Eglwyswen
| Whitchurch-by-Cardigan Welsh: Eglwyswen | |
| Pembrokeshire | |
|---|---|
 St Michael's Church, Eglwyswen | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SN151364 |
| Location: | 51°59’42"N, 4°41’24"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Pembrokeshire |
Eglwyswen, also known as Whitchurch-by-Cardigan, is a scattered rural hamlet in Pembrokeshire, on the north slopes of the Preseli Hills by the upper waters of the River Nevern. It stands two and a half miles north-west of Crymych. The south-western part of the parish is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and includes the hamlets of Pontyglasier and Penygroes.
The parish is predominantly Welsh-speaking, hence the predominance of the Welsh version of its name.
Name
The full name 'Whitchurch-by-Cardigan' serves to distinguish this village from Whitchurch near St David's, also in Pembrokeshire. The name means "White Church", and indeed the village's name was in past ages written 'Whitechurch'. The Welsh name Eglwyswen has the same meaning.
History
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In the early 19th century much of the parish was arable or pasture, with some upland rough grazing in the south where the Preseli Mountains rise. Local stone was noted as having a good proportion of quartz, and there were good turbaries where turf could be cut for fuel.[1] The population of the parish in 1881 was 302, and in 1891 it was 275.
1891 saw the parish involved in months of widespread agitation against the new Tithe Act; there was some violence towards the bailiffs, who were supported by a police presence.[2] The majority of the farmers in the parish were freeholders, and the long drawn out troubles were referred to in The Cardiff Times as "The Welsh Tithe War".[3]
A Board School existed in the parish (shared with the neighbouring parish of Meline) into the 20th century. In 1904 H. M. Inspector noted: "This school well maintains its usual efficiency", which meant the highest grant was earned.[4]
In the centre of the hamlet is the former Swan Inn and shop, which last served a beer in the 1920s, and closed its shop doors in the 1950s. It had been trading at least since 1876 when a new licence was granted to Thomas Thomas.[5] The Georgian cottage, called Old Swan Inn, is now a residential property and holiday cottage.
Churches
The parish church is dedicated to St Michael. The present building was constructed in 1872 with the foundation stone being laid on 3 July in the presence of a large number of villages and others.[6] It was built probably on the foundations of an earlier church: the south porch features a plaque dated 1591. The new church was consecrated and opened by the Bishop of St David's in July 1873.[7] A stained glass window was added in 1956. The church closed in 1999. The dedication to St Michael was not recorded until 1796; an earlier dedication may have been to St Meugan.[8]
There are chapels at Penygroes and Pontyglasier.[1]
Outside links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information on Eglwyswen from GENUKI
- ↑ "Tithe agitation in Pembrokeshire". South Wales Daily News. 23 October 1891. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3721494/3721497/20/Whitechurch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ↑ "The Welsh Tithe War". The Cardiff Times. 17 October 1891. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3428668/3428670/23/Whitechurch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ↑ "Meline and Whitechurch". The County Echo. 15 September 1904. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3665979/3665982/18/Whitechurch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ↑ "Kemes Petty Sessions". South Wales Daily News. 23 September 1876. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3503550/3503556/48/Whitechurch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ↑ "Whitechurch". The Welshman. 12 July 1872. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4354531/4354534/15/Whitechurch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ↑ "Re-opening of Whitechurch Church". South Wales Daily News. 19 July 1873. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3498699/3498702/51/Whitechurch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ↑ Scourfield, R., Lloyd, T., Orbach, J. (2004). Pembrokeshire. Yale University Press. p. 494. ISBN 0300101783. http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/402367/details/st-michaels-church-eglwyswen-whitechurch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.