| Llanilar | |
|---|---|
| Village andcommunity | |
 St Hilary's Church | |
  Llanilar Location withinCeredigion | |
| Principal area | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
52°21′N4°01′W / 52.350°N 4.017°W /52.350; -4.017 Community map
| |
Llanilar (Welsh pronunciation:[ɬanˈɪlar]) is a village andcommunity inCeredigion, Wales, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast ofAberystwyth. It is the eponym of thehundred ofIlar. The population at the2011 census was 1,085.[1] The community includesRhos-y-garth.
InWelsh placenames, many smaller communities are named for their parish (llan), having grown up around the local church. This town's name honours itspatron saint, although it is disputed whether that is the church's presumed founderIlar (Welsh for "Hilary"),[2] listed as a member ofCadfan's mission and amartyr but now almost totally forgotten, or the more famousHilary who was bishop ofPoitiers inFrance and is still celebrated by theAnglican andCatholic churches in Wales.[3] (The confusion is not helped byEdward Williams's numerous forgeries which he included in theIolo Manuscripts.)
There is aRoman site just to the east. The present village was built along the southern side of the scenicRiver Ystwyth and contains aparish church,Nonconformist chapel,primary school, GP Surgery, and garage. The village post office is now closed but a mobile van visits several times during the week.
St Hilary's Church[4] (Eglwys Sant Ilar) has a large square tower, chancel, nave, and porch. In the porch is a hollowed stone for holding holy water and, above the door, there is an ancient beam with carved heads and animals inscribed with the wordsJ.S. W.W.A. Church Wardens, 1683.[5] Under the name "Church of St Ilar", it is agrade II* listed building.[2]
Llanilar railway station on the line from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth opened in 1867 and closed in 1964 following severe flooding in the Llanilar area.
Llanilar Football Club play at Castle Hill Park in the village.
