Llandovery, mun. bor. and market town with ry. sta., Llandiugat par., Carmarthenshire, at confluence of the rivers Bran and Gwydderig, 11¼ miles NE. of Llandilo, 27 NE. of Carmarthen, and 204 NW. of London, pop. 2035; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Saturday. Llandovery derives its name from a corruption of Llan-ym-Ddyfri, "the church among the waters;" is an ancient place, and at the conquest of Wales had a castle, a few remains of which still exist. The town received its charter from Richard III. in 1484. The churches of Llandingat and Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn are here. A Welsh collegiate institution was founded at Llandovery in 1847. The trade of the town is almost exclusively in mining. In addition to the weekly market there is a great market on the second Saturday of each month; several fairs for cattle and horses are held annually.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))