Kidwelly History Society – 25th Anniversary
Founded in 2000 by Jeffrey Mansel and David Sutton, the Kidwelly Local History Society celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025. To mark this milestone, the Society has updated its name—dropping “Local” from the English title to better reflect the original Welsh name, Cymdeithas Hanes Cydweli. A new logo has also been introduced to commemorate our Silver Jubilee.
The Society’s purpose is to foster interest in the rich history of Kidwelly and to ensure that knowledge uncovered through research is preserved and shared with future generations. A key part of this mission is making historical information freely accessible online. In this spirit, Jeffrey Mansel created www.kidwellyhistory.co.uk, establishing a valuable digital archive that continues to serve as a model for the Society’s work.
Over the years, the Society has published several books highlighting the work of esteemed local historian William Hill Morris, as well as important historical documents such as School Log Books, the Registers of Electors for 1906 and 1918, and a 19th-century Shipping Index sourced from the Carmarthen Journal.
We are still making history happen.
“Nothing in the past is dead to the man who would learn how the present came to be what it is.”
The quote is attributed to Miles O Sherill, a Confederate solider captured in America during the battle of 1861-1865. His memories are as relevant to us today.
If you have historical information, or would like to contribute to the society in any way, please get in touch. We are always interested to hear from potentail new presenters and new committee members.
We enjoyed meeting at Capel Sul, and subsequently the Parish Room, and we are now exploring a further venue, the John Burns Centre. We hope that members and visitors will find this suitable for the purpose.
The advent of Covid-19 was a piece of history we could have done without, and the last couple of years have been very challenging. We thank all KLHS members and all meeting attendees for your continued support and look forward to seeing you in the near future.
Vivian Summers
Chairman