Llanvaredd, or Llanvareth (Llan-Fareth)
LLANVAREDD, or LLANVARETH
(LLAN-FARETH), a parish, in the poor-law union
of Builth, hundred of Colwyn, county of Radnor,
South Wales, 2 miles (E.) from Builth; containing
163 inhabitants. The name of this parish is derived
from the situation of its church near a small rivulet
called the Vareth, which flows into the river Wye.
It is finely situated on the eastern bank of the Wye,
by which it is separated from the county of Brecknock; and is bounded on the north by the parish of
Llanelveth and part of Llansantfraid-in-Elvel, on the
south by Aberedw, and on the east by the parishes
of Caregrina and Llansantfraid-in-Elvel. The surface is hilly; it is intersected with dorsal eminences,
and occasionally varied by abrupt conical hills, forming a part of the Carneddau range, affording excellent pasturage for sheep, and upon which numerous
flocks are reared. An extensive tract of arable and
pasture land, in a moderate state of cultivation,
stretches out along the banks of the Wye; the soil is
rich, and the chief produce wheat, barley, oats, and
potatoes. The turnpike-road from Builth to New
Radnor traverses the northern part of the parish,
and has been much improved. The living is annexed to the rectory of Aberedw: the tithes have
been commuted for a rent-charge of £145. The
church, dedicated to St. Mary, is situated in a beautiful and romantic spot near the bank of the river
Wye, under the shelter of some lofty hills, and consists of a nave and chancel, with a neatly constructed
small pierced turret, under which a single bell is
suspended; it is about sixty-five feet in length, and
sixteen in breadth, and contains between sixty and
eighty sittings. The poor of the parish share equally
with those of Aberedw and Llanbadarn-y-Garreg in
a rent-charge of £12, payable out of a farm called
Vron Oleu, bequeathed by Lewis Lloyd.
Llanvawr (Llan-Fawr)
LLANVAWR (LLAN-FAWR), a parish, in
the union of Bala, hundred of Penllyn, county of
Merioneth, North Wales, 1 mile (N. E.) from
Bala, on the road to Corwen; containing 1836 inhabitants. This parish takes its name from St. Mor,
who flourished in the beginning of the fifth century,
and was the son of Cenen, who was the son of Coel
Godebog, King of Britain. It extends for nearly
eight miles in length and about the same in breadth,
is situated on the river Dee, and abounds with pleasing and picturesque scenery. From Moel-y-Llan,
on the high grounds above the village, a fine view is
obtained of the Vale of Penllyn, along which the
Dee winds its serpentine course, and of Bala lake,
bounded at its western extremity by the lofty Arenig
and Aran mountains. On the left is Rhiwaedog, or
"the bloody brow," celebrated for a battle that took
place there between Llywarch Hên and the Saxons,
in which that chieftain lost the last of his sons. Not
far from the village is Pabell Llywarch Hên, "the
tent of Llywarch the Aged," where he is said to have
rested on the night after the battle, and finished the
pathetic elegy in which he laments the loss of all
his sons: this place is marked out by a circle of
large stones, to which tradition has attributed that
name; and near the road to Corwen are also the
remains of an exploratory station. Rhiwlas, the seat
of the family of Price, is a very ancient building,
situated on the left bank of the river Treweryn,
which falls into the Dee within a short distance: the
grounds embrace some varied scenery. Fairs are
held on August 14th and September 20th.
The living consists of a rectory and a vicarage,
both in the patronage of the Bishop of St. Asaph;
the former a sinecure, rated in the king's books at
£11. 5., and of the net annual value of £200; the
latter, which is discharged, rated at £5. 1. 5½., and
of the net value of £160, with a glebe-house. The
church, dedicated to St. Mor, is an ancient structure,
in the early style of English architecture: the north
chancel, by an inscription on the outside wall, was
erected in 1599, at the expense of R. Price, Esq., of
Rhiwlas, and contains several monuments to that
family. Llywarch Hên died in 660, at the age, it is
said, of 150 years, and was buried here. In a window
under the gallery is a stone on which is inscribed, in
old characters, the words "Cavos Eniarcii." There
are places of worship for Independents and Calvinistic Methodists. Three schools have been established, namely, Llanvawr Church-school, near the
parish church; Trinity Church-school, about three
miles distant from the former, in the township of
Rhiwaedog; and a British school at GlanyravonLlawr-y-Bettws, seven miles distant from the parish
church. The two Church-schools were built at the
expense of the Rev. William Cleaver, the sinecure
rector, who pays the salaries of the masters in both,
and furnishes all the apparatus for instruction; an
annual sum of £3 is received from Sir W. W. Wynn,
Bart., to supply fuel for Llanvawr school. Of ten
Sunday schools in the parish, two are in connexion
with the Establishment. William Price, Esq., of
Rhiwlas, in 1774, bequeathed £800 for the maintenance of three aged men and three aged women,
£200 for clothing the poor, and £100 for purchasing
bread; the interest of all which sums is appropriated
according to the will of the testator. Mrs. Margaret
Price, of the same family, also bequeathed £100 for
clothing the poor; among whom is further distributed
a sum of £1. 13. 9., under a bequest by Hugh Jones;
and there are some smaller bequests in land and
money for their benefit, amounting altogether to
£3. 17.
Llanvechan
LLANVECHAN, county of Brecknock,
South Wales.—See Llanavan-Vechan.
Llanvechan (Llan-Fechan)
LLANVECHAN (LLAN-FECHAN), a
township, in the parish of Llanwrin, hundred of
Machynlleth, county of Montgomery, North
Wales, 2 miles (N. N. E.) from Machynlleth: the
population is returned with Llanwrin. This place
forms the south-western portion of the parish, and is
situated on the right bank of the Dovey, near the
confluence of two streams, each called Dulas, which
here join that river from opposite directions. A
winding and beautifully romantic valley along which
one of the streams flows, separating the township
from Merionethshire, commences here. The stream
has a great variety of character, presenting at intervals foaming cascades and tranquil pools, and being
inclosed between lofty and partially wooded precipices, at the foot of which passes the road from
Machynlleth to Dôlgelley, along the left bank of
the Dulas. The road from the former town to
Dinas-Mowddwy proceeds through the Vale of
Dovey, which here exhibits some cheerful corn-fields
and meadows, and verdant hills.
Llanvechan, or Llan-Yn-Mechain
LLANVECHAN, or LLAN-YN-MECHAIN,
a parish, in the union of Llanvyllin, hundred of
Pool, county of Montgomery, North Wales,
7 miles (W. by N.) from Oswestry; containing 733
inhabitants. The name of this place is derived from
its situation nearly in the centre of a beautiful vale
in the north-eastern part of the county, of circular
form, and about three miles in diameter, watered by
the meandering river Cain, and from that circumstance called Mechain, or Mach Cain, "the tract of
the Cain." The parish comprises a considerable portion of fertile arable and pasture land, in a state of
excellent cultivation. Its entire surface, consisting
of about 5000 acres, is now inclosed; the whole of
the common and waste grounds, together with those
in the manors of Mechain Iscoed and Plâs Dinas,
having been allotted under the provisions of an act of
parliament obtained in 1789. The turnpike-road
from Shrewsbury and Oswestry to Llanvyllin passes
near the village, which has a prepossessing appearance, and derives much interest from the beauty of
its site.
The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books
at £8. 15. 10.; patron, the Bishop of St. Asaph: the
tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of
£558, and there is a glebe-house, with a glebe of
nearly thirty-one acres. The church, dedicated to
St. Garmon, is an ancient and venerable structure,
near Fynnon Armon, the well of the patron saint,
the water of which was formerly held in such veneration that the baptismal font was invariably supplied
with it. There are places of worship for Calvinistic
and Wesleyan Methodists. A National school, established in 1832, by the Rev. Thomas Griffith, curate
of the parish, is partly supported by subscription, and
partly by payments from the parents. Here is also
a Sunday school, held in the meeting-house of the
Wesleyans. Mrs. Anne Vaughan in 1715, and Mr.
John Moody in 1718, gave, by deed, rent-charges of
£2 and £3 respectively; and Mr. Charles Edwards
in 1727, and the Rev. Dr. William Wynne in 1776,
each presented £50 in money; to the poor. The
third bequest has yielded nothing for the last sixty
years; the fourth has been secured on the Mold
turnpike-trust, paying an interest of £5 per cent.
In addition to the above charities, William Allen,
Esq., of Aylesbury, Bucks, in 1831 gave five shares
in the Vauxhall-Bridge Company, yielding a dividend of £4. 10. per annum, which is distributed in
coal.
At no great distance from the church, and close to
the turnpike-road, are the remains of an ancient
British encampment; and above Bryngwyn, a residence rebuilt by Martin Williams, Esq., some time
ago, are vestiges of another; but of neither of them
have any historical particulars been recorded. There
are also in the vicinity several other British encampments, including one called "Moel Dinam," which,
from the resemblance of the names, Edward Llwyd
vaguely conjectures to have been the Mediolanum of
the Romans. Within the limits of the parish are the
remains of several old mansions, now abandoned by
their proprietors, among which the principal are,
Bôdynvoel, the residence of the Trevors; and Brongain, the mansion of the family of Griffith, descendants of the Idnerths.
The late Rev. Walter Davies, A.M., rector of
Manavon, eminent as a philologist and antiquary,
and profoundly skilled in the literature and antiquities
of his country, was a native of this parish. He first
rose to a very elevated station as a candidate, and
subsequently as an arbiter, in the grand Eisteddvodau
of the principality; and published some useful and
interesting works, among which are, a translation of
"Gisborne's Familiar Survey of Christianity;" an
Agricultural Survey of North Wales, in one volume,
8vo., undertaken at the request of Sir John Sinclair,
and a similar Survey of South Wales, in two volumes,
at the request of Lord Sheffield; besides communicating some valuable papers to various Cambrian
periodicals, and aiding with his literary and scientific
acquirements many works relating to Wales and
Welsh literature.
Llanvechell (Llan-Fechell)
LLANVECHELL (LLAN-FECHELL), a
parish, and formerly a market-town, in the hundred
of Tàlybolion, union and county of Anglesey,
North Wales, 5 miles (W.) from Amlwch, on the
road to Holyhead; comprising the hamlets of Llandugwell and Bod-daniel; and containing 1062 inhabitants. This place, which derives its name from the
dedication of its church, is situated on a small stream
that falls into the bay of Cemmes on the north; and
the village, which is of considerable size, is finely
sheltered by a chain of hills on the south and west.
The parish is bounded on the north by Llanbadrig,
on the south by Llanvlewin, on the east by Rhôsbeirio, and on the west and north-west by Llanrhwydrus. It extends for three miles in length and two in
breadth, and is divided into two unequal parts, called
Llanvechell Caerdegog and Llanvechell Llawr-yLlan; comprising 3626 acres, whereof 3000 are
arable, and the remainder pasture and waste. The
surface is boldly varied, and the surrounding scenery
pleasingly diversified. From the higher grounds are
extensive views of the adjacent country, the Carnarvon hills, the Holyhead mountain, and the Irish
Channel, with other interesting objects, and large
tracts that in some parts are characterised by features
of much picturesque beauty. The soil in some places
is clayey, and in others gravelly; the chief produce
is oats and barley.
The hills abound with mineral treasure. The
celebrated Mona marble called verd antique is found
in the parish, in great abundance and of very superior quality, being equal in the brilliancy and variety
of its colours to the finest specimens of Italy, and
having been formerly a source of considerable wealth;
the best is obtained from the quarries on Maes Mawr
farm, and surpasses in beauty all that has hitherto
been discovered in the island of Anglesey. On the
same estate, and in other districts of the parish, steatite, or French chalk, exists in profusion; a mineral
which has become more valuable and important since
the discovery that chromate of iron, a pigment of
great value, belongs to the same formation. Sulphurore has also been found, upon a small farm called
Bachanan, situated about two miles east of Cevn dû
Bâch, and about four miles west of the copper-works
of Parys mountain; but no attempt has ever been
made to raise it. Carding, spinning, and fulling,
and the weaving of stuffs and of coarse woollen goods,
are carried on to a limited extent; and there are
three water corn-mills, giving employment to eight
or nine persons. The small creek of Cemmes, in the
adjoining parish of Llanbadrig, affords an opportunity for transporting the produce of the quarries,
and for landing coal and other necessary commodities
for the supply of the inhabitants. The market, which
was well supplied and numerously attended, was held
on Friday; fairs annually occur on Holy-Thursday,
November 25th, and December 26th. The hamlet of Llandugwell was once a parish of itself, and is
exempt from the payment of church rates to Llanvechell: the church is now a ruin.
The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the
king's books at £11. 11. 3.; patron, the Bishop of
Bangor. The tithes have been commuted for a rentcharge of £404, and the glebe consists of a good
house, offices, and nineteen acres of land: there is
also a rent-charge of £32, payable in alternate years
to the rectors of Llanvechell and Llanrhyddlad.
The church, dedicated to St. Mechell, or Macutus,
by whom it was originally founded, was rebuilt about
the year 1533, and is a spacious and venerable structure, in the later style of English architecture, with a
tower surmounted by a low spire. The body consists
of a nave, chancel, and south transept; it is ornamented with an east window of elegant design, embellished with ancient stained glass of brilliant colour,
and contains several good monuments. There are
places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and
Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists. A parochial
school was founded here in 1723, by Richard Gwynne,
Esq., who endowed it with a farm called Nant Glyn,
in the parish of Amlwch, containing twenty-four
acres and a half, worth £24 per annum, for the gratuitous instruction of the poor of the adjoining parish
of Llanbadrig. The master's salary is £24 per
annum, being the amount of the endowment, and he
is also allowed to take pay-scholars: the present
school-house was built about five years ago, at the
cost of William Bulkeley Hughes, Esq., M.P. Of
three Sunday schools in the parish, one is in connexion with the Independents, and the others with
the Calvinistic body.
Owen Williams, in 1657, bequeathed the sum of
£2. 14. per annum payable out of the tithes of Llanbadrig, which parish now receives this benefaction, in
commutation of its claim to a moiety of William
Davies' charity. The said William Davies in 1752
bequeathed £120, the interest to be divided between
the two parishes, and with this sum a rent-charge
of £6. 10. was purchased, which is partly distributed
in bread on Sundays, and the residue in clothing
annually. David Lloyd, in 1689, gave three cottages, with a garden to each, for the support of three
aged and indigent men, to be selected respectively
from this parish, Llanbadrig, and Llandrygarn.
John Bulkeley, in 1754, bequeathed £10 to the poor;
and Catherine Bulkeley, in 1764, left £100, also for
their relief; but the interest of these last, with a few
others, has not been paid for several years. The
parish possesses many cottages occupied by the poor
rent-free.
To the west of the church, and about a mile distant
from it, are three upright stones, ten feet in height,
disposed in the form of a triangle, twelve feet distant
from each other, and supposed to be the remaining
supporters of an ancient cromlech, which, from the
elevation of the stones, must have been one of the
loftiest monuments of that kind in the island. The
table stone, if ever there was one, has disappeared;
but the farm on which the upright stones are found,
still retains the name of the "Cromlech." There is
a mineral spring near the demesne of Cevn-Côch, in
the parish.
Llanvedw
LLANVEDW, a township, in the parish of
Michaelston-le-Vedw, union of Newport, hundred of Caerphilly, county of Glamorgan, South
Wales, 5½ miles (N. N. E.) from Cardiff; containing
337 inhabitants. It is situated on the right bank of
the river Romney, over which is a stone bridge, and
comprises two ancient family seats, Ruperrah and
Cevn-Mably. Ruperrah, a substantial, square, stone
mansion, is situated on an eminence, is backed with
stately groves, and sheltered by the loftier heights
towards the north, which form the southern boundary
of the Vale of Caerphilly. It is the property of the
Morgans of Trêdegar, and generally the residence of
the eldest son, having been in their possession from
time immemorial; the house was built, or rebuilt,
after a design by Inigo Jones, but the interior having
been consumed by fire, the outer walls of the present
mansion are the only part of the edifice erected from
Inigo's design now remaining. Cevn-Mably is the seat
of C. K. Kemeys Tynte, Esq., to whose ancestors
it belonged for several generations. Sir Nicholas
Kemeys, a member of the family, raised 1000 men
in Glamorganshire, and joined the royalists, who
were defeated at St. Fagan's in 1648. He then
retired to Chepstow Castle, which he gallantly defended for three weeks, until a breach was made in
the walls by the heavy artillery under Colonel Pride;
the parliamentarians thus obtained possession of that
fortress, and Sir Nicholas is said to have been put to
death with circumstances of great cruelty. The tithes
of the township have been commuted for a rentcharge of £495. 8. 3.
Llanveirian
LLANVEIRIAN, in the county of Anglesey,
North Wales.—See Llangadwaladr.
Llanvernach
LLANVERNACH, county of Pembroke,
South Wales.—See Llanvyrnach.
Llanverras (Llan-Feras)
LLANVERRAS (LLAN-FERAS), a parish,
in the union of Ruthin, hundred of Yale, county
of Denbigh, North Wales, 4 miles (S. W.) from
Mold; containing 778 inhabitants. This place derives its name from the dedication of its church to
St. Berres, an eminent disciple of St. Martin the
Hungarian, whom he succeeded in the bishopric of
Tours, about the close of the fourth century. It is
situated on the north-eastern confines of the county,
bordering upon Flintshire, and is watered by the
river Alyn, which has its source in the neighbouring
parish of Llandegla, and, flowing northward through
this parish, adds much interest and beauty to the surrounding scenery. About 1800 acres of waste were
inclosed under an act of parliament obtained in 1793.
The parish abounds with mineral treasures, and
within its limits are some extensive lead-mines, which
have been worked from a very early period. These
mines, after being for some time entirely discontinued,
or in but limited operation, were wrought very extensively in 1762, and so continued to be, with great
advantage, till the year 1790, when they were again
abandoned. From that period the works were wholly
suspended, or conducted only upon a small scale by
a few adventurers, till the year 1823, when a new
company established themselves in the place, drove
fresh levels in the mountain, sank new shafts, and
erected new machinery for carrying on the mining
process with effect. This machinery was put in
motion by a water-wheel, fifty feet in diameter, and
of eighty-horse power, driven by the river Alyn: the
symmetry of the wheel, and its great power, render
it the admiration of visiters; and the beauty of the
situation which it occupies, on the stream of the
Alyn, derives additional interest from its proximity
to Colomendŷ, once the property and residence of
Wilson, the celebrated landscape painter. The works
do not appear to be now in operation. The turnpike-road from Ruthin to Mold passes through the
village.
The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the
king's books at £14. 8. 1½.; patron, the Bishop of
St. Asaph: the tithes have been commuted for a
rent-charge of £305. 19. 3., and there is a glebe of
nearly fifteen acres and a half, with a glebe-house.
The present church is a neat edifice, built in 1772,
chiefly at the expense of the Jones family, of Colomendŷ. There is a place of worship for Calvinistic
Methodists. A school for children of parishioners
was founded, prior to 1764, by Catherine Jones,
spinster, who in that year created a rent-charge for
its endowment on her estate of Brynford Hall, in the
parish of Holywell, Flintshire; and in order to keep
the building in repair, she directed the expenses for
that purpose to be paid out of her property of Colomendŷ, which she also charged with £4 a year as an
additional salary to the master. The school is held
in a new building, raised within the last few years,
and is attended by both boys and girls: the master
is partly supported by endowment, amounting to
£10. 10. per annum, and partly by school-pence and
subscription; the mistress is supported by subscription only. There is also a Sunday school in the
parish, held in the meeting-house of the Calvinistic
body.
John Robinson, in 1703, left £30, the interest of
which he directed to be distributed in bread. Catherine Jones likewise bequeathed £2 a year, chargeable
on the Colomendŷ estate, to be given to the poor on
every Good Friday and Christmas-day; and £2 are
also annually paid from the same property, being the
interest of £48 which remained, in 1791, in the
hands of Mrs. Catherine Jones's executor. The benefaction table in the church records a few other
charities, among them one of £18 from Mrs. Edwards; and about 1815, the trustees of the turnpikeroad from Ruthin to Mold having diverted the line,
and cut through various fields in this parish belonging
to Mr. Potts, that gentleman gave the compensation
money, amounting to £87. 8., to the overseers of the
poor, and the interest, with the preceding donations,
is regularly dispensed to the most necessitous parishioners. John Wilson, in 1772, gave by deed a portion of land, the produce of which he directed to be
divided in bread and money. The Rev. John Davies,
D.D., a learned divine, and author of a curious
grammar of the Welsh language, and also of a
Welsh and Latin Dictionary, published in 1632, was
a native of this parish; he died in 1644, and was
buried here.
Llanvigael (Llan-Figel)
LLANVIGAEL (LLAN-FIGEL), a parish,
in the hundred of Tàlybolion, union and county
of Anglesey, North Wales, 2½ miles (N. N. W.)
from Bôdedern; containing 154 inhabitants. This
small parish is watered by one of the finest rivulets
in the isle, called Avon Alaw, which adds greatly to
its fertility; the lands are inclosed, and in a good
state of cultivation. The scenery is varied; the
views from the higher grounds are interesting and
extensive, and in some directions highly picturesque.
The living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the
rectory of Llanvachreth: the church, situated on the
margin of the rivulet that flows through the parish,
after being in ruins for about forty years, was rebuilt in 1841 at the expense of Owen Owens, Esq.
There is a place of worship for Calvinistic Methodists, in which a Sunday school is also held. A
trifling rent-charge is received for the poor, and
another benefaction of a somewhat larger amount has
been lost.
Llanvigan, or Llanveugan (Llan-Feigan)
LLANVIGAN, or LLANVEUGAN (LLAN-FEIGAN), a parish, comprising the Upper and
Lower divisions, in the hundred of Pencelly, union
and county of Brecknock, South Wales, 4 miles
(S. E. by S.) from Brecknock; containing 662 inhabitants, of which number 287 are in the Upper, and
375 in the Lower, division. This place derives its
name from the dedication of its church to St. Veugan,
or Meugan, who, according to the late Iolo Morganwg, was preceptor to the renowned Merlyn
Emrys, and also distinguished himself as a poet. It
lies nearly in the central part of the county, and once
formed the head of the extensive lordship of Pencelly,
which was afterwards divided into five minor lordships, and gave name to the present hundred. Of
the ancient castle of Pencelly, situated in the village,
about a quarter of a mile east of the church, there
are at present scarcely any vestiges. By whom, or
at what time, it was originally built is not known;
but in the 28th of Edward I. it belonged to Roger
Mortimer, who was in that year summoned to parliament by the title of Baron Mortimer of Pencelly
Castle. It is also noticed by Leland, who describes
it as existing in his time, in the possession of the
Herberts, between whom and the Duke of Buckingham the lordship of Pencelly was then divided. The
family mansion of the Herberts, erected on the site
of the castle, and of which some portions are remaining, has undergone so many alterations as hardly
to retain any of its original character, and is now in
the occupation of a farmer. The manor, and site of
the ancient castle, passed, by marriage with the
heiress of Thynne Howe Gwynne, of Buckland,
Esq., to James Gwynne Holford, Esq., of Kîlgwyn,
in the county of Carmarthen.
The parish comprises 11,723 acres, of which 6000
are common or waste; the lands in some places are
wet and marshy. The village is pleasantly situated
at a short distance from the river Usk, which forms
the principal boundary of the parish on the north
and east; and the surrounding scenery is pleasing
and well-wooded, and in some parts picturesque.
Blaennant is a handsome modern mansion, surrounded
with fine plantations; the grounds are tastefully laid
out, and command a fine view of the Brecknockshire
Beacons, which form a striking feature in the scenery
of this part of the principality. The Brecknock and
Abergavenny canal passes through the village, where
are several wharfs for landing the coal and limestone
brought along it for the supply of the neighbourhood.
The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books
at £20. 10., and in the gift of the Trustees of the
late Rev. C. Clifton. The tithes have been commuted for £560, of which £110 are payable to an
impropriator, and £450 to the rector, who has also a
glebe of twenty-six acres, valued at £45 per annum,
and a glebe-house. Part of the great tithes, once
belonging to the chapel of St. Leonard within the
castle of Pencelly, has, since the Reformation, been
received by the lord of the manor, now amounting to
£110, as above stated. The church, an ancient and
well-built edifice, with a square tower of good proportions, is beautifully situated on the declivity of a
lofty ridge, at some distance from the south bank of
the river Usk, and commanding an extensive view
down the Vale of Usk, and of the Black Mountains.
The churchyard contains some of the finest yew-trees
in South Wales: one of them is nine and a half
yards, and another seven and a half, in girth; and
though the trees are generally of a very great age,
their trunks are mostly perfectly sound. In the
Upper division of the parish is the chapel of Glyn
Collwyn, to which the rector presents. There are
two places of worship in the parish for Independents,
and one for Calvinistic Methodists; in each of which
a Sunday school is also held.
The Rev. Richard Turberville, incumbent of
Llanvigan in 1635, bequeathed to his servant, William David, two closes of land, called Crovtau and
Tîr-y-Gengin, in the parish, charged with the payment of £5 per annum to the poor. Both these
closes, after the death of the legatee, were resigned
to the minister and churchwardens, who receive the
rents and distribute them according to the intention
of the testator; they consist of about four acres of
arable, and seven of copse wood, and are let at £11
per annum. Captain Thomas Powell, of Pencelly
Castle, about the commencement of the seventeenth
century, gave to the poor the sum of £100, which was
vested in the purchase of lands at Glynderi, now let
at £24 a year. Mrs. Lettice Parry, by her will in
1721, charged a tenement called Llwyncelyn, in the
parish of Llanthetty, with the payment of £1 per
annum; and two other benefactors, Mrs. Walters
and Mrs. Bowens, each gave by will £2 a year, supposed to be the same with two charges of £2 each now
received, one from the farm of Gethinog, and the
other from that of Tŷ Newydd. The produce arising
from these benefactions, amounting to £40, is annually distributed among the poor; Parry's charge,
on Good Friday; and the £39 generally on St.
Thomas's day. Gilston, or Gileston, formerly a
manor or lordship in this parish, was conferred by
Bernard Newmarch on Sir Giles Pierrepoint, whose
posterity and name have been long extinct in the
principality.