Whitland

The Whitland community is bordered by the communities of: Henllanfallteg; Llanboidy; and Eglwyscummin, all being in Carmarthenshire; and by Lampeter Velfrey and Llanddewi Velfrey in Pembrokeshire.

According to the 2011 census the population was 1,792.

File:Whitland Town Hall and Library - geograph.org.uk - 4485826.jpg]]

File:Whitlandmap1952.jpg

Traditionally, Whitland is seen as the site of an assembly of lawyers and churchmen, sometimes described as the first Welsh parliament, called in 930 by King Hywel Dda to codify the native Welsh laws.

Whitland takes its name from its medieval Cistercian abbey. The monastery pre-dates Tintern but now is very much a ruin. The "white land" of the name (Latin: Albalanda) may refer to the famous Ty Gwyn (English: White House) where Hywel's parliament met, to the monks' unstained woollen cloaks, or to the abbey's limestone. Whitland was dissolved during Henry VIII's conversion to a reformed church. Much of its limestone was taken and used for other buildings. The limestone itself may have been from quarries in the Cotswolds as there is no quarry of this ' White' stone in the area.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} The country setting of the ruin and the Abbey's layout can still be viewed just north of the A40 roundabout and turning immediately left.

Whitland has had a strong milk industry and, when the railway arrived in the 19th century, exported milk to London. Its dairy, run by Dairy Crest, eventually closed in 1994 with the loss of 100 jobs.

Whitland Town Hall was originally commissioned for retail use and was completed in 1904.{{cite news |title=Whitland Town Hall shows its versatility |url=https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/whitland-town-hall-shows-its-versatility-448715 |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=Tenby Observer |date=12 August 2010}}

Despite losing its dairy and remaining high street bank, Whitland has an estimated 125 small businesses as well as Whitland Engineering, which services the dairy industry and in 2019 employed 90 people.{{cite news|url=https://www.pembroke-today.co.uk/news/how-whitland-has-managed-to-survive-and-thrive-474947 |title=How Whitland has managed to survive and thrive |work=Pembroke Today |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=21 July 2022 }}

The Hywel Dda Interpretive Centre is a publicly funded culture centre. It has a garden using reclaimed stone. Hywel Dda is considered{{By whom|date=February 2014}} one of the most accomplished of Welsh rulers, minting his own coins, codifying the traditional Welsh Laws, and using his diplomacy to secure Wales at a particularly turbulent period.

File:St_Mary's_Church,_Whitland_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1137308.jpg

An electoral ward of the same name exists including the Henllanfallteg community with a total population of 2,272.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/whitland-w05000514#sthash.ZyFeIk1K.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011|access-date=17 April 2015}} The ward elects one county councillor to Carmarthenshire County Council.[http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Carmarthenshire-1995-2012.pdf Carmarthenshire County Council Election Results 1995-2012], The Election Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 29 July 2020.

Whitland also has a town council, consisting of elected or co-opted town councillors.{{cite web|url=https://whitlandtowncouncil.co.uk/wtc-councillors.php |title=Whitland Town Council - Your Councillors |publisher=Whitland Town Council |access-date=29 July 2020 }} The town council elects a mayor annually, who acts as chair of the council.{{cite news|url=http://www.tenby-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=124717&headline=Whitland%20Town%20Council%20elect%20their%20Mayor§ionIs=&searchyear=2019 |title=Whitland Town Council elect their Mayor |work=Tenby Observer |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=29 July 2020 }}

Whitland railway station is at the junction of the South Wales Main Line with two branch lines: Pembroke Dock, and Cardigan. The latter was closed as a result of the Beeching cuts in the early 1960s.

There are two schools: the primary school is Ysgol Llys Hywel; the secondary is Dyffryn Taf. Whitland has many local sporting teams including Rugby union, football (soccer), cricket, short and long mat bowls, darts and billiards.

• William Mathias (1934–1992), composer, was born in Whitland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000018063|title=Mathias, William|website=Grove Music Online|year=2001|doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.18063|last1=Lewis|first1=Geraint}}
• Lorys Davies (1936–2021), Archdeacon of Bolton from 1992 until 2001.

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• [https://www.hywel-dda.co.uk/default.htm Hywel Dda Centre]
• [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2742981 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Whitland and surrounding area]

{{Carmarthenshire}}

{{Communities of Carmarthenshire}}

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Category:Towns in Carmarthenshire

Category:Carmarthenshire electoral wards

Category:Communities in Carmarthenshire