Location: Mynydd Sylen.
Sponsor: Gwendraeth Valley Historical Society
Take the B4309 from Llanelli to Five Roads Village. As you enter Five Roads (5 km) turn right into Heol Horeb continue to the cross roads and go straight over on to Mynydd Sylen and find the concrete milk churn platform on the right hand side of the road.
The Great Meeting on Mynydd Sylen / Y Cyfarfod Mawr ar Fynydd Sylen
By the end of the summer of 1843, 'The Rebecca Riots', which had ravaged West Wales, was drawing to an end. The violent and clandestine attacks on the tollgates were being replaced by peaceful and open air meetings calling for political action.
Perhaps 'the greatest of all these meetings' was held on the slopes of Mynydd Sylen where it is claimed that no less than three thousand people were in attendance. On the 25th of August 1843 some of the most important and influential people addressed the meeting including the 'Rebecca' leader, Hugh Williams and the Llanelli landowner William Chambers Junior JP. The Times reporter, Thomas Campbell Foster and the lithographer, William James Linton of the London Illustrated news reported on the event. As a result of the meeting a lengthy petition to Queen Victoria was drawn up calling for an end to the injustices.
Notes:
'And They Blessed Rebecca' by Pat Molloy p194
'The Rebecca Riots' by David Williams p242
Y Cyfarfod Mawr
Safle: Mynydd Sylen
Ewch ar yB4309 o Lanelli i Bum Heol. Wrth i chi gyrraedd y pentref (5 km), trowch i'r dde i mewn i Heol Horeb, ymlaen at y groesffordd a syth draw i Fynydd Sylen. Mae'r plac ar garreg dal stên laeth ar ochr dde'r heol.
Noddwr:Cymdeithas Hanes Cwm Gwendraeth
Y Cyfarfod Mawr ar Fynydd Sylen
Erbyn diwedd haf 1843, roedd Terfysgoedd Beca a anrheithiai Gorllewin Cymru, yn tynnu i'w terfyn. Cymerwyd lle'r ymosodiadau treisgar a dirgel ar y tollbyrth gan gyfarfodydd awyr agored heddychlon yn galw am weithgarwch gwleidyddol. Efallai'r mwyaf o'r rhain oedd yr un a gynhaliwyd ar lethrau Mynydd Sylen ble cyfarfu nid llai na their mil o bobl. Ar Awst 25ain 1843, anerchwyd y cyfarfod gan rai o'r bobl fwyaf pwysig a dylanwadol gan gynnwys yr arweinydd Beca Hugh Williams a'r tir-berchennog William Chambers yr Iau Y.H. Adroddodd gohebydd y Times Thomas Campbell Foster a'r lithograffwr William James Linton o'r London Illustrated news ar y digwyddiad. O ganlyniad i'r cyfarfod, tynnwyd deiseb faith i'r Frenhines Fictoria yn galw am ddiwedd i'r anghyfiawnderau.
Nodiadau:
'And They Blessed Rebecca' gan Pat Molloy t 194
'The Rebecca Riots' gan David Williams t 242
LCH0078