Llanybri

Llanybri is a rural farming village situated between the estuaries of the River Tywi and River Taf in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is one of two villages with their own churches in the community of Llansteffan (the other being Llansteffan on the Tywi estuary).

Llanybri
Yr Hen Gapel (The Old Chapel)
Llanybri Location within Carmarthenshire
Community	Llansteffan
Principal area	Carmarthenshire
Preserved county	Dyfed
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CARMARTHEN
Postcode district	SA33
Dialling code	01267
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Caerfyrddin
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
List of places UK Wales Carmarthenshire 51.7869°N 4.4122°W / 51.7869; -4.4122

Description and history

Llanybri developed, under the ownership of the Lords of Llansteffan and Penrhyn, around a central open area of common land and a chapel dedicated to St Mary. The chapel was known as 'Morabrichurch' in the 14th century and by the 16th century was called 'Marbell Church'. The village lay at the junction of seven roads.^[1]

The chapel had become an Independent church by 1790. It eventually closed in 1962. After a fire, most of the church building was demolished, though the tower became a Grade II listed building.^[2] It is known as 'Yr Hen Gapel' (meaning 'The Old Chapel').

The Holy Trinity Church and a non-conformist chapel were built in the 19th century^[1] at opposite ends of the village.

Writers

The writers Lynette Roberts and Keidrych Rhys lived in the village. Dylan Thomas was a frequent visitor to the village pub, the Farmers' Arms, both when he lived near Llansteffan and in Laugharne. The landlady gave an account of his visits.^[3]

Thomas' maternal aunt, Anne Gwyn, once lived in Plas Uchaf, while one of his great-aunts had lived in Plas Isaf.^[4]