As part of the RDCA’s “Talking about the Tywi” programme, residents gathered at the Royal Oak, Rhandirmwyn, on Thursday 14 May 2026 to hear Jane Carter and Sarah Fox of Llandovery Museum present a richly textured exploration of the names, people, and deep history of the Upper Tywi valley.
The evening opened with a journey far back into the pre‑Roman landscape, when the Upper Tywi was dotted with stone circles, standing stones, and ritual sites that still mark the valley’s slopes and ridges today. Jane and Sarah explained how these prehistoric features reveal early patterns of settlement, movement, and community — long before written records or formal land ownership existed.
From there, the talk moved into the Roman period, when forts, roads, and military outposts reshaped the region. The speakers highlighted how Roman influence interacted with older native traditions, leaving traces that can still be read in the landscape and in some of the earliest recorded place‑names.
The audience was then guided into the early medieval and monastic era, exploring the valley’s strong historic ties to Strata Florida Abbey. Jane and Sarah described how the abbey’s influence shaped farming, land management, and the naming of fields and holdings across the region.
A particular highlight was the examination of early tithe maps, showing how fields were named, valued, and worked — and how those names preserve the memory of families, trades, and stories that once defined the valley. The speakers also shared insights into older properties in the area, tracing how their field names reveal ownership patterns, agricultural practices, and long‑forgotten local narratives. The evening was warm, engaging, and full of lively discussion, with many audience members sharing their own memories and connections to the places mentioned.
These talks remain free community events, with presenters generously volunteering their time to help share knowledge about the Tywi valley — its history, nature, and the people who call it home.
The RDCA extends its sincere thanks to Jane Carter and Sarah Fox for delivering such a beautifully researched and thought‑provoking evening.