Penuwch

History

There is little recorded history, although a few houses and farms date from the 1800s or earlier. The Sarn Helen Roman road passes a couple of miles to the east and there is evidence of 20th century quarrying at several sites. Llyn Fanod, an upland lake and Site of Special Scientific Interest, is nearby at Bontnewydd. Llyn Farch, another upland lake, was still shown on 19th century maps just north of the village centre but is now an area of marsh. During the 19th century there was a local tradition that Merlin had prophesied that when Llyn Farch dried up, the town of Carmarthen would sink. Up until the mid 19th century much of the area around Penuwch was still unenclosed common land and many Tai Unnos (One night houses) were built.