St Mary's Church, Begelly, Pembrokeshire. Photograph © lhourahane

 Hotels in  Begelly:
 Manian Lodge Hotel
       Begelly
       Kilgetty
       Dyfed
       SA68 0XE
 01834 813273

 Take Aways in Begelly:
 The Saigon Star
       Carmarthen Road
       Begelly
       Kilgetty
       Dyfed
       SA68 0YN
 01834 814100

Begelly (Bugeli) - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
BEGELLY (BUGELI), a parish, in the union and hundred of Narberth, county of Pembroke, South Wales, 5 miles (S. by E.) from Narberth, on the road to Tenby; containing, with the chapelry of Williamston, which supports its own poor, 1159 inhabitants. The substratum in this parish is coal, of excellent quality, and in great request for the drying of malt and hops by the proprietors of breweries and distilleries. It is principally procured by a company under Lord Milford and J. M. Childe, Esq., who are the chief proprietors of the soil, and receive one-sixth part, as their share of the produce: there are some smaller proprietors, who exact one-fifth, and even one-fourth part from those who work only on a limited scale. A tramway from the mines leads over King's Moor to Saundersfoot, in the parish of St. Issels, and greatly contributes to promote the interests of the neighbourhood, which will be further enhanced by the Tenby, Saundersfoot, and South Wales railway company, formed under act of parliament in 1846. Iron-ore is also found, both above and below the coal, and, during the existence of the Penbrey Iron Company, was procured in great quantities; but since the stoppage of the company's works, the search for it has been discontinued. It seems likely, however, to be again wrought extensively. The shale which is found with the coal exhibits many interesting specimens of the fern and reed plants, and pyrites of iron has been discovered.
The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £12. 19. 2.; present net income, £216, with a glebe-house; patron, Lord Milford. The church is an ancient structure in the early style of English architecture, with a lofty tower, and is pleasantly situated near Begelly Hall, by the trees surrounding which it is partly concealed. The chapel of Williamston is a rude structure without a tower, standing in the hamlet of that name. The rectoryhouse is situated on part of a stratum of coal, which has been wrought all round it: if the excavation had been continued, it would have endangered the stability of the building. Here is a place of worship for Calvinistic Methodists. From fifty to sixty children are instructed in a Church day school, chiefly supported by subscription; and there are two Sunday schools conducted gratuitously, in one of which, in connexion with the Church, are about eighty children, and in the other, belonging to the Calvinistic Methodists, about forty. Near the parsonagehouse are the remains of a cromlech, which has been thrown down; and in its vicinity is a tumulus, raised probably to the memory of some chieftain.