Visit Laugharne Places

Welcome to Visit Laugharne Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Laugharne

  

Laugharne Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Laugharne

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Laugharne history

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Throughout much of the Prehistoric period human activity in the Laugharne area was centred on Coygan Bluff, a steep-sided limestone peninsula overlooking the now submerged coastal plain to the south. A natural cave on the southeast face of the promontory was excavated five times between 1865 and 1965 yielding significant evidence that its chambers acted as a temporary shelter for groups of hunter-gathers moving through the landscape over 50,000 years ago and later material in the form of flint tools indicating an extended series of occupations from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. These discoveries suggest that the Township is probably the oldest, still inhabited settlement in Wales. Contemporary artefacts from the Mousterian period have also been found at nearby Paviland and Long Hole caves along with older hominin remains at Bontnewydd but, unlike at Laugharne, the communities associated with them are long vanished. In the 4th century BC, a promontory fort was built at the summit of the hill. During the Bronze Age Coygan camp is recorded as the site of an open settlement with funerary and ritual activity shown by a short-cist contracted inhumation. Further finds at a nearby round barrow on Laugharne Burrows together with Beaker burials at Plashett and Orchard Park confirm a more permanent community. Excavation in the 1960s of the defended enclosure on Coygan revealed two huts contemporary with the defensive bank and ditch and a significant quantity of pottery recovered dating to the late 3rd century AD indicating the site was occupied deep into the Romano-British period. Another significant Iron Age settlement has also been identified at Glan-Y-Mor Fort in the north of the township. The Laugharne hoard of over 2000 coins and Roman bath remains found at Island House, together with the substantial Romano-British group of imported sixth-century finewares, coinage and glass from Coygan Camp, described as “one of the richest from a native settlement in south-west Wales”, are all part of a concentration of traditional ‘Roman’ finds in the area. As evidence of activity from the period is generally scarce, these discoveries confirm the site as one of importance and suggest that it continued to be a high status settlement well beyond the Roman occupation. A 6th century inscribed stone lies within Llansadwrnen church to the north, considered to be an outlying burial site of the more important secular settlement on Coygan. Laugharne Church, which contains a 9th century Celtic slab stone and where a long cist grave cemetery has also been recorded, is thought to be a more likely early ecclesiastical site in the immediate area. In the Early Middle Ages Laugharne was the main settlement in the area and home to the Lords of Laugharne. It was a commote of Gwarthaf, the largest of the seven cantrefi of the Kingdom of Dyfed in southwest Wales, later to be ruled by the Princes of Deheuberth. In 1093, Deheubarth was seized by the Normans following Rhys ap Tewdwrs death. In the early 12th century, grants of lands were made to Flemings by King Henry I when their country was flooded. In 1116, when Gruffydd ap Rhys (the son and heir of Rhys ap Tewdwr) returned from self-imposed exile, the king arranged for the land to be fortified against him; according to the Brut y Tywysogyon, Robert Courtemain constructed a castle at Laugharne in that year (this is the earliest reference to any castle at or near Laugharne). Courtemain may be the Robertus cum tortis manibus (English: Robert with twisted hands) mentioned in the Book of Llandaff, as one of a number of specifically named Norman magnates within the vicinity of the Llandaff diocese, who received a letter from Pope Callixtus II complaining about deprivations they had inflicted on diocesan church property; in the letter, the Pope warns he would confirm Bishop Urban’s proclamations against them, if they do not rectify matters. The Brut states that Courtemain appointed a man named Bleddyn ap Cedifor as castellan; Bleddyn was the son of Cedifor ap Gollwyn, descendant and heir of the earlier kings of Dyfed (as opposed to those of Deheubarth). The castle was originally known as Abercorran Castle. When Henry I died, Anarchy occurred, and Gruffydd, and his sons, Lord Rhys in particular, gradually reconquered large parts of the former Deheubarth. In 1154, the Anarchy was resolved when Henry II became king; two years later, Lord Rhys agreed peace terms with Henry II and prudently accepted that he would only rule Cantref Mawr, constructing Dinefwr Castle there. Henry II de-mobilised Flemish soldiers who had aided him during the Anarchy, settling them with the other Flemings. From time to time, however, King Henry had occasion to go to Ireland, or Normandy, which Lord Rhys took as an opportunity to try and expand his own holdings. Returning from Ireland after one such occasion, in 1172, King Henry made peace with Lord Rhys, making him the justiciar of South Wales (ie. Deheubarth). By 1247, Laugharne was held by Guy de Bryan; this is the earliest reference to his family possessing the castle, and his father (also named Guy de Bryan) had only moved the family to Wales in 1219 (from Devon). Guy de Bryan’s descendants continued to hold the castle; his namesake great-grandson was Lord High Admiral of England. The latter’s daughter Elizabeth inherited the castle and married an Owen of St Bride’s who subsequently took his name – Owen Laugharne – from the castle despite Gerald of Wales calling the castle Talachar, and other variations on Laugharne/Talacharn appearing in ancient charters; one anonymous pre-20th century writer erroneously claimed that the Owen Laugharne gave his name to the castle rather than the other way around. Possession subsequently defaulted to the Crown, and in 1575, Queen Elizabeth granted it to Sir John Perrot. In 1644 the castle was garrisoned for the king and taken for Parliament by Major-General Rowland Laugharne, who subsequently reverted to the king’s side. The population in 1841 was 1,389.

Laugharne Corporation

The Corporation was established in 1291 by Sir Guy de Brian (Gui de Brienne), a Marcher Lord. It is the last surviving mediæval corporation in the UK. The Corporation is presided over by the Portreeve, the Aldermen, and the body of Burgesses.

Laugharne landmarks

Local attractions include the 12th-century Laugharne Castle, the town hall and the estuary birdlife. Town has 69 listed buildings and contains several fine examples of Georgian townhouses. Dylan Thomas Boathouse, where he lived with his family from 1949 to 1953, is now a museum.

You can visit Laugharne places with Walkfo Laugharne to hear history at Laugharne’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Laugharne has 11 places to visit in our interactive Laugharne map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Laugharne, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Laugharne places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Laugharne & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 11 audio facts unique to Laugharne places in an interactive Laugharne map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Laugharne Places Map
11 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Laugharne historic spots	Laugharne tourist destinations	Laugharne plaques	Laugharne geographic features
Walkfo Laugharne tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Laugharne

  

Best Laugharne places to visit

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Laugharne has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Laugharne’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Laugharne’s information audio spots:

St Odoceus’ Church, Llandawke St Odoceus’ Church is a redundant church situated in a hollow near the road between Llandawke and Laugharne in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It has been designated by Cadw as a Grade II listed building and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.

River Taf The River Tâf rises in the Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire, and continues through Carmarthenshire to Laugharne. It is one of the three rivers to enter the sea on the east side of Carmarthen Bay. The other two are the River Gwendraeth and River Tywi.

Visit Laugharne plaques