Penalley (Pen-Aley)
PENALLEY (PEN-ALEY), a parish, in the
hundred of Castlemartin, union and county of
Pembroke, South Wales, 1½ mile (S. W. by W.)
from Tenby; containing 346 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated at the south-eastern extremity
of the county, and on the shore of the Bristol Channel, comprises a moderate portion of arable and pasture land, the whole, with the exception only of a
very small tract of common, inclosed and in a good
state of cultivation. It formerly belonged to the
family of De Barri, of Manorbeer Castle, and, in the
1st year of Henry IV., was bestowed upon John de
Windesor; but soon after reverting to the crown, it
was granted by letters patent to Thomas ab Owain,
of Trellwyn, in the parish, from whose family, on
the death of his descendant, Thomas Bowen, Esq.,
it passed by marriage to the family of Philipps, of
Picton. Trellwyn, the ancient seat of the ab Owens,
or Bowens, was garrisoned for the king, during the
parliamentary war, by Lord Carberry; but being
besieged by the parliamentary forces, after an obstinate resistance, it was finally surrendered on honourable terms. The village of Penalley is exceedingly
pretty. The parish abounds with limestone, which
is quarried upon an extensive scale, part being exported to the coast of Devonshire, and part burnt
into lime for manure, for the supply of the neighbourhood. Some fine specimens of madripore are
found here.
The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the
king's books at £4. 17. 11., and endowed with £200
royal bounty; net income, £77, with a glebe-house;
patron, the Bishop of St. David's; impropriator, Lord
Milford. The church is an ancient cruciform structure, of late years repaired, and enlarged by the
erection of a gallery containing sixty sittings; on
an altar-tomb are two heads in relief, with an imperfect inscription, "Wm. de Raynoor et Isemay sa
femme, virgo beata Maria ayt Merci, Amen." In
the churchyard is an old circular cross of small
dimensions, without any legible inscription, the shaft
of which is elaborately ornamented with rich tracery;
and portions of two other crosses are also preserved
in the church or churchyard. The vicarage-house is
an elegant building, surrounded with beautiful gardens, and commanding some fine marine views; it
was erected by the incumbent, in 1822, under the
provisions of Gilbert's Act. A neat and commodious
school-house has been built also by the vicar, in which
a day and Sunday school is held. Caldey Island is
within the limits of the parish, for all ecclesiastical
purposes.
Penallt (Pen-Allt)
PENALLT (PEN-ALLT), with Hêndrevorvydd, a parcel, in the parish of Llangattock,
union and hundred of Crickhowel, county of
Brecknock, South Wales, 2¾ miles (W. by N.)
from Crickhowel; containing 637 inhabitants. Penallt occupies, as the name implies, the summit of an
elevated hill, at the eastern base of which passes the
Brecknock canal. The lower part, on the right bank
of the river Usk, is well wooded, especially Glanusk
Park, where the proprietor has erected a handsome
mansion. Glanusk Villa, another pleasing mansion
on the bank of the Usk, was built under the direction
of Mr. Nash, for the late Admiral Gell.
Penarth (Pen-Arth)
PENARTH (PEN-ARTH), a parish, in the
union of Cardiff, hundred of Dinas-Powys, county
of Glamorgan, South Wales, on the shore of the
Bristol Channel, 6 miles (S.) from Cardiff; containing 110 inhabitants. It is situated on the western
side of the harbour or roadstead of Cardiff, formed
by the junction of the rivers Ely and Tâf, near their
influx into the sea; the shore is pebbly, and the
cliffs contain various strata of alabaster. Penarth
Roads form an excellent haven during the prevalence
of westerly winds, and 500 sail may ride here in
safety. A neat inn has been erected on the shore,
for the convenience of mariners, or persons desirous
of the sea air. The living is a discharged rectory,
with the living of Lavernock annexed, endowed with
a rent-charge of £50 by Thomas Lewis, in 1716,
and in the patronage of the representative of the
late Earl of Plymouth; present net income, £136.
The church, dedicated to St. Augustine, stands
upon a rocky promontory at the mouth of the harbour, and serves as a landmark to vessels. In the
parish is a ruin, now converted into a barn, which
was formerly a chantry chapel, probably connected
with, or served by the monks of, the monastery of
Llandough super Ely.
Penbedw
PENBEDW, a hamlet, in that part of the parish of Nannerch which is in the hundred of
Ruthin, county of Denbigh, in North Wales,
6 miles (S. S. W.) from Holywell; containing 47
inhabitants. This hamlet is situated in the southwestern and more mountainous part of the parish,
on the turnpike-road from Denbigh to Mold, and is
separated from the parish of Kîlken by a small
water-course, which also forms a boundary between
the counties of Denbigh and Flint. The manor,
which was granted by Henry VIII. to Peter Mostyn, Esq., in 1544, is now the property of Major
Molyneux Williams, whose residence of Penbedw
Hall is a handsome mansion, erected in 1775, and
occupies an eminence, commanding an extensive
and interesting prospect over the picturesque and
fertile Vale of Nannerch. This portion of the
parish is rich in mineral treasure. Near the mansion
of Penbedw is a valuable mine of iron-ore, of such
purity as to yield fifteen cwt. of iron from every ton
of ore: this mine produced 1800 tons of ore in the
year 1826, since which time the working of it has
been discontinued. Lead-ore is found in abundance
throughout the eastern portion of the hamlet, and
though the mines have been worked for centuries,
they are still productive. The fine park of Penbedw
is not very extensive, but contains some interesting
relics of antiquity. In front of the house are the remains of a Druidical circle, one hundred yards in
circumference, which appears to have originally consisted of eleven stones: of these, only five are at present remaining; the sites of the others, which have
been removed, being occupied by thriving oak-trees,
planted with a view to preserve the original form of
this ancient monument. About 200 yards to the west
of the circle is a large upright stone, near which are
two tumuli, in a perfect state. On one of the Clwydian mountains, above Penbedw Hall, are the remains
of a strong British camp, called Moel Arthur, defended by fosses and ramparts, and having on one
side of it a smooth terrace of considerable extent;
it formed one of a numerous chain of British posts on
this range of mountains, and also communicated with
Moel-y-Gaer, in Northop parish. A sum of £2 is annually distributed among the poor by Major Williams;
half of that amount having been paid for many years
by the owners of the Penbedw estate, under a bequest
of £20 by Dorothy Hughes, in 1691.
Penboyr (Pen-Boyr)
PENBOYR (PEN-BOYR), a parish, in the
union of Newcastle-Emlyn, Higher division of the
hundred of Elvet, county of Carmarthen, South
Wales, 4 miles (S. E.) from Newcastle-Emlyn; containing 1376 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated in the north-western part of the county, is
surrounded by the parishes of Kîlrhedyn, Kenarth,
Convil, and Llangeler, and intersected by the turnpike-road from Carmarthen to Newcastle-Emlyn. It
contains a large tract of arable and pasture land, inclosed and cultivated, comprising about 5600 acres, of
which 3000 are arable, 2000 meadow or pasture, and
600 wood. There are also 1200 acres of common or
waste. The surface is hilly, in some parts mountainous, and in others picturesque. The soil on the
lower grounds is tolerably fertile; on the upper,
lighter, and less productive: the crops chiefly consist of wheat, barley, and oats; and the prevailing
timber is oak and ash. The river Teivy bounds the
parish to the north, and that of Bargod intersects a
portion of it; within its limits are also the Molvrey
hill, and the village of Velindre. Dôlhaidd is the
name of the principal house.
The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books
at £9. 9. 4½.; present net income, £325, with a
glebe-house; patron, Earl Cawdor: the tithes have
been commuted for a rent-charge of £310, and there
is a glebe of 162a. 1r. 25p., valued at £105 per
annum. The church, dedicated to St. Llawddog, a
very ancient building in a dilapidated state, was taken
down and rebuilt from the ground, in 1809, at the
sole expense of the then incumbent, the Rev. Thomas
Beynon, archdeacon of Cardigan, who also inclosed
the churchyard with a wall seven feet high. The
present edifice, appropriately fitted up, is seventy
feet long by about thirty broad, and contains 300
sittings, nearly all free. There is a chapel of ease
called Trinity Chapel, in which service is performed
for the accommodation of such of the parishioners as
reside in that part of the parish, so distant from the
mother church. The Calvinistic Methodists and the
Independents have each a place of worship, in which
a Sunday school is also held; the school of the former
body is attended by about twenty-five, and that of
the latter by about forty scholars. The churchyard
is supposed to occupy part of the site of a Roman
camp; a pot of Roman coins was found in the
neighbourhood, not many years ago, and part of an
ancient road and other traces of Roman occupation
have been discovered in the parish. There are
several tumuli in various parts of it; and one of
larger dimensions is situated near the turnpike-road
leading over the mountain, from Carmarthen to Newcastle-Emlyn.
Penbrey, otherwise Pembrey (Penbre)
PENBREY, otherwise PEMBREY (PENBRE), a parish, formerly in the hundred of Kidwelly, but now annexed to Carnawllon, in the
union of Llanelly, county of Carmarthen, in
South Wales, 5 miles (W.) from Llanelly; containing 2850 inhabitants. The name of this place, signifying literally the head of a hill or promontory, is
derived from its situation at the extremity of a mountainous ridge. The parish is bounded on the east by
Llanelly, on the north by Llangendeirn, on the
north-west by Kidwelly, and on the south by the
river Burry and a wide tract of sands, dividing it
from Gower in Glamorganshire. It comprises an
area of 14,705 acres. The surface presents rather
a barren appearance, with a few fertile spots interspersed, partly arable and partly pasture; the
soil is of a clayey and a sandy quality, producing
chiefly wheat and barley. There is a small portion of woodland, the prevailing timber consisting of
elm and oak. Very little picturesque beauty is
displayed, but the views that some parts command
of sea and land are extensive and delightful; Tenby,
and Lundy and Caldey islands, being discernible on
a tolerably clear day. The parish is intersected by
the Achddu stream, and separated from Kidwelly
by the Gwendraeth Vawr. On the south is the very
extensive sandy common already mentioned; it is
overflowed occasionally by the tide, but affords good
grazing land to numerous flocks of sheep, which the
tenants of several farms in this and the adjoining
parishes have the right of pasturing.
Penbrey contains some mineral wealth, and is
thought to be rich in bituminous and hard coal, both
being wrought in three collieries. The quality of
the soft coal is peculiarly adapted to the production
of gas, and other purposes; vast quantities of both
sorts were formerly exported to various parts of the
kingdom, and of late years it has been discovered that
the hard coal can be used, as well as the bituminous,
in the smelting of iron-ore. To facilitate the conveyance of the mineral produce of the district, a
capacious harbour was constructed, in 1819, by the
Penbrey Harbour Company, formed for the purpose,
with a pier extending to a distance of 400 yards
from the shore; but this harbour fell into disuse,
being private property, and was superseded by
another constructed to the north-east of it, under the
provisions of an act of parliament, obtained in 1825,
by a new company. A canal was also formed, connecting the port with the Kidwelly and Llanelly
canal, and pursuing hence a northern course; the
line of the South Wales railway passes through the
parish, and in consequence of these and other
advantages, Penbrey promises to become a place
of great trade. In the year 1846, 1758 tons of
pig-iron were shipped here, from the iron-works lately
established in the Gwendraeth and other vales in
this part of the county of Carmarthen. The harbour is sometimes called Burry Port, being near the
entrance of Burry River; it is capable of holding
eighty sail of large coasters, and possesses an excellent depth of water. This part of the coast, however, is of difficult navigation, and, to mariners unacquainted with it, the most fatal on the shores of the
Bristol Channel. In November 1828, a French
West Indiaman from Martinique was wrecked off
Penbrey, and nearly all the crew and passengers
perished, among the latter of whom were Colonel
Coquelin and his daughter Adeline, niece of Josephine, ci-devant empress of France, who, with the
other unfortunate sufferers, were buried in the churchyard of Penbrey, where a very handsome slab was
erected to their memory, at the suggestion and under
the auspices of John Hughes Rees, Esq.
The living is a discharged vicarage, endowed with
£600 royal bounty, and £1400 parliamentary grant;
present net income, £69, with a glebe-house; patron
and impropriator, the Earl of Ashburnham, whose
tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of
£700. The church, dedicated to St. Illtyd, is a
spacious and handsome edifice in the later English
style, containing sixty pews, all appropriated, with a
small gallery, the seats in which are free: the register
bears date 1725, and the sacramental cup 1574. At
Llandury, a hamlet in the parish, is a commodious
chapel of ease, where divine service is performed
regularly on Sunday afternoon; and in the hamlet
of Pendryn, or more properly, Penrhyn, was a
chapel, called Cynnor, which is now in ruins, and
the site used as a coal-yard. There are places of
worship for Independents, Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Wesleyans. A day school was endowed
with £5 per annum, and a house and garden for the
master, given by the late Rev. Mr. Pemberton, but
the endowment has been withdrawn; a school, however, is supported, principally by Messrs. Norton,
Upperton, and Stone, of the Trim Saron iron-works.
Nine Sunday schools are also held. A rent-charge
of £1, by Hector Morris, in 1775, is distributed on
Good Friday among the poor, but a similar sum
bequeathed by Hugh Thomas, in 1726, has been
discontinued since 1816. A peculiar custom prevails among many in the parish, of not allowing
females to enter their houses on New Year's day.
Penbryn (Pen-Bryn)
PENBRYN (PEN-BRYN), a parish, in the
union of Newcastle-Emlyn, Lower division of the
hundred of Troedyraur, county of Cardigan,
South Wales, 5 miles (N. by W.) from NewcastleEmlyn, and 8 (E. N. E.) from Cardigan; containing
1630 inhabitants. This place derives its name,
signifying "the head of the hill," from the situation of its church on the summit of an abrupt
eminence near the sea; and is sometimes also called
Llanvihangel-Pen-y-Bryn, from the dedication of
the church to St. Michael. The vicinity appears to
have been distinguished as the scene of some of those
sanguinary conflicts which occurred during the fierce
struggles for empire among the rival chieftains of the
principality, and the continued efforts of the confederate natives to repel the usurpation of their territories by foreign invaders. The names of several
places within the limits of the parish are by some
thought to bear testimony to the carnage which
ensued upon those occasions: among these, Maes
Glâs, Pwll Glâs, and Clôs Glâs (Glâs being considered, though somewhat fancifully, to be a contraction of Galanas), are reputed to signify respectively the plain, the pit, and the inclosure of slaughter; Fynnon Waedog, "the bloody well;" and Llêch
yr Ochain, "the stone of lamentation." One of
those places Mr. Evans supposes to be the spot
where the forces of Arthur were slain, through the
treachery of his kinsman Mordred. Llambroth,
another place in the parish, is by some considered
to be that celebrated by Llywarch Hên, as the field
where Geraint ab Erbin, a prince of Devon, was
slain, with a vast number of his followers; and Geraint
is stated to have been interred on a farm in the parish,
still called Perth Geraint. But others think that the
spot mentioned in the aged poet's elegy on the fall
of the prince was in Devonshire or Cornwall; and
Dr. Owen Pughe, in his notes to the translation of
that composition, conjectures that it might be Portsmouth.
Penbryn is situated on the bay of Cardigan, and
intersected by the turnpike-road leading from the
town of that name to Aberystwith. It comprises by
computation about 8500 acres, principally arable,
some of the lands producing excellent barley, the
chief crop; the surface is exceedingly hilly, but the
greater part is under cultivation. A portion of the
shore, designated Traeth Saith, is supposed to be
the most favourite place for sea-bathing on this
part of the coast. On the beach is a flat rock,
termed Carreg Morwynion, or "the maidens' rock,"
from the circumstance of several females having been
drowned while bathing there. The surrounding
scenery is in general dreary, and contains few features
of rural beauty; but the views over the bay are enlivened by the passing and repassing of vessels. A
stream called the Cerri rises in the north-eastern
part of the parish, and after passing along the Vale
of Troedyraur and the very picturesque dells of
Cwmdû, empties itself into the Teivy near Newcastle-Emlyn. In the parish is a small hamlet, or
village, named Sarnau, from the remains of several
paved roads across a bog in the immediate vicinity of
it. Llanborth was formerly an ancient mansion
belonging to the family of Rhŷs ab Rhydderch, lord
of Tywyn; in default of heirs it was taken possession
of by Sir Herbert Lloyd, of Peterwell, the lord of
the manor, and was afterwards sold.
The living is a vicarage, with the perpetual curacies of Bettws-Ieuvan and Brongwyn annexed,
rated in the king's books at £15; patron, the Bishop
of St. David's: the tithes of the parish have been
commuted for £700, of which a sum of £320 is payable to the vicar. The church, dedicated to St.
Michael, and situated on the summit of an eminence
overlooking the bay of Cardigan, is an ancient
structure, in the early style of English architecture,
consisting of a nave and chancel, separated by a
finely pointed arch; the font is an ancient square
basin. In the churchyard are the stone steps of a
cross, supposed to have been destroyed about the
period of the Reformation. There are places of worship for Independents and Calvinistic Methodists,
and three Sunday schools.
The parish abounds with relics of antiquity, principally of British origin; and almost every spot of
elevated ground seems to have been occupied as a
military post. Castell Nadolig, an extensive British
encampment, strongly defended by a double intrenchment, is situated on a farm of the same name,
near the high road; and the course of a paved road
leading thence northward might some time ago be
traced for more than a mile. In a field not far from
the church is an erect stone, about five feet high,
with an inscription that was read by Mr. Llwyd as
cor balenci iacit ordovs: under the heap of
stones near which it then stood, some silver coins,
and an urn containing ashes, were found. Bishop
Gibson also notices a gold coin, about the weight of
a guinea, supposed to be of British antiquity, and of
a period prior to the Roman invasion, as having been
discovered in the parish. Several tumuli and carneddau are to be seen, and the vestiges of numerous
fortifications are still discernible. On the farm of
Cevn Lletre is a lofty mound of earth encircled by
three ramparts, called Castell, originally a place of
great strength, but the fortifications are at present
nearly demolished; within a short distance is a
tumulus designated Castell Pridd. At Blaenhonant,
another farm, is a large carnedd; and there are two
others in the immediate neighbourhood. In 1841,
a gold coin of Titus Vespasian, about the weight of
a sovereign, was found on the farm of Blaen Cerri, in
a state of perfect preservation: on the obverse, surrounding the head, are the words "Imp Vesp I
Caesar;" on the reverse, which represents a fulllength figure with emblems, are "Pontif I R P.
O I."
Penbyallt (Pen-Buellt)
PENBYALLT (PEN-BUELLT), a township,
in the parish of Llangammarch, union and hundred of Builth, county of Brecknock, South
Wales, 8 miles (S. W. by W.) from Builth; containing 568 inhabitants. This township, which contains
the church, is situated on the road from Builth to
Llandovery, and at the junction of the Cammarch
with the Irvon, over each of which rivers is a bridge
maintained by the hundred. Many respectable residences are scattered along the banks of the Irvon,
and in the neighbourhood of Maes-y-Gevnfordd,
where the petty-sessions for the hundred are occasionally held: near the church is a celebrated inn,
called Tavern-y-Pridd. The vales in the township
are luxuriant and well wooded, especially on the
banks of the Irvon, and near the fall of the Dulas,
contiguous to Maes-y-Gevnfordd; the northern
declivity of the Eppynt hills here, is in most places
extremely steep, and sometimes even precipitous.
The tithes have been commuted for £114 payable to
the Bishop of St. David's, and £57 to the vicar of
Llangammarch.
Pencader
PENCADER, a chapelry, in the parish of
Llanvihangel-ar-Arth, union of NewcastleEmlyn, Upper division of the hundred of Cathinog,
county of Carmarthen, South Wales, 10¼ miles
(N. by E.) from Carmarthen: the population is included in the return for the parish. This chapelry,
the name of which signifies "the head chair," is
situated in a vale, on the banks of the Tâfwili stream,
which falls into the river Teivy; and the road from
Carmarthen to Lampeter passes through the village.
It was here that Henry II. arrived with his army, in
1163, to punish Rhŷs ab Grufydd, Prince of South
Wales, for some inroads he had made into the territories of the vassals of that monarch, while engaged
in Normandy; but a compromise taking place between them, Henry returned to England, with the
nephews of Rhŷs, as hostages. The murder of these
persons afterwards by the Earl of Gloucester, to whose
custody they were committed, induced Rhŷs to make
dreadful ravages in Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire. The chapel has been in ruins for upwards of
a century, but the cemetery attached to it is still
preserved from desecration. A Roman road from
Carmarthen to Lampeter passed through the chapelry.
Pencarreg (Pen-Careg)
PENCARREG (PEN-CAREG), a parish, in
the union of Lampeter, Higher division of the hundred of Cathinog, county of Carmarthen, South
Wales, 4 miles (S. W.) from Lampeter; containing
1188 inhabitants. It includes a pleasing and wellwooded tract on the Teivy, and is intersected by the
road from Lampeter to Carmarthen; a lofty mountain, called Pencarreg, extends across it on the south.
The total area is 10,392 acres, of which 3001 are
common or waste land. The village is situated upon
the left bank of the river; a fair is held in it on
October 11th. The living is a discharged vicarage,
rated in the king's books at £4, and endowed with
£200 royal bounty, and £1200 parliamentary grant;
patron, Pryse Pryse, Esq.: the tithes have been
commuted for a rent-charge of £330, of which onethird belongs to the vicar, and two-thirds to the impropriators, Edmund H. Stacey, Esq., and the Rev.
B. Williams. The church, dedicated to St. Patrick,
is a small structure of no architectural pretensions.
There are places of worship for Independents and
Baptists, and three Sunday schools. In the parish
is an ancient British fortification, of which no particulars are recorded. About thirty-six silver coins
were lately found in a peat bog at Pencarreg.
Pencelly (Pen-Celli)
PENCELLY (PEN-CELLI), a hamlet, in the
parish of Llanvigan, hundred of Pencelly, union
and county of Brecknock, South Wales, 3¾ miles
(S. E.) from Brecknock; containing 374 inhabitants.
It is situated on the western bank of the Usk, where
it is joined by the Mehascyn brook, on which are
several mills. The manor of Pencelly anciently
formed one great lordship, and in the 28th of Edward I. was the property of Roger Mortimer, who
was summoned to parliament that year by the title of
Baron Mortimer, of Pencelly. In the reign of Edward II. it was divided into English and Welsh Pencelly, and was subsequently converted into five minor
lordships, namely, those of the Castle and the Manor,
Pencelly English, Cwm Orgwym, Wenallt, and
Welsh Pencelly; to which was afterwards added the
adjoining lordship of Scethrog. Of the ancient
castle of Pencelly, which stood in the village, about
a quarter of a mile east of the parish church, scarcely
a vestige is discernible, a mansion of the Herberts
having been erected on its site, with a part of its
materials; and even of the latter building there now
remain only a few rooms and ruined walls, which have
been converted into a farmhouse. A chapel, dedicated to St. Leonard, stood within the precincts of
the castle, but that also has been demolished; it was
endowed with a portion of the great tithes, now the
property of the lord of the manor. The hamlet is in
general well wooded and picturesque; and there are
some agreeable residences overlooking the Usk. It
forms the lower division of the parish, contains the
parish church, and gives name to the hundred. The
Brecknock canal passes through it, on the banks of
which are wharfs for landing coal and limestone.
Pencoed (Pen-Coed)
PENCOED (PEN-COED), a township, in
the parish of Coychurch, union of Bridgend and
Cowbridge, hundred of Newcastle, county of
Glamorgan, South Wales, 4 miles (E. by N.)
from Bridgend; containing 421 inhabitants. This
place, the name of which signifies "the head of the
wood," is situated near the South Wales railway, and
on the road from Bridgend to Llantrissent, at a short
distance from the right bank of the Ewenny river.
It comprises 2045 acres, of which 481 are common
or waste land. A cottage has been built for the poor,
at the expense of £32, out of a sum of £47 left by
two individuals; and a trifling sum is annually distributed among the poor, arising from a bequest by
two other persons. There is a place of worship for
Calvinistic Methodists.
Penderin, otherwise Pen-Y-Daren (Pen-Deryn)
PENDERIN, otherwise PEN-Y-DAREN
(PEN-DERYN), a parish, comprising the Upper
and Lower divisions, in the union of MerthyrTydvil, hundred of Devynock, county of Brecknock, South Wales, 7 miles distant (W. N. W.)
from Merthyr-Tydvil; containing 1488 inhabitants,
of whom 189 are in the Upper, and 1299 in the
Lower, division. The name of this place, signifying literally "the head of the rock," is descriptive of its situation at the head of a rock of excellent
limestone, from which the large iron-works in the
neighbourhood are supplied. The parish comprises
part of the extensive common of Hîrwaun Wrgan, on
which was fought the memorable battle between the
forces of Iestyn ab Gwrgan, aided by some Norman
auxiliaries, and the army of Rhŷs ab Tewdwr, in
which the former obtained a signal and decisive victory. Rhŷs, after the defeat of his army, fleeing
from the field of battle, is, according to some historians, said to have reached Glyn Rhonddû, about
twelve miles distant, where he was overtaken by the
victor and beheaded. According to others, it would
appear that he was slain during the conflict; and
others again affirm that, having effected his escape
into the territories of his kinsman, Bleddyn ab Maenarch, he was afterwards killed in the engagement
which decided the fate of that chieftain, in the neighbourhood of Caer-Bannau. The remembrance of this
battle is still preserved in the names of several places
in the parish: among these are, Bôdwigad, corrupted
from Bôdwaun-y-Gâd, implying "the mansion on
the field of battle;" and Cadlan, a term of nearly
the same import, used to designate the valley that
intersects the parish. Of the numerous carneddau in
Penderin, two of the larger are regarded by Mr.
Jones, the historian of Brecknockshire, as military
memorials, probably connected with the conflict: one
of them is twenty yards in circumference; the other
is fourteen, and is surrounded by a trench.
The parish is situated at the southern extremity
of the county, bordering upon Glamorganshire, from
which it is separated on the south-east by the Tâf
Vawr river. On the west it is bounded by the river
Hepstè; this stream pursues a very romantic course,
and falls into the Melltè, by which the boundary is
continued between Penderin and Ystradvelltey. The
area is 12,765 acres, whereof 3355 are common or
waste land. The entire district abounds with mineral
treasures, the principal of which are iron, limestone,
a kind of coal of a quality between the bituminous
and the stone coal, a bed of excellent fire-clay, marble, and some lead; the last, however, is not found
in sufficient quantity to repay the expense of working it. On Hîrwaun common are the Penderin
iron-works, forming part of the very extensive establishment of Messrs. Crawshay, of Cyvarthva, near
Merthyr-Tydvil. These works comprise four blast
furnaces for smelting the ore, worked by a steamengine and a water-wheel; two fineries; twelve refining furnaces for converting the pig-iron into
castings, and two pairs of rollers for making malleable
bars. The quantity of iron manufactured during the
year 1831 was 9035 tons, long weight; of refined
bars, 5260½ tons; and of ore raised, 28,413 tons, in
the manufacturing of which 55,713 tons of coal were
consumed. The number of men employed in the
works and in the collieries, during the same year,
was 895, of whom 607 were engaged in the collieries
and ironstone mines. Though the furnaces are in the
parish of Penderin, many of the workmen's cottages
are within the limits of the Glamorganshire parish of
Aberdare. Considerable quantities of limestone are
burned for the use of the surrounding country,
chiefly as manure. Facilities are afforded for the
supply of the works, and for the conveyance of their
produce, by tramroads from the lime-rocks near the
church to the Hîrwaun iron-works, and thence down
the Vale of Cynon to Aberdare, where they communicate with the Aberdare branch canal and branch
railway, which, joining the Glamorganshire canal and
the Tâf-Vale railway respectively at the Navigation
House, in the Vale of Tâf, afford a direct intercourse with Cardiff. Additional means of conveyance
will shortly be afforded by the Vale of Neath railway,
which will join the South Wales railway at the port
of Neath: acts authorizing the construction of the
line were passed in 1846 and 1847. The road from
Brecknock to Neath passes through the parish.
The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books
at £9. 3. 11½.; patron, William Winter, Esq., M.D.:
the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of
£305, and there is a glebe of four acres and a quarter, valued at £5. 6. 3. per annum; also a glebehouse. The church, dedicated to St. Cynog, is an
ancient edifice, consisting of a nave and chancel,
with a massive tower at the west end; it is situated
on the summit of the rocky eminence which gives
name to the parish. There are two places of worship
for Baptists; and two Sunday schools are held, one
of them in connexion with the Established Church,
and the other with the Baptist denomination. David
Walter or Gwalter, of Maesgwalter, in the parish of
Devynock, in 1723, bequeathed £5 per annum, payable out of the rents of two tenements named Tyle
and Heolvawr, in Ystradvelltey, for the instruction
of five children, and the apprenticing of one child.
Edward Price, of Ewyas Harold, in the county of
Hereford, in the year 1797, charged a tenement
called Melin Rhydian with the annual payment of
£6 to the poor.
Craig-y-Dinas, an ancient stronghold, is so termed
from its inaccessible situation on an abrupt, rugged,
and precipitous rock of limestone, the base of which
is washed on one side by the united streams of the
Hepstè and Melltè, and on the other by the brook
Sychryd, which forms the boundary between the
counties of Brecknock and Glamorgan. Prior to the
formation of the present turnpike-road from Neath to
Merthyr-Tydvil, the main road between these towns
led directly up the steepest part of this rock, and
through a natural chasm near the summit, altogether
impassable for carriages, and even on horseback, except with the greatest danger. This road, which is
much shorter than the turnpike-road from Penderin
to the village of Pont-Neath-Vaughan, is still in use.
Near the spot are the fine vein of fire-clay, and the
lead-ore, above noticed.
In the parish is the remarkable waterfall called
Eiro Hepstè, formed by the Hepstè river, which here
precipitates itself from a height of nearly fifty feet,
over an abrupt rocky precipice, sometimes, according
to the fulness of the stream, in one torrent, and at
others in three distinct torrents; the river is sixteen
yards in breadth, and forms in its descent, from the
scarcely perceptible projection of the ledge of rock, a
single arch, or a series of three parallel arches, under
which is a passage between the base of the rock and
the descending water. Around this spot the scenery
is strikingly romantic. The common, over which is
the road from Penderin to the waterfall, is of the
most dreary character, diversified only by huge masses of limestone rock of fantastic form; and broken
fragments, that lie scattered around the bases of the
rocks, contribute to diminish the scanty pasturage
which this desolate tract affords to a few mountain
sheep and ponies. On reaching the margin of the
river Hepstè, however, the scenery becomes suddenly
changed; the steep banks of this impetuous stream
are richly clothed with wood to the water's edge, and
the river, concealed in its course by the impending
foliage, is only heard to murmur as it rushes along
its rocky channel, till, emerging from a thick grove,
it forms the cascade above noticed, with some other
falls lower down. At about a quarter of a mile from
the great fall, the Hepstè unites with the Melltè;
and between these rivers is a well-wooded promontory, from which is a good view of the courses of the
streams to their confluence, and of the fall of the
Hepstè, the roaring of which is distinctly heard.
The beautiful Vale of Neath, with the plantations of
Gnoll above the town of Neath, and the mansions
and grounds of Aberpergwm and Rheola, may be
seen from various parts of the parish, together with
part of the Bristol Channel.
Penderwi (Pen-Deri), Higher
PENDERWI (PEN-DERI), HIGHER, a
hamlet, in the parish and hundred of Llangyvelach, union of Swansea, county of Glamorgan,
South Wales, 7½ miles (N. by W.) from Swansea;
containing, with Lower Penderwi, 1203 inhabitants.
—See Llangyvelach.
Penderwi (Pen-Deri), Lower
PENDERWI (PEN-DERI), LOWER, a
hamlet, in the parish and hundred of Llangyvelach, union of Swansea, county of Glamorgan,
South Wales, 5½ miles (N. N. W.) from Swansea:
the population is included with the return for Higher
Penderwi.—See Llangyvelach.
Pendine (a contraction of Pen-Tywyn)
PENDINE (a contraction of PEN-TYWYN),
a parish, in the union of Narberth, Higher division
of the hundred of Derllŷs, county of Carmarthen,
South Wales, 5½ miles (W. by S.) from Laugharne; containing 204 inhabitants. This parish is
beautifully situated on the shore of Carmarthen bay,
by which it is bounded on the south, and over which
it commands a fine prospect. It is bounded on the
north by the parish of Eglwys-Cummin, on the east
by that of Laugharne, and on the west by that of
Marros; and comprises 963 acres, the whole, with
the exception of a common of 100 acres affording
good pasturage, inclosed and in a state of cultivation.
The soil is of a clayey and sandy quality, producing
wheat and barley; the surface is rocky and hilly.
On the beach, which is well adapted for the purpose
of sea-bathing, and affords a pleasing walk, is a
natural cavern, whence issues a small rivulet running
into the bay. The living is a rectory not in charge,
annexed to the living of Llandawke: the tithes have
been commuted for a rent-charge of £67. The
church, which is pleasantly situated, is a plain structure, erected about forty years since, and measuring
thirty-four feet long by sixteen broad; the sittings
are all free, except about six pews, that are attached
to the farms of the parish. There is a place of worship for dissenters, in which a Sunday school is likewise held.
Pendoylan (Pen-Deulwyn)
PENDOYLAN (PEN-DEULWYN), a parish, in the poor-law union of Cardiff, hundred of
Cowbridge, county of Glamorgan, South Wales,
5 miles (E. N. E.) from the town of Cowbridge; containing 401 inhabitants. The name of this place,
signifying literally "the head of the two groves,"
was probably derived from the appearance of the
neighbourhood, which, like many other parts of the
county, was once richly wooded. The parish is
pleasantly situated on the river Ely, and comprises a
moderate extent of arable and pasture land, inclosed,
and in a good state of cultivation; the surrounding
scenery is varied. Within its limits is Hensol, the
ancient seat of the family of Jenkins, under whose
auspices an annual assembly of the bards was for
many years held in the adjoining parish of YstradOwen, till the death of Richard Jenkins, Esq., who
was a warm admirer of Welsh poetry and music, and
a good performer on the harp. After this event, in
1721, the estate was conveyed by marriage with his
niece to Lord Chancellor Talbot, who was elevated
to the peerage by the title of Baron Talbot, of
Hensol, and whose son added two wings to the
mansion, and greatly improved the estate. Subsequently it became, by purchase, the property of the
Richardsons, next of William Crawshay, Esq., and it
now belongs to Rowland Fothergill, Esq., who purchased it from the last-named gentleman. The
present house is spacious and handsome, and is beautifully situated in very extensive grounds, laid out
with great taste, and comprehending some highly
picturesque scenery. The parish abounds with
limestone, which in general forms the substratum of
the soil.
The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the
king's books at £8. 13. 4.; present net income,
£112; patrons and appropriators, the Dean and
Chapter of Llandaf. The church, dedicated to St.
Cadog, presents no architectural details of importance.
There is a place of worship for Calvinistic Methodists; and two Sunday schools are held, one of them in
connexion with the Church, and the other with the
Calvinistic body. A sum of £5 per annum, the interest arising from £100, of which £50 were bequeathed by Lord Chancellor Talbot, is annually
distributed among the poor out of the rates; the
amount, with £30 belonging to the parish, having
been spent in 1817, in the erection of six cottages,
one of which is used as a vestry-room, and the others
with gardens attached, are occupied by paupers, put
in by the officers. In the parish are several springs
to whose waters are ascribed medicinal properties,
and great efficacy in the cure of diseases, especially
those of the eye, and in erysipelas. The names of
some farms appear to indicate the past existence of
ancient encampments; but nothing is recorded of
their history, nor are there any vestiges of them remaining. The title of Baron Talbot, of Hensol, is
still enjoyed by the noble family of Talbot.
Penegoes, or Penegwest
PENEGOES, or PENEGWEST, a parish, in
the union and hundred of Machynlleth, county of
Montgomery, North Wales, 1½ mile (E.) from
Machynlleth; containing 772 inhabitants. This
parish is said to derive its name from one of the
petty sovereigns of Wales, named Egwest, who was
beheaded near the church. It is situated in a very
mountainous district in the western part of the
county, and is intersected by the river Dovey, which
flows within little more than half a mile of the church,
and by the turnpike-road from Welshpool to Machynlleth, which passes through the village. The area
of the parish is 8085 acres, whereof 3962 are common
or waste. The mountains afford pasturage to numerous flocks of sheep, and in the lower grounds the
soil is favourable for the growth of corn. The
manufacture of flannel is carried on, giving employment to a portion of the inhabitants; and in the
mountains of Dylivau and Esgair-Galed lead-ore is
found, of a good quality. The scenery, though
rather dreary, is of a bold and striking character;
and the adjacent country, though not greatly diversified, is still in some points interesting and
romantic.
The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books
at £7. 19. 7.; patron, the Bishop of St. Asaph: the
tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of
£250, and there is a glebe of eighteen acres, valued
at £36 per annum; also a glebe-house. The church,
dedicated to St. Cadvarch, is an ancient edifice, in
the early style of English architecture; a considerable portion of it is overspread with ivy, which in
some parts has found its way into the interior. There
are places of worship for Wesleyans, Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists; a Church day
school, almost wholly supported by the parents of
the children; and five Sunday schools, one of them
in connexion with the Established Church, two with
the Independents, and one each with the Baptists
and the Calvinistic body. In a field near the church
is a spring whose waters are esteemed efficacious in
rheumatic complaints. It was formerly covered over
by a building, part of the walls of which still remain:
the well has been formed into a bath, about seven
yards in length and three in breadth, divided in the
middle by steps leading down into each part; the
average depth is about four feet. Dôl Guog, an
ancient residence in the parish, is said to have been
the resort of the celebrated Llywarch Hên, who retired to this place in order to soothe with his harp
the griefs occasioned by the misfortunes with which
the Saxon invaders had overwhelmed his country
and his family. Richard Wilson, the landscape
painter, was born in the parish, in the year 1714, his
father being then rector here; and Mrs. Hughes,
sister of Mrs. Hemans, distinguished for her musical
skill, and for having set to music some of the compositions of the poetess, was wife to the late incumbent.
Pengwern, or Pengwyrn
PENGWERN, or PENGWYRN, a township,
in the parish and union of St. Asaph, hundred of
Rhuddlan, county of Flint, North Wales; containing 273 inhabitants. This township comprises
1470 acres, of which 800 are common or waste land.
The tithes have been commuted for £238. 2. 10.
Peniarth
PENIARTH, a hamlet, in the parish of Llanegrin, union of Dôlgelley, hundred of Tàlybont,
county of Merioneth, North Wales, 5 miles
(N. N. E.) from Towyn; containing 244 inhabitants.
Its name signifies "the head of the Garth," Garth
meaning such a mountain ridge as forms a bend or
cove, and is derived from its surface being elevated
and rugged, forming a part of the Cader Idris chain.
It occupies the north-eastern portion of the parish,
and on the south-east is bounded by the river Dysynni, on which is a weir, and which up to this point
is navigable for small craft.
Penley
PENLEY, a chapelry, in the union of Ellesmere, in that part of the parish of Ellesmere
which is in the hundred of Maelor, county of
Flint, North Wales, 4¼ miles (N. by E.) from the
town of Ellesmere; containing 478 inhabitants. It
is situated on the road from Overton to Hanmer:
the remainder of the parish is included in the hundred of Pimhill, county of Salop. There are several
respectable residences in the chapelry. The living
is a perpetual curacy, endowed with the produce of
£400, and a rent-charge of £30 per annum, both the
gift of Lord Kenyon; net income, £143; patron,
the Vicar of Ellesmere. The tithes have been commuted for £260, of which a sum of £235 is payable
to an impropriator, and £25 to the vicar. The
chapel is dedicated to St. Mary. A parsonage-house
has been erected, the late Countess of Bridgewater,
in whom the patronage of the living of the parish
was vested, and Lord Kenyon, who is the principal
landowner here, having contributed £100 each, and
the Bounty Board and other subscribers various sums,
towards the expense. There is a National day and
Sunday school, supported by his lordship.
Penllêch (Pen-Llêch)
PENLLÊCH (PEN-LLÊCH), a parish, in the
union of Pwllheli, hundred of Commitmaen,
Lleyn division of the county of Carnarvon, North
Wales, 10 miles (W.) from Pwllheli; containing
261 inhabitants. This place derives its name, signifying "the head of the rock," from its situation
at the extremity of some rocks on the coast of St.
George's Channel. It consists of a comparatively
small portion of arable and pasture land, inclosed and
in a good state of cultivation; and the inhabitants are
principally employed in agricultural pursuits, except
during the season of the herring-fishery, which is
carried on to a considerable extent. Of the great
quantity of herrings taken on this coast, part is salted
and sent coastwise for the supply of distant markets.
The living is annexed to the rectory of Llaniestyn;
the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of
£190. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is not
distinguished for any architectural details of importance. Two benefactions in money, amounting to
£12. 10., are lost to the poor, having been lent to a
farmer who became insolvent some time since. Cevnamwlch, the birthplace of Bishop Griffith, is in the
parish. On Mynydd Cevn Amwlch is a cromlech,
an interesting relic, called Coiten Arthur, or "Arthur's quoit," from a tradition that Arthur Gawr, or
"Arthur the giant," cast the covering stone from
Carn Madryn, a mountain a few miles off, and that
his wife brought the three supporting stones of the
cromlech in her apron, and placed them under the
coiten so thrown.
Penllyne (Pen-Llyn)
PENLLYNE (PEN-LLYN), a parish, in the
union of Bridgend and Cowbridge, hundred of
Ogmore, county of Glamorgan, South Wales,
3 miles (N. W. by W.) from Cowbridge; containing
320 inhabitants. This place was distinguished for a
castle, the founder of which and the time of its erection are both unknown. The construction of its walls
plainly indicate a very early origin; and from its
situation on the summit of a lofty eminence near the
village, commanding the surrounding country, it was
no doubt a post of some importance. In Leland's
time, the castle, with its dependencies, was the property of the Turberville family, from whom it passed
to the Stradlings of St. Donatt's, and from them, in
default of heirs male, to the Mansel family of Margam, together with part of their other estates. The
property was subsequently devised by the late Lady
Vernon, daughter of Lord Mansel, to Miss Gwynnette, who erected on part of the castle site an elegant mansion, in which some remains of the ancient
edifice were incorporated. This lady bequeathed it
to the late Earl of Clarendon for life, with reversion
to Capt. Sir George Tyler, R.N. From the eminence on which the mansion is built is an extensive
view of the adjacent country, abounding with highly
picturesque and beautifully diversified scenery, in
some parts enriched with woods, and in others enlivened with pleasing villages and numerous gentlemen's seats. Penllyne Court, formerly the seat of
Major Dacre, is a handsome house, situated in the
centre of a thriving plantation, and commanding
some fine prospects.
The parish is surrounded by the parishes of Llansannor, Colwinstone, and Llanblethian, and contains
by computation 1258 acres, of which 958 are in pasture, 200 arable, and 100 woodland. Its surface is
elevated and hilly, and in many parts covered with
wood, the prevailing timber consisting of ash; the
soil is of various qualities, producing good crops of
wheat, barley, and oats. The village is small, and
pleasantly situated; and the turnpike-road from Cardiff to Swansea passes through the parish. The
living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's
books at £4. 15. 2½., and endowed with £600 royal
bounty; patron and impropriator, the Earl of Dunraven: the tithes have been commuted for £161. 19.,
of which £100 are payable to the impropriator, and
£61. 19. to the vicar, who has likewise a glebe of a
quarter of an acre. The church, dedicated to St.
Brynach, and hence commonly called Llanvrynach,
is an ancient and venerable structure, in the early
style of English architecture, situated on the south
side of the turnpike-road, about a mile from the village. It is sixty-two feet long by forty-one broad.
For many years, only burials and christenings, with
occasional divine service, were performed here; the
regular service being celebrated every Sunday at a
chapel of ease in the village, more convenient for the
parishioners. But the edifice having been partially
restored, it was re-opened for divine worship on August 27th, 1848. There is a place of worship for
Calvinistic Methodists. A school on the National
system has been established in connexion with the
central society in London, from which the parish
received a grant of £28 towards the erection of a
building for the purpose; it is supported chiefly by
W. Salmon, Esq., of Penllyne Court. There are also
two Sunday schools, one of them in connexion with
the Established Church, and the other with the Calvinistic body. The produce of three charities, received down to 1786, has been since lost to the poor;
one a bequest of £56 by Charles Price, in 1703, and
the other two, sums of £10 and £7, given by unknown donors. The largest sum is said to have been
expended in purchasing barley for the poor in a time
of scarcity, and interest continued to be paid for it
out of the parish rates until 1806; the other amounts
were lent on insufficient securities to parties who became insolvent.
Penmachno (Pen-Machno)
PENMACHNO (PEN-MACHNO), a parish,
in the union of Llanrwst, hundred of Nantconway, county of Carnarvon, North Wales, 9 miles
(S.) from Llanrwst; containing 1274 inhabitants.
This place derives its name from its situation near
the source of the river Machno, which rises to the
south-west of it, and, flowing through the parish in
a north-eastern direction, falls into the Conway.
The latter river, also, has its source in a fine lake
within the limits of Penmachno, and forms a boundary on the east and north, separating the parish from
the county of Denbigh. The surface is mountainous,
and the district abounds with mineral wealth; the
soil in the valleys is fertile, and the lower lands,
which are watered by the Machno and other streams
descending from the hills, are productive, and in a
good state of cultivation. The area of the parish is
13,000 acres. It is distinguished for some fine
mountain scenery, and the views from the higher
grounds extend over a tract of country abounding
with picturesque beauty. Copper and lead are supposed to be contained in the mountainous parts of
the parish; and, in 1784, a lease of the minerals
within the common called Llêchwedd Oernant was
granted by the crown to Mrs. Anne Robinson, for
thirty-one years, at a rent of £1. 6. 8., and 15s. per
ton for lead-ore, 8s. per ton for calamine, and onetenth part of the copper and other minerals. Many
of the inhabitants are quarrymen. Fairs are held on
April 17th, August 18th, and October 20th.
The living is a perpetual curacy, rated in the
king's books at £9. 10., and endowed with £200
private benefaction, £600 royal bounty, and £1400
parliamentary grant; present net income, £92; patron and impropriator, Sir R. W. Vaughan, Bart.
The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of
£153. The church, dedicated to St. Tyddud, is not
distinguished by any architectural details of importance. In the parish are places of worship for Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists. There is a Church
day school, endowed with £10 per annum, as mentioned below; also a day school unconnected with
any particular religious body; and four Sunday
schools, connected with the dissenters. Richard
Anwyll, in 1681, bequeathed £200 for the use of the
poor; Maurice Hughes, in 1723, devised £70 for the
same purpose; and David Price, in 1728, charged
his estate with a rent-charge of 20s. for their benefit.
But the principal benefactor of the parish was
Roderick Lloyd, of Middlesex, Esq., who, in 1729,
left £10 per annum chargeable on the tithes, for the
minister for the time being, in consideration of his
teaching the children of the poor gratis to read and
write English: this sum is paid to the master of the
above Church school, the pupils of which pay certain
fees. He further devised some lands and tenements
situate in the parish of Llanycil, amounting to 135
acres, and now yielding a rent of £60, for the erection and endowment of an almshouse for five aged
men and the same number of women. The almshouse is situated about a quarter of a mile from the
church, and is a substantial building of ten apartments, with a piece of ground behind for the general
use of the inmates, who receive 10s. a month each.
The same benevolent individual devised £100, to be
laid out in the purchase of land, the rent to be appropriated to supplying a certain quantity of bread to
the poor every Sunday, and meat on Christmas-eve;
and with this sum, and the proceeds of Anwyll's and
Hughes' bequests, other premises and lands were
bought at Llanycil, now worth £40 per annum, which
is partly distributed in bread every Sunday, in flannel
and linen occasionally, and in small amounts at
Christmas and Easter. From the same fund another
small purchase was made of two houses and a few
acres of ground; one of the tenements is occupied
by a pauper put in by the parish, and the rent of the
remainder is given to the deserving poor.
Penmaen (Pen-Maen)
PENMAEN (PEN-MAEN), a parish, in the
union and hundred of Swansea, county of Glamorgan, South Wales, 9 miles (W. S. W.) from
Swansea; containing 149 inhabitants. The name of
this place, signifying literally "the head of the rock,"
is derived from its situation at the extremity of a
ridge of rocks forming the eastern side of Oxwich
bay in the Bristol Channel. The parish comprises
but a small tract of land, of which little more than
half is inclosed and cultivated, The rocks on the
coast below the church rise with majestic grandeur
from the shore, and have a strikingly imposing appearance; one of them, called the Tor, after attaining
a considerable elevation, terminates nearly in a point.
Another remarkable rock, the "Three Cliffs," situated about a quarter of a mile east of the Great Tor,
extends 300 or 400 yards from east to west, and in
the centre is a large perforation, designated the
"Arch," through which at low water people occasionally pass on horseback, but through which at floodtide the sea rushes with great violence. Over the
arch the rock is divided into three distinct points,
similar to the Needles in the Isle of Wight; and
altogether this work of nature forms an interesting
object when passing from Penmaen church towards
Penrice Castle. The smooth and firm sands, likewise, present an opportunity for a most pleasing ride
of three miles in front of the sea, from the Great Tor
to the village of Oxwich. About six miles west of
the church is the small hamlet of Paviland, belonging
to this parish, from which place one of the churchwardens is invariably chosen. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £4. 10.,
endowed with £200 private benefaction and £200
royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Crown;
present net income, £210, with a glebe-house. In
the hamlet of Paviland is a small meeting-house.
A Sunday school is held in the church.
Penmaen
PENMAEN, a township, in the parish of Llanvawr, poor-law union of Bala, hundred of Penllyn,
county of Merioneth, North Wales; containing
265 inhabitants.