Llansteffan

Llansteffan, is a village and a community situated on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tywi, 7 miles (11 km) south of Carmarthen. The population of the community was 941 in 2011 which includes the village population of 424. [2]

"Llanstephan" redirects here. For the small settlement in Powys, see Llanstephan, Powys.

Llansteffan

Llansteffan viewed from Ferryside
Llansteffan
Location within Carmarthenshire
Population941 [1]
OS grid referenceSN355105
Community
  • Llansteffan
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCARMARTHEN
Postcode districtSA33
Dialling code01267
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
  • Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

The community includes Llanybri and is bordered by the communities of: Laugharne Township; Llangynog; Llangain; St Ishmael; and Pembrey and Burry Port Town.

Llansteffan means "Llan of Saint Stephen", but honours a 6th-century Welsh associate of Saint Teilo rather than the more widely known protomartyr.

The parish of Llansteffan consists of two distinct villages with separate churches: Llansteffan by the estuary and Llanybri inland on the hilltop. St Ystyffan's church is a grade II* listed building.[3] Between the castle and village sits Plas Llanstephan, Lord Kylsant's former residence, which is also a grade II* listed building [4]

Castle
Main article: Llansteffan Castle
Llansteffan Castle (1865 engraving)

Llansteffan Castle, built by the Normans in the 12th century and granted to the Marmion family, stands above the village on a promontory commanding the estuary passage. Located between the ferry crossing-points of the Tywi and Tâf rivers, Llansteffan was an important staging post on the coastal route from Glamorgan via Kidwelly to Pembroke.

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches north from Llansteffan to include Llangynog and Llangain, with a total population of 2,006.[5]

Notable people
  • The poet Dylan Thomas had strong family links to Llansteffan. The triangle formed by Llangynog, Llangain and Llansteffan constitutes as Thomas once put it, his "breeding-box valley". His mother's family, the Williamses, lived within this triangle in farms such as Waunfwlchan, Llwyngwyn, Maesgwyn and Penycoed. His mother’s half-sister, Anne, lived in Rose Cottage in the village.[6]
  • The artist Osi Rhys Osmond, lived in Llansteffan for 30 years until his death.
  • Lieutenant Tomos Stephens, an SAS soldier who was taken prisoner during Operation Bulbasket in World War II, then beaten to death by a German officer.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Community population 2011". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  2. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/localarea?compare=W37000236
  3. "Church of St Ystyffan, Llansteffan". British Listed buildings. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  4. "Y Plas, Llansteffan". British Listed buildings. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  5. "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  6. Dylan Remembered 1914-34 vol 1 by D N Thomas, Seren 2003, as well as A True Childhood: Dylan’s Peninsularity by D. N. Thomas in Dylan Thomas: A Centenary Celebration ed. H. Ellis, Bloomsbury 2014, which is also online at A True Childhood: Dylan's Peninsularity
  7. "SAS World War Two hero honoured 75 years after death in France". BBC News. 3 July 2019.
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