Carmarthenshire
An old pillar in lay-by on the A40. View location
Text on front of pillar
THIS PILLAR IS CALLED MAIL COACH PILLAR AND ERECTED AS A CAUTION TO MAIL COACH DRIVERS TO KEEP FROM INTOXICATION AND IN MEMORY OF THE GLOUCESTER & CARMARTHEN MAIL COACH WHICH WAS DRIVEN BY EDWARD JENKINS ON THE 19 DAY OF DECEMBER IN THE YEAR 1835. WHO WAS INTOXICATED AT THE TIME & DROVE THE MAIL ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOING AT A FULL SPEED OR GALLOP MET A CART & PERMITTED THE LEADERS TO TURN SHORT ROUND TO THE RIGHT HAND & WENT DOWN OVER THE PRECIPICE 121 FEET WHERE AT THE BOTTOM NEAR THE RIVER IT CAME AGAINST AN ASH TREE WHEN THE COACH WAS DASHED INTO SEVERAL PIECES COLONEL GWYNN OF GLAN BRIAN PARK, DANIEL JONES ESQ OF PENYBONT & A PERSON OF THE NAME OF EDWARDS WERE OUTSIDE & DAVID LLOYD HARRIS OF LLANDOVERY SOLICITOR AND A LAD OF THE NAME OF KERNICK WERE INSIDE PASSENGERS BY THE MAIL AT THE TIME AND JOHN COMPTON GUARD Continuing text on side of pillar I HAVE HEARD SAY, WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY ONE PERSON CANNOT ASSIST MANY, BUT MANY CAN ASSIST A FEW, AS THIS PILLAR WILL SHEW WHICH WAS SUGGESTED DESIGNED AND ERECTED BY J. BULL INSPECTOR OF MAIL COACHES, WITH THE AID OF THIRTEEN POUNDS SIXTEEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE RECEIVED BY HIM FROM FORTY ONE SUBSCRIBERS IN THE YEAR 1841. The work of this Pillar was Executed by JOHN JONES Marble & StoneMason Llanddarog near Carmarthen. REPAINTED AND RESTORED BY POSTAL OFFICIALS 1930. |