Beside the A40 halfway between Llandovery and Sennybridge is a monument erected in the middle of the 19th century to warn of the perils of drink-driving – not just a problem on modern roads. This text has been carved into the limestone:
THIS PILLAR IS CALLED
MAIL COACH PILLAR AND ERECTED
AS A CAUTION 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 LEADER
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 ESQ OF
LLANDOVERY SOLICITOR AND A LAD OF
THE NAME OF KERNICK(?) WERE INSIDE
PASSENGERS BY THE MAIL AT THE
TIME AND JOHN COMPTON OUTSIDE
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 & Stone Mason Llanddarog
near Carmarthen
REPAINTED AND RESTORED
BY POSTAL OFFICIALS 1930