The English translation for pentre is village, and galar can mean mourning, sorrow or grief. The origin of this name is obscure.
Geography
The land slopes from Crugiau Dwy at a height of in the west down towards the valley of Afon Gafel, a tributary of the River Taf. Most of the terrain is above. Land use is agricultural, with a rectilinear field pattern. Minor roads connect Pentre Galar with the villages of Hermon, Glandwr and Mynachlog-ddu, and most houses are alongside the main road.
History
The land surrounding Pentre Galar was enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1812, resulting in the orderly layout of small, rectangular fields. Dyfed Archaeological Trust suggests earlier settlement, and notes that the main road through the village is marked on an early map as a medieval route, but was turnpiked between 1791 and 1809 under the Whitland Turnpike Trust. The Royal Commission records the name Pentre Galar from an early 20th century map, and has in its collection aerial photographs of old field banks taken in 1999. In 1892, the freehold for a number of farms of up to in Pentre Galar was offered for sale, with the tenants' names listed.
Ty-mawr
Ty-mawr, on the corner of the road leading to Hermon, was in earlier times an inn on the Cardigan to Clynderwen coach route. It saw its first motor car in 1909. Owner and builder of the inn, James Davies, a preacher and community stalwart, was the force behind much road improvement in the area, including the main road, in the years 1809 to 1812. A memorial stone to Davies was erected in 2007, across the road from the inn.
Notable people
The poet, Independent minister and Marxist Thomas Evan Nicholas was born and brought up in Pentre Galar - he was born in the cottage Blaenwaun Felen and brought up in 'Y Llety', a smallholding on the slopes of Foel Dyrch and Creigiau Dwy. A memorial stone to T E Nicholas was unveiled on Creigiau Dwy in October 2019. The poet and Independent minister Daniel John Davies was born at Waunfelen, a cottage in Pentre Galar. He was taught the rules of cynghanedd in Pentregalar by William Nicholas, T E Nicholas' elder brother.
