Ammanford (Welsh: Rhydamanⓘ) is a town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. At the 2021 census the community had a population of 5,445, and the wider built up area had a population of 8,285.
The town of Ammanford is a relatively modern settlement. It was originally known as Cross Inn, named after an inn that was located at a location where a number of roads converged. During the nineteenth century, as a result of the growth of both the tinplate and anthracite coal trades, a village grew around the Cross Inn (which later became known as Ammanford Square).[3]
As the settlement expanded, prominent residents came to the view that its name should be changed since there were a number of other places named Cross Inn in Carmarthenshire alone. In 1880, a number of public meetings were held, and in November 1880 it was resolved that the name Ammanford (i.e. "Ford of the River Amman") adopted.[4] The meeting was chaired by Watcyn Wyn.[5] It took several years for the new name to be widely adopted, but the decision of the Great Western Railway to change the name of the Cross Inn station to Ammanford in June 1883 was welcomed by residents and tradesmen.[6]
In 1925 the Ammanford Anthracite Strike took place, where anthracite miners took control of the town by force and violence for 10 days. 200 Glamorgan police were ambushed by strikers at Pontamman Bridge during the so-called 'Battle of Ammanford'.[7]
School Stabbing Incident
On 24 April 2024, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, the local comprehensive school, was the site of a stabbing incident in which two teachers and a student were injured. A teenage girl was arrested.[8]
The Ammanford area historically straddled the parishes of Llandybie and Betws in Carmarthenshire. Carmarthenshire had a county council from 1889. When elected parish and district councils were established in 1894, both parishes were given a parish council and included in the Llandilo Fawr Rural District.[11] As a result of the rapid growth of the town, in 1903 Ammanford was made its own urban district and civil parish, taking in areas ceded from both Llandybie and Betws parishes.[12][13]
The town was then administered by Ammanford Urban District Council from 1903 until 1974. The council built the Town Hall in 1964 to serve as its headquarters.[14]
Ammanford Urban District was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. A community called Ammanford was created instead, covering the area of the abolished urban district, with its community council taking the name Ammanford Town Council. District-level functions passed to Dinefwr Borough Council. Carmarthenshire County Council was abolished as part of the same reforms, with county-level functions passing to the new Dyfed County Council.[15] Dinefwr and Dyfed were both abolished in 1996 and their councils' functions passed to a re-established Carmarthenshire County Council.[16]
Parliamentary elections
Ammanford was part of the Carmarthenshire county constituency until it was divided in 1885 whereupon the town was located in the East Carmarthen constituency which was held until its abolition in 1918 by the Liberal Party. The Labour Party captured Llanelli in 1922 and have held it ever since. The MP from 1936 until 1970 was Jim Griffiths, a native of nearby Betws.[citation needed] However, in 1997, Ammanford was transferred to the new Carmarthen East and Dinefwr seat which was captured in 2001 by Adam Price of Plaid Cymru.[17] Price remained the MP until 2010 before being replaced by Johnathan Edwards, also of Plaid Cymru.[18]
Senedd elections
Ammanford has been in the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency at Senedd Cymru since devolution in 1999. Rhodri Glyn Thomas was the constituency's first representative at the new assembly before being replaced by Adam Price in 2016.[19] Price would lead the Plaid Cymru from 2018 until 2023.[20]
Religion
Ammanford is in the ecclesiastical parish of Ammanford and Betws. Ammanford formed part of the ancient parish of Llandybie although the parish church at Betws was much closer to the town. The established church was, however, slow to react to the growth of an urban community.[citation needed]
The nonconformist denominations, in contrast, were far more active and Ammanford was an important location as the 1904–1905 Welsh Revival unfolded.[21] Prominent chapels include Ebeneser (Baptist), Gellimanwydd (Christian Temple) (Independent) and Bethany (Presbyterian Church of Wales). There is an active Christadelphian community based in the town centre, in addition to various Evangelical and Apostolic Churches. The global Apostolic Church grew out of this area and until recently still held the Annual Apostolic Convention at nearby Penygroes.[22]
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