Ferryside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ferryside
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 Ferryside and the River Tywi from Llansteffan |
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 Ferryside
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| Population | 846 |
| OS grid reference | SN366103 |
| Community |
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| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ferryside |
| Postcode district | SA17 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Ferryside (which is Glan-y-fferi in Welsh) is a small village in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located near the mouth of the River Tywi, about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) south of the town of Carmarthen.
Ferryside started as a place where people could cross the river by ferry. Later, it became a fishing village. Today, it is a popular spot for holidays and for people who want to retire. The village has its own lifeboat station. It was also the first village in the UK to switch from old analogue TV signals to new digital ones. In 2011, about 846 people lived in Ferryside.
Contents
Exploring Ferryside's Past
Ferryside began as a ferry crossing point to Llansteffan. An important person named Giraldus Cambrensis used this ferry way back in 1188. Over time, Ferryside grew into a busy fishing village. By 1844, about 895 people lived in the area.
The village really started to grow after 1852. This was when the South Wales Railway arrived, connecting Ferryside to bigger towns like Carmarthen and Swansea. This railway was designed by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Village Life and Facilities
Learning at School
Ferryside has a school that has been teaching local children for more than 150 years.
Places of Worship
The main church for the area is St Ishmael's Church. It is built on a rock close to the sea. In 2006, the churchyard was chosen for a special project. This project aimed to help different plants and animals grow there, making it a home for biodiversity. There are also two chapels and another church, St Thomas, in the village centre.
Local Shops and Services
Ferryside has several useful places for residents and visitors. You can find a post office, a pub called The White Lion, and a sports and social club. There is also a general store, a hotel called Three Rivers Hotel & Spa, an antiques shop, and a caravan park for campers.
Getting Around Ferryside
Ferryside railway station offers train services to many places. You can travel to London Paddington, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Carmarthen, Swansea, and Cardiff. Bus services also connect Ferryside to Carmarthen and Llanelli.
The Ferry Crossing
The ferry service that used to cross the River Tywi to Llansteffan stopped running in the 1950s.
However, a new ferry service started in 2018. It is run by Carmarthen Bay Ferries. They use a special boat that can travel on both land and water. This new ferry offers quick 5-10 minute trips to Llansteffan. You can also take longer trips to explore the estuary or enjoy a sunset cruise.
Community News
STISH is a monthly magazine made by volunteers from the St Ishmael's community. It shares local news and interesting articles for people in Ferryside and Llansaint. There is also an online source of information called Ferryside Village Forum.
Sailing Adventures
Ferryside is home to the River Towy Yacht Club. This is a great place for people who enjoy sailing on the river.
The Lifeboat Station
The Ferryside Lifeboat service began in 1835. It helps people who are in trouble in the water. The local waters can be very dangerous because of the huge difference between high and low tides.
Today, the lifeboat is part of St John Cymru. Local volunteers run the service 24 hours a day, all year round. They rely on donations to keep going. The current lifeboat station was built in 2010. It uses a fast, inflatable boat to respond to emergency calls.
Fishing in Ferryside
Ferryside has a long history as a fishing village. It was especially known for catching shellfish.
Cockle Harvesting
Ferryside, along with Laugharne, was once a very important place for the cockle fishing industry in Carmarthen Bay. Women from Llansaint used to collect huge amounts of cockles, sometimes around 650 tons a year, until about 1900.
Today, the cockle beds at Ferryside are opened for commercial fishing only sometimes. When they are open, many cockle pickers come to work on the estuary beds, often using tractors.
In 1993, Ferryside experienced what locals called 'the cockle wars'. This was when different groups of cockle pickers argued over the cockles. Because there were no special permits needed to collect cockles at Ferryside, it led to problems. These events made the village famous in national newspapers and led to discussions in Parliament about needing licenses for the cockle beds.
The Big TV Switch-Off
On March 30, 2005, Ferryside and Llansteffan became the first places in the United Kingdom to turn off their old analogue television signals. The people in these villages decided to switch to digital TV after trying it out in a special project.
Every home received digital receivers for their televisions. There was also a helpline and support for older residents to help them get used to the new system.
After three months, most households voted to keep the digital services. So, the old analogue channels were switched off for good. This was a big step towards digital television for the whole country.
Famous People from Ferryside
Many interesting people have lived in or visited Ferryside.
General Sir Thomas Picton of Iscoed Mansion was a former governor of Trinidad. He sadly died at the famous Battle of Waterloo.
Hugh Williams was a lawyer in the 1800s. He played a big part in the Rebecca Riots, which were protests against unfair taxes.
The painter Gordon Stuart also lived here. He created many portraits, including famous ones of Kingsley Amis and Dylan Thomas. Some of his paintings are in the National Portrait Gallery.
J. W. W. Stephens, a scientist who studied parasites, was born in Ferryside in 1865. George Parry, a clever engineer and inventor, retired to Ferryside in 1866.
The famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas often visited Ferryside. He came here for holidays when he was a child. Later, when he lived in Laugharne, he would still visit his relatives in Ferryside. His great-aunt Amy lived in Alpha House, and her family ran the Dorothy Café. Dylan Thomas also spent time at The White Lion pub in the village.
Some people believe that Ferryside might have helped inspire Dylan Thomas's famous play, Under Milk Wood. The play describes a town with sailors, fishermen, and cockle gatherers, which matches the jobs of many people in Ferryside long ago.
See also
In Spanish: Ferryside para niños
