Commemorative Stone unveiled by John Phillips, the then Headmaster of
the Grammar School.
PRINTING PRESS
The First Printing Press in Wales was set up by Isaac Carter in 1718 at Trehedyn (The old name for Adpar), Newcastle Emlyn. The commemorative plaque, made by Messrs D Nicholas & Sons, situated on the wall facing the bridge, near to the site of the printing press, was erected by The Happy Winter Entertainment Committee in 1912. It was unveiled by John Phillips the then Headteacher of Emlyn Grammar School. Isaac Carter came to this corner of West Wales from Shrewsbury in 1717. Why, it is not known.
Different authorities claim different books as the first one printed. One says it was a translation into Welsh of a book by the Rev. Thomas Vincent of London “Eglurhad o Gatechism Byraf y Gymanfa” (An explanation of the Shorter Catechism) This was a commissioned book and sponsored by five local people. The other that it was “Can o Senn i’w hen feiftr - Tobacco” (his Master the tabacco). On the frontspiece of that book is written the following, “ A gyfanfoddodd gwafanaethwr amodol iddo gynt pan dorodd ar ei amodac ef.
There is a copy of this in the National Library at Aberystwyth and is the only one known . Imprinted on it is “ Argraffwyd yn Nhre Hedyn gan Isaac Carter yn y flwyddyn 1718.” They give the author as Alban Thomas who it is thought died in 1740. Carter moved to Carmarthen where he is credited with another “first”, the printing of the first two colour page, a frontspiece in black and red, in Wales. Nothing is known of Carter after 1730. It is said thathe is buried in St Peters Carmarthen.