Cenarth

Coordinates: 52°02′46″N 4°31′37″W / 52.046°N 4.527°W / 52.046; -4.527

Cenarth is a village, parish and community in Carmarthenshire, adjoining the Cenarth Falls, bordering Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Location

The village stands on the banks of the River Teifi, 10 km east of Cardigan and 4 km west of Newcastle Emlyn.

History and amenities

The ancient parish extended for 5 km south of the river, and included the town of Newcastle Emlyn. In 1934, it annexed the adjoining parish of East Cilrhedyn, and the enlarged parish corresponds with the modern community, which had a population of 1,022 in the 2001 census. With the community of Newcastle Emlyn, it makes up the Carmarthenshire electoral ward of Cenarth, which had a population of 1,995 in 2001, with 60% Welsh language speakers.

The River Teifi at this point emerges from a deep ravine over a ledge that produces a spectacular waterfall when the river is in full spate and this attracts many visitors throughout the year. A dramatic painting of the falls was made by Frank Miles and is now at Nottingham City Museum. Miles's father inherited Cardigan Priory from his father, Philip John Miles, but lived in Nottinghamshire as Rector of Bingham.

Cenarth (electoral ward)

Cenarth is an electoral ward, representing the communities of Newcastle Emlyn and Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is named Cenarth, rather than Newcastle Emlyn because the rural community of Cenarth has a larger population than the urban settlement of Newcastle Emlyn. A similar ward for local elections prior to 1987 was named Newcastle Emlyn.

Profile

In 2014, the Cenarth electoral ward had an electorate of xx. The total population was xx, of whom xxx% were born in Wales. xxx% of the population were able to speak Welsh.

Current Representation

The Cenarth Ward is a single-member ward for the purposes of Carmarthenshire County Council elections. Since 2012 it has been represented by Plaid Cymru councillor Hazel Evans.

Recent History

The first election to the new unitary Carmarthenshire County Council took place in 1995. An Independent candidate was returned unopposed.

In 1999 the seat was captured by Plaid Cymru.

In 2004 the sitting Plaid Cymru councillor contested the neighbouring Llangeler Ward and Cenarth was won by an Independent. The sitting Plaid Cymru councillor, John Crossley, chose to contest Llangeler and the party did not field a candidate, leading to the loss of the seat to the Independents.