Ammanford

Ammanford (Welsh: Rhydaman) is the third largest town in the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales. Although not a large town (population 5,299 according to the 2001 census, although more like 10,000 live within a mile of the town), it is the main shopping centre for many villages in the surrounding area.

According to the 2001 census, 75.88% of the population are competent in the welsh language, compared to roughly 55% in Carmarthenshire as a whole, 20.5% in Wales as a whole.

History "Ammanford" burst onto the scene of history on Friday evening on the 20th of November 1880. The community that existed then and now known as "Ammanford" dates back to around the early 1800's. At that time the main highways went through the area, not to it. The north-south road from Llandeilo and Llandybie went to Betws, and the east-west road from the Amman Valley went to Penybanc and Tycroes and further afield, both converging at a 'Cross Road' (now Ammanford Square). This in turn led to the development of coaching or staging Inn's and Tavern's catering for the needs of the traveller. The area eventually became identified by the name of one of these hostelries - Cross Inn.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

The community of Cross Inn centred on the activity of the cross road, along with a small group of low grade cottages sited in the vicinity of Carregamman Isaf which became known as Pentrefaccas. Betws was a larger hamlet with the parish Church - St David's - as its focal point. All the area to the west of the River Amman fell within the diocese Parish of Llandybie.

The Industrial Revolution created a demand for coal, an essential source of power to operate the boilers of its steam engines. Coal attracted investment which led to various companies, one of which was the Llanelli Railway and Dock Company, building an elaborate transportation system of railways. The first railway was opened in 1840, linking Llanelli with Ammanford, reaching Brynamman by 1842 and later on extending northwards to Llandeilo and beyond.

Coal could not be mined without manpower and the influx of people started. People needed houses, services, entertainment, and schools. Within a relatively short period of time, what was once a quiet and tranquil agricultural community changed to a bussling town, hungry to absorb the land of those old established farmsteads. The population increased explosively with many of these migrants and their families coming from English speaking areas of Wales as well as from England, Scotland and Ireland.

This rapid growth appeared to have been the reason for changing the name of the village, as there was already another village in Carmarthenshire called Cross Inn. It is said that this was the prime factor that influenced prominent citizens to convene a public meeting, with a view of changing the name. There was overwhelming support for the proposal, especially amongst the strong representation of church and chapel members who perhaps resented the hamlet bearing the name of a public house. Another consideration appears to be that the largest chapel in the village was then known as Cross Inn Chapel, a conflict of ideals, to say the least. There is still an engraved stone in the grounds of the Chapel, now called Christian Temple, bearing the original name.

On the 1st of October 1880, the following article appeared in the local newspaper:

"It has been proposed to call CROSS INN, which is in the parish of Llandybie, in the County of Carmarthen, from this time forth, after the Right Hon. Baron, who owns the place, Dynevor. By adopting a new name, it is hoped to get rid of all previous annoyances, and also, that the other Cross Inn may benefit by the change."

From later press reports, it seems that there was by no means unanimity in the selection of the new name. Several public meetings followed and eventually it was decided to refer the choice of a new name to a group of prominent local dignitaries.

On Friday evening, the 20th of November 1880, the nominated Committee met at the Ivorites Hall (on Hall Street, which took its name from this building). After a long discussion it was proposed by Mr. A. A. Morris of Wernoleu, and seconded by Mr. W Jones of the Cross Inn Hotel, that from this time forth, the village should he known as Ammanford. The proposal was accepted unanimously - there being no other name before the Meeting. After the vote was taken, the Chairman of the meeting, Watcyn Wyn, could not resist announcing that 'Cross Inn' had finally been 'crossed out'.

Famous people from Ammanford
Neil Hamilton - the ex-Tory MP who lost his seat after a cash-for-questions row in 1997.
John Rhys-Davies - actor starring in Sliders, the Indiana Jones films and Lord Of The Rings (as Gimli).