Laugharne

Laugharne was originally in Gwarthaf, the largest of the seven cantrefi of the Kingdom of Dyfed in southwest Wales, and subsequently became part of Deheubarth. In 1093, Deheubarth was seized by the Normans following Rhys ap Tewdwrs death.[7] In the early 12th century, grants of lands were made to Flemings by King Henry I when their country was flooded.[8]

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[9] (this is the earliest reference to any castle at or near Laugharne[10]). Courtemain may be the Robertus cum tortis manibus (English: Robert with twisted hands)[11] mentioned in the Book of Llandaff, as one of a number of specifically named Norman magnates[notes 1] 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;[11] 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;[9] Bleddyn was the son of Cedifor ap Gollwyn, descendant and heir of the earlier kings of Dyfed (as opposed to those of Deheubarth).[9][12] The castle was originally known as Abercorran Castle.[13]

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[14] accepted that he would only rule Cantref Mawr,[14] constructing Dinefwr Castle there. Henry II de-mobilised Flemish soldiers who had aided him during the Anarchy, settling them with the other Flemings.[8]

Laugharne Castle

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,[10] and his father (also named Guy de Bryan) had only moved the family to Wales in 1219 (from Devon).[10] 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[15] 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.[15]

Possession subsequently defaulted to the Crown, and in 1575, Queen Elizabeth gave it to Sir John Perrot.[10] 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. [16]

The population in 1841 was 1,389.[17]

Laugharne Corporation

The Portreeve of Laugharne with his chain of gold cockleshells and the de Brian Coat of Arms

Laugharne Corporation is an almost unique institution and, together with the City of London Corporation, the last surviving mediæval corporation in the United Kingdom. The Corporation was established in 1291 by Sir Guy de Brian (Gui de Brienne), a Marcher Lord.[18] The Corporation is presided over by the Portreeve, wearing his traditional chain of gold cockle shells, (one added by each portreeve, with his name and date of tenure on the reverse), the Aldermen, and the body of Burgesses. The title of portreeve is conferred annually, with the Portreeve being sworn in on the first Monday after Michaelmas at the Big Court. The Corporation holds a court leet half-yearly formerly dealing with criminal cases, and a court baron every fortnight, dealing with civil suits within the lordship, especially in matters related to land, where administration of the common fields was dealt with.[18] The Laugharne open field system is one of only two surviving and still in use today in Britain.

'In Elizabeth's reign the lordship passed to Sir John Perrott of Haroldston, a fact for which the inhabitants of Laugharne have had cause to regret. As at Carew Perrot modernised the castle, but he was the most unscrupulous "land-grabber" of his age, and in 1574 he induced the burgesses to part with three hundred acres of land in return for an annuity of £ 9 6s. 8d. The records say that "diverse burgesses of the said towne did not assent to same", and that it was "to the great decaying of many". It would be interesting to know by what methods of bribery or intimidation Sir John was able to accomplish his nefarious purposes.'[19]

Plan of open field strips in common land on The Hugdon, a hill to the west of Laugharne[20]

The most senior 76 burgesses get a strang of land on Hugden for life, to be used in a form of mediaeval strip farming. Customs associated with the Corporation include the Common walk (also known as beating the bounds), which occurs on Whit Monday every three years. This event is attended by most of the young and firm local population, their number swelled by many visitors. The local pubs open at approx 5.00 in the morning, and following a liquid breakfast the throng commence a trek of some 25 miles around the boundaries of the Corporation lands. At significant historical landmarks a victim is selected to name the place. If they cannot answer, they are hoisted upside down and ceremonially beaten three times on the rear. The chief toast at the Portreeve's feast is "to the immortal memory of Sir Guido de Brian". After the toast the Recorder must sing the following song:

When Sir Guy de Brien lived in Laugharne,
A jolly old man was he.
Some pasture land he owned, which he
Divided into three.
Says he "There's Hugdon and the Moor
They will the Commons please;
And all the gentlemen shall have
Their share down on the Lees."[21]

Laugharne Corporation holds extensive historical records.[22]

Tower of St Martin's church

The parish church of St Martin dates from the 14th century when it was built by the Lord of the Manor of Laugharne Sir Guido de Brian, who also built the Church of St Margaret Marloes, Eglwyscummin some 5 miles (8.0 km) to the west.[23]

The church is situated within a rectilinear churchyard, bounded by former strip fields, extending some 200 metres (660 ft) to the south and 400 metres (1,300 ft) to the east. It is thought that the church's original dedication was to St Michael, as it was reportedly referred to by this name in 1494 and 1849. Cist burials have reportedly been identified in the churchyard. A small, ornamented wheel-topped stone was reportedly excavated during grave-digging. At the time of the foundation borough of Laugharne, by a charter of 1278, the church belonging to the Rural Deanery of St Clears and a prebend of Winchester Cathedral. Before 1777 the churches of St Lawrence's Church, Marros and St Cyffic's Church, Cyffic were dependencies, but these both then became parish churches in their own right. In 1927 a medieval tile and what is thought to have been part of a canopied tomb were found in the churchyard. The churchyard's eighteenth and nineteenth century monuments in the churchyard are Grade II listed for their group value.[24]

Inside the church is a shaped cross-slab dating from the Dark Ages, probably the 9th-10th century, built into the east wall of the south transept and has an unusual Celtic design carved onto it. Some historians claim the design is of Viking origin. There is thick ropework, in the form of looped interlacing, running up from the bottom to the cross-head. Close to the edges there is thinner knotwork. The large round-shaped cross-head has a Latin-style cross in the centre with a small boss in the middle of that and oval looped links between the arms.[23]

The church is today part of the United Benefice of Bro Sancler. Welsh poet and playwright Dylan Thomas is buried in the churchyard, his grave marked by a white cross.[23][24][25]

Castle House, Laugharne

Wogan Street (1880)

Local attractions include the 12th-century Laugharne Castle, the town hall and the estuary birdlife.[26]

Laugharne contains many fine examples of Georgian townhouses including "Great House" and Castle House, both grade II* listed buildings, with a scattering of earlier vernacular cottages.[27]

There are a number of landmarks in Laugharne connected with the poet and writer Dylan Thomas. These include: The Boathouse, where he lived with his family from 1949 to 1953, and now a museum; his writing shed; and the Dylan Thomas Birthday Walk, which was the setting for the work Poem in October.[28]

Many scenes in the 2017 TV series Keeping Faith (broadcast in Welsh as Un Bore Mercher) were shot in and around Laugharne, which is referred to as Abercorran.[29]

Laugharne hosts a three-day arts festival in the spring, the Laugharne Weekend. The festival's inauguration was in 2007, featuring writers such as Niall Griffiths and Patrick McCabe. Headline performers since then have included Ray Davies, Will Self, Howard Marks and Patti Smith. Although the town's Millennium Hall was used as the main venue, smaller events were hosted by local venues including Dylan Thomas's Boathouse.[30]

• Sir John Perrot (1528-1592), Lord Deputy of Ireland, Lord President of Munster and Privy Councillor to Elizabeth I, lived in Laugharne Castle[31]
• Sir Thomas Perrot (1553-1594) Elizabethan courtier, soldier and Member of Parliament, lived in Laugharne Castle[32]
• Sir James Perrot (1571-1636) writer and Member of Parliament, lived in Laugharne[notes 2]
• Sir Sackville Crowe (1595-1671) English politician, lived in Laugharne.[35]
• Rowland Laugharne (1607-1675), Parliamentary General, his 1644 seige of the castle, a former family home, left it an uninhabitable ruin.[36]
• Bishop William Thomas (1613-1689) Vicar of Laugharne, ejected by Cromwell. Later Bishop of St Davids and Bishop of Worcester.[37]
• Sir John Powell (1632/3–1696), judge who presided over the trial of the Seven Bishops in 1688, lived in Laugharne[38]
• Sir Thomas Powell (c.1665–1720), lawyer and Member of Parliament, born in Laugharne[39]
• Griffith Jones (1684–1761), educational pioneer, resided with Bridget Bevan in Laugharne in his later years[40]
• Bridget Bevan (1698–1779), also known as Madam Bevan, educationalist and philanthropist, lived in Laugharne[41]
• Josiah Tucker (1713–1799), clergyman, economist and political writer. Dean of Gloucester, born in Laugharne[42]
• Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797), writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights, lived in Laugharne as a child[43]
• James Augustus St. John (1795–1875), author and traveller, born in Laugharne
• Arnold Wienholt, Sr. (1826–1895), Australian politician, born in Laugharne[44]
• Edward Wienholt (1833–1904), Australian politician, born in Laugharne[45]
• Agnes Mason (1849–1941), nun, born in Laugharne[46]
• Joseph Arthur Hamilton Beresford (1861–1952), Australian naval commander, born in Laugharne[47]
• William Charles Fuller VC (1884–1974), soldier, born in Laugharne
• Richard Hughes (1900–1976), writer, lived in Castle House, instrumental in Dylan Thomas moving to Laugharne[48]
• Dylan Thomas (1914–1953), poet, lived in Laugharne and is buried in the churchyard[49]
• Sir Kingsley Amis (1922-1925), novelist, poet, critic and teacher, wrote Booker Prize winner The Old Devils while living in Cliff House, Laugharne. [50]
• George Tremlett (born 1939), writer, former politician and bookshop owner, lives in Laugharne[51]
• Gary Pearce (born 1960), rugby union and rugby league player, born in Laugharne[52]

• Laugharne Township Community Council