# 1952 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1952. It was preceded by the 1949 election and followed, by the 1955 election.

## Overview of the result

After capturing control of the Council for the first time in 1949, Labour strengthened their hold by gaining an additional six seats in the Llanelli area. These included the two new wards created after boundary changes and the two wards in Llanelli town lost in by-elections in 1949. This counterbalanced the loss of Llangeler where Labour did not field a candidate. This was augmented by taking seven of the nine vacancies on the aldermanic bench.

## Boundary changes

Two additional seats were created, at Burry Port and Felinfoel.

## Retiring aldermen

The aldermen who retired at the election were ...
Retiring Labour councillors Haydn Lewis and Evan Bevan stood down in Ammanford and Llandybie respectively to allow Aldermen Frank Davies, and D.B. Lewis to be returned unopposed. Likewise, H.H. Harries and J.H. Davies stood down in Llandissilio and Llansteffan in favour of Edward James and T.Ll. Harries. Aldermen John Phillips (Cwmamman) and J.D. Rees (St Clears) withdrew at the last moment.

## Unopposed returns

34 members were returned unopposed, which included both rural and urban seats.

## Contested elections

25 seats were contested, including a number of instances where rival Independents fought each other. As in 1949, Independents sought to fight elections in Llanelli as a group, but had little success. Following the elections, Labour held all nine wards in Llanelli town for the first time.
A number of retiring aldermen stood as candidates and were returned unopposed. In Carmarthen, Alderman William Edwards, a member of the Council since 1928, stood in a town ward rather than in Llangunnor which he represented as a councilor until 1946. Edwards was defeated by the retiring Labour member.

## Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 53 councillors were elected.
Carmarthesnhire County Council 1952: elected members :
* Party
* Labour
* Plaid Cymru
* Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1952 : following election of new aldermen :
* Party
* Labour
* Plaid Cymru
* Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1952 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections :
* Party
* Labour
* Plaid Cymru
* Independent

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William John Phillips | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Davies** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.2

Ammanford No.2 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Harries* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Berwick

Berwick 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Isaac Daniel* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Burry Port East

Boundary Change
Burry Port East 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Labor Dennis | 921 | | |
| Independent | Dr W.D. Williams | 471 | | |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Burry Port West

Boundary Change
Burry Port West 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Edward Lewis* | 901 | | |
| Independent | Gwyn Thomas | 273 | | |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Caio

Caio 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | George V. Davies* | 1,240 |
| Independent | William Edwards** | 1,022 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.O. Morgans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | J. Verdi Jenkins* | 931 |
| Labour | Ellis J. Powell | 708 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.E. James Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D.I. Lewis | 448 |
| Independent | J.A. Owen* | 290 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Conwil

Conwil 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.A. Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Felinfoel

Boundary Change
Felinfoel 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Howells** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Hengoed

Boundary Change
Hengoed 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | David John Stone* | 864 | | |
| Independent | J.G. Thomas | 358 | | |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J.H. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.G. John | 797 |
| Independent | H.R. Lewis | 582 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.B. Lewis** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Marlais Humphreys | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Morgan Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Davies | 565 |
| Independent | Anthony H. Gower* | 425 |
| Independent | James James | 157 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Edward James** | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwyn Howells* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Griffith Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Rev David Penry Jones* | 1,064 |
| Independent | W.G. Edmunds | 1,041 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Dr H.D. Llewellyn | 1,117 |
| Independent | John Zammit* | 1,070 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | 696 |
| | Independent | Edith A. Francis | 283 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* | 1,306 |
| | Independent | Thomas B.J. Perks | 685 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Sidney Lewis | 532 |
| | Independent | Frederick Howells* | 500 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | William J. Davies* | 859 |
| Independent | William Hughes | 93 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | D.J. Williams | 1,387 |
| Independent | Eleanor Thomas* | 651 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George M. McConkey | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 9 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | S.I. Thomas | 1,150 |
| Independent | A.H. Olive* | 865 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | T.J. Williams* | 766 |
| Labour | D.G. Williams | 446 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangadog

Llangadog 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans | 618 |
| Independent | William Jones | 486 |
| Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev R.G. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Thomas Bowen* | 959 |
| Plaid Cymru | Trefor Beasley | 289 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Dobson Phelps | 626 |
| Independent | William Parry Thomas* | 557 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Llanon 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sidney Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Daniel Williams* | 312 |
| Independent | John Morgan | 295 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey

Pembrey 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | 1,180 |
| Independent | Evelyn M. Thomas | 503 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Josiah Jones* | 1,674 |
| Independent | Owen A. Jenkins | 658 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.E. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris* | 815 |
| Independent | M.T. Evans | 418 |
| Independent | M. Jones | 240 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Trelech

Trelech 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Simon Owen Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Brinley Jenkins* | 718 |
| Independent | William Harries | 288 |
| Independent | C. Phillips | 206 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Westfa

Westfa 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.J.F. Thomas | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Hughes Mathias* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 59 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, seven of the nine aldermanic vacancies were taken by Labour. The leader of the Labour group, Douglas Hughes, justified this by stating that the Independents had behaved in a similar fashion over many years.
* Joseph Howells, Labour
* D.B. Lewis, Labour
* Frank Davies, Labour
* John Harries, Labour
* Edgar Lewis, Labour
* D.J. Stone, Labour
* Gwilym R. Thomas, Labour
* Edward James, Independent
* T.Ll. Harries, Independent

## By-elections

Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held. Four members of the previous authority who had stood down in favour of retiring aldermen were now returned unopposed. The two contested elections included a strong showing by Plaid Cymru in Ammanford.

### Ammanford No.1 by-election

Ammanford No.1 by-election 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Haydn Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.2 by-election

Ammanford No.2 by-election 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Thomas Elias Evans | 663 |
| Plaid Cymru | David Samuel Gwynfor Evans | 558 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Felinfoel by-election

Felinfoel by-election 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hengoed by-election

Hengoed by-election 1952 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Edgar S. Samuel | 497 |
| Independent Labour | Gwilym Thomas | 344 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney by-election

Llanarthney by-election 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.M. Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandybie North by-election

Llandybie North by-election 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Bevan* | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandybie South by-election

Llandybie South by-election 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Morris | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandyssilio by-election

Llandyssilio by-election 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H.H. Harries | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanstephan by-election

Llanstephan by-election 1952 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.H. Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |