Cynwyl Elfed

{{Short description|Village and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}

{{Infobox UK place

| type = Village and community

| country = Wales

| static_image_name = The A484 through Cynwyl Elfed (geograph 4126481).jpg

| static_image_caption = Surgeon St, Cynwyl Elfed

| coordinates = {{coord|51|55|18|N|4|22|03|W|display=title|region:GB_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}

| unitary_wales = Carmarthenshire

| module= 240px
Map of the community

}}

File:Afon Duad Inn - geograph.org.uk - 1110461.jpg

Cynwyl Elfed ({{pronunciation|Cynwyl Elfed.ogg|Welsh pronunciation|help=no}}; sometimes Conwyl and formerly anglicised as Conwil Elvet or Conwil in Elvet) is a village and community in the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales. The community includes the villages of Cynwyl Elfed, Blaenycoed and Cwmduad. It is situated about {{convert|5|mi}} north of Carmarthen and had a population of 953 in 2001, increasing to 1,044 at the 2011 Census.{{cite web|url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11122585&c=SA33+6UB&d=16&e=62&g=6492096&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1428950342781&enc=1|title=Community population 2011 |accessdate=13 April 2015}}

The area around the village has yielded a significant number of Roman artefacts, including a statue of Diana. It was the most important centre of the commote of Elfed in the Middle Ages.

File:Standing Stone and Pasture - geograph.org.uk - 707487.jpg can be seen in the distance]]

Cynwyl Elfed transmitting station stands on high ground to the north of the village.

Governance

An electoral ward of the same name exists. This ward stretches south to Newchurch and Merthyr. There is a community council of the same name and also the ward is represented by one councillor in Carmarthenshire County Council.{{Cite web|title=Cyngor Cymuned Cynwyl Elfed {{!}} Cynwyl Elfed Community Council|url=https://www.cynwylelfed.cymru/en/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Elfed Community Council|language=en-US}} The total population of this ward taken at the 2011 Census was 3,018.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/cynwyl-elfed-w05000468#sthash.EBfqmwZK.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011 |accessdate=13 April 2015}}

The community is bordered by the communities of: Llangeler; Llanfihangel-ar-Arth; Llanpumsaint; Bronwydd; Newchurch and Merthyr; Abernant; Trelech; and Cenarth, all being in Carmarthenshire.

River

The River Gwili ({{langx|cy|Afon Gwili}}) is a tributary of the River Towy, the longest river entirely in Wales. Rising to the east of Llanllawddog, in the Brechfa Forest, it runs west, through Llanpumsaint, to its confluence with the River Duad, just south of Cynwyl Elfed village. Then its course turns to the southeast, running through Bronwydd before joining the River Towy at Abergwili.

Railway

File:Conwil railway station 2040575.jpg

The Gwili Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Gwili) is a Welsh standard gauge heritage railway from the former Abergwili Junction, near Carmarthen, along a short section of the former Carmarthen to Aberystwyth railway that closed for passenger traffic in 1965. Based at Bronwydd Arms railway station, the Gwili Railway currently owns {{convert|8|mi}} of the old railway line, which once ran past Cynwyl Elfed.

Roads

The A484 is an A road from Swansea to Cardigan, and runs through Cynwyl Elfed affording connections to Carmarthen and the A40.

Amenities

File:St. Cynwyl, Cynwyl Elfed - geograph.org.uk - 121322.jpg

The parish church of St Cynwyl of the Church in Wales, founded in the 6th century,[http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/parishholding/david/d144-en/history-en Official parish history] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204064000/http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/parishholding/david/d144-en/history-en |date=2010-12-04 }} contains 14th century elements and a barrel roof.{{cite book |last=Davies |first=John |author2=Jenkins, Nigel |title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales |year=2008 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff|page=188 |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6}} It is a grade II* listed building.{{cite web| url = http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-9388-church-of-saint-cynwyl-cynwyl-elfed|title= Church of Saint Cynwyl, Cynwyl Elfed|publisher= British Listed Buildings|accessdate = 20 December 2013}}

Cynwyl Elfed has a primary school.

Notable people

Howell Elvet Lewis (1860–1953), the Independent minister, hymn-writer, poet, known as Elfed. The house where he was born, 'Y Gangell' is to the west of Cynwyl Elfed near Blaenycoed and contains a small exhibition of his life.
David Lyn (1927–2012), a Welsh television, film and stage actor; raised on a smallholding in Cynwyl Elfed
Denzil Davies (1938–2018), Welsh Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament (MP) for Llanelli from 1970 to 2005, and a member of the Privy Council.

External links

:* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2749408 Photos of Cynwyl Elfed and surrounds] at Geograph.org.uk

Notes

Category:Communities in Carmarthenshire

Category:Villages in Carmarthenshire