:Pentre Galar

The English translation for pentre is village, and galar can mean mourning, sorrow or grief. The origin of this name is obscure.

The land slopes from Crugiau Dwy at a height of {{convert|359|m}} in the west down towards the valley of Afon Gafel, a tributary of the River Taf. Most of the terrain is above {{convert|250|m}}. Land use is agricultural, with a rectilinear field pattern.{{cite web|title=Dyfed Archaeological Trust: Pentre Galar|url= http://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/Preseli/area/area262.htm|accessdate=16 August 2019}} Minor roads connect Pentre Galar with the villages of Hermon, Glandwr and Mynachlog-ddu, and most houses are alongside the main road.{{cite work|title=Landranger 145 - Cardigan and Mynydd Preseli|publisher=Ordnance Survey|date=2007}} The part of the settlement to the west of the A478 lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.Ordnance Survey

File:Ty Mawr, Pentre Galar, A478 (Tony Holkham 190821).jpg

File:Memorial to Siams Dafi, Pentre Galar, A478 (Tony Holkham 190821).jpg

The land surrounding Pentre Galar was enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1812, resulting in the orderly layout of small, rectangular fields. Dyfed Archaeological Trust suggests earlier settlement, and notes that the main road (now the A478) through the village is marked on an early map as a medieval route, but was turnpiked between 1791 and 1809 under the Whitland Turnpike Trust.

The Royal Commission records the name Pentre Galar from an early 20th century map,{{cite web|title=RCAHMW: Historic Place Names: Pentre Galar|url= https://historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk/placenames/recordedname/9da700da-7bcb-422f-9916-8e3862a7aa9e|accessdate=16 August 2019}} and has in its collection aerial photographs of old field banks taken in 1999.{{Coflein|desc=Old field banks, Pentre Galar|num=402529|accessdate=16 August 2019}}

In 1892, the freehold for a number of farms of up to {{convert|149|acre}} in Pentre Galar was offered for sale, with the tenants' names listed.{{cite news|work=Carmarthen Journal|date=12 August 1892|title=Important Sale of Valuable Freehold Farms|page=4|url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3761965/3761969/27/Pentregalar|accessdate=17 August 2019}}

Ty-mawr, on the corner of the road leading to Hermon, was in earlier times an inn on the Cardigan to Clynderwen coach route. It saw its first motor car in 1909.{{cite news|work=The Welshman|date=29 October 1909|page=8|title=Dyffryn Taf|url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4359630/4359641/80/Pentregalar|accessdate=17 August 2019}} Owner and builder of the inn, James Davies (Siams Dafi, 1758{{ndash}}1844{{cite news|work=Y Tyst|author=Clwydwenfro (John Lloyd James) |language=cy|date=27 February 1901|title=Oracl ei Ardal hanes Siams Dafi, Pentregalar. Penod I: Ei Ddechreuad|url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3755811/3755813|pages=4–5|accessdate=22 August 2019}}{{cite news|work=Y Tyst|author=Clwydwenfro (John Lloyd James) |language=cy|date=24 April 1901|title=Oracl ei Ardal hanes Siams Dafi, Pentregalar. Penod VII: Fyddlon i'r achos a'r gweinidog|url= https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3755915/3755917 |pages=4–5|accessdate=22 August 2019}}), a preacher and community stalwart,{{cite news|work=Y Tyst|author=Clwydwenfro (John Lloyd James) |language=cy|date=20 March 1901|title=Oracl ei Ardal hanes Siams Dafi, Pentregalar. Penod III: Pregethwr a llenor|url= https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3755850/3755852/3/Pentregalar |page=4|accessdate=22 August 2019}} was the force behind much road improvement in the area, including the main road, in the years 1809 to 1812.{{cite news |author=Clwydwenfro (John Lloyd James) |title=Oracl ei ardal hanes Siams Dafi, Pentregalar – Penod II, Ei breswyl a'r amgylchoedd |url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3755824/3755826 |accessdate=21 August 2019 |work=Y Tyst - Newyddiadur Wythnosol yr Annibynwyr |date=6 March 1901 |pages=4–5 |language=cy}} A memorial stone to Davies was erected in 2007, across the road from the inn.{{cite web |title=Siams Dafi 1758 - 1844 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/deorllewin/papurau_bro/y_cardi_bach/newyddion/mehefin07.shtml |website=BBC Lleol de Orllewyn |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711001527/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/deorllewin/papurau_bro/y_cardi_bach/newyddion/mehefin07.shtml |archivedate=11 July 2019 |language=cy |date=June 2007}}

The Preseli transmitting station was constructed in 1962 near the summit of Crugiau Dwy, and by 1973 was broadcasting colour TV to West Wales, fairly late in comparison with the rest of the UK, owing to the sparse population in the area it served.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1970/nov/09/television-transmitter-preseli |title=Television Transmitter, Preseli (Hansard, 9 November 1970) |work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) |date=1970-11-09 |access-date=2014-05-31}}

The poet, Independent minister and Marxist Thomas Evan Nicholas (Niclas y Glais, 1879–1971) was born and brought up in Pentre Galar; he was born in the cottage Blaenwaun Felen and brought up in 'Y Llety', a smallholding on the slopes of Foel Dyrch and Crugiau Dwy.{{cite book|last1=Gildart|first1=Keith|last2=Howell|first2=David|title=Dictionary of Labour Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t94YDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA282|date=30 April 2016|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|isbn=978-0-230-29348-9|page=282}}{{cite web| title=Nicholas, Thomas Evan ('Niclas y Glais'), (1879-1971), poet, minister of religion and advocate for the Communist Party |url=https://biography.wales/article/s8-NICH-EVA-1879 |website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|publisher=National Library of Wales|last=Rees |first=D. Ben |date=2011 |accessdate=22 August 2019}} A memorial stone to T E Nicholas was unveiled on Crugiau Dwy in October 2019.{{cite news|work=BBC Cymru|date=6 October 2019|title=Dadorchuddio carreg goffa i Niclas y Glais yn Sir Benfro|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/49948645|accessdate=12 October 2019}}

The poet and Independent minister Daniel John Davies (1885–1970) was born at Waunfelen, a cottage in Pentre Galar.{{cite web| title=Daniel John Davies |url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-DAVI-JOH-1885|website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|publisher=National Library of Wales|last=Jones|first=Iorwerth |date=2001 |accessdate=22 August 2019}} He was taught the rules of cynghanedd (Welsh strict metre poetry) in Pentregalar by William Nicholas, T E Nicholas' elder brother.{{cite news|work=BBC Cymru|title=Llais llen|date=27 September 2001|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/adloniant/llyfrau/straeon/010927gwyrsirbenfro.shtml}}

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Category:Villages in Pembrokeshire