Peillac Way and the Medieval Township of St Clears

From this point, there are fine views of the area to the rear of St Clears High Street. The first section of this, sweeping to the south from Gardde down to Church Lane, was noted in the 17th Century in “Lhwyd's Parochial Queries” as containing evidence that the original medieval town was more extensive than previously supposed, including evidence that “it had been a great Town”.

The walk follows the course of the River Cynin along which at high tide in the 19th Century and earlier, tenders carrying goods unloaded from larger vessels moored at the port would daily be transferring goods up to a wharf behind the Swan Hotel.

There were two apparently fordable crossings on this stretch of the river below Pentre Bridge. The first was half way down Peillac Way, formerly a continuation of Church Lane along the eastern boundary of Yr Island meadow, crossing the river to Plas Y Gwer farm on the opposite bank. The second crossing, known as Rhyd y felin, crossed the river from the end of Priory Lane at the southern end of Peillac Way, and led to Pant-dwfn Farm, the birthplace of David Charles the hymn writer and where his brother, Thomas Charles, one of the original leaders of the Welsh Revival movement in the 18th Century also lived.

The present Church Lane on the north side of the Church formerly led to one of the four major St Clears brickworks established in the 19th Century. The St Clears brickworks mostly produced bricks, tiles and drainage pipes which were shipped out down the river.