Abernant, Carmarthenshire

 Schools/Colleges in Abernant:
 Abernant C.P. School (Primary)
       Abernant
       Carmarthen
       Carmarthenshire
       SA33 5RR
 01267 281418

Abernant (Aber-Nant) - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
ABERNANT (ABER-NANT), a parish, in the union of Carmarthen, higher division of the hundred of Elvet, county of Carmarthen, South Wales, 5 miles (W. N. W.) from Carmarthen; containing 890 inhabitants. The village is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Cowin, about two miles westward from the road leading from Carmarthen to Newcastle and Cardigan. It was formerly much frequented at the time of the Carmarthen races, which for many years took place in this parish, on a course held by lease under Lewis Evans, Esq., of Pant-y-Kendy; they are now held on the other side of the river Towy. The parish comprises 5500 acres, of which 400 are common or waste land. Pettysessions for the division are held here every month; and a court leet for the hundred is held alternately here and at Bwlch-Newydd, in the adjoining parish of Newchurch. The living is a discharged vicarage, with the perpetual curacy of Convil (which see) annexed, rated in the king's books at £7. 13. 4., and endowed with £200 royal bounty, and £1000 parliamentary grant; patron, the Duke of Leeds. A tithe rent-charge of £270 is paid to the impropriators, and one of £67. 10. to the vicar. The glebe attached to the living is one of the most extensive in the principality, comprising about 100 acres, valued at £100 per annum: there is also a glebe-house. The church, dedicated to St. Lucia, is a small neat building, in a quiet and retired spot. There are two places of worship for Independents, and one for Baptists, with a Sunday school held in each. The poor derive benefit from a distribution of 20s. at Easter, arising from a bequest by Thomas Howells, of the parish of Convil.
Pant-y-Kendy, a substantial brick mansion, was commenced by the father of the present proprietor, L. Evans, Esq., and from the local advantages which it possesses, and the improvements in the disposition of the grounds, is one of the most agreeable residences in the vicinity of Carmarthen. About twentyfive years ago, sixty silver coins, of the reigns of Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I., were found by some children at the vicarage-house; and in repairing the road near Pant-y-Kendy, not long since, a Roman urn was discovered, a few feet below the surface of the ground, containing ashes, with which also the place where it was found was much discoloured: the urn, immediately on its being removed, fell in pieces. Though no account of any Roman settlement at this place is on record, and no vestige of an encampment can be traced, yet, from its vicinity to Newchurch, about a mile and a half distant, where a battle between the Romans and the Britons is said to have taken place (in commemoration of which a stone, erected to the memory of Severinus, the Roman general, still exists), it is not improbable that the spot may have been the place of interment of some who fell in the battle, more especially as it is not far from the Roman road leading from Maridunum (Carmarthen) to the town of Fishguard.