The structure of the place-name database was designed around the original sources,
essentially four map series (viz: the original OS Surveyors' drawings c. 1812; 1" OS map of
1830; the Tithe maps of each parish; and the 6" OS first edition). We took the decision to
use the boundaries of Civil Parishes as shown on these maps because at that
time there was no accurate map of Welsh parishes and also because these 'parishes' were frozen in
time and could not be changed. The initial task of collection from the main map trawl in 1997. Subsequently
Peter Wihl used manuscript sources including estate maps in the Carmarthen Record Office to increase
the breadth of sources consulted. Some work has also been undertaken on collecting forms from medieval
sources, but it has to be admitted that the main weakness at present is the small number of forms
from pre-19th century sources. The computerised data have been checked for consistency with regard
to NGRs and Civic Parish areas to see that NGRs fall within their assigned parish boundaries. However
with such a large database it is inevitable that a few NGRs will be wrong or that the wrong parish
has been assigned. Minor problems were identified and remain with some of the sources cited. In
total over 42,000 place-name records have been entered, based on a headword (Topname) count of just
under 15,000 names. The information includes (where possible) an accurate map reference and altitude
of the 'site' in feet, a list of the historic forms with sources and dates, and the parish name.
It is possible to undertake searches according to any chosen place-name element using wild cards,
and because of the consistency of having an NGR with each record , distributions of all the names
from particular sources can be output. A small number of names are located outside the County. These
are from the holdings of Talley and Whitland abbeys. Despite being at present a database from quite
recent sources, the benefit of a wholly consistent starting point (i.e. the four map sources used)
means that there is complete and uniform geographic coverage for the county of Carmarthen.
TAJ Nov 2005
Description of Data fields
Description of the Database
List of Sources used
