LLANDYSSIL is a small town and parish in Cardiganshire, bounded on the east and south, by the river Teifi, which here divides the county from Carmarthenshire, and has a station on the branch line from Carmarthen junction of the Great Western railway, which now terminates at Newcastle Emlyn. The town is 248 miles from London, 14 south from Aberystwith, is east from Cardigan, is north from Carmarthen and 42 north-west from Swansea; in the hundreds of Troedyraur and Moyddyn, petty sessional division of Llandyssil, Newcastle Emlyn union and county court district, rural deanery of Sub Ayron, archdeaconry of Cardigan, and diocese of St. David’s: it is lighted with oil lamps, and is supplied with water from wells. The church of St. Tyssul is an edifice of stone, in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles and an embattled western tower containing 4 bells: the church was restored in 1874, at a cost of £2,330, and affords 450 sittings: on a stone, forming part of the entrance to the churchyard, is an inscription of the 6th century. The register dates from the year 1722. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £270, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of St. David’s, and held since 1868 by the Rev. William George Jenkins, of St. Bees. St. David’s chapel of ease, erected in 1886, at a cost of £1,050, stands on the banks of the river Clettwr, about 3 miles from Llandyssil; St. John’s, on the same river, about 5 miles from Llandyssil; St. Ffraids is in the vale of Cerdin and about 3 miles from Llandyssil. In the parish are several small woollen factories and yarn spinners; a market is held every Tuesday for the sale of farm produce and stock. The “Porth,” “King’s Head” and the “Wilks Head” are the principal hotels, and each has private fishing rights. The principal seats, are Waunifor, the property of Charles Lloyd esq. M.A., D.L., J.P. Llysnewydd, the seat of Lieut.-Col. William Price Llewellyn Lewes D.L., J.P. Mount Gernos, the seat of Gwinnett George Tyler esq. J.P. & Bronwydd, of Sir Marteine Owen Mowbray Lloyd bart. D.L., J.P. Sir Marteine Owen Mowbray Lloyd barb, is lord of the manor, the principal landowners being Mrs. Lewes, Charles Home Lloyd Fitzwilliams esq. Lieut.-Col. William Price Llewellyn Lewes, James John Lloyd esq. Capt. James Stewart and Mrs. Jones, of Gellifaharen. The soil is loamy; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and potatoes. The area is 17,556 acres; rateable value, £7,939; the population of the entire civil parish in 1891 was 3,034, and of the ecclesiastical, 600.

Petty Sessions are held at the Porth Hotel, Llandyssil and Eagle inn, Llanfihangelararth, alternately on the last Wednesday in every month The places included in the Petty Sessional Division axe Llandyssil & Bangorteify.

Petty Sessions are held at the Porth hotel, Llandyssil, & at the Eagle inn, Llanfihangelararth alternately on last Wednesday in each month at noon. The following places are included in the division: Llanfihangelararth, Llanllwni, Llanfihangel-rhos-y-corn, Llanybyther & Brechfa.

Places of Worship, with times of services

St. Tyssul Church, Rev. Wm. George Jenkins, vicar; Rev. Evan Philip Jones, curate; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; week days, once a week at 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. David’s (English & Welsh) & St. John’s (Welsh); morning & afternoon services are held alternately at these churches at 10.30 a.m. & 2 p.m.

St. Ffraid’s (Welsh), afternoon service at 2 p.m.; weekday services are held in the evening at St. David’s & St. Ffraid’s; once a month & on chief festival days at 7 p.m.

Baptist, 10 a.m. & 2 & 6 p.m. Unitarian, Rev. George Thomas; 6 p.m. Wesleyan, 10 a.m. & 2 & 6 p.m.

Calvinistic Methodist, Rev. Thomas James M.A.; 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Congregational, Rev. Thomas Pennant Philips; 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.; tues, at 7 p.m.

Schools

A School Board of 5 members was formed in the parish 1st Mat. 1876; the British School was taken over by this board; there are also three other schools under the same authority; E. Jones, clerk to the board.

Board, built for 100 children; average attendance, 108.

National, built in 1854, for 120 children; average attendance, 63.

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LLANDYSSIL.

This parish is very extensive; in consequence of which, besides the mother church, there were six chapels of ease. Each of these chapels stood in a separate hamlet, the names of which were, Vairdrev, Capel Ddewi, Glandysilved, Borthin, Llanvair, and Llanfrene. The chapels are all now in a most dilapidated state, scarcely any vestige of them remaining. This parish is in two hundreds, viz., Troedyrawr, and Moeddyn, and in two lordships, viz., Gwynyonnydd ywch Cerdin, and Gwynionydd iss Cerdin.

A manuscript, purporting to be a chronicle of two battles, is in the possession of Mr. Silvanus Jones, a well-informed old man in this parish, but cannot be relied on, owing to the many anachronisms it contains. It was probably compiled in the sixteenth century, from tradition, the orthography being such as was used at that time, a specimen of which may be seen in David Rhys’s grammar. The translation of the above is as follows:

“A chronicle of the war, which happened in the parish of Llandyssil, in the

county of Caerdigion, or Cardiganshire, on the 5th of April, in the year of our

Lord 1131.

“It was called the county of Ceredigion, because Maelgwn Gwynedd gave it for an inheritance to his son Caredig, but in the time of this war it was under the dondnion of South Wales, and Davydd ab Owain, Prince of North Wales, and Llewelyn ab Jorwerth, Prince of South Wales, laid their claim for it, and became very indignant at each other. But the men of the vale of Clwyd from North Wales, and the men of Ystradtywy from South Wales, advised them, to continue at peace with each other; even Llewelyn ab Jorwerth, Prince of South Wales, and Davydd ab Owain. Llewelyn ab Jorwerth, Prince of South Wales, went up, and with him went thirty horsemen from Ystradtywy, thirty horsemen from Pembrokeshire, and from Cardiganshire thirty. They continued there for two days, but failed to come to terms of peace, and war was resolved on. They appointed to meet in the field, at a place called Bange Foes ddu, in the parish of Llanarth, in Cardiganshire.

Davydd came to the spot, but Llewelyn, Prince of South Wales, halted at a place called Blaengavel, and there he raised an encampment, called Caergevel to this day. However, the Prince of North Wales being directed, came to meet him there, with five thousand foot, and a thousand horse. On the other side, the Prince of South Wales had six thousand foot and five hundred horse. Davydd came down over Crugiau y Ddwyvron, and Llewelyn came out of Caergevel on the 5th of April, in the year of Christ 1131. They fought from eight o’clock in the morning until evening, and desperately did they fight all this time: however, Davydd ab Owain Gwynedd fled, after having lost four thousand foot and five hundred horse. And his horses were all grey or silver-coloured. Llewelyn lifted up his banners, and blew his horns; marched off in triumph, and re-entered Caergevel, after having lost six hundred foot and a hundred and fifty horse. He buried the dead at his own expense. Below the road, over against Crugiau’r Dwyvron, are such marks to this day. And in a short time he went home to St. Dogmaels from Caergevel, with the spoils and arms, victoriously; and there he made a feast for his men for nine days. Though Llewelyn lost but six hundred foot, and two hundred and fifty horse, many were wounded. About one half only survived, for he was very nearly conquered.”

The other is as follows: —

“A true Chronicle of the war on the side of Coedyvhoel, in the parish of Llandyssil, in the county of Cardigan, in” the year of Christ 1250.

“The men of Bangor vawr, in North Wales, came full of resentment, down to South Wales, because Davydd ab Cadivor had refused to assist them against the English, who were making encroachments on Flintshire. The men of Bangor came through Rhyd Owain by dawn of day on the 12th of September, 1250, with their cavalry. They left their horses there behind, and they met Davydd ab Cadivor in the farthest end of Pant y groyw Waed, in the height of their rage; and they also met with one Einion, and this Einion had between six and seven thousand foot, and six hundred horse, from Rhys ab Owain, who aided him. Davydd ab Cadivor, and Einion had dug a deep trench for defence, at the foot of Coed y vhoel, by the road side which leads to Llandyssil; and on the top of Coed y vhoel they erected a fortress to defend them and their treasure” The remainder of this is wanting.

The following is a faithful copy of the original, in the same orthography, for the satisfaction of Welsh antiquaries: —

“Croniel y rhybhel a fu yn mhlwybh Llandyssil, yn gwlad Caredigion, neu Sir Aberteibhi O. C. 1131 Ebrith 5d. Gwlad hi gwlad Caredigion oblegid i Maelgwn Gwynedh ei rhoddi i garedig ei Fab yn Etibhedhiaeth; Ond yn amser y rhyfel hwn yr oedh hi tan Lywodraeth Deheubarth; A Dafydh ab Owain, Tywysog Gwynedh, a Llewelyn ab Jorwerth, Tywsog Deheubarth oedhynt eilh dau yn honni hawl yndhi, ac myned mewn Lhid i’w Gilydh a wnaethant; ond gwyr Dyffryn-Clwyd o Wynedh, a gwyr Ystrad Tywy o Deheubarth a’u Cyngorodh hwy i hedhychu a’u gilydh; Lhewelyn ab Jorwerth, Tywysog Deheubarth, a Dabhydh ab Owain, Tywysog Gwynedh a appwyntiassant gyfarfod yn Abarystwyth; A Lhewelyn ab Jorwerth Tywysog Deheubarth, aeth i fyny, a chydag ef Ddegarugaint o farchogion Ystrad Tywy, Ddegarugaint o farchogion Sir Benfro, ac o wlad Caerdigion Ddegarugaint; Buontyno dhau dhydh ond methu Cyttyno o wnaethant ar ammod Hedhwch, ond Rhyfel; Ond hwy appwyntiassent Gyfarfod a’u gilydhi ryfel ar fan o’r Dhaiar, sef Bange Ffoes Dhu yn i mhlwyf Llannarth yn Sir Abarteifi; A Dhabhydh a dhaeth i’r man; ond Llhewelyn, Tywysog Ddheubarth, a safodh ar y ffordh mewn man a elwir Blaengefel; Yno gwnaeth ymdhifyniaid a elwir Caergefel, hyd hedhyw; Ond Tywysog Gwynedh a dhaeth trwy gyfarwydhyd, i gyfarfod ag ef yno, a Phymmil o wyr traed a mil o wyr meirch: A Twysog deheubarth, or tu aralh, a chewchmil o wyr traed, a Phyrneant o wyr meirch: A Dhalhydh a dhaeth tros ben crygiau y dhwyfron lawr, Lhewelyn allan o gaergefel a’r y 5d dydh o fis Ebrilh, O. C. 1131. Rhyfela a wnaethpwyd o wyth or gloch y bore, hyd yn, brydnhawn, ac ymlath yn erchilh a wnawd drwy hyn o amser; A Dabhydh ab Owain Gwynedh, ffodd wedi colhi pedair mil o wyr traed a phymcant o wyr meirch, A’i feirch ef oedhynt wiwlas, neu liw’r ariant i gid; A Lhewelyn a gododhei fanerau, ac a ganodh y Cyrncychwyn o orfoledh, ac aeth y mywn i gaergefail, wedi colhi chwechant o wyr traed a deucant a hanner o wyr meirch; Fe gladhodh y meirw ar en draul ei hyn o tan y ffordh ynghyfer crygiau’r dhwyfron, y mae yno ol hyd hedhyw; Ac ef aeth adre i Llandydoch o Gaergefail a’r ysbail a’r arfau cynpen ’chydig amser yn orfoledhus ac a wnaeth wledh I’w wyr tros naw niwrnod; Er na cholhodh Lhewelyn ond 600 o wyr traed a 250 o wyr meirch, yr oedh Llawer yn glwyfus o gwmpas hanner, oedh yn fyw, can y sef fu tebyg iawn o golhi’r Maes.”—Anon.

“Croniel cywyr am y rhyfel ar ochr Coedybhoel, ym mhwyf Llandissil, yn gwlad Caredigion, O. C. 1250: —

“Gwyr Bangor fawr yn Gwynedh a dhaethant mewn Lhid i wared i dheheubarth, o achos i Dhadbydh ab Cadibhor balhu a’u cynnorthwyo yn erbyn y Saeson oedh yn gormesei ar wlad Fflint; Gwyr Bangor oedhynt yn dyfod trwy Rhydowain ur wythfed dydh o fedi, 1250, gid a’r dydh, ag ymmlaen hyd odyn Cansyniaid a alwir ynawr, odyn Gossoniaid, Ahwy a droisantilawr i gwyrmarch, ac adawsant ei meirch yn ol yno: A hwy a gyfarfyant a Dhabhyth ab Cadibhor ymmlaen Pantygroyw waed, mor Chidiog ag y galhent; a chyfarfod a wnaethant ac un Eineon, ac Eineon oedh a rhwng chwe mil a saith o wyr traed, a chwechant o wyr meirch odhiwrth Rhys ab Owain o Ystrad Tywy yr hwn oedh yn ei gynnorthwyo ef; A Dhalhydh ab Cadibhor, ac Eineon oedhynt wedi torni Traeldwfn i ymdhyffyn wrth ochr y ffordh sy’n myned i Llandissil wrth droed Coedybhoel ac ar ben Coedybhoel gar i ymdhyffyn ac i gadw en Trysor Cetera desunt.”—Anon.

A few remarks on the above will serve to shew that its authenticity may be fairly doubted. First, Cardigan was not so called from the son of Maelgwyn Gwynedd, but from Caredig, the son of Cunedda the illustrious, as was noticed in the introduction to this history. Next, the battle is stated to have happened in 1131: now Davydd ab Owain did not succeed to the principality of North Wales till the year 1170, and Llewelyn ab Jorwerth, his nephew, did not acquire any possessions in North Wales till four and twenty years after, and his acquisitions in South Wales much later.

In the second chronicle it seems strange that Einion should only be noticed by “one Einion,” as he must have been a person of eminence to procure “between six and seven thousand foot, and six hundred horse,” from Rhys ab Owain. Now Einion ab Collwyn, a lord of Dyved, lived about the year 1188, and Einion ab Cadwgan, a prince of a part of Powys, died in the year 1121, therefore it could not be either of them, or the war could not have taken place in 1250.

Yet these are the only noted warriors of the name of Einion. Lastly, Rhys ab Owain was killed in the year 1075, by Trahaiarn ab Caradog.¹

In this parish are four Carneddau, or heaps of large stones; three lying near each other, but the fourth at a great distance. These had always been conjectured to be sepulchral monuments; and on opening the fourth, three earthen jars were found within it, containing the ashes of the dead.

Not far from the church is a hill, on which stands the ruins of a castle wall, called Castell Gwynionydd, the lordship of which is said to have comprised formerly part of Lampeter, and all the parishes on the banks of the Teivy, as far as Cardigan. The Welsh Chronicle informs us, that in the year 1216 it was given with Castell Meibwnyawn to young Rhys, the son of Gruffydd ab Rhys, by Prince Llewelyn. It is now called Castell Coedd von, and all that remains is the circular moated tumulus, with the ruins of the foundation of the keep on it.

In this parish also is another circular moated tumulus, resembling the one above-mentioned, now called Cil y graig, but formerly Castell Abereinon, which the Welsh Chronicle says was built by Malgwn, in the year 1205.

Between the public house called the Allt yr Odin Arms and Allt yr Odin, is a ford called Rhyd Owain, which is supposed to have received its name from Owain Gwynedd, when he made an expedition into South Wales on the death of Gruffydd ab Cynan, his father, in the year 1137, and destroyed Humphreys Castle. Not far from it is a tumulus called Tommen Rhyd Owen: whether he buried his slain in it, or for what purpose it was raised, cannot be precisely ascertained.

CHURCH

The church is dedicated to St. Tyssul, the son of Corun ab Ceredig ab Cunedda Wledig, a saint who lived until about the middle of the sixth century. It stands close to the Teify side, and is a very large and handsome edifice, consisting of a nave and chancel, two side aisles, and a square tower.

It is a vicarage, and in the gift of the Bishop of St. David’s. The principal of Jesus College, Oxford, has the tithes, and the vicar is allowed a salary of twenty-six pounds per annum, with a small house and garden. It is reckoned to be worth about six hundred pounds per annum.

The following are the names of the three last incumbents, viz., the Rev. —. Davies, the Rev. —. Thomas, and the Rev. Hector Bowen.

The nave of the church is separated from the side aisles by square columns connected by pointed arches. Over the door of the tower is a fine large pointed arched window, and at the four angles of the upper part of the tower are four grotesque heads, answering the purpose of water spouts. In the wall of the south aisle is a square aperture looking into the chancel, and commanding a view of the north side of the altar. For what purpose this was made I will not undertake to mention: I may conjecture, but conjecture should not be admitted into history without the greatest caution. In the eastern wall of the nave are the steps of a rood loft, which formerly was in the church, and a peeping hole into the chancel. The font is a square bason on a circular pillar.

On a pillar, north side of the nave, on a most elegant white marble monument, placed on a black oval slab of the same material, is the following inscription:

To the Memory

of his beloved wife Eliza

(who died June 3d 1805, Aged 36 years)

Daughter of Herbert Evans Esq

of Highmead in this County.

David Lloyd Esq. of Alltyrodin

Erected this monument

Learn from her life the virtues that command

The Child, the Wife, the Parent, and the Friend.

Learn from her death, that Heav’n’s decrees ordain

To Beauty and to Youth a short-liv’d reign.

Then soar like her, releas’d from worldly cares,

To bliss which God for purest souls prepares.

These lines were composed by Dr. Stephenson, late of Dol llan, in the county of Carmarthen, out of affection and regard for Mrs. Lloyd.

Over the above-mentioned monument is a square board, on which is written, “This seat was erected at the expense of David Lloyd, Esq., and belongs to the house of Allt yr odin, in this parish, by virtue of a faculty from the bishop’s court”; and over a pew, in the north aisle, is another thus inscribed: “This seat was erected at the expense of David Lloyd, Esq., and belongs to the house of Castle Howel, in this parish, by virtue of a faculty from the bishop’s court.”

On the western wall of the tower, outside, and over the great window, is a stone similar to that in the church of Llanwenog, on which is carved our Saviour crucified, and the two Maries near him. A corner stone on the south wall of the tower has a cross carved on it.

In the churchyard is an old inscribed stone one foot six inches in length, one foot two inches in breadth, and about eight inches thick, on which are the following letters, VELVOR HLIM BRCHO. in three lines. It is impossible to make out the meaning of them now, and probably the stone may have been broken, and consequently part of the inscription lost. It now serves for part of the style leading to the churchyard. (See Pl. IV. Fig. 1).

CASTELL HYWEL

Is now the property of David Lloyd, Esq. An ancient MS. in Mr. Lloyd’s possession, gives us the following information relative to it: —

“Kadivor ap Dinawol, a man of great valour and conduct, having taken the castle of Cardigan from the Earl of Clare and the Flemings, by scalado, was honoured by his prince, who was also his first cousin (viz., the great Lord Rhys, Prince of South Wales) for that service with these arms (viz. ) sa. a spear’s head embrued inter three scaling ladders arg. on a chief gu. a castle triple-towered of the second. He was also rewarded with divers territories, and entitled Lord of Castle Howel Pantotrimon, and Gilvachwen, in the parish of Llandyssil, in the county of Cardigan; he married Catherine, daughter of the said Lord Rhys.”

Whether this Kadivor, or Cedivor, resided at Castell Hywel or not, the Welsh manuscript does not inform us; but as the Welsh were at this time perpetually at war with the English, and with one another, it was impossible for any Welsh chieftain to have any settled abode. Cedivor was contemporary with William Rufus, and as the Welsh were not subjugated by the English till about two hundred years afterwards, he probably only occasionally lived in this castle.

Gwilym Llwyd, of Castle Hywel, Esq., who was the sixth in descent from Cedivor, was probably the founder of the first mansion on the Castle Estate. He was the first of Cedivor’s descendants that had a surname, and lived in the reign of Edward II., when the Welsh were subject to the English, and the descendants of these Welsh princes turned their swords into ploughshares, and their hands to commerce and agriculture.

David ab Llewelyn Lwyd, of Castle Howel, Esq., was the fifth in descent from the said Gwilym, and first knight of the shire for the county of Cardigan, in the reign of Henry the VIIIth. He had four brothers: Gwyon, his third brother, was the first that went to Llanfychan, or Llanfaughan. David’s second son resided at Allt yr Odin. His eldest son continued at Castle Howel, and his descendants continued to enjoy the estate for many years, till it was sold by Mr. Lloyd, who resided at Berllandowell, in Caermarthenshire, to David Lloyd, Esq., of Allt yr Odin, the present possessor.

The present mansion, at Castle Howel, is not on the site of that built by Gwilym Llwyd, but close to it.

At a little distance from the house are the remains of the castle. Its original name was Humphrey’s Castle, which it obtained probably from some Norman chieftain, who raised the first castle. We learn from the Welsh Chronicle, that “in the fourth year of the reign of Henry II., Eynon the son of Anarawd, the brother of the Lord Rhys Prince of South Wales, got the castle of Humphrey.

He was afterwards murdered in bed by one of his own men (named Llewarch) through the orders of Roger Clare, Earl of Gloucester, 9th Hen. II.” Before this period, it says, “that Owen Gwynedd, in his third expedition into South Wales, overthrew Humphrey’s Castle, and returned home with much honor.” A manuscript likewise informs us, that in the year 1150, Howel, Prince Owen Gwyned’s son, fortified Humphrey’s Castle, in the valley of Clettwr, in the parish of Llandyssil, and called it after his own name, by which it is known at this day.

FOESHELYG

This was the residence of Rhys Lloyd, third son to David Llewelyn ab Gwilym Lloyd, of Castle Howel, who married the daughter and heiress of Jenkin ap Rhys ap Gruffydd ab Llewelyn Voel. Their son was Jenkin Lloyd, who left a daughter, Mary, his heir, who, marrying-Read,² Esq., it passed into that family. He left it to his natural son, David Read, whose son Thomas left a daughter, Elizabeth, his heir. This daughter marrying Francis Lloyd, son to Morgan Lloyd, of Llanllyr, took the estate to that family. Their son, Hugh Lloyd, married Ann, daughter to George Llwyd, of Castle Howel, and had issue Morgan Lloyd, who married Elizabeth, daughter to Edward Jones,³ and sister to John Jones, Esq., of Nanteos. It is still in the possession of a descendant of this Morgan Lloyd.

FOES ESCOB

This is a farm house, and belongs to a respectable freeholder, descended from the Castle Hywel family, a part of whose pedigree is as follows: —

ALLT YR ODYN

If this is the proper name of the place it would signify, “The woody ascent near the lime kiln”; but, perhaps, it should be written odwynne,⁴ which is very white, and then it would signify, “the very white woody ascent”; yet this is but conjecture, and the matter must remain doubtful.

It is the seat of David Lloyd, Esq., the eighth in descent from Rhys Lloyd, the second son of David ab Llewelyn Lwyd, of Castell Hywel, Esq. He bears for his arms sa. a spear’s head inbrued between three scaling ladders argent, in a chief gu. a tower, triple-towered of the second, crest a lion rampant arg. Motto Sic itur ad astra.

The pedigree of this family is as follows: —

David Lloyd, Esq., mentioned above, who married Mary, daughter to Henry Pryse, of Abergorlech, was a strict adherent to the cause of King Charles, and was obliged to compound for his delinquency, and the restoration of his estate, in 1648.

CILVACHWEN UCHAF,

Or the “little fair retreat,” is the property of Tho. Lloyd, Esq., and has been many years in the Lloyd family. The ancient pedigree of this family is as follows: —

CILVACHWEN ISSAF

The Llwyds of this place were descended from the same root as those of Duffryn Llynod, viz., from John ap Llewelyn Llwyd, fourth brother to David ab Llewelyn Llwyd, of Castle Hywel. The last of the family that inherited it was Mary, the daughter of Thomas Philipps, of Cringo, who left her share of the estate from her own nephew to the present possessor, the Rev. John Lloyd, who was related to her only as being derived from the same stock, viz., John ap Llewelyn Llwyd, of Castle Howel, aforesaid.

PANSTREIMON

This seat belonged anciently to the descendants of Cadivor ab Dinawal, Lord of Castle Howel. The pedigree runs thus:

VAIRDREF,

Now a farm house, was formerly a place of some consequence, and distinguished by the additional title “Vawr.” It belonged to the Lloyd family, whose genealogy is as follows:

This John Lloyd died without issue, but his father’s sister having married into the Llannerchaeron family, carried this estate to them, having become heiress to it; and it has remained in that family ever since, Colonel Lewis of that place now enjoying it.

Jenkin Llwyd, father to John before-mentioned, was a Master of Arts, and chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector.

YR HENBANT

This is now only a farm house, and originally belonged to a branch of the Allt yr Odin family. Thus,

The place now belongs to a descendant of the above-named Davies.

DYFRYN ULYNOD

This seat belonged formerly to the descendants of the Castle Howel family, who took the name of Jenkins; thus the pedigree begins with

Dyfryn Llynod is now part of the Abermeirig estate, and the property of Mrs. Edwards of that place.

DINAS CERDYN AND BLAEN CERDYN

The genealogy of the Lewis’s, to whom these estates formerly belonged, is as follows:

It is still in the possession of the descendant of this David Lewis.

WAIN IVOR

David ap Rydderch goch, of Pantstreimon was the seventh in descent from Rhys Voel, second son of Rhys, Lord of Castle Hywel, who was grandson of the famous Cadivor ab Dinawol. This David ap Rhydderch goch had a natural son, named Owen, whose son Thomas was the first of this family who resided at Bwlchbychan.

The present owner of this place, the Rev. Daniel Bowen, resides here. His grandfather married the heiress of this place, who was the daughter of Davis, of Troedrhyw fennid, and was the first that came to Wain Ivor. The Rev. D. Bowen, before-mentioned, is the ninth in descent from Owain ap David ap Rhydderch.

Wain Ivor, or, as it probably should be, Wain-y-vawr, stands pleasantly overlooking the Teivy, and commanding a delightful prospect.

The estate is still in the possession of his descendant, a respectable freeholder. It stands near a little meandering brook, from which it takes its name, and which falls into the Clettwr.

GELLYVRAITH,

Anciently a seat of the Lloyds, and afterwards of the Philips’s, is a curious ancient building, the roof and pointed arches of the doors and windows giving it a claim to such a title. The pedigree of the Philips’s is as follows: —

The estate is now the property of David Lloyd, of Allt yr Odin, Esq.

1. Perhaps if the dates of the two wars were transposed, the chronicles would assume more appearance of truth; but still the language shews when they were written, therefore they will only serve as traditions. I need only instance the word “appuntiassent,” of modem date, and of English original.
2. His arms were az. a griffin segreant or.
3. His arms were az. three bucks’ heads cabossed or.
4. Odwyn is sometimes put for Edwin, and we have Castel Odwyn, Edwin’s castle, in Cardiganshire; and Rhydodwyn, or Edwin’s ford, in Caermarthenshire.