penuel Baptist Chapel|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14497-penuel-baptist-chapel-high-street-n-side-|access-date=26 May 2014}} is on the main street, while Tyrhos Congregational Chapel (Grade II){{cite web|title=Tyrhos Chapel (British Listed Buildings)|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14532-ty-rhos-chapel-rhos-hill-cilgerran|access-date=26 May 2014}} is on the road linking Cilgerran and the hamlet of Rhoshill. Babell Calvinist Methodist Chapel dates from about 1763 and closed in 2011.

Cilgerran County Primary School educates 139 (in 2013) children from nursery to 11 years old and serves several surrounding villages. Pupils are taught in English and Welsh with the aim of bilingualism by the age of 11.{{cite web|title=Cilgerran V.C.P. School - Estyn|url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/english/provider/6683035/|access-date=26 May 2014}}

The Cardiff Arms (19th century){{cite web|title=The Cardiff Arms (British Listed Buildings)|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14499-the-cardiff-arms-inn-high-street-s-side-c|access-date=26 May 2014}} and Pendre Inn (18th century or earlier){{cite web|title=The Pendre Inn (British Listed Buildings)|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14503-the-pendre-inn-high-street-s-side-cilgerr|access-date=26 May 2014}} are both Grade II listed buildings; the Masons Arms (known locally as the Ramp Inn) is in Cnwce, a settlement to the east of Cilgerran.

Cilgerran has a post office, a cafe, a garage/petrol station and general stores. In and around the town are a number of small businesses including a pet food store. Rhosygilwen estate, near Rhoshill, is a venue for concerts and exhibitions, attracting international artists and musicians under the banner of Project Rhosygilwen, run by Dr Glen Peters.{{cite news|title=Dr Glen Peters - Profile|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/glen-peters|access-date=16 June 2014}} The estate is home to the first utility-scale solar park in west Wales, constructed in 2011 and generating enough electricity to power 300 homes.{{cite news|title=Wales' first solar park fires up in Pembrokeshire|publisher=BBC Wales|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14073447|date=8 July 2011|access-date=16 June 2014}}

The Whitland and Cardigan Railway closed in 1962; the section of old trackbed between Cardigan and Cilgerran is now a footpath and cycle track to the Teifi estuary woodlands and marshes and the Welsh Wildlife Centre.{{cite web|title=Welsh Wildlife Centre and Teifi Marsh|url=http://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/the-welsh-wildlife-centre/|access-date=26 May 2014}} The only public transport serving Cilgerran is the local bus service.

{{Historical Rail Start}}

{{Rail line|previous=Boncath |next=Cardigan |route=Great Western Railway
Whitland & Cardigan Railway |col=000000}}

{{S-end}}

With much of Cilgerran Castle in ruins, its picturesque nature and setting have attracted many artists including J. M. W. Turner.

The annual coracle races on the River Teifi were first held in 1950 and attract competitors from all over the world. The river flows slowly through a wooded gorge below the castle making it attractive for canoeists and kayakers.

The census population of the parish of Cilgerran was: 854 (1801): 1266 (1851): 1,033 (1901): 815 (1951): 703 (1981). The percentage of Welsh speakers was: 96 (1891): 94 (1931): 78 (1971). The population in 2001 was 1,931, with 53 per cent Welsh speakers, and in 2011 was 1,507.{{cite web |url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126280&c=SA37+0HD&d=16&e=62&g=6491599&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1429285777131&enc=1 |title=Community population 2011 |work=Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=17 April 2015 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417192132/https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126280&c=SA37+0HD&d=16&e=62&g=6491599&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1429285777131&enc=1 |url-status=dead }} The village has its own elected community council; the community includes Bridell, Llantood and Rhoshill.{{cite web|title=Pembrokeshire County Council: Town and Community Councils|url=http://www.pembstcc.co.uk/cilgerran-community-council|access-date=4 March 2018}} The electoral ward of Cilgerran covers the communities of Cilgerran and Manordeifi. The ward had a population of 1,453 in 2001, increasing to 2,058 in the 2011 Census.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/cilgerran-w05000949#sthash.eZb900Np.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011|access-date=17 April 2015}}

A substantial degree of slate quarrying was carried out in and near Cilgerran, mostly situated on the south side of the River Teifi's gorge.{{Coflein|desc=Cilgerran Slate Quarries |num=420663|access-date=15 February 2020}} They played a significant role in Wales' slate industry, being the only significant quarries in South Wales apart from those around Rhoshill.

Most slate was transported to the port at Cardigan for export by sea. Some of the slate was used for buildings within the town, or exported directly by railway for use within Britain. Wharves were built east of the town on the River Teifi (at {{coord|name=Cilgerran Wharves|52|03|25.7|N|4|36|54.7|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline}}), where slate could be loaded onto boats to take it to Cardigan.{{Coflein|desc=Cilgerran Wharves, River Teifi |num=420659|fewer-links=yes|access-date=8 May 2020}}

Slate was first quarried at Cilgerran by John Edwards, in the late 1790s. He opened a quarry north of the town, in the land known as 'Forest' (near the Caernarfon Farm), called the Lower quarry or Forest quarry – at the site of what became Quarry Caernarvon. Later, with his two sons John and Thomas, Edwards opened another quarry slightly higher up the river, known as the Gigfran quarry ('Gigfran' is Welsh for 'Carrion crow').{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=John Roland |date=31 December 1867 |title=History of Cilgerran |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=sIjSAAAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA165 |publisher=Russell Smith |pages=165–167 }} Soon afterwards, John Bowen opened the Plain quarries, and around this time the Castle quarries and Moses' quarry were also opened, by George John and David John, and Moses Griffith, respectively. Upon the death of John Edwards (around 1830), Thomas Lloyd, of Coedmawr, and Oliver Lloyd, of Cardigan, acquired the Lower quarries, and began expanding them on a large scale. However, they sold the quarries soon afterwards, to James Stephens, of Llechryd.

In the late 1830s, another quarry was opened in the 'Forest' estate, by Mr. James Mathias of Cilgerran. It was called 'Quarry Forever', and situated adjacent to Gigfran quarry. About the same time, Gigfran quarry became exhausted and was thus given up. The industry peaked in the late 19th century, its continuance until that time supported by the coming of the railway in 1869.{{cite book |last= Tucker |first= Gordon & Mary |editor-last= Griffith-Jones |editor-first= Bill |title= The old slate industry of Pembrokeshire and other parts of South Wales |publisher= National Library of Wales journal |location= Aberystwyth |volume= XXIII/2, Winter |date= 1983 |url= http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/Archives/NLWjournals/Slate}}

There were two groups of quarries at Cilgerran – the ones north of the town, known collectively as the Forest quarries, and those to the east of the town, around Cnwcau, sometimes called the Town quarries.{{cite web |url=http://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/lowerteifivalley/cilgerrangorge.htm |publisher=Cadw |title=Cilgerran Gorge |access-date=15 February 2020}} The Forest quarries were almost immediately opposite (the other side of the Teifi Gorge from) Rhoshill.

The major quarries were:

• Siôn Cent (ca.1367/1400 – ca.1430) a Welsh language poet and an important figure in Medieval Welsh literature, born at Cwm Tridwr near Egllwisilan or Kilgerran.{{Cite DNB |wstitle= Kent, John | volume= 31 |last= Kingsford |first= Charles Lethbridge |author-link= Charles Lethbridge Kingsford |pages = 21-22 |short=1}}
• Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower (1742–1814), a Welsh naval officer and colonial governor. A memorial was erected in Cilgerran St Llawddog's Church by his brother, Abel Anthony Gower.{{cite book |last1=Bates |first1=Ian M |title=Champion of the Quarterdeck: Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower 1742 - 1814 |date=2017 |publisher=Sage Old Books |location=Pomona Australia |isbn=9780958702126 |pages=369 |edition=First |url=https://sageoldbooks.com}}
• Titus Lewis (1773–1811), a Welsh Baptist minister and author, was born in Cilgerran.{{cite DWB|id=s-LEWI-TIT-1773 |title=Lewis, Titus (1773-1811)|author=Rhys, William Joseph|accessdate=22 January 2012}}
• Thomas Frederick Colby (1784–1852), geographer was brought up at Rhosygilwen mansion between Cilgerran and Rhoshill.{{cite DNB |wstitle= Colby, Thomas Frederick |volume= 11 |last= Chichester |first= Henry Manners |author-link= Henry Manners Chichester |pages = 255-259 |short= 1}}
• William Edmond Logan (1798 in Mount Logan, Canada – 1875 buried in Cilgerran), the first director of Geological Survey of Canada who mapped the coal mines of South Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=5106|title=Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online: William Edmond Logan|access-date=3 May 2023}}
• John Rowland Phillips (1844–1887), lawyer and antiquary.{{Cite DNB |wstitle= Phillips, John Roland |volume= 45 |last= Lloyd |first= John Edward |author-link= John Edward Lloyd |page = 209 |short=1}}
• Rhys Lloyd, Baron Lloyd of Kilgerran CBE, QC, JP (1907–1991), a Welsh Liberal Party politician.
• Bernard Thomas (ca.1923–2014), of Llechryd, piloted a Welsh coracle across the English Channel in 1974 in {{frac|13|1|2}} hours,{{cite news|publisher=Tivyside Advertiser|date=7 September 2014|title=Death of a river legend|url=http://www.tivysideadvertiser.co.uk/news/11457928.Death_of_a_river_legend/?ref=var_0|access-date=5 May 2015}} to demonstrate how the Bull Boats of the Mandan Indians of North Dakota could have been copied from coracles introduced by Prince Madog in the 12th century.{{Cite web |url=http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts/facts7.html |title=Wales on Britannia: Facts About Wales & the Welsh |access-date=2018-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011090450/http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts/facts7.html |archive-date=2008-10-11 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last1=John|first1=Gilbert|title='Coracle king' to hang up paddle|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7331209.stm|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=10 January 2015|date=5 April 2008}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=John Roland |title=The History of Cilgerran |date=1867 |publisher=J Russell Smith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sIjSAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}

{{commons category|Cilgerran}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217024104/http://cilgerran.info |date=17 December 2014X |title=Information about Cilgerran}}
• [https://www.pembstcc.co.uk/cilgerran-community-council Cilgerran Community Council]
• [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=6507488 Photographs of Cilgerran and the surrounding area on Geograph]
• [https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/5737 A Vision of Britain through Time: Cilgerran (historical background)]
• [https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/33193/details/cilgerran The town's entry] on the National Monuments Record of Wales' [https://coflein.gov.uk/en/ website]

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{{Communities of Pembrokeshire}}

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