Teacher’s Notes:
This resource is intended to support the teaching of Wales and the Medieval World c.1000-1500.
The lesson should give pupils a good idea of the layout of a large and important medieval town
in Wales. Key features of the town will be explored and comparisons made between the town
layout and town life and life in a town today.
Chronological Awareness (1:1) Looking at a reconstruction drawing based upon archaeological evidence and comparing features
of the town with features from the Twenty First Century. By using John Speed’s map of 1610,
pupils will also be able to gauge the degree of change from the Medieval Period into Stuart
Times.
Historical Knowledge and Understanding (2:1, 2:2) Features of medieval life can be explored by analysing the features of the town. The cause of
change within the town from The Middle Ages to the present can also be discussed.
Interpretations (3:2) –
Pupils will study a reconstruction drawing of Medieval Carmarthen and comparing this with key
features within the town today. John Speed’s map of 1610 can also be analysed in the same way.
Historical Enquiry (primarily 4:2, 4:3, 4:4, 4:5) Pupils will be expected to choose areas of Carmarthen to investigate and to record the
information provided and found. Pupils will assess what has changed in Carmarthen over time by
comparing evidence and asking appropriate questions.
4:1 – There would be an option for pupils to work through the presentation, or flipchart,
themselves or within groups, gathering evidence and noting comparisons.
Organisation and Communication (5:2) –
Pupils will use the necessary vocabulary when describing medieval and modern Carmarthen and
the changes that have taken place over time.
Labels (if needed) for additional worksheet construction
The Bridge
There have been a succession of wooden bridges on or near this site since Roman times. It
marked the lowest crossing point of the Towy prior to the coming of the railway. The first stone
bridge was built in 1233 with the current stone bridge dating from 1938.
Quay Street
In Tudor times, the fashionable merchants’ houses would have lined the street. The old wooden
houses have been rebuilt since the 18th century, but the street still follows the same line, from the
town centre down to the quayside. It was paved in 1770.
Quay Warehouses
Ships would have unloaded their cargoes from all over Europe at the quay, and the goods stored
in warehouses. The actual warehouses were probably a little further upstream than this current
building, which used to be the Heritage Centre. In 1324 all ships capable of carrying 40 tons or
more of wine were pressed into the King’s service.
The Mill
This was powered by the water from the Wynveth stream which now flows under Blue Street.
The site was close to the quay so that the grain could be exported. In 1251 Henry III granted
Henry le Arblaster the right to divert water to the Wynveth stream to power his mill in exchange
for a third of the profits.
The Friary
The current Tesco Store was built on the site of the Friary. This was one of the largest centres for
the Franciscan monks, called Grey Friars, in Britain. The friars travelled around the area
preaching and tending to the sick and needy. Within the Friary were tombs of local important
people, including Rhys ap Thomas, (who helped Henry Tudor defeat Richard III) . Rhys’ tomb
was moved to St. Peter’s church after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530’s. The
founding date for the Friary is uncertain, but the first record shows that William de Valence, son
of the Earl of Pembroke was buried inside its church.
Lammas Street
There were just a few houses in what is now Lammas Street. The Lammas fields were thrown
open to the people for grazing on Lammas Day. (August 1st). The Welsh name for the street is
Heol Awst (August Street).
Dark Gate
This was the gateway to the town for travellers and merchants travelling from the west, and the
main route to the cultivated fields to the west of the town. It would be approached over a small
bridge over the Wynveth, but the stream was covered over at the end of the 18th century, and a
covered wagon way, now Blue Street, was built down to the quay.
St. Mary’s Church
Today’s Guildhall dominates the central square of Carmarthen as did the old St. Mary’s Church.
The Church dates probably from the 1240’s and was nicknamed the Rood Church as a Rood (a
cross) stood outside. The street to the right is still called St. Mary’s Street. It was a rich church
where people paid to have masses sung for the souls of their dead relatives. It was dissolved in
the reign of Edward VI as part of the Protestant reforms.
King Street.
King Street developed outside the original walls of New Carmarthen , but the upper part of the
street had been within the Roman town and was part of Old Carmarthen (New Carmarthen refers
to the town that grew up around the castle, whereas Old Carmarthen refers to the settlement that
survived from the Roman Town, and was treated as a completely separate town until they were
joined in the reign of Henry VIII). The later walls, which enclosed the expanded New
Carmarthen, were built in the reign of Henry V and ended at the far end of the street. Modern
alleys such as Jackson‘s Lane still lead off it and give a good idea of the narrowness of the
Medieval streets. The street is named after one of Carmarthen’s early medieval inhabitants
William Kyng.
The Keep
The first castle on the site was a wooden motte and bailey built in 1109. The original wooden
castle from Henry I’s reign was rebuilt in stone in the 13th century. The shell keep was roofed in
stone in the reign of Edward I, and was his centre of government for South Wales. It is possible
to climb to the top and see the modern view over Carmarthen.