Carmarthenshire is in South West Wales. It has a population of around 183,000 and covers approximately 237,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Swansea.
The county of Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin in Welsh) has long sandy beaches to the south, where it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and inland there are mountains, rivers and forests. There are picturesque towns and villages, many retaining much of their historic charm, and the economy is mainly supported by farming, fishing, forestry and tourism. A high percentage of the local population are able to speak and or write in the Welsh language. Among the beautiful gardens in Carmarthenshire are Aberglasney, Norwood, Hywel Dda and the National Botanic Garden of Wales, leading to the county being termed the Garden of Wales. The famous Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas, who was born in neighbouring Swansea in 1914, lived in Carmarthenshire with his family for a number of years and of the poetry and prose that he wrote he is perhaps best known for the play Under Milk Wood. During the final years of his life until his death in 1953 he lived and worked in a boat house at Laugharne, which now has a museum with interiors as they would have been during that time.
The county town of Carmarthenshire is Carmarthen (Caerfyrddin in Welsh), which dates back to Celtic pre Roman times, and is said to be the oldest town in Wales. There are local associations with the Arthurian legends and there are a number of ruined castles in the county including Carreg Cennen, Dinefwr, Kidwelly and Laugharne. Other attractions in Carmarthenshire include heritage railways and the county museum in Carmarthen, which houses exhibits of local historic interest including furniture and paintings. The National Wool Museum in Dre-Fach Felindre has machines used in wool production and a textile gallery which exhibits the work of local weavers and designers. Housed within a 19th century mansion, Parc Howard Museum and Art Gallery has a collection that includes paintings and local pottery. The National Trust property Newton House was built during the 17th century and is located in Dinefwr Park, where visitors can also walk through the formal gardens and parkland and see the ruins of the 12th century castle.
(Born 1833 in Carmarthen in Carmarthenshire), Poetry
As well as being a politician and academic he was also a popular and well known poet. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1895.
