Abergele (Aber-Gelau)
ABERGEsLE (ABER-GELAU), a markettown and parish, in the union of St. Asaph, hundred
of Isdulas, county of Denbigh, North Wales,
12 miles (N. W.) from Denbigh, 20 (N. W.) from
Ruthin, and 209 (N. W.) from London; containing
2661 inhabitants, of whom 945 are in the township of
Abergele. This parish takes its name from its situation near the mouth of the river Geley. It is celebrated as the scene of several military exploits in the
earlier period of the wars between England and Wales,
and for various transactions of great historical interest.
Prior to the Norman Conquest, Harold, in his attempt to subjugate this part of the principality, was
encountered by Grufydd ab Llewelyn, Prince of
North Wales, on the plain near Cevn Ogo, in this
parish, and, after a sanguinary battle, in which he
was defeated, and a considerable number of his men
slain, was driven back to Rhuddlan. In the reign of
William the Conqueror, Hugh Lupus, on his march
to invade the Isle of Anglesey, passing through the
defile of Cevn Ogo, which is the narrowest pass on
this part of the coast, was attacked by an armed band
of Welshmen, which had been posted there to intercept his progress, and of which, after an obstinate
and protracted battle, 1100 were left dead on the
spot. In the reign of Henry II., Owain Gwynedd,
Prince of North Wales, on his retreat from Flintshire, fortified himself in this pass, where he gave
battle to the forces of that monarch, and repulsed
them with great slaughter: after having secured this
important post, he retreated to Pen-y-parc, in the
adjoining parish, where he made a stand against the
English forces, and effectually checked the further
invasion of his dominions. Near the same pass,
Richard II., whom Percy, Earl of Northumberland,
under pretence of an amicable interview with Bolingbroke, had inveigled from Conway Castle, after his
return from Ireland, was surrounded by a military
band, bearing the Northumberland banner, and conducted to Flint Castle, where he was treacherously
betrayed by the earl into the power of the usurper.
From these circumstances it has been justly remarked,
that on no spot in the principality has more blood
been shed than in the defile of Cevn Ogo.
The Town is delightfully situated in a valley
watered by the river Geley, on the great road from
Chester to Holyhead, and within half a mile of the
Irish sea, which forms the northern boundary of the
parish. The coast, in some parts, is formed of sandy
cliffs, impending over the sea, which, according to
tradition, has made considerable encroachment upon
the land; a stone tablet, in the north wall of the
churchyard, records in Welsh, but without either
name or date, that a man was buried there who lived
three miles to the north, to which distance the coast
previously extended. The testimony of this epitaph
is corroborated by the appearance, at low water, of a
large tract of hard loam, in which oak-trees have
been found, in an almost entire state, but softened to
the consistency of wax. The salubrity of the air,
the pleasantness of its situation, and the decided
superiority of its shore for sea-bathing, have rendered
Abergele a favourite resort for invalids, and made it
a most fashionable watering-place: during the summer season it is frequented by numerous families, for
whose accommodation every requisite arrangement
has been made. The environs abound with picturesque and with strikingly bold scenery, affording
various interesting excursions. About half-way between the pass of Cevn Ogo and the town is Gwrych
Castle, built by Lloyd H. Bamford Hesketh, Esq.,
and occupying the summit of a rocky eminence. The
front of this extensive structure exceeds 480 yards,
and has on each side a noble terrace, 420 yards in
length, extending to the east and west entrances, the
latter of which is through a lofty arch, flanked by
two embattled towers. The building comprises altogether eighteen embattled towers, of which the principal, called Hesketh Tower, is ninety-three feet
high. Mrs. Hemans, the poetess, resided at the
former mansion of Gwrych, for a time, when a child;
her father removing hither with his family from
Liverpool. Lead and copper ores, tin, and manganese, are occasionally found in the parish, and many
spirited attempts have been made, but without proportionate success, to discover veins of sufficient
extent to remunerate the adventurers for working
them: lead-ore only is obtained at present, and that
but in small quantities. The fine range of mountains on the south of the town abounds with limestone, of which great quantities are procured, and
shipped off weekly for Liverpool: 200 men are constantly employed in quarrying, and fifty horses in
conveying the produce to the coast. The Chester
and Holyhead railway, opened in 1848, has a station
about half a mile distant from the town, and a good
omnibus conveys passengers to and from the trains
as they arrive. The market, held on Saturday, is
well supplied with corn and provisions; and fairs,
which were formerly noted for the sale of cattle, but
have considerably declined, are held annually on the
12th of February, 2nd of April, the day before Holy
Thursday, on June 18th, August 20th, October 9th,
and December 6th.
The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the
king's books at £12. 9. 9¼.; patron, the Bishop of
St. Asaph: the rectorial tithes have been commuted
for a rent-charge of £1486. 17., and the vicarial for
one of £489. 19., with a glebe-house and one acre of
ground, valued at £15 per annum. The church,
dedicated to St. Michael, is a low edifice of great
length, and of unpretending character, with a lofty
square tower at the west end. There are places of
worship for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic
and Wesleyan Methodists. A Church school, established in 1836, is supported by subscriptions, collections, and school-pence. It appears from a memorandum in the parish records, dated 1737, that Bishop
Fleetwood gave £100, and Mrs. Carter a similar
sum, for the establishment of a school. These gifts,
it is supposed, ultimately came into the hands of the
registrar of St. Asaph, who failed, and all that was
recovered for the purpose out of his estate was £29,
the interest of which, together with a rent-charge of
10s. bequeathed by Edward Hughes, is paid to the
master of the Church school. In 1846 a school was
established under Dr. Williams's endowment, from
which the master receives £25 per annum, in addition to about £15 paid by the parents of the children;
and in 1847 the rector of Kegidock, an adjoining
parish, established a school at Penyford, in a cottage
within the limits of the parish of Abergele. There
are also six Sunday schools, three of them belonging
to the Calvinistic Methodists, two to the Independents, and one to the Wesleyans. A dwelling-house
and eight acres of land, called Penucha, now yielding only a rent of £7 per annum, were left by a
former vicar, as compensation for £190 the amount
of various bequests left for the benefit of the poor,
which he had otherwise disposed of.
On the summit of one of the limestone hills, about
a mile north of the church, is a very large and perfect
camp, called Castell Mawr. Near it, on a hill called
Coppayr Wylva, or "the mount of the watch-tower,"
are some remains of an ancient British fortress of
great strength, of which the north front is defended
by an almost perpendicular precipice, 196 feet in
height, while on the east and south are walls of stone
and a deep fosse; on the west is a large opening between two mounds of earth and stone, beyond which
is another deeper and broader fosse, called Fôs-yRhuveiniaid, or "the Roman fosse." About two
miles to the west of the town is Cevn Ogo, a lofty and
precipitous rock of limestone, in which, among others
of minor extent, is one of the most spacious and
magnificent natural caverns in Europe. The cavern
has a bold front towards the sea, considerably elevated, and the entrance, which is many feet above
the road, is by an arch of comparatively fine proportions, forty-eight feet in height, within a very short
distance of which, proceeding inward, rises a tall
columnar rock, presenting the appearance of a rudely
sculptured massive pillar, and dividing the cavern
into two apartments. The recess to the left soon
terminates, but that to the right spreads into a spacious chamber, thirty feet in height, and extending
to an unexplored depth into the interior of the
mountain. The sides and roof of this surprising
cavern are studded with beautiful pendant stalactites,
many feet in length, ranged on each side with an
appearance of perfect order, resembling the pipes of
an organ, and reflecting the most brilliant diamondlike hues; the floor is strewed with immense masses
of stalagmite, uniformly of a deep orange colour, and
of the most grotesque and fanciful forms. Br&ygrave;nfanigl,
in the parish, was the residence of Marchudd ab
Cynan, head of one of the fifteen ennobled tribes of
North Wales, who was contemporary with Roderic
the Great: it was subsequently that of his descendant,
brave Ednyved Vychan.
Aberguilly (Aber-Gwili)
ABERGUILLY (ABER-GWILI), a parish,
in the union of Carmarthen, lower division of the
hundred of Elvet, county of Carmarthen, South
Wales, 2 miles (E. by N.) from Carmarthen, on the
road from that town to Llandilo-Vawr; containing
2366 inhabitants. This place is principally distinguished for its palace, which is the residence of the
diocesan. It derives its name from its situation on
the river Guilly, near its junction with the Towy.
About the year 1020, a desperate battle was fought
near the village, between Llewelyn ab Sitsyllt,
Prince of Wales, and Rhûn, a Scottish adventurer,
who, pretending to be the son of Meredydd ab Owain,
obtained the assistance of several powerful chieftains
of South Wales, the disaffected subjects of Llewelyn,
and assembled an army sufficiently strong to hazard
an engagement. Llewelyn, returning from North
Wales, at the head of his own forces, hastened to
attack the adventurer, who had arrayed his army here
in order for battle; after a long and obstinate conflict he obtained a complete victory over the rebels,
and slew their leader in the pursuit.
The village is pleasantly situated, and the meadows in the neighbourhood are watered by the rivers
Towy and Guilly, over which latter is a neat substantial stone bridge of three arches. The parish
comprises 10,748 acres, and abounds with roofing-slate
of excellent quality, of which two quarries are at present open, affording employment to about fifty persons, and furnishing an abundant supply of that
material for the use of the neighbourhood. Pettysessions are held here once a month.
The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the
king's books at £3. 6. 8., endowed with £200 private
benefaction and £200 royal bounty, and augmented
in 1841, by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, to
£150 per annum, out of the fund raised by the suspension of certain canonries and prebends. The
Dean and Canons of Windsor are patrons and impropriators; but from his residence in the parish, the
Bishop of St. David's is by courtesy allowed to present. The impropriate tithes have been commuted
for a rent-charge of £700. 6., and the vicarial for one
of £50; with a vicarial glebe of one acre and a half,
and a glebe-house. The church, dedicated to St.
Maurice, and situated near the bank of the Towy,
was made collegiate by Dr. Beck, Bishop of St.
David's, in 1287, for twenty-two prebendaries, four
priests, four choristers, and two clerks. In 1334,
some alterations were made by Bishop Gower, who
added a precentor, chancellor, and treasurer. This
establishment, the revenue of which was £42 per
annum, was removed by Henry VIII. to his newly
erected college at Brecknock. In the church is a
monument to Bishop Richard Davies; and in the
churchyard, which is planted with evergreens, is a
stone to the memory of Dr. Adam Ottley, bishop of
the diocese, who died in 1723. At Llanvihangeluwch-Guilly is a chapel, endowed with £1200 royal
bounty, and in the patronage of the Vicar of Aberguilly. There are places of worship for Baptists,
Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists. A National day and Sunday school for boys and girls,
established in 1834, is supported by subscription,
aided by payments from the parents; it is under the
patronage of the bishop, and the schoolroom is spacious, and well-lighted and ventilated. At Pant-yGlaien is a school under the same patronage, commenced in 1840; at Llanvihangel is a Sunday school
in connexion with the Established Church, and the
dissenters have eight Sunday schools in the parish,
five of them connected with the Independent denomination. A sum of £7. 10., the produce of bequests
from different donors, is distributed about Christmas
to the deserving poor: but a few other small charities
have been lost.
The episcopal palace is situated on the banks of
the Towy, whose meanderings through the grounds
impart to it considerable beauty and interest, though,
from the lowness of its site, it commands no extensive
prospects. The scenery immediately surrounding
it is cheerful, and pleasingly varied. The mansion,
which had been suffered to fall into decay, was almost
entirely rebuilt, in the Elizabethan style, at the expense
of the late bishop, Dr. Jenkinson, and is now one of
the most complete episcopal palaces in the kingdom.
Cwm Guilly, the seat of Grismond Philipps, Esq.,
whose father represented the borough of Carmarthen
in several parliaments; Gallt-y-Gôg, another residence; and Castle Piggin, which has been rebuilt by
Walter Owen Price, Esq., are pleasantly situated in
the neighbourhood. The defile of Cwm Guilly is
one of the most romantic districts in this part of South
Wales, extending some miles in length, and enlivened
by the playful mountain stream of the Guilly: on
each side rise lofty hills, which are clothed with wood
to their very summits. Within a short distance of
the village, and about four miles from Carmarthen,
at a place called White Mill, is Merlin's Grove, a
thick wood rising abruptly from the turnpike-road,
celebrated as the abode of that renowned sage, and
also as the place of his interment. The name is now
usually applied to a neat family residence situated
near it. The prophet is said to have lived in a cavern situated nearly in the centre of the wood, the
supposed scene of his incantations, to which allusion
is made by Spenser, in his "Faery Queene:" he is
said to have been interred in a sequestered spot, near
the extremity of the wood. The lordship of Vynne,
belonging to the Bishop of St. David's, possesses some
peculiar privileges, among which are those of holding
a court leet, choosing a portreeve and appointing constables, and collecting tolls for the repair of its roads,
which are kept in order independently of the parish
rate; it does not however maintain its own poor, as
an independent township, nor does it differ in any
other respect from the rest of the parish.
Aberhavesp (Aber-Hafesp)
ABERHAVESP (ABER-HAFESP), a parish,
in the union of Newtown and Llanidloes, upper
division of the hundred of Newtown, county of
Montgomery, North Wales, 3½ miles (W. by N.)
from Newtown, on the road to Machynlleth; comprising the upper and lower divisions, and containing
535 inhabitants. This parish takes its name from the
river Havesp, a rapid mountain torrent, the name of
which signifies "dry in summer." It is bounded on
the north and north-east by the parishes of Tregynon
and Bettws, on the east by Llanllwchaiarn, on the
west by Llanwnnog, and on the south by the river
Severn, with which the Havesp here forms a junction.
The parish comprises 4563a. 3r. 38p., of which 3463
acres are arable, and cultivated meadow and pasture,
in nearly equal portions, about 700 acres mountain
land, and 400 wood and plantations: the produce
consists chiefly of cattle, dairy-fed pork, wheat, oats,
and a small portion of barley. The surface is beautifully diversified with hills and valleys, the former of
which, with the exception of the open mountain land,
are clothed with natural wood and ornamental plantations, exhibiting fine specimens of oak and ash, which
here grow most luxuriantly, with other trees displaying a variety similar to that of the soils which distinguish the locality. From the rectory-house is a fine
view, extending over the beautiful Vale of Severn,
and embracing the numerous windings of that noble
river, the prospect being bounded by the Plinlimmon
and other mountains. A conspicuous hill in the centre
of the parish is called "the watch-place." The Hall,
an ancient mansion at present inhabited by farmers,
is the property of Col. Proctor, who, and Lord
Sudeley, are the chief landowners: the Earl of
Powis is lord of the manor. The weaving of flannel
is carried on to a moderate extent, affording employment to such of the inhabitants as are not occupied
in agriculture.
The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the
king's books at £9. 6. 8.; patron, the Bishop of St.
Asaph: the tithes have been commuted for a rentcharge of £306, with a glebe of nearly six acres, and
a house. The church, dedicated to St. Gwynnog, is
an ancient structure, in the early style of English
architecture, pleasantly situated near the river; it is
sixty feet in length, and twenty in breadth, containing
about 200 sittings. There are places of worship for
Baptists and Independents. A day school on the
principles of the Church, affording instruction to
thirty-five children, is partly supported by subscription, and partly by payments from the parents; the
building was erected at the cost of the Rev. R. J.
Davies, incumbent. Of the two Sunday schools in
the parish, one is in connexion with the Church, and
the other with the Independent denomination. Various benefactions to the poor, amounting to £50,
were lent in 1760 to a person who failed, and all that
was received from his estate was £13. 11. 10.; this
fund was subsequently increased to £21, and the
interest, about £1, is distributed at Christmas. The
parish is in the vicinity of the Roman road from CaerSws to Mediolanum, of which vestiges may still be
traced on a farm called Llwyd Coed. In the southeastern part of the parish is a medicinal spring, called
the Black Well; it is considered highly efficacious in
scrofulous diseases, and is much resorted to by the
people of the neighbourhood.
Aberllyvni, or Aberllynvy (Aber-Llyfni, or Aber-Llynfi)
ABERLLYVNI, or ABERLLYNVY (ABER-LLYFNI, or ABER-LLYNFI), a hamlet, formerly
a parish, in the union of Hay, hundred of Talgarth,
county of Brecknock, South Wales, 4 miles (S.
W. by W.) from Hay; containing 116 inhabitants.
This place is situated at the junction of the river
Llyvni with the Wye, on the southern bank of the
latter, and amid the most luxuriant and richly diversified scenery. It has long since ceased to exercise
the ecclesiastical rights of a parish, though they have
not been transferred to any adjoining place. The
inhabitants marry and bury their dead at Glâsbury,
from which circumstance Aberllyvni is commonly
considered a hamlet to that parish; but they do not
contribute to the church-rate of Glâsbury, which is
the usual mark of dependence. From the will of
William Vaughan, of Maeslwch, dated 1582, the advowson seems to have been the property of that gentleman, who bequeathed it to his daughter, Catherine
Vaughan, together with that of Llŷswen: it is also
noticed in Pope Nicholas' Valuation, separate from
Glâsbury, at £4. 6. 8. The benefice appears to have
ceased to exist about the middle of the last century,
when the church fell into ruins, and the patronage
has not since been exercised; no tithes have been
paid within the memory of man, nor has any churchwarden been appointed since the Restoration. Prior
to the last century, the church, it is presumed, was
regularly served; and there are persons still living
who recollect the existence of tombstones: an aged
yew-tree indicates the site of the building, but the
whole is now covered by a small plantation of firtrees. At an adjoining farmhouse is an octagonal
stone font, ornamented in its different compartments
with mullets and crosses, and bearing the date 1635.
Aberllyvni, with the hamlet of Velindre, receives
£6. 8. 6. per annum, arising from a bequest by Sir
David Williams, Knt., for the benefit of the poor.
The same individual bequeathed 10s. for preaching a
sermon in the church on Trinity-Sunday, but as that
edifice has fallen into decay, no sermon is preached,
and the money is carried to the general fund for charitable purposes.
Abernant (Aber-Nant)
ABERNANT (ABER-NANT), a parish, in
the union of Carmarthen, higher division of the
hundred of Elvet, county of Carmarthen, South
Wales, 5 miles (W. N. W.) from Carmarthen; containing 890 inhabitants. The village is pleasantly
situated on the banks of the river Cowin, about two
miles westward from the road leading from Carmarthen to Newcastle and Cardigan. It was formerly
much frequented at the time of the Carmarthen
races, which for many years took place in this parish,
on a course held by lease under Lewis Evans, Esq.,
of Pant-y-Kendy; they are now held on the other
side of the river Towy. The parish comprises 5500
acres, of which 400 are common or waste land. Pettysessions for the division are held here every month;
and a court leet for the hundred is held alternately
here and at Bwlch-Newydd, in the adjoining parish
of Newchurch. The living is a discharged vicarage,
with the perpetual curacy of Convil (which see) annexed, rated in the king's books at £7. 13. 4., and
endowed with £200 royal bounty, and £1000 parliamentary grant; patron, the Duke of Leeds. A tithe
rent-charge of £270 is paid to the impropriators, and
one of £67. 10. to the vicar. The glebe attached to
the living is one of the most extensive in the principality, comprising about 100 acres, valued at £100
per annum: there is also a glebe-house. The church,
dedicated to St. Lucia, is a small neat building, in a
quiet and retired spot. There are two places of
worship for Independents, and one for Baptists, with
a Sunday school held in each. The poor derive benefit from a distribution of 20s. at Easter, arising from
a bequest by Thomas Howells, of the parish of
Convil.
Pant-y-Kendy, a substantial brick mansion, was
commenced by the father of the present proprietor,
L. Evans, Esq., and from the local advantages which
it possesses, and the improvements in the disposition
of the grounds, is one of the most agreeable residences in the vicinity of Carmarthen. About twentyfive years ago, sixty silver coins, of the reigns of
Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I., were found by
some children at the vicarage-house; and in repairing
the road near Pant-y-Kendy, not long since, a Roman
urn was discovered, a few feet below the surface of
the ground, containing ashes, with which also the
place where it was found was much discoloured: the
urn, immediately on its being removed, fell in pieces.
Though no account of any Roman settlement at this
place is on record, and no vestige of an encampment
can be traced, yet, from its vicinity to Newchurch,
about a mile and a half distant, where a battle between the Romans and the Britons is said to have
taken place (in commemoration of which a stone,
erected to the memory of Severinus, the Roman
general, still exists), it is not improbable that the
spot may have been the place of interment of some
who fell in the battle, more especially as it is not far
from the Roman road leading from Maridunum (Carmarthen) to the town of Fishguard.
Aberpergwm (Aber-Pergwm)
ABERPERGWM (ABER-PERGWM), in
the county of Glamorgan, South Wales.—See
Neath, Middle.
Aberporth (Aber-Porth)
ABERPORTH (ABER-PORTH), a parish,
in the union of Cardigan, lower division of the
hundred of Troedyraur, county of Cardigan,
South Wales, 6 miles (N. E.) from Cardigan; containing 496 inhabitants. This place is pleasantly
situated on the shore of Cardigan bay, in a cove near
the mouth of the river Howny, forming a commodious
though small port, which is a creek to the port of
Cardigan. A brisk trade is carried on in limestone,
culm, and coal, with Milford, Swansea, and Liverpool, employing numerous sloops and seamen, porters,
and lime-burners: the herring-fishery in the bay also
gives occupation to a great number of hands, and
during the season imparts an appearance of activity
and bustle to the village; but the fishing for turbot,
cod, and mackerel, is scarcely worth pursuing. Aberporth is resorted to in summer for sea-bathing. In
the vicinity is Cribach Road, which affords good
shelter for vessels, and was much frequented by the
French, during former wars with that people. The
parish is bounded on the north by the sea, on the
east by Blaenporth, on the south by Tremaen, and
on the west by Verwic. It consists of two hamlets,
the rectorial hamlet and that of Llanannerch. Of
the latter the tithes are impropriate in the family of
Currie, who pay annually to the rector one mark at
Easter; it includes the manors of Mortimer îs Syrwen
and Mortimer îs Coed. In the hamlet of Llanannerch, according to tradition, was anciently a chapel;
but not the slightest vestiges of it now remain.
The parish contains, according to a survey taken
in 1839, an area of 2100 acres, of which 1300 are in
the rectorial, and 800 in the impropriate, hamlet, the
former comprehending 400 acres of arable land, 100
of meadow, and 800 of pasture; and the latter, 250
acres of arable, 50 of meadow, and 500 of pasture.
The soil consists partly of loam and clay, partly of
gravel and peat, and, when manured with lime, seasand, and dung, yields barley inferior to none on this
coast. It is also tolerably productive of oats, but
the wheat crops are very indifferent. The lands are
destitute of large trees, but are ornamented in several
places with clusters of oak, ash, sycamore, and alder;
the surface for the most part is hilly, with a few vales
intersected by rapid streams, the principal of these
being the river Howny, which separates the parish
on the east from that of Blaenporth. The rocks on
the coast are very precipitous, and afford retreats for
numerous foxes and other animals prejudicial to the
farmer; the sea abounds with porpoises and seacalves. A lofty hill in the parish commands fine
views of Cardigan bay, and the mountains of Snowdon, Cader Idris, and Plinlimmon, the prospect on a
clear day extending a considerable distance beyond
the Irish coast. The estate of Plâs, belonging to
the family of Morgan, has a mansion of great antiquity, built in the form of a cross; this demesne,
as well as that of Pennarissa, formerly exhibited
some fine timber, which has given place to a few
ornamental plantations. The other seats are, Penralt,
erected in the year 1813, a mansion in the Elizabethan
style; and Penmar, which has been modernised by
Dr. Jones.
The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the
king's books at £5. 13. 9., and endowed with £200
royal bounty, and £800 parliamentary grant; patron,
the Bishop of St. David's: the rectorial tithes have
been commuted for a rent-charge of £104. 13. 4.,
and the impropriate for one of £57. 6. 8. The
church, dedicated to St. Cynwyl, is a small plain
structure of great antiquity, situated on an eminence
about one mile from the village, and commanding a
beautiful view of the sea. It consists of a nave and
chancel, separated by a pointed arch, and measures
in length forty-six feet and a half, in breadth twentytwo, and in height thirty, exclusively of the steeple,
which is fifteen feet higher. The font is a square
basin, placed on a round pillar; the sacramental
cup is highly ornamented, but has neither date nor
inscription. There are places of worship for congregations of Calvinistic Methodists at Aberporth and
Blaenannerch, with a Sunday school for adults and
children held in each of them.
Aberthaw, East (Aber-Ddaw)
ABERTHAW, EAST (ABER-DDAW), a
small sea-port and hamlet, in the parish of Penmark,
union of Cardiff, hundred of Dinas-Powis, county
of Glamorgan, South Wales, 7½ miles (S. S. E.)
from Cowbridge: the population is returned with
the parish. This hamlet is situated on the east bank
and near the mouth of the river Ddaw, from which
it derives its name; and had formerly a chapel, which
has fallen to ruin. The harbour is small, but is resorted to by a few coasting-vessels of inferior burthen,
for conveying the produce of the district to other
places, especially lias limestone, called Aberthaw
tarras, which is much used in making cement for
works under water, and for canal locks, &c.
Aberthaw, West (Aber-Ddaw)
ABERTHAW, WEST (ABER-DDAW), a
small port and hamlet, in the parish of St. Athan,
union of Bridgend and Cowbridge, hundred of
Cowbridge, county of Glamorgan, South Wales,
7 miles (S. S. E.) from Cowbridge: the population is
returned with the parish. This place is situated on
the western bank of the river Ddaw, opposite the
port of East Aberthaw: near it is Seabreak Point, a
promontory which protects the mouth of that river.
Limestone of excellent quality is procured in the
vicinity.
Aber-Whielor (Aber-Chwiler)
ABER-WHIELOR (ABER-CHWILER), a
township, in the parish of Bôdvari, union and
hundred of Ruthin, county of Denbigh, North
Wales, 3½ miles (N. E.) from Denbigh; containing
534 inhabitants. It is situated at the junction of
the Whielor with the river Clwyd, the former flowing
here along a narrow, luxuriant, and well-wooded
vale, between two high mountains. The area of the
township is 2598 acres, of which 300 are common or
waste. The neighbourhood of Maes Mynan, where
the last prince of Wales, Llewelyn ab Grufydd, had
a house, the foundations of which were discernible
in a meadow some years since, abounds with highly
diversified scenery. Moel-y-Gaer, or "the hill of
the camp," apparently a British work, was probably
constructed for the purpose of defending the pass
here through the Clwydian mountains: this pass is
remarkable as being the only natural break in the
Clwydian range, which extends for more than twenty
miles in a direction from north to south. The tithes
belong to the Bishop of St. Asaph, and have been
commuted for a rent-charge of £492. There are
places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists and Wesleyans, with a Sunday school held in each. The
township is separately assessed for the maintenance
of its poor.
Aberyscir, or Aberescir (Aber-Esgair)
ABERYSCIR, or ABERESCIR (ABERESGAIR), a parish, in the union of Brecknock,
hundred of Merthyr-Cynog, county of Brecknock, South Wales, 3½ miles (W. N. W.) from
Brecknock; containing 117 inhabitants. This place
is pleasantly situated on the river Yscir, near its
confluence with the Usk, and from that circumstance
derives its name. The former of these rivers is
crossed by two bridges in the vicinity, namely, Pont
ar Yscir, to the west of the parish of Battle, and
Pont ar Vran, on the road to Trallong; and the
latter river by Aberbrân bridge, by a handsome
stone bridge from the grounds of Penpont, another
of the same material in the grounds of Abercamlais,
and a small suspension bridge near the latter residence. The river Brân runs along the parish on
the west, and here falls into the Usk. The mesne
lordship of Aberyscir, formerly held under the lords
of Cantref-Selyf, and separated only by the Yscir
from the ruined town of Caer-Bannau, once the
capital of the district, was given by Bernard Newmarch to Sir Hugh Surdwal, or "Sir Hugh of the
Solitary Vale," whose residence is stated by tradition
to have occupied the site of a more modern house,
near the junction of the rivers, now a farmhouse.
The parish comprises 1918 acres, chiefly arable;
336 acres are common or waste land. The soil consists of light loam mixed with gravel, well adapted
for the production of turnips, barley, and clover; the
ground on the south is of easy ascent, but on the
west and east sides of the parish rather steep, terminating in a hill.
The living, formerly a discharged vicarage, is
now a rectory, having been endowed with the great
tithes; it is rated as a vicarage in the king's books at
£3. 6. 3.: patron and incumbent, the Rev. David
Jones. The tithes have been commuted for a rentcharge of £150. The church, which belonged to
the priory of Malvern, is dedicated, according to
some authorities, to St. Mary, and according to
others to St. Cynidr: it is beautifully situated on the
western bank of the river Yscir, in the angle between
that river and the Usk; but is a mean-looking
building, possessing no claim to architectural notice.
There is neither parsonage-house nor glebe land
attached to the living. Close to the church is a farm
of about thirty-five acres, with a house, barn, and
out-buildings, now in a dilapidated state, called
"The Parsonage;" but whether or not it ever belonged to the Church, at any period, has not been
ascertained; if so, it may have been alienated during
the protectorate of Cromwell. In the parish is a
place of worship for Independents, with a Sunday
school held in it. Aberyscir participates in a donation of land by the Rev. Mr. Powell, vicar of
Boughrood, in the year 1686, for apprenticing poor
children.
Nearly opposite the church, on the eastern bank
of the Yscir, is the Roman station called the Gaer,
or Caer Bannau, whence the Sarn Helen, in its
course to Neath, the Nidum of the Romans, joined
the Via Julia Maritima at some distance from this
place: it crossed the Yscir a little above the church,
and proceeded through the parish nearly in the
direction of the present turnpike-road to Aberbrân.
Near the margin of the Usk is an artificial mount
surrounded by a moat, which was probably occupied
by the keep belonging to the ancient mansion of the
Surdwals. Of this family was Hywel Surdwal, one
of the heraldic bards of Wales, who flourished towards
the close of the fifteenth century; he was employed
by Edward IV. to certify the pedigree of the first
Earl of Pembroke of the Herbert family.
CORPORATION SEAL.
Aberyswith (Aber-Ystwyth)
ABERYSWITH
(ABER-YSTWYTH), a
sea-port, borough, markettown, and chapelry, and
the head of a union, in the
parish of LlanbadarnVawr, lower division of
the hundred of Geneu'r
Glyn, county of Cardigan, South Wales, 38
miles (N. E.) from Cardigan, and 208 (W. N. W.)
from London; containing 4916 inhabitants. This
place, from its having been fortified at a very early
period, and also forming part of the ancient parish of
Llanbadarn-Vawr, was originally called Llan-Badarn
Gaerog; whilst the small ancient village of Aberystwith was situated to the west of it, on ground now
covered by the sea, and on the bank of the Ystwith
or Ystwyth, into which river the Rheidol or Rheidiol
probably emptied itself, at some distance from the
ocean. These rivers now unite at the town, and
form at their mouth the modern harbour of Aberystwith. The courses of both have been changed, the
Ystwith having flowed directly into the sea, prior to
the diversion of its channel some years ago, which
was done in order to strengthen the current of the
Rheidol in clearing away the bar at the entrance to
the harbour.
A castle was founded here in 1109, under the
following circumstances. A Flemish nobleman of
the name of William de Brabant, in journeying
through South Wales, was waylaid by Owain, son of
Cadwgan ab Bleddyn, and slain with all his retinue;
which so incensed Henry I., that he granted permission to Gilbert de Strongbow to invade the territory of Cadwgan, in Cardiganshire, and win it by
the sword. Strongbow was successful; and in order
to defend the possessions thus acquired, he built
at least two castles, one at Aberystwith, and the
other at Dingerait, supposed to be Kîlgerran, near
Cardigan. In 1114, Grufydd ab Rhŷs, a Welsh
prince, who had for some time carried on with considerable success, in the county of Carmarthen, a
desultory warfare with the Norman invaders of
South Wales, being invited by the inhabitants of the
province of Cardigan, to assist them in throwing off
the Norman yoke, attacked the castle of Ystradpeithil, near Aberystwith. This he reduced; and
then encamped at Glâs Crûg, about a mile east of
Llanbadarn-Vawr church, intending to attack the
castle of Aberystwith on the following morning. The
governor, apprised of his design, had sent to the
neighbouring castle of Ystrad-Meirig for a reinforcement, which arrived during the night; and in
the morning Grufydd, ignorant of the circumstance,
and confident of success, advanced to a place called
Ystrad Antaron, opposite Aberystwith Castle, where
he encamped, and held a council of war. Preserving
no discipline among his troops, the Normans took
advantage of their disorder, and sent out some
archers, to tempt them into a skirmish, and to draw
them by a feigned retreat towards the bridge over
the Rheidol; at the same time placing a part of their
best cavalry in ambuscade behind the Castle Hill.
The Welsh eagerly pursued these archers to the
bridge, over which they were allured by a fresh device of the enemy, and continued their pursuit
almost to the gates of the castle, when the horse
which had been posted behind the hill attacked them
in the flank, while those whom they had pursued
made a stand, and assaulted them in front. By this
means all the Welsh that had crossed the bridge were
cut to pieces, and Grufydd was compelled to retreat
with the remainder of his forces, and to abandon his
enterprise.
In 1135, Owain Gwynedd and Cadwalader, sons of
Grufydd ab Cynan, with a large body of Welsh,
made a more successful attempt on the castle, which
they took and utterly demolished, putting to the
sword all the Normans and Flemings who had settled
in this part of the principality, with the exception
only of a small number, who escaped by sea into
England. Cadwalader, soon afterwards marrying
Alice, daughter of Richard, Earl of Clare, and Lord
of Cardigan, rebuilt the castle, and made it his chief
place of residence; but Owain Gwynedd, after his
accession to the sovereignty of North Wales, in
revenge for his brother's contumacy, besieged it
and burned it to the ground, in 1142. The place
continued for many years to experience all the disasters arising from predatory and intestine warfare,
and was frequently destroyed and rebuilt in the continued struggles for dominion which occurred, not
only between the English and the Welsh, but also
among the rival princes of the country. During
this period, mention occurs of the castle of Aber
Rheidol being destroyed, in 1164, by Rhŷs ab
Grufydd, on his invasion of the territories of the
Earl of Gloucester; which circumstance has led to a
supposition that there was another castle on the seashore, near this place, though it is not at all improbable that the castle of Aberystwith was occasionally
designated by that name. Notice of the town of
Aberystwith first occurs about the close of the twelfth
century.
After rising from some of its frequent demolitions, the castle was again destroyed, in 1207, by
Maelgwyn, a chieftain of South Wales, who had previously restored and fortified it, in order to maintain
his power in this part of the principality, but who
felt himself unable to hold it against Llewelyn,
Prince of North Wales, who was advancing to attack
him. Llewelyn, on his arrival at Aberystwith, rebuilt and garrisoned the castle, and seized the whole
of the extensive territory lying between the rivers
Aëron and Dyvi; the castle he retained in his own
hands, but the territory he afterwards surrendered to
Rhŷs and Owain, sons of Grufydd ab Rhŷs, and
nephews of Maelgwyn. In 1212, King John, having
with the aid of Maelgwyn and his brother Rhŷs
Vychan compelled Llewelyn and other chieftains to
do him homage, sent Foulke, Viscount Cardiff, warden of the marches, to force the sons of Grufydd
also to acknowledge him as their sovereign, in which
attempt Foulke was joined by Maelgwyn and Rhŷs
Vychan. The two nephews, unable to withstand so
powerful a force, made the required submission, and
agreed to relinquish all right to the territories which
had been ceded to them by Llewelyn; and Foulke,
having repaired and strengthened the fortifications of
the castle, placed in it a strong garrison, to defend it
for the king. Maelgwyn and Rhŷs Vychan, disappointed in their hope of obtaining for themselves the
territories of which Rhŷs and Owain had been dispossessed, now laid siege to the castle, which they
succeeded in taking, after an obstinate defence; and
razed it to the ground. It appears to have been
almost immediately rebuilt; for in 1214, Rhŷs
Vychan, being defeated by Foulke, in Carmarthenshire, took refuge in it with Maelgwyn, and brought
with him also his wife and children. In the reign of
Henry III., the castle was in the possession of Rhŷs
ab Grufydd, who, about the year 1223, joined the
party of the Earl of Pembroke, in consequence of
which, Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, Prince of North
Wales, seized it, with all its dependencies; Rhŷs,
however, complaining to the king, and requesting his
protection from this violence, Henry commanded
Llewelyn to appear before him at Shrewsbury, and
the prince obeying the summons, the quarrel was
amicably adjusted.
In the reign of Edward I., Grufydd ab Meredydd
and Rhŷs ab Maelgwyn besieged and took the
castle, then held by Llewelyn ab Grufydd, Prince of
North Wales. It soon after fell into the hands of
the English; and Edward, in order to secure the fulfilment of the conditions of the peace which he had
concluded with Llewelyn, rebuilt it in 1277, and,
placing in it a strong garrison, returned to England.
The oppressive conduct of Edward's lieutenants, in
this part of the country, soon led to an infraction of
the peace lately concluded, and among the principal
exploits of the insurgent Welsh was the capture of
Aberystwith, otherwise called Llanbadarn, Castle,
by Rhŷs ab Maelgwyn and Grufydd ab Meredydd:
but it was not long afterwards delivered up to the
English forces, and from this period nothing of importance peculiarly relating to it appears to have occurred till the reign of Henry IV., when it was
assaulted and taken, in 1404, by Owain Glyndwr,
in whose possession it remained for three years, till
it was surrendered on terms to Prince Henry. Owain
soon after regained possession of it by stratagem;
but it was finally reduced in the year 1408, by the
English, who appear to have retained it without further molestation. In the 35th of Henry VIII., William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, was appointed captain of the castle and town of Aberystwith. In 1637,
Mr. Bushel, who succeeded Sir Hugh Myddleton in
the possession of the mines royal of Cardiganshire,
having obtained permission from Charles I., established a mint in the castle, for coining silver, for
the convenience of paying the men employed in the
mines; and specimens of all the coins then struck in
it, bearing the crest of the Prince of Wales, and
dated between the years 1638 and 1642, are to be
met with in the cabinet of the collector. At the
commencement of the civil war, the castle was
strengthened with additional fortifications, and
strongly garrisoned for the king; the royalists kept
possession of it till the year 1646, when it was besieged and taken by the parliamentarians, who soon
afterwards dismantled it.
The town, which owes its origin to the erection
of the castle, is described by Leland as being encompassed by walls, the last remains of which were removed some time since, and as being, in his time, a
better market than Cardigan. Camden, who ascribes
the building of its walls to Gilbert de Clare, commonly called Strongbow, states that when he wrote it
was the most populous town in the county. Of late
years it has materially increased both in extent and
importance, and the town may be regarded as the
most flourishing place in this part of South Wales.
It is pleasantly situated at the lower extremity of the
valley of the Rheidol, amid lofty hills, and on a
gentle eminence overlooking the bay of Cardigan, by
which it is bounded on one side, while on the other it
is environed by the Rheidol, over which is a stone
bridge of five arches, forming an entrance to it from
the south. It consists mainly of two long streets,
from which others, branching off nearly at right
angles, lead down to the shore. The houses are in
general of stone, and for the most part well built and
of respectable appearance, some of them being large
and handsome, especially such as are of modern
erection. The streets are disposed with considerable
regularity, and the turnpike roads leading to the
town rank among the best in the principality. An
act was obtained in 1835, for lighting, watching, and
paving the town, which authorizes the levy of a rate
not exceeding 2s. 6d. in the pound on the rack rental,
on all houses, &c., valued at £8 per annum and upwards; also for supplying the inhabitants with water,
which had previously been brought from the rivers
Ystwith and Rheidol in barrels, on sledges drawn
by one horse. Water-works were accordingly erected
by the town commissioners in 1837, the expense being
defrayed by a rate levied on the inhabitants, aided by
the rent received for the supply of the water; pipes
are laid down through the streets, and the reservoir
affording the supply will hold about 185,000 gallons,
exclusively of a cistern or well in another part of the
town, subsequently built, and capable of holding
5000 gallons. Gas-works were erected in 1838, by
a company formed with the consent of the commissioners and other authorities; they are substantially
built, and are situated in a suburban part of the
town.
The advantages of its situation on a fine open
bay, the purity of its air, and the efficacy of some
mineral springs adjacent, have contributed to render
Aberystwith a place of resort for invalids. About the
close of the last century, when it was a mere fishingtown and small sea-port, it began to rise into notice as
a bathing-place, and from a series of improvements, it
is now one of the most frequented places of fashionable resort on the Welsh coast. The beach, though
composed of pebbles, affords a pleasant and interesting walk; and the shore, consisting of lofty and precipitous rocks of dark-coloured slate, is worn by the
action of the waves into caverns of picturesque appearance. In some parts the coast scenery near
Aberystwith is remarkably striking. The interior of
the country, also, affords some beautiful excursions.
Hot and cold sea-water baths are provided, with
every requisite accommodation; bathing-machines
are kept; and, from the convenient sloping of the
beach, a facility of bathing is afforded, at almost
any state of the tide, within a very short distance of
the shore.
For the accommodation of the increasing number
of visiters who annually resort to the place, many
additional lodging-houses have been built, of which
the Marine Terrace, a handsome range of buildings,
is situated on the margin of the bay, embracing a fine
marine view, enlivened by the frequent arrival and
departure of vessels trading to these coasts. In this
range is the Belle Vue, a spacious and commodious
hotel; and in front, where the beach is level, is a
good promenade. On the south-west of the Marine
Terrace is a gateway leading to a castellated mansion
of unique appearance, called the Castle House, commanding an extensive prospect across the bay. It
was originally built as a private mansion by Sir
Uvedale Price, Bart., of Foxley Hall, in the county
of Hereford, but latterly has been held by yearly
tenants, and is now furnished and let out in apartments. It consists of three octagonal towers, connected by ranges of apartments, and having a light
and elegant balcony on the side towards the sea.
Beyond this, on one side, is the Castle Hill, crowned
with the venerable ruins of the ancient fortress, and
forming another favourite promenade, affording, from
different points, various extensive and romantic views
of the sea, the neighbouring hills, and the surrounding country. On the other side of the Castle Hill,
separated only by the churchyard, are the Public
Rooms, built in the Grecian style of architecture, on
ground given by W. E. Powell, Esq., of Nant Eôs,
lord-lieutenant of the county, from a design by Mr.
Repton. They were completed at an expense of
£2000, raised by subscription on shares of £10 each,
and opened to the public in 1820. The suite consists
of a very handsome assembly and promenade room,
forty-five feet long, and twenty-five feet broad; a cardroom twenty-five feet long, and eighteen feet wide,
opening into the assembly-room by folding-doors;
and a billiard-room, of the same dimensions as the
card-room. The assembly-room and card-room are
similarly ornamented; and under the same roof is a
dwelling-house, with a bar for providing the visiters
with refreshments. The assembly-rooms are opened
generally in July, and closed in October. When the
card-room is not wanted for balls, it is used as a
reading-room. There are also three good circulating
libraries in the town. Races are annually held,
generally in August, which continue for two days: a
field near Gogerddan, the seat of Pryse Pryse, Esq.,
about three miles distant from the town, is, by the
courtesy of that gentleman, used as a race-course.
The harbour, towards the close of the last century, appears to have been in a very bad state, and
is described as in great danger of being lost or destroyed; a bank of sand at the mouth was the chief
cause of injury to the trade. In the year 1780, therefore, the inhabitants obtained an act of parliament to
"repair, enlarge, and preserve" their port, under
which trustees were empowered to levy duties upon
articles landed within the limits of the port, and to
borrow a sum not exceeding £4000, upon the credit
of the harbour-dues, for the improvement of the harbour. About the year 1806, a pier was attempted to
be built on the low ridge of rocks called the Weeg, at
the end of Pier-street, as a refuge for fishing-boats;
but it appears to have been designed on too small a
scale to be efficient, and, being constructed with dry
stone, has long since disappeared. A subsequent act
was obtained in the 6th of George IV., for the same
object as the former act, with power to borrow
£20,000, on the credit of a new scale of tolls; and
in 1830 the trustees consulted the late Mr. Alexander
Nimmo, the eminent engineer, upon the state of the
harbour. That gentleman made a report; and at his
death, upon the recommendation of the Duke of Newcastle, then owner of the Havôd estate, the trustees
selected as their engineer the late Mr. George Bush,
who likewise surveyed the harbour, and made a report agreeing in the main with Mr. Nimmo's. Under
his superintendence, and the more immediate management of the present resident engineer and harbourmaster, Mr. Page, the existing works were commenced
in 1836. They chiefly consist of a pier, extending
in a north-north-west direction from the high-water
point of the beach of the Ystwith, towards Bardsey
island; the present length of the pier is 260 yards,
and it is intended to carry it forty yards further, as
soon as the funds of the trust will permit. Upwards
of £15,000 have been already expended on these
improvements, towards which the Duke of Newcastle
made a donation of £1000, the members for the
county and boroughs £500 each, and several of the
neighbouring gentry various other sums.
The trade of the port, since the commencement of
the new works, has greatly improved; the harbour is
now accessible to much larger vessels than formerly,
and is found of signal benefit to vessels driven into
the bay by stress of weather. The principal exports
are, lead-ore and black-jack, or blende, for Bristol, or
the ports on the river Dee; a small quantity of
copper-ore, for Swansea; oak-bark for Newry, and
other parts of Ireland; and poles of oak and other
kinds for the iron-works in Glamorganshire and
Monmouthshire. The imports include timber from
North America and the Baltic; hemp, also, from the
latter. Shop-goods and other merchandize are brought
from Liverpool, Bristol, and London, to which places
are regular traders. Coal is imported from Newport,
Llanelly, and other ports on the Bristol Channel,
and also from the ports on the river Dee; slates and
slabs from Bangor, Carnarvon, and the river Dovey;
flaggings from Cardigan; bricks and earthenware from
Bideford and Bridgwater; grain from London, Yarmouth, and Poole; salt-fish from the Isle of Man,
and Cornwall; and limestone from Milford and
Red-Wharf. The number of vessels belonging to
the port, including the creek of Aberdovey, in 1847,
was 164, and their tonnage 9000, employing upwards
of 700 sailors, men and boys. The present customhouse, built in 1828, is a neat edifice, commanding a
good view of the harbour. By a treasury warrant dated
November, 1847, the limits of the port are extended
so as to reach from New-Quay Head to the north bank
of the river Dysynni, beyond Towyn, Merionethshire;
thus including the additional creeks of New-Quay and
Aberaëron. Here are two ship-building establishments, an old-established ropewalk, with a sail-maker,
chain-cable and anchor smith, and oar and block
manufacturers. The Cardiganshire lead-mines, about
seventy in number, are chiefly in this part of the
county, and several of them are now worked upon an
extensive scale.
The markets are well supplied. The corn-market
is held on Monday, in a new hall, built on a handsome plan in a central part of the town; all kinds of
grain are sold here, and this is the mart for cheese,
wool, and various agricultural products. Monday is
also the market-day for butter, eggs, poultry, fish,
vegetables, &c.; and on Saturday is a market for
butchers' meat, for which a building was erected in
1824, measuring 104 feet in length, by 31 feet in
breadth. The fish-market is held in the area under
the town-hall, and is well supplied with such fish as
the bay affords, together with salmon from the neighbouring rivers, and other fish from distant places.
Fairs for horses and cattle are held on the Monday
before January 5th, the Monday next before Easter,
on Whit-Monday, May 14th, June 24th, September
16th, and the Monday before November 11th. The
first Mondays after the 13th of May and the 13th of
November are called by the natives of the surrounding
country Dydd Llun Cyvlogi, or "Hiring Mondays;"
and on these days a great number of the farmers and
others meet here to hire servants.
In Meyrick's History of Cardigan, is a copy of
a charter, dated the 20th of November, in the 20th
year of Henry VIII., and granted by that king to
the burgesses of the town of Llanbadarn (Aberystwith); but it does not appear that any copy of this
document has ever been kept among the muniments
of the borough, nor has it been referred to in practice,
the corporation being considered such by prescription.
Until lately the title of the corporation was, "the
Mayor, and Burgesses of the town, borough, and
liberty of Aberystwith;" and the government was
vested in a mayor, coroner, chamberlain, town-clerk,
two serjeants-at-mace, a bellman, two scavengers,
and an indefinite number of burgesses. The officers
were elected by the jury out of the body of burgesses, at a court leet held before the mayor, within
a month after Michaelmas-day; and at this court and
a similar one which took place within a month after
Easter, burgesses were admitted, and the ordinary
business of the corporation was transacted. By the
act 5th and 6th of William IV., cap. 76, the corporation is styled "the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses,"
and consists of a mayor, four aldermen, and twelve
councillors, together forming the council of the
borough. The council elect the mayor annually on
November 9th, out of the aldermen or councillors;
and the aldermen triennially from among the councillors, or persons qualified to be such, one half going
out of office every three years, but being re-eligible:
the councillors are chosen annually on November 1st,
by and from among the enrolled burgesses, one third
going out of office every year. The aldermen and
councillors must have a property qualification of
£500, or be rated at £15 per annum. The burgesses
are, the occupiers of houses and shops who have been
rated for three years to the relief of the poor. The
mayor and ex-mayor are justices of the peace, and a
commission has been lately granted by Her Majesty,
by which five gentlemen are appointed magistrates
for the borough, in addition. Two auditors and two
assessors are elected annually on March 1st, by and
from among the burgesses; and the council appoint
a town-clerk, treasurer, and other officers annually
on November 9th. The revenues of the corporation
are derived from certain lands within the borough,
let out on leases, some for building and some as
pasture and meadow land: the total rental is about
£130 per annum. This property, prior to the year
1808, consisted of uninclosed land, over which the
burgesses enjoyed rights of common; but such privilege being disputed by some parties, the corporation
were compelled to assert their exclusive claim, which
entailed an expense of £3729, and it was to meet
these heavy costs that they adopted the plan of letting
their lands, now the most valuable property in the
town, for long leases upon considerable fines, and
with small annual rents.
This is one of the contributory boroughs in the
county, which unite in the return of a member to
parliament. The right of election, until the passing
of the Reform Act, was vested in the burgesses
generally, but is now in the former resident burgesses, and in all persons occupying, either as landlord, or as tenant under the same landlord, a house
or other premises of the clear annual value of at
least £10, if duly registered according to the provisions of the above act: the present number of voters
in the borough is about 330. The mayor of Cardigan
is the returning officer. The old town-hall is a
building in an ancient style of architecture, erected
in the year 1770. The new hall, or court-house, at
the end of Portland-street, erected in 1848, is in the
Grecian style, with a portico of four Ionic columns;
the centre contains a court for civil and criminal
business, and the wings contain, on one side, judges'
apartments and rooms for counsel, and on the other,
rooms for grand and petty jurors, and for witnesses.
This building was raised partly with a view to secure
one of the assize fixtures every year, and a portion
of the county sessions' business; an object not yet
attained. The powers of the county debt-court of
Aberystwith, established in 1847, extend over the
registration-district of Aberystwith. The prison,
which is also one of the houses of correction for the
county, is adapted to the reception of only eight
prisoners, in three separate classes.
The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with
£600 royal bounty, and £400 parliamentary grant;
net income, £139; patron, the Vicar of LlanbadarnVawr. The late chapel, dedicated to St. Michael,
was built by subscription, being completed in the
year 1787. It was a plain structure, situated within
the precincts of the castle, and separated from the
walks around the ruins of that edifice by a stone wall,
erected at the expense of the inhabitants. It measured sixty feet in length, and twenty-six in breadth:
a gallery was erected at its western end in the year
1790, at an expense of about £100, by Mrs. Margaret
Pryse; an organ was presented by Pryse Pryse,
Esq. The augmented population of the place, and
the increased number of visiters, rendering the erection of another place of worship necessary, a new
chapel was commenced in 1830 upon a larger scale,
by subscription, aided by a grant of £1000 from the
Parliamentary Commissioners for Building New
Churches, and £400 from the Society for the Enlargement of Churches and Chapels. The funds,
amounting to £3500, were sufficient for completing
the body of the building, which is in the later style
of English architecture, and is so planned that a
tower of corresponding character may be added at
some future time. In the gallery is a fine-toned
organ by Robson, which cost £350, raised by subscription among the inhabitants. Divine service is
performed in Welsh at the old school-house, which
has been licensed for that purpose. Many years before the erection of Old St. Michael's chapel, which
was taken down in 1836, the town appears to have
been deprived of a church or chapel by the encroachments of the sea. There are places of worship for
Baptists, Independents, Calvinistic and Wesleyan
Methodists, and Roman Catholics.
A National school for boys and girls, established in
1819, is supported by subscription, by which means
also a suitable building was erected, Mr. Pryse contributing £200 towards the expense. In the town
are also a British school, commenced in 1846; an
infants' school, commenced in 1842; several schools
supported at the parents' expense; and a number of
Sunday schools. A savings' bank was established in
1818, which has now deposits to the amount of
£30,000. In Upper Portland-street is the Aberystwith Infirmary and Cardiganshire General Hospital,
founded in January, 1838, supported by subscription,
and intended to afford, among other benefits, every
advantage of a sea-bathing infirmary. In Pierstreet are the premises of the Cambrian Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb, commenced in 1847, and
supported principally by voluntary contributions from
all parts of Wales. The poor-law union of which
this town is the head, was formed on the 28th of
May, 1837, and comprises thirty parishes and townships; namely, Aberystwith, Broncastellan, Ceulany-Maesmawr, Clarach, Cwmrheidiol, Cyvoeth-yBrenhin, Cynnullmawr, Eglwys-Newydd, Elerch,
Hênllŷs, Isâ yn Dre', Isâ yn Vainor, Llanavan,
Llanbadarn Isâ yn y Croythen, Llanbadarn Uchâ yn
y Croythen, Llancynvelyn, Llanddeiniol, Llangwyryvon, Upper and Lower Llanilar, Llanrhŷstid-Hamining, Llanrhŷstid-Mevennydd, Llanvihangely-Creiddyn Isâv, Llanychaiarn, Melindwr, ParcelCanol, Rhôsdiau, Trêvirig, Tîrmynych, Uchâ yn
Dre', and Uchâ yn Vainor. It is under the superintendence of thirty-three guardians, and contains a
population of 22, 242. The workhouse is situated
on an elevated spot, about a quarter of a mile distant
from the town, and forms a striking feature in the
approach to Aberystwith from the north: the style
is a mixture of the pointed and the Elizabethan, and
the main front is 220 feet long.
There are now no remains either of the town walls
or their gates. Of the latter, one, called the Great
Dark Gate, was situated in the street leading to
Llanbadarn-Vawr; another, called the Little Dark
Gate, in the street which now leads to the Baptist
meeting-house; and a third, opposite to the bridge.
The remains of the castle, which occupy the summit
of a rock projecting into the bay of Cardigan, consist chiefly of portions of the towers, the principal
gateway, and some fragments of walls, forming a
picturesque heap of ruins. The area, which was
originally of very considerable extent, and in the
form of an irregular pentagon, is at present greatly
diminished, through the action of the waves, which
have undermined the rock. It was laid out in walks
and pleasure-grounds, with much taste, by the late
Mr. Probart of Shrewsbury, to whom the site had
been granted on lease. On Pendinas Hill, adjoining
the town, where the lines of an encampment are still
visible, an ancient British celt and other remains
have been found: in 1802 a golden angel of the
reign of Henry VII. was turned up there by the
spade. There are traces of another encampment, or of
a fortress, also in the immediate neighbourhood of the
town, at Tan-y-Castell, in the parish of Llanychaiarn;
and adjoining Craig Glais, which commands a splendid
prospect, is a small rock, called Br&ygrave;n Dioddau, or
"the mount of suffering," from its having been formerly a place of execution. It is doubted by some
antiquaries whether the castle built by Strongbow
occupied the site of the present ruins; they would
place the original castle at Pendinas, or at Tan-yCastell, and some passages in the Welsh Chronicles
appear to warrant this variation from the common
historical accounts of the town. Aberystwith Castle
was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, and it is very
probable that after its demolition on some one occasion, a new site was chosen. Another interesting
spot in the environs is Plâs Crûg, formerly a castellated mansion surrounded by a moat; it seems to
have been the residence of some person of distinction,
and was probably at one time the manor-house of the
lordship of Llanbadarn. The present tower, however, was erected about a century ago, and the place
now exhibits few traces of its original importance.
Some hundreds of Roman coins were found about
two miles from the town, in 1841.
A chalybeate spring, which is in great estimation
for the medicinal property of its waters, was discovered about the year 1779, at a short distance
from the eastern extremity of the town, on the road
to Llanbadarn-Vawr, and near Plâs Crûg: the well
is covered with a small square building, from one
side of which the water issues by a spout. There
are various other springs in the neighbourhood having
a ferruginous impregnation, and traces of sulphur
have been discovered at Penglais. A new and an
excellent "Guide to Aberystwith and its Environs,"
by Thos. Owen Morgan, Esq., was published in
1848, from which some of the particulars in this
article are derived.
Above-Sawdde
ABOVE-SAWDDE, a hamlet, in the parish of
Llangadock, union of Llandovery, lower division of the hundred of Perveth, county of Carmarthen, South Wales; containing, with the
market-town of Llangadock, which is within its
limits, 736 inhabitants. This hamlet is situated between the rivers Sawdde and Brân, near the western
declivity of the Black Mountains; there are some
thriving plantations, and a few respectable residences.
It is supposed to have been the site of a Roman
station from the names of the places on the farm, but
no relics of Roman antiquity have been discovered in
the hamlet.
Acton
ACTON, a township, in the parish and union
of Wrexham, hundred of Bromfield, county of
Denbigh, North Wales, 1½ mile (N.) from Wrexham; containing 223 inhabitants. Acton Park was
the property and residence of the family of Jeffreys,
from which sprang the notorious judge of that name,
in the reign of James II. It is at present the seat of
Sir R. H. Cunliffe, Bart., whose father, the late Sir
Foster Cunliffe, purchasing it in 1785 from the trustees of Ellis Yonge, Esq., modernised and enlarged
the mansion, and tastefully embellished the grounds.
The site is a little elevated, and embraces a pleasing
view of the town of Wrexham and the adjacent country. That ancient boundary line, Wat's Dyke, passed
through the township. Acton supports its own poor,
according to an arrangement entered into in March,
1830. The impropriate tithes have been commuted
for a rent-charge of £142. 14. 9., and the vicarial
for £1. 10.
Allington (Trêf-Alun)
ALLINGTON (TRÊF-ALUN), a township,
in the parish of Gresford, union of Wrexham,
partly in the hundred of Bromfield, county of Denbigh, and partly in the hundred of Maelor, county
of Flint, North Wales, 6 miles (N. by E.) from
Wrexham; containing 859 inhabitants. Here was
formerly a chapel of ease to the parochial church, but
no vestiges remain of it, except the cemetery which
marks the site. A tithe rent-charge of £286. 15. 6.
is paid to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester, one
of £153. 4. 6. to the vicar of Gresford, and one of
£62 to certain impropriators. There is a place of
worship for Calvinistic Methodists. In this township
stands the ancient and venerable family mansion of
the Trevors, of whom Sir Richard, whose monument
is in the parochial church, greatly distinguished himself in the wars in Ireland, towards the close of the
sixteenth century, as governor of Newry, and of the
counties of Armagh and Down. In the hall is his
portrait, representing him with a prayer-book in his
hand, in a meditative attitude, having his helmet and
armour behind him, with mottoes alluding to the
former and latter periods of his life, and uttering an
ejaculation of gratitude to God for his goodness to
his children's children's children, whom he had lived
to see.
Alltmawr (Allt-Fawr)
ALLTMAWR (ALLT-FAWR), a parish, in
the union and hundred of Builth, county of Brecknock, South Wales, 4 miles distant (S. E. by S.)
from Builth; containing 34 inhabitants. This parish, the name of which signifies "the great woody
mount," is crossed by the turnpike-road from Builth
to Hay, and comprises about 500 acres, one fourth of
which is wood, and the remainder arable and pasture
in nearly equal portions. The scenery on the banks
of the river Wye, which forms the northern boundary, and in its immediate vicinity, is exceedingly
romantic; and the view from Alltmawr House, a
pretty villa in the parish, is one of the most delightful
in this part of the principality. The surface is partly
undulated, and partly mountainous. In the low lands
the soil is partially clay, on which, or the shallow bed
of loam by which it is overspread, the oak appears to
thrive well. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary grant; net income, £48. The tithes have
been commuted for £25. 6. 8. payable to the Dean
and Chapter of St. David's, and £12. 13. 4. to the
vicar. The church, dedicated to St. Mauritius, consists of a nave and chancel, both lately ceiled, and is
remarkable for its diminutive size, being less than
thirty-five feet in length; it stands just above the
road side, and differs in its appearance from a neat
cottage in no other respect than in having a small
belfry near the west end of the roof.
Allt-Y-Grag
ALLT-Y-GRAG, a hamlet, in the parish of
Llanguicke, union of Neath, hundred of Llangyvelach, county of Glamorgan, South Wales,
10 miles (N. by W.) from Neath; containing 1078
inhabitants. It forms the higher and north-eastern
portion of the parish, bordering on Brecknockshire,
and is intersected by the Swansea canal at its eastern
extremity.
Ambleston
AMBLESTON, a parish, in the union of Haverfordwest, hundred of Dungleddy, county of
Pembroke, South Wales, 8 miles (N. N. E.) from
Haverfordwest; containing 605 inhabitants. Ambleston has been identified as the site of the longsought-for Roman station Ad Vigesimum, noticed in
the Itineraries as the first from Maridunum or Carmarthen, the distance from which corresponds exactly
with that mentioned in the Itinerary. The discovery,
which, from a variety of concurrent testimony, appears to be founded in truth, was made in the year
1805, by Mr. Fenton, author of the "Historical
Tour through Pembrokeshire," accompanied by Sir
Richard Colt Hoare, Bart., while collecting materials
for that work. The form of the station, which is
situated about a mile north-east of the church, is
nearly a perfect square, having the angles rounded
off, and comprehends an area of 260 feet: the agger
by which it was inclosed, though almost effaced by
tillage, may still be accurately traced; and the Via
Julia, leading from Maridunum to Menapia, passes
through the centre of the area. This camp is called
by the inhabitants Castel Flemish, having been subsequently occupied by the Flemings, who first settled
in this part of the principality, in order to assist in
subjugating the natives; and another Roman road,
more to the north, and afterwards uniting with the
Via Julia near St. David's, is from the same source
designated Via Flandrica, or "the Flemish way."
Within the area of the station have been found
Roman bricks and cement, part of a stuccoed floor, a
large flagstone bearing an inscription, now lost, and
other Roman relics. At a short distance to the west,
near the village of Ford, are the remains of a smaller
camp, evidently of Roman construction, and probably
the campus æstivus of the station; and in the same
neighbourhood were discovered, in 1806, the remains
of a Roman hypocaust, six feet in depth, and eight
feet long, lined on each side with stone and cement,
from which two flues of one foot four inches in the
aperture, and widening towards the upper extremity,
rose in an angular direction to the surface: these
flues were formed of fluted Roman bricks. The
parish comprises 3993 acres, of which 300 are common
or waste land; the soil is in general fertile. The
living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's
books at £3. 19. 4½., endowed with £600 royal
bounty, and £200 parliamentary grant; present net
income £183; patron, the Crown; impropriator,
Lloyd Phillips, Esq. The church is dedicated to St.
Mary. There is a chapel of ease in the parish,
called Rinaston chapel. The Calvinistic Methodists
have also a place of worship, with two or three Sunday schools.