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Newcastle-Emlyn - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
NEWCASTLE-EMLYN, a market-town and chapelry, and the head of a union, in the parish of Kenarth, Higher division of the hundred of Elvet, county of Carmarthen, South Wales, 19 miles (N. W. by N.) from Carmarthen, and 222 (W. by N.) from London; containing, with the village of Aberarad, but exclusively of the suburb of Atpar in the Cardiganshire parish of Llandyvrîog, 1049 inhabitants. The ancient name of this place, Dinas Emlin, or "the city of Emlin," is thought by Mr. Llwyd to have been derived from Emilianus, a Roman settler in the principality, who perhaps made it his residence; but no traces of Roman occupation have been discovered in corroboration of that opinion. Its modern name appears to have originated in the erection of a new castle in the reign of Henry VII., by Sir Rhŷs ab Thomas, on the site of a fortress probably built by the Normans, though neither the name of the founder, nor the precise time of the erection, of the original structure, is known. The ancient castle was besieged and taken, in 1215, by Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, who resigned it in the following year, when he divided the principality of South Wales between its rival princes, on which occasion the castle fell to the portion of Maelgwyn. In 1258, Llewelyn appointed a meeting of commissioners at this place, to deliberate upon the terms of a treaty of peace with the English; but the negotiations were frustrated by the treachery of Patrick de Canton, the lieutenant of Henry III., who, perceiving that the party by which he was attended was stronger than Llewelyn's, attacked the Welsh by surprise, and put many of them to the sword: the rest, who with difficulty effected their retreat, raised the country in the rear of the enemy, and the English forces were soon overtaken, and Patrick, with a large number of his adherents, was slain. In the reign of Edward I. the castle was besieged by Rhŷs ab Meredydd; but a large reinforcement being brought by Robert de Tibetot to the relief of the garrison, Rhŷs thought it prudent to raise the siege, and retire in haste into Ireland.
The castle, which had been rebuilt in the time of Henry VII., by Sir Rhŷs ab Thomas, descended to his grandson, Rhŷs ab Grufydd, on whose attainder, in the reign of Henry VIII., it became forfeited to the crown, and was granted to the Vaughans of Golden Grove, of whom Richard Vaughan was by Charles I., in the 19th of his reign, created Earl of Carberry in Ireland, and Baron Emlyn. During the civil war, the castle was garrisoned for the king: it was besieged by the parliamentarian forces in 1645, but was relieved by a body of royalists under the command of Colonel Gerard, who, attacking the besiegers, totally defeated them, killed 200, and took 500 prisoners, with all their arms, ordnance, and baggage, and with the loss on his own part of only twenty-six men killed, besides others wounded. The castle continued in the family of Vaughan, by the last of whom it was devised to the late Lord Cawdor, father of Earl Cawdor, the present proprietor.
The Town is beautifully situated on the southern bank of the Teivy, which here rushes with great impetuosity along its rocky channel, and over which is a handsome stone bridge of three arches, forming a communication between the counties of Cardigan and Carmarthen, and connecting the suburban hamlet of Atpar, in the former county, with this town. Newcastle consists principally of one irregular street, extending nearly a mile in length. The houses, several of which are handsome, are in general well built, and the cottages have an appearance of comfort and neatness not usually found in this part of the country: the town is neither paved nor lighted, but is well supplied with water. The surrounding country is pleasingly varied, abounding with interesting objects, and with romantic scenery. From several points the appearance of the town, with the capricious windings of the river and the remains of the ancient castle rising from its banks, is strikingly beautiful. The Teivy is celebrated for its salmon and sewin fishery, which is prosecuted with great success in small boats called coracles, peculiar to the principality. The market is amply supplied with provisions, and is remarkable for the number of pigs exposed in it for sale; it is on Friday, and is well attended. Fairs are held on March 23rd, May 10th, June 22nd, July 20th, August 20th, September 20th, October 19th, and November 22nd. Newcastle-Emlyn is included within the limits of the contributory borough of Atpar. It is a polling-place in the election of the knights for the shire; and one of the county debtcourts established in 1847 has been fixed here, with jurisdiction over the registration-district of NewcastleEmlyn.
The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary grant; present net income, £71; patron, the Vicar of Kenarth. The chapel, which was built by public subscription about seventy years since, is a neat small edifice. A spacious and handsome church has lately been erected, affording accommodation to a greater number of the inhabitants; of 500 sittings, 400 are free: it is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and the living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the Bishop of St. David's, with a net income of £150. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists; and some Sunday schools are supported. The poor-law union of which the town is the head was formed May 31st, 1837, and comprises the following twenty-one parishes and townships; namely, Bangor, Bettwsleuvan, Brongwyn, Hênllan, Llandyssil, Llandyvrîog, Llangranog, Llangunllo, Llanvair-Orllwyn, Llanvair-Trêlygon, Penbryn, and Troedyraur, in the county of Cardigan; Kenarth, Llangeler, Llanvihangel-ar-Arth, and Penboyr, in the county of Carmarthen; Capel-Colman, Clydey, Llanvyrnach, and Penrith, in the county of Pembroke; and Kilrhedyn, in the counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke. It is under the superintendence of thirty-four guardians, and contains a population of 20,860.
The remains of the castle occupy an elevated ridge east of the town, on a peninsula formed by a bend of the river Teivy. The river flows in a direct course till it almost reaches the walls of the structure, but, suddenly reverting in a direction nearly parallel with its former course for a considerable distance, winds majestically in front, leaving before the castle a long and beautiful meadow, and returns on the opposite side, with features of a new character, forcing its way over a rocky bed. It thus surrounds the ancient edifice with a magnificent natural moat, which is double on that side where it first reaches the castle. The ruins consist chiefly of the principal gateway entrance, about fourteen feet in height, flanked by two octagonal towers, and possessing, from its situation immediately above the river, and its lightness and elegance, a peculiarly picturesque appearance. The town gives the inferior title of Viscount Emlyn to the Right Honourable Earl Cawdor.
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