The Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society held its first meeting in the Guildhall
in Carmarthen in April 1905. The centenary year, 2005, was celebrated by a full programme of events,
many chosen to link the present to the past and to show how the Society has grown in strength and
developed its aims over the years.
The year started with a special exhibition in the Carmarthenshire County Museum
of some of the very many artefacts and books which early members donated to the Society. The County
Heritage Officer lectured on some of these; looking at the different storylines associated with
objects, what they mean to us and what they meant in the past and in other cultures.
The annual day school focused on the history of the Society and the contributions
of some of the men who influenced the early years so much.
April saw the culmination of the celebrations. The Annual General Meeting was held
in the Guildhall, Carmarthen followed by a number of lectures on the architecture of the building,
its furniture and portraits together with an account of a trial held there which influenced the
history of the county. The Centenary Dinner was held the following
week with Dr Brinley Jones, President of the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, as the guest
speaker.
The Edwardian theme of the Antiquarians' Centenary Year continued in July when
they held a picnic in the grounds of Carmarthenshire County Museum
in Abergwili. The lawn under the huge Cedar of Lebanon was dotted with tables and rugs, many people
seeking shade under the trees while some preferred to take advantage of the glorious summer sunshine.
President's Day was held in the summer so that members could take advantage of
the summer evening to wander in the gardens of Aberglasney before sitting down to dinner in the
partially restored mansion. As dusk fell the surrounding of Aberglasney's formed a marvellous back-cloth
for the President's talk on ghosts.
The pilgrimage to St David's took place in early September,
reflecting a visit made by the Society in its second year. The Very Reverend Wyn Evans, Dean of
St David's and one of our Vice-presidents, lead the party.
The October field day was to Myddfai, a remote part
of the county steeped in history, while in November the Society held its first lecture in Welsh
for very many years.
December ended the year with a festive note with a musical
evening listening to the work of Carmarthenshire musicians.
