Llanddewi Brefi

Llanddewi Brefi (Welsh pronunciation: [ɬanˈðɛwi ˈbrɛvi]) is a village, parish and community of approximately 500 people in Ceredigion, Wales.

Llanddewi Brefi

Llanddewi Brefi
Llanddewi Brefi
Location within Ceredigion
Population640 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceSN662553
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTregaron
Postcode districtSY25 6
Dialling code01974
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

In the sixth century, Saint David (in Welsh, Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales, held the Synod of Brefi here and it has borne his name since; "Llan" referring in Welsh place names to a church or holy place. Llanddewi Brefi (Welsh, meaning "Church of David on the [River] Brefi", the Brefi being a tributary of the River Teifi),[2] is one of the largest parishes in Wales. It lies between the villages of Tregaron and Llanfair Clydogau.

History and description
St. David's church

The grade II* listed parish church of St David dates from the 12th century, on a site associated with religious worship since the 7th century. Fragments of much older buildings are incorporated into the Norman church. The church contains a modern statue of Saint David and a collection of Celtic crosses. When the Synod of Brefi was held in the village in the sixth century, it is said that the small hill upon which the church stands marks the spot where the ground was miraculously raised up under St David so that he could be heard better at this synod.

In addition to the Anglican church, there is a non-conformist chapel, two pubs and one village shop. The village and the surrounding area are largely Welsh-speaking and the local economy is dominated by sheep and dairy farming.

A mile (1500m) to the south-west and still within the parish is Pont Gogoyan, also a grade II* listed structure over the River Teifi.[3]

In 1977 the village was the scene of one of the world's biggest ever raids involving the drug LSD. Over 6 million tabs of the drug were seized as part of Operation Julie on 26 March of that year.

The village is the home of the character Daffyd Thomas in the television comedy series Little Britain.

References
  1. "Community population 2011". Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  2. R. J. Thomas, Enwau Afonydd a Nentydd Cymru (University of Wales Press, 1938. Reprinted: ISBN 0-7083-0331-5), pp. 129-130.
  3. "Pont Gogoyan, Llanddewi Brefi". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
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