- Llandovery
infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name= Llanymddyfri
constituency_welsh_assembly= Rhondda
map_type=
official_name= Llandovery
latitude= 51.9913
longitude= -3.7033
population= 2870 (2001) [ [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5939730&c=Llandovery&d=14&e=16&g=416632&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=75,|2001 Census: Census Area Statistics: National Statistics. UK government. Retrieved 14 August 2007. Total for Llandovery Ward.] ]
unitary_wales=Carmarthenshire
lieutenancy_wales=Dyfed
constituency_westminster= Rhondda
post_town= LLANDOVERY
postcode_district = SA20
postcode_area= SA
dial_code= 01550
os_grid_reference= SN763346Llandovery ( _cy. Llanymddyfri) is a
market town inCarmarthenshire ,Wales , lying on theRiver Tywi and theA40 road .The town is served by
Llandovery railway station .Roman fort
The
Roman fort was known to the Romans asAlabum , who built a fort on Llanfair Hill around AD 50 to 60 as part of their strategy for the conquest ofRoman Wales .Norman and medieval castle
Attractions in the town include the remains of
Llandovery Castle , built in 1110 and almost immediately captured by the Welsh, changing hands betweenNormans and Welsh until the reign of KingEdward I of England . The castle was used by King Henry IV while on a sortie into Wales when he executedLlywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan in the marketplace and later attacked by the forces ofOwain Glyndŵr in 1403, and has stood as a ruin ever since.Welsh hero
A convert|16|ft|m|sing=on high stainless steel statue to
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan was unveiled in 2001 on the north side of Llandovery Castle, overlooking the place of his execution six hundred years earlier. He had led the army of King Henry IV on 'a wild goose chase' under the pretence of leading them to a secret rebel camp and an ambush of Glyndŵr's forces. King Henry lost patience with him, exposed the charade and had him half hanged, disemboweled in front of his own eyes, beheaded and quartered - the quarters salted and dispatched to other Welsh towns for public display.The statue won a national competition to choose a suitable design, the winner being that of Toby and Gideon Petersen, funding was from the National Lottery and the
Arts Council of Wales .Other attractions
Also in the town are a charity-run
theatre [http://www.llandoverytheatre.com (Llandovery Theatre)] , and aheritage centre . Tourists and bikers often stop in town, especially at the cafe opposite the castle ruins, on their way through Wales on the A40.Llandovery College is also within the town.The town is situated close to the Carmarthen Fans, a scenic mountain range within the
Brecon Beacons National Park .The Physicians of
Myddfai practiced in the area, healing subjects with their herb lore and potions as well as their mystical powers and insight into the human condition.Llandovery is also the place where one of the first independent Welsh banks, The Black Ox, was established by a wealthy drover (later to become part of Lloyds TSB bank). The building is part of the King's Head inn which was the home of The Bank of the Black Ox. [http://www.wales-llandovery-hotel.co.uk [Kings Head Inn] .
Llandovery is home to the
Rugby Union teamLlandovery RFC .Famous people
Famous people associated with Llandovery include
outlaw Twm Siôn Cati andhymn writerWilliam Williams .Llandovery is twinned with
Pluguffan ,France .Nearby places
The
Dolaucothi Gold Mines are located convert|10|mi|km away nearPumpsaint on the A482. The site of a Roman Gold Mine.The small and pretty village of
Myddfai is located four miles (6 km) to the south east. TheFan Brycheiniog or Carmarthen Fans, part of theBrecon Beacons National Park lie nearby.The
Llyn Brianne dam is convert|12|mi|km to the North located in rugged and impressive countryside. On the picturesque journey to the dam via Rhandirmwyn, visitors also pass the site ofTwm Sion Cati's Cave . The walk along the river and in the woods are impressive and unspoilt.References
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