Whitland

Whitland (Welsh: Hendy-gwyn, lit. "Old White House", or Hendy-gwyn ar Daf, "Old White House on the River Tâf", from the medieval Ty Gwyn ar Daf) is both a town and a community in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Whitland

Market Street, Whitland
Whitland
Location within Carmarthenshire
Population1,792 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceSN201165
Community
  • Whitland
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWHITLAND
Postcode districtSA34
Dialling code01994
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
Map of Whitland (1952)

Description

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.[1]

History

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 woolen 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. 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.

The Hywel Dda Interpretive Centre is a publicly funded culture centre. It has a garden using reclaimed stone. Hywel Dda is considered 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.

Governance
St Mary's Church

An electoral ward of the same name exists including the Henllanfallteg community with a total population of 2,272.[2] The ward elects one county councillor to Carmarthenshire County Council.[3]

Whitland also has a town council, consisting of elected or co-opted town councillors.[4] The town council elects a mayor annually, who acts as chair of the council.[5]

Railway

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.

Education

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.

Notable People

William Mathias (1934-1992), composer, was born in Whitland.[6]

References
  1. "Community population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  2. "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. Carmarthenshire County Council Election Results 1995-2012, The Election Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. "Whitland Town Council - Your Councillors". Whitland Town Council. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. "Whitland Town Council elect their Mayor". Tenby Observer. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  6. https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000018063?rskey=P7n514
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