Tothe Town and Neighbourhood Abergavenny

TO THE

TOWN A N D N E IG HBOU R HOOD

B E R A V E Y A G N N .

W B Y J O H N H I T E .

A B E B G A V E N N Y

L E D B - PU B ISH Y JA ME S HILE Y MORG A N , HIG H STRE E T

A N D 10 B B OBTA IN -O OF A LL noon -u m [K n . coon“ .

LI S O F‘ SU B SC R I B T E R S .

S. Llewell be e yn, E sq., A roam

- . W . W Philli . P t . ps, E sq , ou y

R . Steele laenafo , E sq., B n h t W. B a shaw E s . Sunn Bank 5 g , q , y n B art of Tre e ar 0 Sir 0. M orga , , d g T. ill E H , sq ., Blaenafon e of lan The H on . W . P . Rodn y, L . 0 : J . ill E s . Blaen fon 0 H , q , a

" . Thomas E s . l ach f ver Q J , q , C yd Lady Hall, o H ano

Mr. William Saun ers A ber a H Williams E s of Col broo d , g F. . q, d k , 5 0 3 Mr ames un ers A ber 6 . J Sa d , ga

- Stretton E s . of Dan W . R; , q , y Mr ill s A b r . W iam Jame , e gavenny

Mr Willi W t i s o . am a k n , A berga

f Mr. Charles aniel A ber a en nﬁm D , g v y m m Mr R 0 Mor an A ber ven i l R ush Me rick K H . . . g , ga ny S r Samue y , . ., r M . Isaac Isaacs, A bergavenny

- - iss or n of Pant oitre Mr. enr Thomas A ber avenn M M ga , y g H y , g y M or n of Pant- - oi Mr Tho n M iss A . ga , y g tre . mas Beva

n or an A bex ave n Mr. Joh M g , g n y R io Llanart M onsieur , h Fer inan Huddlest ne E s d d , q n arris Con M r. Joh H way, A ber l ha o C yt o Baker G ubb Es :A ber avenn , q g y M r Thomas Michael A b - . , el ga

s s . W . E lli . E q Pentre

T . Fowler E s . A ber avenn M s , q , g y r. John E van , A bergavenny

W . Price E s . A ber a enn v M r. E war Richar s A r , q , g y d d d , be ga

R ames E s . A er n . J , q , b gaven y - Mr. James E dwar s A bel a Tom G ubb , E sq . , d , g

H V ennor E s P - . , q. , en y r illi ow ll r M . W am P e , A be avenny H . W . Walbri E L g dge, sq ., lan ber a Mr. J ones, A g venny

Mr. Jam s Lewis A ber LaunoelotPowell . l h e avenn , E sq , C ydac , g y IV LIST OF 803 003 113123 8.

' N O . O l

COPI E S .

Mr W Ba ﬂ Peter ollins E s scul tor . . T. ker, H , q p , B irmin am M r. ohn en ins A be a enn ﬂ J J k , rg v y l R ev. gh r B isho et ne - Free p o , M r Whistance A nn , . D . , bergave y

M r. Wat ins A ber avenn k , g y r f oi E sq . , He e ord

Mr . ohn Richar s A ber avenn J d , g y ﬁmg‘;om on E s l ’ q - M r. reenwoo A ber avenn ot I e zl d G d, g y C tage, I re

M r. H ic s v R ev. T. Philli s Ha . H k , A berga enny p , y

R ev. M W att Staffor M r . S. oo A r v n A . . C per, be ga en y y , d

M r. L W . ea er A n R ev. ohn vans Kcnchester g , bergaven y J E ,

M r. ohn A nderson b enn Rev a ri th Kcnchester J , A ergav y . J mes G ﬁ ,

M r. ar man A ber avenn v nhill H d , g y R e . John E ckley, Crede M iss Saun ers A ber avenn vi vies Tillin ton d , g y R ev. Da d Da , g , M iss v n n S . Saun ers A ber a e d , g y i ht N ottin ham M iss M ich r avenn A lderman Kn , g ael, A be g y g W E E s N ottin ham . re . M r. E d war ie B laenafon y q , g d Lerv , ,

M r. Forth N ottin ham M r. Israel Mo afon , g rgan, B laen N in M r Mr. John Swain ott ham . T . em in s G arndd r s , g H m g , y y

Mr. B ms Peterchurch M r. Thomas in , Deak ,

N . awson E s . Lon on M r . Samuel ea i B l on D , d D k n, aenaf , q M rs lutton ereford M r. E win n l n fo . d Deaki , B ae a n C , H - M iss T. B roa street erefor M r. William B urti lac d , H d eld, B nafon , M l r r. Rees, L andove y M r. W. H . G eor e Blaenafo n g ,

Jo hn G riﬂiths E s . N ew Weir ill , q , M r. W iam Phillips B laenafon , Hereford

M r. E noch Williams B laenafon , M r P Kcnchester . Thomas earce ,

M r. Isaa c M or an B laenafon g , M r M orton nha m erefor . , Bode , H d M r B acob . . J , B laenafon M r eor e Swaine Lon la w . G g , g C M r. enr Price Blaenafou Leic H y , son, ester B laenafo n s or e Swain Lon law Mr . G e g , g C

M r. ohn Jones B laenafon Leicester J , son ,

Mr. J. L. Saun ers Lon on Mr. . . Williams B laenafon d , d J G , B ristol W n E . arris E s . M r. illiam Mor an B nafo g , lae . H , q r W illi s f n Stourbrid e E s M . am Lowi , Blaena o g , q l Pearce Stretton a M r. Danie , , M r. Sam uel L wren B l cnafo a ce, n

M r. G . . M or an B ristol r. rancis N i h lle B laen f M F c o , a on H K g , ole B ristol William A ll oo B lae afo M r. E dward C , M r. g d , n n ~ unton Lon o n e B ro wn B la n M r. John Sta , d M r. A lfr d , e afon M r Lewis oalbroo ale r W lliam e war Blaenafon - . D . S. , C k V M . i H y d , r adman Po nt— - Pool s Whi Blaen fo H M . C , y M r. Thoma te, a n M r wis B rinso erefor M r ohn Michael Blaenafon H . Le , p, H d . J , iss ri ths Ol castle r Wallace M G ﬁi , d M r. Ro be t , r N a nt lo -M r. E ve , y er i h B laenafon y g M r. Jo hn M ed t , Da Herefor d William M atthias B laenafon M r. y, M r. , r erefor r ohn ell B laenafon M . Y a , H d M . J K y, pp Herefor mes ifkins B laenafon _ M r. ones M r . Ja J , J , d omas B ards Blaennfon M B reinton M r. Th , ' B islw n o kins B lnenaton H M r. H p , Kcnchester r M Sir R obert Price, Ba t, P Miss letcher Po nt- y- poo l of Fo xley F , W bb Llantho n A bbe M r. e y y u sm ll E s . A P , l V illla m Do de , q , L m M r. G ra ha l o urt Worcester “ of Pul C , , Fin ne a n n dee“ ell E s of R i le M r. g Jo hn Du , q . , pp l W te n M (i rilli l hs la te o f Mada l on es r. “ A , c ,

‘ !Veir ll refor a scar J , d g C ON TE N TS .

- C H A PTE R I . History and A ntiquities of the Town and Castle

’ — John hur h— Th F mmar- Schoo CH A PTE R I I St. s C c e ree G ra l

’ S d i M n — rinit hu t. M ary s Church an ts o uments T y C rch The Dissenting Churches

T — mar M en— The C mrei ddion CHA P E R I I I . R e kab1e y gy

— e A s nt of the B lawren — Sc rr d V awr CHAPTE R IV . Th ce g y y Wemddﬁ— Pen -y-V al— Deri— B holben — G raig— B ryn Ar w Scyrryd Vach— Coed-y- Prior

V — E x cu r i n to Llanthon — Llanvihan C HA PTE R . s o y gel Court Old Castle— Lord Cobham— The Vale of Honddﬁ Llanthony Abbey

— E x ursi n — — C H A PTE R VI . c o to R aglan Castle Coldbrook Llan sanfraed— Clytha— IJanarth— Raglan Castl e

— Llanele — L ver - — C H A PTE R VI I . n lano e t Over M amhilad Town of Pont - Pool - Pont-y- Pool Park Dan-y-Parc— e t y- G ollen— G lan U sk Park Crickhowell Porth M awr— The I ron-Works— Pwll-y-C wn— Conclnsion

n — r i n - P A rm m x . Cym e gyddio List of riz es for the E isteddfod of 1846— Tomb of G wladus— Wem ddﬁ— Clytha— The G olynos

— d V — - - — Oak Cam oc raich Vtes e ty G ollen Tintern A bbey — d Llan ibb an g y .

P R E F A C E .

T H E A uthor of the present volume was induced by his friends resident

' in Abergavenny and the neighbourhood to oﬁer to the public a

h ort histor c f interes i contains with S y of the town and the obj e ts o t t , some accoun of the n r i uities and reside ces in the vicinit t sce e y, antq n y, which a e likel a he attention of the tourist and mi ht be r y to ttract t , g

’ h r th ost within a da m ade in eXcura ons of a few ours (o at e m y), in H e d s not la laim to an cluding the return to Abergavenny. oe y c y ori inalit thou h n the res t a es but has endeavoured as g y of g t i p en p g , , fa r a sible to be correct in his statements and has in his descri s pos , , , p tions iven wherever he cou d the resu t of his own ersonal obser , g ( l ) l p

l n v ations, and, in other instances, h as re ied o those who were best

ual ish inf ati n He has deriv d on idera i q iﬁed to furn orm o . e c s ble ass st

’ ance from Co e s Histor of M onmouthshire but has endeavour d x y , e to su one deﬁcienc in that val uab e work often commented u on pply y l , p , namel the total want of correct ortho ra h in the elsh names y, g p y W ,

hich b d rivin them of meanin dimini s in w , y ep g g, she their terest mate rielly ; and he only hopes that his humble endeavours to perpetuate the remembrance of a Town and N ei hbourhood endeared him g , to by

r ll ions of much kindness received ma g ateful reco ect , y meet with a favourable reception.

A B E B G A V E N N Y , SE P T E M B E R , 184 6 .

G UIDE TO THE TOWN AND N E IG HBOURHOOD

A B G AV Y E R E N N .

CHA PTER I .

H ISTOR Y AN D A N TIQ UI T IE S OF THE TOWN A N D CA STLE .

ON M O U T H SH I R E f rms art of the an ent str t of G went is M o p ci di ic ,

st n a te t usan s of the an ent r ts ra e and con ill i h bi d by ho d ci B i i h c ,

t nnes in nt of fa t to be a art of ut ales. It f rms a i , poi c , p So h W o

' ns era e r i n of the ese of Llandaﬁ and the e s co id bl po to Dioc , W l h

lan u a e or as it is now a e sts the C mric g g , ( c ll d by philologi ) y ,

s en in the unta n u s arts of t s unt is e treme r pok mo i o p hi co y, x ly pu e.

nm ut was an A ct of enr V n Mo o hshire by old ( H y III . ) ominally

a e to the n s u nt es to be n u e in the r dd d E gli h co i , i cl d d ci cu its of the English J u dges ; but this neither altered the character of the

u nt nor an e the ra e of the natves and it v rtua co y , ch g d c i , i lly

rema ne as mu a artof a es as ef re and ntnu t i d ch p W l b o , co i ed o be in cluded in most of the Tours and Histories of the Principality ; and since the late changes in the Legislature have done away with the stnct n of n s and e s u ature nm ut s r di i io E gli h W l h j dic , Mo o h hi e can no longer in that point of view be considered as less a part of

a es t an her twe ve s ster untes w se ec es as W l h l i co i , ho cl i tical

overn n e an ua e and n a tants are ew se e s g a c , l g g , i h bi , lik i W l h, and ‘ tem of u ature is now all a w hose sys j dic like. There is a curious w r R ers ntt e em rs of nm ut s re an en o k by og , i i l d M oi Mo o h hi , ci tly ” a e G went r nte in the e nn n of the 17th entur and c ll d , p i d b gi i g c y ,

e ate to all the r n a men of the str t at the ea of d dic d p i cip l di ic , h d i Th R H n W w m s e t o . ar of art n G uar an to Sir ho igh E l h o , di

The Welsh in s ea in of the e tent of W s sa the thirteen . p k g x ales, alway y ” ' ” counties T r S i r or a 0 G mr , Y as M y y y .

A 2 G U IDE To TH E TOWN A N D _

m s r a r es e a t. n r an sen . and u n . of Tre e a r Ch l K y , B , Joh Mo g , j d g ,

E s u res Sir t n ams n t in w t ere is as f ws q i , Hop o Willi , K igh , hich h ollo A bou t ﬁfty years after the incarnation of ou r blessed Savio u r t s r v n e su m tte to the R mans but was verne b k n s hi p o i c b i d o , go d y i g and r n es of t e r own who a n the tr u te m ose p i c h i , p yi g ib i p d , did en t e r an ent r ts and r v e es b e n never n u ere b joy h i ci igh p i il g , i g co q d y ’ ” W ax n ane or rm an t the re n of enr II . e a s S o , D , No , ill ig H y l o

ﬁnd in the same w r It is ver remar a e t at in U er o k y k bl , h pp G went (being notabove forty miles in ci rcu mference) there were seven religiou s hou ses su ppressed in the time of Henry V III a nu m er not to be ar e e w t n the same m ass in all r ta n b p all l d i hi co p B i i ,

viz . the r r es of e st w St. Kinmark Stru le nm u th , p io i Ch p o , , g , Mo o

and G oldclift and a s the an ent and ar e a e of T ntern . , l o ci l g bb y i H aving given this slight ou tline of the importance of G went at so ear a er of r t s st r we r ee to es r be the advan ly p iod B i i h hi o y , p oc d d c i

b n i tages estowed u po t by natu re. Monmou thshire has j ustly been described as combining more var u s eautes t an an t er u nt in G reat r ta n and w ere io b i h y o h co y B i i , h ? is the tourist who has attempted to disprove this assertion It is

n fu i deed rich in everything which can render a cou ntry delight l .

It is a rne w t e tens ve and u n u at n va e s w ere n atu re do d i h x i d l i g ll y , h re ns in all her r u ma n en e t rou w streams ig p o d g iﬁc c ; h gh hich ,

as n in the su nl t r n war s in t e r s nu u s u rses t e r ﬂ hi g igh , oll o d h i i o co , h i

an s ne w t ta and n n trees . u nta n s w and b k li d i h ll oddi g Mo i , ild

u e and ru e er e the t m st u s w t t e r ne- e bl , gg d , pi c op o clo d i h h i co lik

— nt n a f en r I is stu e w t peaks prese i g bold variety o sc e y . t dd d i h

rum n aste ate rema ns of the ast t u n its ove ness c bli g c ll d i p , o chi g l li w t a me an s a e and te n the trave er t at its st r i h l choly h d , lli g ll h hi o ic

n I m w t n r t and fame was bright in years go e by . t tee s i h i te es ; the ant uar the st r an and the et ma ﬁnd in it inex iq y , hi o i , po , y

° f r f and re e n has not ear of hau stible stores o ood ﬂ ctio . Who h d

a an and its iv - mante t wers ? and he who an e to v s t R gl , y l d o ch c d i i itwhen ’ ik Pit o er the walls e y, , r Ti which the conquero , me, ” i n Had rode unto destructo ,

u be n l n to u n ver his ea in awe and s ent a m rat n wo ld i c i ed co h d , il d i io

r atman of fee n has asse thr u of its shadowy grandeu . Wh li g p d o gh N E IG HB OUR H OOD OF A B E V R G A E N N Y . 3

Chepstow withou t paying a j u st tribute of respect to the old anti

u arian T me b a n u n its re t wer r f q , i , y g zi g po g y o s ; o the abbey o

T ntern ear n the mar s o f a t u san an es eserte its i , b i g k ho d ch g , d d by

f rmer n mates and n t n eft but the su n am m n o i , o hi g l be and oo light ? to eer its a e a s A nd t u it is so re u e and ch g d d y ho gh d c d ,

N i o ncense rises, save some chance wild ﬂower B reathes grateful to the air— no hymn is heard ’ N o soun - butthe bats melanchol in d y w gs, ” A nd esolation breathes from all aroun d d,

the traveller still ﬁnds that

The columned aisles with whispers of the past ” A re vocal ,

and he who was born on the same grou nd as the Fifth H arry cannot

on but mu st e a m w t r e T s is m own look coldly , xcl i i h p id , hi y ,

m natve an u nta ns and streams r s s and va e s y i l d Mo i , ock , hill ll y ,

reen e s and trees ast es and a e s all u n te to s e a g ﬁ ld , c l bb y , i h d gloriou s lu stre over this choice spot of the aboriginal inhabitants of

r ta n Th v w i B i i . e alley through hich the U sk winds s one of the

m st nterest n in nm u ths re and on its eau tfu an s es o i i g Mo o hi , b i l b k li

the t wn of A er avenn s met mes rru te the s n o b g y , o i co p d by li pi g

a rev at n of A ber a a n but w h a e at n is t n rre t bb i io g y , hic pp ll io bo h i co c

n rm A n t he O n n of a earne e s a d inha oniou s . ccordi g o t pi io l d W l h an tiqu ary Ca rnu a nha u c) the word A berga venny signiﬁes the

em u u re of the G a venn and is es r tve of its s tu at n on bo ch y , d c ip i i io

h U k A ber is e s the conﬂ uence of the river Cevenni and t e s . W l h for conﬂuence ; A bergavenn y corresponds with the R oman G oba n

' m u m the n ame of the river C even n i is formed o f G even Wy ridge

er en the N rman s ame ere: w a t ; Ceven (a mou ntain ridge). Wh o c h

n ot u nderstan n the mean n of the w r t e rru te it nt di g i g o d , h y co p d i o

B er avenn B er s n f n t wn and thus itis s met mes f u n g y , g ig i yi g o , o i o d

w r n i n The e s re- trans ate t s nt itte n old docume ts. W l h l d hi i o

’ Tr e Venm Tre e n e s for Town the town o Venni and f , f b i g W l h , f ) , itis t u n ew s G n t e a fam u s e s et of the h s give by L i ly Co h , o W l h po

ﬁf e n n r bu t s was a a n r e an d the r na t e th ce tu y t hi g i d opp d , old o igi l

Th s f en a i appellation of A bergavenny restored . e Wel h o t c ll t ” s rt Van ho ly ni.

A situ ation more pleasing than that of A bergavenny cou ld

ar e w ers Of the U sk at its feet and s c c ly be concei ved ; with the at , G UIDE TO THE TOWN AN D

munta ns un tn the e tremes of w ness and fert t and w ich o i i i g x ild ili y , h

f rm a vast natura am t eatre r un the t wn and we m h t o l phi h o d o , ig say with Bowles

Mountains ! the curious muse mightlove to gaz e On the dim records of your esrly da s ; 011:fan in lik l cy g that she heard e the ow b ast, The soupds of mighty generatipns past;

In su ch a s o ami stthese lorious vie p t, d g ws, The nsiv in his droo in s pe e post, p , i htwis -roofe f it M h to place his reed d erm age, ’ W ere much on life s vain shadows he mightmuse

The t wn l es as it were s ee n at the f t of the ttle o i , , l pi g oo Li

Sc rr d Sc rr d each and e n aced in an e evate s tu at n y y ( y y ) , b i g pl l d i io , ‘ it mman s a fu h n rickh co d ll view of t e valley beyo d C owel . The

t u r tw u be mu r w w fr m th - o is o ld ch g atiﬁed ith the vie o e Castle hill .

tan n on t at s ot t e su n S di g h p , So h by g

Here while I wake the reed beneath the brow Of the rent N orman tower thatoverhangs The luci U sk n ula in line d , the u d t g W her with h entl n Thatnature loves. het t e g e be d She slo th a e lif s the ra ual hill pes e v l , or t g d , Win the f t r own the ban ds ree rivule , o d k ’ l ux uriant rowth or breaks Spread s the wi d wood s l g , With interrupting heights the even bound Far and wi e Of the outstretched horiz on . d ath rou B lorench lowers Blackening the plain bene , p d B ehind whose level length the western su n h o o i M ou n Dims his slope beam them t e pp s ng t, E astern Of k rrid sacred soil craggy S y , , ’ Oft tro b il rim fo t O er the smooth swell d y p g o . Of Derry glide the clouds that gathering hang R oun on stee row ami the varie scene d y p , d d rin lof ual u h h i Towe g a t. grad p t e e ht ro h ill n l Of the ug h s, asce ding Ceres The atient ste f b r the wi e heat p p o la ou , d h n i in oc a er Where o ce the n bbl g ﬂ k sc nth bage cropt, Wave in the breez e with ol en harvests crowne , g d d.

The scene as the visitor enters the town by the Monmouth road

is of the nest des r t n . A t one an e he ta es in m u nta ns ﬁ c ip io gl c k o i ,

va e aste and r ver r ves w an s and e s. The ll y, c l , i , g o , oodl d , d ll mou ntains perfectly harmonize with the beautifu l and picturesque features of the va e and w ere e evate to an ns era e s e ll y, h l d y co id bl iz ,

To h n thei r asperities are softened by their distance. t e orth is seen the fur ate summ t o f he Sc rr d V awr— ra a bi c d i t y y c ggy , b ld , and a ru t resentn a l ntrast to the u n u at n s es b p , p i g bo d co d l i g lop and cultivated sides of the other mou ntains— more sublime and

’ H l r H l s Mou t Ori g w y , o ywy n . 5 N E IG HB OU R H O OD or A B E R G AVE N N Y .

str n t an its fe ws et not ess eas n . re t O s te iki g h llo , y l pl i g Di c ly ppo i

to the rr d w estwar s t wer the anwenart H s a ean Sc) y , d , o Ll h ill , b

t fu r u of m u nta ns re u ar and ran . T e n s st of i l g o p o i , g l g d h y co i

f ur s a e the err the R hOlben the G ra L anwenart o hill , c ll d D y , , ig l h ,

a n L nw a H l n t ese is ase an t er terme the d la en rth i l . O h b d o h hill , d

P en - - V al or the u a r- af fr m its ne- e a earan e y , S g Lo , o co lik pp c ;

t s r ses i e a m m V esuv us to the u s es r n an hi i , l k i ic i , clo d , d c ibi g o utline remarkable for its u ndeviating smoothness and easy grada

‘ ’ n n he trav er s e an s a n the fert e tio . Beyo d these t ell ye gl ce lo g il

a nd tures u e V a e of Crickhowel term nat n in a nt in the pic q l , i i g poi

d stant ers e t ve eautfu fr n e w t w s nta n n i p p c i , b i lly i g d i h ood , co i i g th ets vers e w t turrets and ru ne ar es a m st ick di iﬁ d i h , i d ch l o b u rie w t n t em am ets ur es u ses tta es and d i hi h ; h l , ch ch , ho , co g , fa rms en n nt one enera and e tens ve s ene of ve , bl di g i o g l x i c lo lin ess ; the U sk is seen winding its cou rse of sil very sheen between

n r n l b anks lined with tall and l uxuria t t ees . Beyo d a l this the e e d s vers an mmense mass of m u nta ns a en n the r n y i co i o i bl ck i g ho izo .

mme ate westwar s is seen the r a - reaste B lawren s w I di ly d b o d b d g, co l in u on th a n eneat and t wer n ma n ent and g p e pl i b h , o i g g iﬁc ly

r u To the r t we ﬁnd the Sk rr d V a tt e Sc rr d p o dly. igh y y ch (Li l y y )

en n th sweet u rs of its den fur e u n the air and s di g e odo gol z po , p resenting an hu mble contrastto the grand character o f the rest of ’ If t s r u s assem a e of nature s arms the land scape . hi glo io bl g ch do es notr vet the e e of the trave er as t e u rst u n his v ew i y ll h y b po i ,

f f n r n n he may be putdown as devoid o all eeli g o i tellige ce.

ns ere as a sma a e A er avenn is enera we and Co id d ll pl c , b g y g lly ll regularly b uilt; b ut in historical interest it gain s all thatitloses in s i z e ; and in this respect it excels any other town in the district

f G wen It w u be a tt e w r for the wr ter of st r o t. o ld li l o ld i hi o ic ro man e and h is a m atter of mu ast n s mentto u s t atA er a c , ch o i h h b g v e nny and its neighbo urhood have not attracted more attentio n

h r t T ere are a s m n ra w from the antiqu ary and t e a tis . h l o i e l aters

n e b u w w hi m t be turne to reata va ta t are ne e te . ch igh d g d g , hich gl c d

w t She h s v r n ea R omance always has dallied ith his ory . a e e e d

o ured to s r st r of her a n t n and wra ar un her v t ip hi o y pl i clo hi g, p o d

h e mant e of fantas so that it has be me a ma ter of reat t l y , co t g

n T u d ifﬁc ulty to disti ngu ish between tru th and ﬁctio . h s the early 6 G U IDE TO TH E TOWN AN D history of ou r cou ntry has been so clothed in the ideal ; that it is

not eas to se arate the f rmer fr m the atter. t t r u th e y p o o l S ill , h o gh

u of m ster t at enve s the r m t ve er of r ts fam e clo d y y h lop p i i i p iod B i i h , we ma tra e man a stream Of t w t u n u te tru st an d y c y ligh i h do b d , thu s learn that A bergavenny was a place Of great impo rtan c e

ur n h s r n n I w ne of t a t d i g t e most tir i g a d tro ublou s times. t as o h chain of fortresses which were continually kept on the alert du ri n g the stru es of the R mans and r t ns and the n ts seve ggl o B i o , co ﬂic ra of ax n an s and rman r s and it is we knoiv n lly S o , D i h , No lo d ll t at w t n its re n m n an n rest n n k e If h i hi p ci cts a y i te i g eve t too pl ac . we at its e ra a s t n we s a ﬁnd t at in its ne h look g og phic l po i io , h ll h ig bourhood Caractacu s fou ghtfor freedom and thathere the chi valry

B u t of U ther Pendrago n and A rthu r contested with the Sax on . alas ! these gleams from the land of shadows only lead u s to lamen t h w t e mu ch e have lost.

A fter the mans eft the s an t ere is ever reas n to su Ro l i l d , h y o p pose A bergavenny was occu pied as a fortiﬁed post by the Britons . The assertion that itwas the site of a R oman station — the G oban s ins :of A nt n nu s has een en e and man ar u ments ave o i , b d i d , y g h

e n was in h u e f w n remar s a reat b e ted t e disp te . Th ollo i g k go g

v a R m n ns ve way to prov e that su ch was the case. Se er l o a coi ha

een du u on e of w was a va u a e e e of t . b g p, hich l bl gold pi c O ho

evera r s ave een f u n near to the ast e ear n the S l b ick h b o d c l , b i g ”

ns r t n LE G . . A U G . man rema ns ave een s i c ip io , II Ro i h b di co vere am n st w was a man su at r nne te w t the d , o g hich Ro d o y co c d i h

i n f m e m nt f stan es as castle. It s too evide t ro the agr e e o di c laid d wn in theItiu erar ofA nt n nu s etween B u rriu m U sk G oba n o y o i , b ,

' m u m A er avenn — [sea Sila ra m Caer e n — an d M a na Castra , b g y , l o g ,

f m n n en es er . The ra tse e e O the R a e era Ostoriu s K ch t p c i d y o g l ,

a u a u n u te saw the a vanta es of t s s t as a nt Sc p l , do b dly d g hi po poi whence he might issue his troops to exec ute the vain and daring t reat he m e t at the u r an name s u be e term nate h ad , h Sil i ho ld x i d fr m the eart as the Sa ambrian had rev u s een fr m the o h , g p io ly b o states of G a a b the R man arms and t s is ta t n rme lli , y o hi ci ly co ﬁ d by the still plainly traceable Roman road leading from the great centre oint of his O erat n s in the western arts of r ta n ence p . p io p B i i h

— w M ma C tra e a u e to a as or en ester in eref r s re . ll d g , K ch , H o d hi G N E IG HB OUR H OOD OF A B E R A VE N N Y .

If even O storiu s could not so far establish the R oman power as to b e enab e to ra se a f rt in the eart of the u r an terr t r his l d i o h Sil i i o y ,

su ess r u u s Fron tinu s in the re n Of V es as an w u cc o , J li , ig p i , o ld probably have seized the opportun ity of fortifying a positio n so

va u a le as a means to se u re his futu re safet . B ut rant n l b , c y g i g

t at t s not ur A r a who su ee e u us Frontinu s h hi did occ , g icol , cc d d J li ,

re te his e ns a a nst the r v es n u ere t at e e di c d l gio g i O do ic , co q d h p opl ,

a n d u n te the two r v nces nt one en m nate B rita nnia i d p o i i o , d o i d

S ecunda and su re ur n t ese tran sa t ns its a vanta e u s ly , d i g h c io d g o

i u n I mu m s t ation cou ld not have bee overlooked . t st also be reme bered that from the time the R omans regarded Silu ria as a tribu tary

ro v n e to the er of t e r na e artu re fr m the s an p i c p iod h i ﬁ l d p o i l d , 3 3 0years elapsed .

A fter the e artu re o f the R mans the su ess n of ev ents d p o , cc io

m i m r U n a the er in w h b eco es wrapped n yste y. h ppily p iod hich t e

v ur of the r m t ve r t n was fu rawn ou t and in w igo p i i i B i o lly d , hich

w e m t ave tra e his natura ara ter is ver m u st to igh h c d l ch c , y ch lo

r nd ere a ee Of er sm enetrat h n u s . He e a th d d h oi p es t e ge eral

m n te u t a t se w r rr n m o but su s t e e st t es. It gl o , ch o ly ll h ho i i g i

u n u te was a fearfu e w en the r t ns assa e th do b dly l poch h B i o , il d by e

S c ts and ts a e in the aid of the a n and V rt rn o Pic , c ll d S xo , o ige tu rned traitor to his cou ntry when the chival rou s daring of ” A u re us A m r s u s U t er en ra n and the mm rta A rt ur li b o i , h P d go , i o l h , en deavoured to stay the torrent of invasion — daring only equ alled

the m st ren wne er es . of G ree e and me. Y et es te by o o d h o c Ro , d pi

u ch raver the masses were r ven nt the nter r Of t e s b y , d i i o i io h i r

m o u nta n fastnesses and the r ers of G went were s enes of er i , bo d c p

atnal str fe. C u t ese m unta ns s ea w at ta es t e u p i o ld h o i p k , h l h y co ld tell ! They must have been points of extraordinary interest in

n m s tho se sangu i ary ti e .

In the earl art of the rman er the m rtan y p No p iod , i po ce Of this

os t n to ena e t se nva ers to w t stan the er etu a atta s p i io , bl ho i d i h d p p l ck

f the e s was ear man fest and it e ame ne e o W l h cl ly i , b c c ssary for the

t to be ent re re u t or ns era str n cas le i ly b il co id bly e gthened . The grand feu dal tenu res gained to the lawless barons soon became petty

ro a tes w ere the rman n e was en ue w t es t wer y l i , h No obl d d i h d po ic po , which he used u pon his weaker enemies to gain his own u nprincipled 8 G UIDE To THE TOWN A N D

u r s A er aven n at t s t me was the t eatre of m rtan t p po es. b g y hi i h i po

v n The u arre s of the ar ns am n st t emse ves in w c h e e ts . q l b o o g h l , hi

the e e were a wa s the sufferers were r u t ve of the m s t p opl l y , p od c i o

u n A u t t s time the t wn was a ed disastrou s conseq e ces . bo hi o pill g

m s estr e the e s who tr en u on and rri and al o t d oy d by W l h , , odd p i

d b he au t a ventu rers r se in a d and fearfu l tate y t h gh y d , o bo y l y

ta a The stru es of the De B raoses and S ts llt a re li ted . ggl y y p Dyfnwal and his sons raised A bergaven ny to a place of mu ch con f h n r seq uence in the border warfare o t e cou t y .

A f r th n m had arr ve at a m re sett e state and the te e ki gdo i d o l d , in tru ders were naturalised by Thatgood Old plan s m ta e w h v th Thattho e ay k ho a e e power, ” s wh c n A nd tho e may keep o a . A bergavenny retires from public notice— the lot of all small places

f m n which gather renown ro sce es of passing conﬂicts . A t the commencement of what may be regarded as the secon d

n s st r the a tate state of the t mes a a n period Of E gli h hi o y, gi d i g i

n n n f m r n I elevated Abergaven y to a co ditio o i po ta ce. t appears that the town was strongly garrisoned and fortiﬁed by the friends

n h ear 1503 in the re n of Henr IV . wa n of royalty . I t e y , ig y , O i G lyndwr rose to assert his ow n rights and avenge the wrongs of

i n r and M nm ut s re e ame the s ene of war e O era h s cou t y , o o h hi b c c lik p

A er avenn e ared tse f in fav ur of Henr and for a tions . b g y d cl i l o y ,

a a ant res stan e to the s f length of time Offered g ll i c Wel h orces .

B t s n after the att e of B r n las in R a n rs re w en wa n u oo b l y g , d o hi , h O i completely routed the forces u nder the command Of Sir E dward

rtmer of m re u n e to the e e rate E ar of ar the Mo i , Wig o , cl c l b d l M ch,

r s efta n su en a eare ef re A ber avenn and victo iou chi i dd ly pp d b o g y, after a short conﬂict succeeded in entering the town ; and red uced

ere is a ta e re ate s me of he Old natve a s . T t s it to she h l l d by o i ,

n wr su ee e t r u the ass stan e of a w man who that G ly d cc d d h o gh i c o ,

’ O pened one of the gates at midnight — hence the term Traitor s lane is given to the road leading to the spotwhere the gate formerly stood .

s w ma be re ar e as an nterestn r um A fter thi , hich y g d d i i g ci c

e w t the st r of the t wn we n w n t n f stance connect d i h hi o y o , k o o hi g o the su ccession of events u ntil the time of the Co mmonwealth

10 G UIDE TO TH E TOWN A N D certainly may rank in the respectability and talent of its inhab i tants as e ua if not su er r to an t er t wn in u t a es . q l , p io , y o h o So h W l

The tra esmen are s r te and we - nf rme men t u n o d pi i d ll i o d , ho gh t

m r elan des r e A ber avenn in his t nerar es as nu u s . e o L d c ib d g y , I i i ,

a f r wau lled t wn meet we n a ted hav n ai o , ly ll i h bi , y g

a u r A tthe resent t me the enera ara ter of the p roch ch ch . p i g l ch c

Th s r t of m r vem nt w we see in b uildings is regular. e pi i i p o e hich the resent da n uen n so m t the r t s e e has not p y i ﬂ ci g igh ily B i i h p opl ,

- - een e in A er avenn . r m re street street and b idl b g y F og o , High ,

r ss- street ave assumed u te a fferent a earan e of ate C o h q i di pp c l , and t ere is ever reas n to e eve t e w be st m re m r ved h y o b li h y ill ill o i p o , and t at reat es eratum a a a a e of a mm at n h g d id , h ll , c p bl cco od i g

re ter nu m er of ersons t an an t er in the unt has a g a b p h y o h co y ,

r t ew s. n recently been e ec ed by the pu blic spirit Of M r. E . L i Soo after the t wn had een de r ve of its arter A er avenn o b p i d ch , b g y

e a n to e ne as a a e of m ortan e etfor man ears after b g d cli pl c i p c , y y y a ns era e tra e in sh es was arr e On and ver ar e u an co id bl d o c i d , y l g q

s w n r st f r rta n Th wn was u titie ere se t to B i ol o expo tio . e to co si derabl enr e the far- fame w te e s danne s for the y ich d by d hi W l h l , manufa tu re of w it is we a a te of w ar e u anttes c hich ll d p d , hich l g q i i were formerly sent to I ndia ; the mou ntain sheep su pply a ﬁne

n of wo and the water in the v n t is e u ar a a ted to ki d ol , ici i y p c li ly d p render it soft and delicate ; but only a comparatively small qu an tity o f this particu lar sort of ﬂ annel is now made ; Welsh woollens

are manu fa ture in the ne u r an - m weavers c d ighbo hood by h d loo ,

who are nu mer u s in t s str t and w se tu res ue W te o hi di ic , ho pic q hi washed cottages and neat gardens are seen by the sides of the

m unta n streams and are er a s the n esta s ments to o i , , p h p , o ly bli h which the name of f a ctory can be attached withou t possessi ng any one of the grievous evils which have so continually demanded

the nterferen e of the e s ature in n ne t n w nurs i c L gi l , co c io ith those e ries of vice and disease which we fear still exist in man y parts of

n The e s han - Engla d . W l h d loom weaver possesses some simple

ma ner for ar n and s nn n the w w is set in m t n chi y c di g pi i g ool , hich o io

b a ar e w ater w ee a te on b the stream w e ten or twe ve y l g h l , c d y , hil l

a ea t ren re are and su the w and are also h ppy, h l hy child p p pply ool , sent out with the pieces of woollen to those by Whom they have 11 N E IG HB OUR H OOD or A B E B G AV E N N Y . been r T w u antt of o dered . hese small eavers make a large q i y strong and serviceable material fo r the clothing of the n ative popu

at n a nd t e atten the mar et w t the r u e of t e r own l io , h y d k i h p od c h i

' a n out of in dustry . A few ye rs ago no farmer s wife was ever see woo en a fas n w reserve ea t and revente the a ll , hio hich p d h l h , p d cci

ents fr m ﬁre w are now nstantl u rr n fr m the re d o , hich co y occ i g o p va en e of tt n t n but n tw t stan n w the eman l c co o clo hi g , o i h di g hich d d for Welsh woollen conti nues to be considerable for home con sum n and w t n the ast ten ears mu a t na ro t ptio , i hi l y ch ddi io l p ﬁ has een er ve the e sh weavers in nse u en e of the b d i d by W l , co q c in creased demand from the encou ragement given by the higher classes in connection with the Cymreigyddion ; and not only is t ere a c ns era e uantt r ere for ur ses of ar t h o id bl q i y o d d p po ch i y,

nstea of the ms r nte a es ef re est we but a reat i d ﬂi y p i d c lico b o b o d , g deal of ﬁne woollen is made for the dresses and cloaks of the ladies

’ in the ne ur as we as for entemen s wa st ats and ighbo hood , ll g l i co tr u sers in the v n t who w t ver r er fee n at n z o ici i y , , i h y p op li g, p ro i e

the nat ve ms to the reat eneﬁt of t e r u ntr men . The i loo , g b h i co y Welsh woollens are totally different from the English or Scotch m nufa u re ver ura e and a a te for was n t e are a ct , y d bl , d p d hi g ; h y w ven in e s and str es and s me of the atterns are ex o ch ck ip , o p

n n T ere ar no s s atta e to the weavers tremely a cie t. h e hop ch d

uses as t e mere weave a c r n to r ers or for the ne ho , h y ly c o di g o d , igh

bourin mar et the r e var es fr l s. a ar to Qs. a r n g k ; p ic i om y d , cco di g to the u a t nd w t and som s e mens are en era q li y a id h , e good p ci g lly ’

W kins s n in he t w . Th to be seen at Mr. at a d t er ra ers t n e , o h d p o

lan rw n r n a weaver are M r . n r an of L and p i cip l s Hopki Mo g , g y y,

M r. S amue Harr s of G wenﬂ rwd and the avera e of ar s w ven l i , ; g y d o by the latter are ﬁfteen thousand an nu ally . A bergavenny also was celebrated for its manu facture of perri

w s w t w the men of fas n e rate t e r ea s. The ig , i h hich hio d co d h i h d y were va u a e in r rt n to t e r ex treme w teness and were l bl p opo io h i hi ,

as na f r f r u ne s a Th met of b occ io lly sold o o ty g i a e ch . e hod leach in i n n n r en turn g hair s su pposed to have bee i ve ted he e. Wh pike r a s were r u t nt u se r st and L n n w e a e deal ers o d b o gh i o , B i ol o do hol s l sent t e r trave ers nt a es and so e r ve A er avenn o f h i ll i o W l , d p i d b g y the ad vantage which it had from its being a martfor supplying the 12 G UIDE TO TH E TOWN AN D

m W - rom t s idland parts of ales with shop goods from Bristol . F hi

a umu at n of u nfav ra e r umstan es the town be an to cc l io ou bl ci c c , g fall fast into decay ; but between the years 1750and 1760another

s ur e of a vanta e resente tse f w i Was rea made ava o c d g p d i l , h ch dily il

a e the n ustr us n a tants and it was a a n for a time bl by i d io i h bi , g i

a a e o f n s r e n n ns of em nen e pl c co ide abl co seque ce. Physicia i c ’ r ar e p escribed whey from goats milk to consumptive persons . L g

s of t ese an ma s e n fed u n the ne u r n m u nta ns ﬂock h i l b i g po ighbo i g o i , and the newly constructed roads having i nd uced many of the English to visit Wales ; the pecu liarly beautifu l situation of the

t wn the arm n var et of the su rr u n n s ener and the o , ch i g i y o di g c y,

ene t w nva s er ve fr m the w e s n attra te ver b ﬁ hich i lid d i d o h y , oo c d y

enera attent n and A er avenn was ns ere a a e o f g l io , b g y co id d pl c

fas na e resort. T ere is wever a fas n in me ne as hio bl h , ho , hio dici

i nd we as in ress . eaux e ne wear n erriw s a s ll d B d cli d i g p g , phy i

’ e au s eft of? res r n ats w e - the f rmer fe nt is use i l p c ibi g go h y o ll i o d , and the latter was no longer considered as the only panacea fo r

m nar c m a nts. N ow wever the tra e of the t wn is pu l o y o pl i , ho , d o ﬁ x ed U pon a more stable basis than the whims of physicians or the

m n of f n In the ear 1788 the Blaenafon r n caprice of e ashio . y I o

w re mmen e and su se uent t se Of eauf rt Works e co c d , b q ly ho B o ,

ant Tre e ar Farte and t er a es and t e ave been N yglo , d g , g, o h pl c , h y h

means of reat n reas n and ermanent se ur n the com the g ly i c i g p ly c i g,

rit f wn mercial prospe y o the to . S uch has been the ﬂuctu ating nature of its commercial impor

n e and su u tu at ns we fear it w a s for the future ta c , ch ﬂ c io , , ill l o

n The resent ea t st t e f the have to u dergo . p h l hy ate of the rad o town is owing to the vast amou nt of b usiness it transacts u pon the

s We ve one nstan e of t s trut . T ere is at resent an hill . gi i c hi h h p

t ns ve esta s ment for the manufa ture of s es in w no ex e i bli h c ho , hich t

t an one u n re and ft men are nstant em e and l ess h h d d ﬁ y co ly ploy d ,

w r s occasionally u p a ds of two hundred . B ut this prosperity i threatened by the desire for railway speculation which is springing

u ar u n it. The r se ut a es ra wa and the o ne p o d p opo d So h W l il y ,

ew rtto nt o l w ave h ff f n u n near from N po Po yp o , ill h t e e ecto i d ci g ly the whole of the popu lation engaged in the works to transact thei r

u s ness in P nt oo and ew rt and if effe te A ber aven nv b i o yp l N po ; c d , g N E IG H B O UR H OOD or AB E R G A vE N NY . 13

w a a n fa l nt c mmer a insi niﬁcance un ess in ee ill g i l i o o ci l g ; l , d d , there be some other medi um discovered by which the energy of the

in a tan h bi ts may be agai n brought in to action . The mu nicipal go vernment of the town is now vested in Com

m ss ners un er an act O f ar ament ssessin £2 0 a- ear i io , d p li , po g y

free ro ert in wn In 182 1 it nta ne in hold p p y the to . co i d habi

ta nts and a r n to the ast ensus , cco di g l c That the town was once strongly fo rtiﬁed there does not ex ist a

d u t T o b . he site of the walls m ay yet be traced ; and if we may

f rm a u ment fr m tra t nar ev en e the f rtﬁ at ns were o j dg o di io y id c , o i c io

’

e tens ve . The western a e Tu r s G ate was buta f w ears x i (c ll d do ) , e y

a o a m st erfe t and was ns ere as the reatest ur s t of g l o p c , co id d g c io i y

the t wn mman n the nest v ew Of the untr ar u n and o , co di g ﬁ i co y o d , ,

a s a re of ant u t eman n venerat n . B ut the ar ar an lic iq i y , d di g io b b i hand of u tilitarianism ha s placed its ruthless grasp on this ﬁne

rta and it has sa eare . po l , di pp d The castle is in a very dilapidated state ; yet it is a matter of

w n er t at so mu rema ns of the n e stru ture see n t at o d h ch i obl c , i g h

it ha t The umns s been so long standing in a neglected sta e. old col

tower ne and me an n n t e r s a ws lo ly l choly , ﬂi gi g h i h do

From on high, e Like dials which the wiz ard, Tim , b ” Hath raised to counthis ages y.

The iv an s in ra efu fest ns ver t e r t s re n ver y h g g c l oo o h i op , joici g o

’ the ast and seem n to sa t at T me s s are ever fres and p , i g y h i lock h

r i m u rin t wer g een . A lthough circu mstances have made ts o lde g o s

so interest n to the tra ve ler ett e are en se w t wa ls i g l , y h y clo d i h high l , a s tho u gh the owner felt determined to shut it u p from the public e ye and we m ay almost say

’ I wins o aint r s az e i bears no minstrel la s. t n p e g , t y

The poet Lotherington has thus very beautifully addressed the o ld

I' ll ")

n er ru f where R uin is wellin In yo d de ortress, d g, A lon with his comra es Old Time and eca g d , D y, Where the moul erin towers solemnl telli d g y ng, f lor and ran eur now lon asse awa O g y g d g p d y.

m ere sou The Trumpets and dru s w merrily nded, s ls ra and banners were own A nd vas a pa ded, ﬂ A nd the lightsteps of beauty fairy- like bounde l er o oure and arlan s ere s A nd minstre :w e h n d, g d w trewn. 14 G U IDE To THE TOWN AN D

A a ye, many noble and many a maiden ave az e on that doom in i b and ri e H g d ts ee p d , ’ A nd man a ca tive with sorrow o ern?en y p , , E nchaine in its un eons h i d d g , as faded and d ed.

Y es old walls th stu t , y cca, hy power and glory, ave gone with t e years thatcan never return B ut the mi ht and the fam - s o g e of thy far distant t ry, Thro u h the ar ni ht of s i s ll rn g d k g age unsull ed ha bu .

ur too in the re n of E a et t u a s Ch chill , , ig liz b h, h s ddre sed h umble lay

Mostgoodly towers are here and naked left Thatcovered were with timber and good lead These tow rs o s strai f e d tand as ght as doth a sha t, The walls thereof mightserve for some good steade ’ For soun and thic e and won rous hi it d k , d h, w hal, The are i i l ndeed, and l ke y notto Woul od th fo G , ere re, the owner of the same ' ” D d sta them u fo i y p r to ncrease his fame.

The ruin is s tu ate at the s ut -western end of the t wn old i d o h o , e evate on a and mman s an e t ns ve s ene of h r l d hill , co d x e i c t e eve v n n a e stret n u n ll n n aryi g la dsc p s chi g po a sides . Sta di g u pon the

- aste reen t e ou re f rt his la . V ewe fr m a i C l g , So h by p d o h y i d o d s tan e it resents a e u arl tures ue a earan e n se as c , p p c li y pic q pp c , i clo d it is w t eautfu trees the m ern m m tu r ets of th new i h b i l , od i ic r e

u n ee n ver t e r t s seem n to m atthe remn n b ildi g p pi g o h i op , i g ock a ts

f n n o decay mou lderi g be eath . It is probable that after the Romans leftthe island this spot was oc u e as a f rt e st the n r c pi d o iﬁ d po by B rito s. The p esent is ev i dentl a st e of u n su se u en t th rman r T r y yl b ildi g b q t o e No e a . he e is a tra iti n t at A er avenn aste r na was u t d o h b g y C l o igi lly b il by a.

ant name A r ross and t s serves to r ve its e trem gi d g , hi p o x e ant u t as a f rtress t u sa to be f u n e so ate as the iq i y o , ho gh id o d d l

rman n u est Hammeline de a un or B alodu n W m No co q , by B l , , ho

m en a s the ﬁrst r of A er aven n w se fat er Dru de Ca d c ll Lo d b g y, ho h ,

B alodin one of t s rman a venturers who ame ver w th , ho e No d c o i

am and who u n er the t a s stem of t atw m nar h Willi , , d poli ic l y h ily o c , were permitted to war and to endeavo ur to subdue the last indi

en us s ar f free m . T s efta n av n n u ere th g o p k o do hi chi i , h i g co q d e wh i verwent and n w th ut ssu e in the ea r ole distr ct of O , dyi g i o i y

10 0 e ueat e the ast e and terr t r to his ne ew r en de 9 , b q h d c l i o y ph B i

’ a n f r or de L Isle . The rusa n s r t was at t is t me W lli g o d , c di g pi i h i

m of the va r of E n an and am n stman an imating the boso s chi l y gl d , o g y N E IG H B OUR H OOD OF A B E R G A VE N N Y. 15

’

others de L l sle determ ne t turn his an e a a nst the n de . , i d o l c g i i ﬁ l

U n his e artu re for erusa em he eft the aste in the an s of po d p J l , l c l h d

his ne ew a ter de G u ester E ar of H eref r and Consta e ph , W l lo c , l o d , bl ’ of E n an r en s reams f r en e n the a ns f gl d . B i d o glo y d d o pl i o

a estne an d de G u ester rema ne in ssess n t his eat P l i , lo c i d po io ill d h .

M his son ne tsu ee ed to it b ut he n w t utma e ssue ilo , , x cc d , dyi g i ho l i , the castle and its contingencies were divided among his three

au ters b one of w m name erta t e ame nt the d gh , y ho , d B , h y c i o

ssess n of de B raose or ruse a werfu ar n fr m po io Phillip , B , po l b o , o

wh m t e es en e to his son a de B raose. A t t s o h y d c d d , Willi m hi

er od the f rtress was of reat m o rtan e and w tnesse man o p i o g i p c , i d y f those bloody con ﬂicts which resulted from the u nj u stseizures and t ran n a r cee n s of the r s ar ers the va ant r s s n y ic l p o di g Lo d M ch , li e i ta ce

of the e s and t e r des erate stru es for n e en n The W l h , h i p ggl i d p de ce. s r t of the tmes f stere ea feu s and nat nal atr pi i i , o d by d dly d io h ed,

was ren ere m re fer u s a ser es of re terate n ur e In d d o ocio by i i d i j i s. the preceding year to thatin which the eventwe are aboutto relate

u rre itwas e eve t atthe e s efta ns had k ed Henr occ d , b li d h W l h chi i ill y de eref r u n e of am de B raose and to reven e his deat H o d , cl Willi , g h , in the ear 1l77 bu t u nder a rete t of e e ratn a r stma y , ( p x c l b i g Ch i s

fest v a am nv te to his ast e at A er avenn Seis llt a i l , ) Willi i i d , c l b g y , y p

D fnwal G e ffre his son and the m st ren wne efta ns f y , o y , o o d chi i o

f t r fest v t w v w w s. In the m st o e t a e of inﬂ min Po y id h i i i y , i h i a g

r m n s and v n s me u r to the aseness of his esi ns thei i d , gi i g o colo b d g , he informed the Welsh nobles that in futu re they shou ld not travel armed either with their swords or their bows ; and he instantly requ ired of them to take an oath for the due performance of the same It is easy to imagine in what manner a ﬁery and high s rite n t w u re s so m er us a eman w t pi d obili y o ld li h i p io d d , hich hey

f r a r I w w ou ld only consider as a badge o thei sl ve y . t as u n iver

sa and w t n nat n re e te . O n a s na t en e n m e lly i h i dig io j c d ig l h b i g ad , a n u m r of arm s ers who had een stat ne in th e be ed oldi , b io d e castl fo r t s ur se ru s e nt the a and a enera massa r hi p po , h d i o h ll , g l c e

e n su e . N ot sats e w t the he had a rea s e B raose d i ﬁ d i h blood l dy h d , , a tten e his rufﬁans r ee e to the use of Seis llt at no d d by , p oc d d ho y ,

reat stan e w he set on ﬁre t en se n the w fe of t at g di c , hich ; h , izi g i h

efta n and mur er n in her resen e her nfant son he b rave chi i , d i g p c i , 16 G UIDE To THE TOWN AN D

arr e the wre m t f A nn c i d tched o her to the castle o bergave y . B u t

’ de B raose s perﬁdy was amply pu n ished in the commencement of the su eed n entu r the sons of the mur ered efta ns . cc i g c y, by d chi i The spirit of revenge urged them onwards a spi rit the most

tent in un u tvate m n s . It seems t at R anu l h (13 Peer po c l i d i d h p ,

he er ff Of G u ester had een c n erne w t am de t Sh i lo c , b o c d i h Willi

B raose in the massa re w i it a ears w as er etrate t r u h c , h ch pp p p d h o g the secret influence of the E nglish king. The nephews and so ns of Seis llt w t the t er efta ns av n arr ve to the a e o y , i h o h chi i , h i g i d g f man were str n n te to reven e on the n s the hood , o gly i ci d g E gli h

m u r er of t e r k nsmen and arents . In u rsu t of t s es n d h i i p p i hi d ig , ear in the m rn n t e assau te the ast e of A er avenn ly o i g, h y l d c l b g y , and av n sealed the wa s t ssess n of the f rtress and h i g ll , ook po io o ,

urn n it to the r u n t e carr e awa r s ners the vern r b i g g o d , h y i d y p i o go o

nd his f w l a w e t a l the arr s n . The un efta ns no i , i h g i o yo g chi i , t

av n met w t the e ts of t e r ven ean e st rm e an t er h i g i h obj c h i g c , o d o h f rtress ate ere te R anu l h de er near nm ut the o l ly c d by p Po , Mo o h ,

arr s n of w u na e to res st t e r fu r w as r ven wn nto g i o hich , bl i h i y, d i do i

the f sses and s a n the an es of the en em . R anu l h w th o l i by l c y p , i n ne of the m st stn u s e ers na es in nm ut er s e i o di i g i h d p o g Mo o h , p i h d in the enera arna e and am de B raose mse f s re g l c g ; Willi hi l , o ly w un e and verw e me in the f sse was w t diﬂlcu lt res u e o d d o h l d o , i h y c d , ’ i and scarcely escaped W th his life. A few years subsequ ent to t ese r ee n s ur n the st t es etween enr n h p oc di g , d i g ho ili i b H y a d

ewe n a Iorwerth the fer u s De B raose was sent nt th Ll ly p , ocio i o e

u ntr to sear for r v s n s and su was the ar ar u s n atu r co y ch p o i io , ch b b o e of his a ts t at the nfur ate e e r se and eventual t him c , h i i d p opl o ly ook

n A tru e etween the two n at ns s n afterw r s w priso er. c b io oo a d as a ree to and am was re ease on a ment of t ree thou g d , Willi l d p y h

san mar s . B ut s rt after su r r se he fe a a n nt t d k ho ly , by p i , ll g i i o he same s tuat n and as itis sa av n een s vere arr in i io , id , h i g b di co d c y g on an am ur w t a e s r n ess the s ster of the n o i h W l h p i c , i E glish m nar bu t the w fe of ewe n he suffere an n m n o o ch ( i Ll ly ), d ig o i i u s

in her R ambles in South Wales that the Lord s o f M iss Sinclair observes, ,

of the same bloo as the hero B ruce of Scotlan . She herself A b ergavenn y were d , d celebrate characters claims a relationship to these d .

18 G UIDE TO THE TOWN A N D

stn u s e b f re n r n e n di i g i h d y o ig p inces than his own sovereig . B i g

e u te w t a retnue of 800 rse to ac om an the n sh d p d , i h i ho , c p y E gli

re ates to the u n of nstan e he rece ve un mm n p l Co cil Co c , i d co o

m r a ks of approbation from the E mpero r Sigismund and his con

s rt. H av n s na e mse f at a t urnament the etu ress o i g ig liz d hi l o , p took his badge from the shoulder of one of his knights and placed i t on her own . The em er r a s on his arr va in n an sa p o , l o , i l E gl d , id

to Henr no r st an r n e had su a n tfor w s m nur y , Ch i i P i c ch k igh i do ,

tu re and manh and if all ur es was st on eart it m t , ood , co t y lo h , igh

et be f un a a n in im He w s n n the m st st n y o d g i h . a ot o ly o di i

u i h s ed warr r b ut the reatest trave er of his a e. A fter g io , g ll g

v s t n ran e and ta he ma e a v s t to the an and i i i g F c I ly , d i i Holy L d ,

was re e ve at erusa em w t the est mar of res e t as c i d J l i h high k p c ,

we for his own va u r as for his escent fr m G u ar o f ll lo , d o y, E l

arw k w se r mant st r w as a a te to the en u s of the W ic , ho o ic hi o y d p d g i

E ast. r m erusalem he returIied to V en e and c nt nued his F o J ic , o i

trave s t r u uss a t u an a an russ a and G erman . l h o gh R i , Li h i , Pol d , P i , y D uring this expedition he performed extraordinary feats of chivalry

in vers t u rnaments in w he sur asse all his ntem di o , hich p d co po

rar es . H e d e at uen in rman in the ear 143 9 hearin i i d Ro , No dy , y , g

the fﬁ e of R e ent Of ran e. enr his son who a ve high o c g F c H y , , g

ro fs of v a ur e ua to his fat er n at an ear a e the p o lo q l h , dyi g ly g ,

ast e of A r aven n was w reste fr m Sir war ev l e to c l be g y d o Ed d N i l ,

w m it s u ave es en e ar ev e ar O f ho ho ld h d c d d , by Rich d N ill , E l

arw k the reat n - maker and was not rest re to the W ic , g ki g , o d 150 es en ants of ir war ev e the r tfu e rs t 3 . d c d S Ed d N ill , igh l h i , ill

G e r e ev l e the fteent ar n was in the ear 1784 reate o g N i l , ﬁ h b o , , y , c d

s u n n ar of A er avenn who n in the Vi co t Neville a d E l b g y , , dyi g

f w n ear was su ee e his son enr t r V s u nt ollo i g y , cc d d by H y , hi d i co

v A r venn is the n ar n am n st the nu mer u s Ne ille. be ga y o ly b o y o g o

n u rs nferre the r wn on the efta ns who su se u en t ho o co d by c o chi i , , b q

to the rman nvas n entt e r aid in the su u at n of a es No i io , l h i bj g io W l ,

and e the ar m of A run e it is a feu a d n t a , lik E ldo d l , d l ig i y , loc lly a h n of the aste en e not reato n ttached to t e possessio c l , joy d by c i bu b t nur t y e e.

M st f h r fa en and the r n a rema ns ns st o O t e walls a e ll , p i cip l i co i

The w nd of a rou nd and pentagonal to wer . indows a doorways N E IG HB OURH OOD or AB E R G A VE N N Y . 19

w ere u t in the nte st e. r m the s te the ast e a ears b il poi d yl F o i , c l pp to have consisted of two courts ; one is converted into a kitchen

a r en the tewa to the t er w f rme the r n a g d ; ga y o h , hich o d p i cip l

en tran e and s me art of the wa s are st stan n . To the c , o p ll , ill di g so u th- east of the pentagonal tower is a tumulus which w as for

m r r f n th ear rt of th r n e ly sur ou nded by a osse . I e ly pa e p ese t cen tu r the rema ns of the ee were u ed own and a new y i k p p ll d ,

b u n ere n i T s is mu to be m nte . ildi g cted o ts site. hi ch la e d Had

the wh le of the ru n een eftto the w r of tme it w u ave o i b l o k i , o ld h do n e credit to the taste of the proprietor ; bu t the magniﬁcen t

rema n s of the state t wers are no m re and the s r t of t s i ly o o , pi i hi

b r - and- m rtar a e is but too a arent w e the new u n ick o g pp , hil b ildi g

ad s a ver ns n ant sum to the rent- r f th no r d y i ig iﬁc oll o e ble ea l . 2 0 G UIDE To TH E TOWN AN D

CHA PTE R II .

’ ’ — - — C MM A R SCH OOL ST . M A R Y S CH UR CH sr . JOH N s H U R CH THE FR E E G R A

— — H S A N D ITS M ON UM E N TS TR IN ITY CH UR CH TH E D IS SE N TIN G CHU R C E .

TH E town formerly contained two chu rches ; the one dedicated to

m r was the ar s d the t er to St. ar . The f r e St. n an Joh , o h M y o p i h

ur bu t is now in a a ate state and the atter w as the ch ch , dil pid d , l

a e ad n n and ev ted to the u r ses of the r r . ch p l joi i g, d o p po p io y

f m naster es Henr . A t the period of the dissolu tion o o i by y VIII , the parish chu rch was converted into a free grammar- school by

t m nar and en we w t a rt n of the r r revenues tha o ch , do d i h po io p io y ,

were e in trust b the r rat n and it a ears were which h ld y co po io , pp

in m a es u nw se a r r ated for in the re n of ar es IL so e c s i ly pp op i , , ig Ch l ,

t n in the man a ement of the s t k a e a great altera io g chool oo pl c , and a portion of the tithes were leased for the term of n inety- nin e

ears to esus e e f r at £50. er annum on n t n y , J Coll g , Ox o d , p , co di io

t at it s u ma nta n one fe w and one s ar to be sen h ho ld i i llo chol , cho

the a ff and the v ar out of the free- s o or if n n e by b ili ic , ch ol ; , o

s u be u a e as to earn n for a m ss n nt the e e ho ld q liﬁ d , l i g, d i io i o coll g ,

n m n n u u se u ent the fro a y natives of the co unty of Mo mo th . S b q ly

to t s t er re u at n s and m r vemen ts t a e and an A ct hi o h g l io i p o ook pl c ,

of ar ament was asse in the ear 1760 t at the master mu stbe P li p d y , h

a. fe w s ar or m em er of esus C e e an d be sen the llo , chol , b J oll g , cho by

e e and v ar if res ent and the fe w and s ar mu st be coll g ic , id ; llo chol

e e te ou t of ers ns rn at A er avenn or in the u nt of l c d p o bo b g y , co y

nm ut who ave een two ears in the s o and t e Mo o h , h b y cho l ; h y

s u be en m nate The fe w and s ar of B er aven n ho ld d o i d llo chol g y, and vacate the schol arship and fellowship at the ex piration of fo ur

een e r U n r n m n r nt t y a s . de these regu lations the e dow e t at p ese

rema n s a d the s i n n c s u te the R ev . H . eake i , hool co d c d by P ,

' ’

cu rate of St. ar s a ent eman in ever wa u a e for its M y , g l y y q liﬁ d

d uties. A n alien priory for monks of the B enedictine order w as fou nded

a s rt tme after the n uest b Hame ne de a un the N or ho i co q , y li B l ,

man ssess r of the ast e and not n de Hastn s a ene po o c l , by Joh i g , b

’ fa t r as state b S e D e . t a n on c o , d y p d Camden says tha e B l u s s N E IG HB OUR H OOD or A B E B G A vE N Nv . 2 1 ere ted two az arett s or s ta s for e ers bu t no vest es are c l o , ho pi l , l p , ig

ra a r m v s n f n m erf t n w t ce ble . A n erro ight ha e ari e rom a i p ec k o le e of the fact t at he had two s ns e ers w m he a e in dg h o l p , ho pl c d the r r rev u s to his n on a r ma e to the an p io y p io goi g pilg i g Holy L d .

am de B raose w se san u nar s r t we ave ef re a u e Willi , ho g i y pi i h b o ll d d to in an u r of en ten e rante to t s use a t t e of th , ho p i c , g d hi ho i h e

w e r v s ns &c. al wed to the ast e on n t n t at the hol p o i io , , lo c l , co di io h

a t an d monaster of the m n s of St. V n ent in M ans to bbo y o k i c , , w h t s use was a e sh u ra for the s u f n hic hi ho c ll , o ld p y o l o Ki g

Hen r I . his own s u and t at of au his W fe. The annu a y , o l , h M d , i l reven u es at the ss ut n a r n to u a e am unte to di ol io , cco di g D gd l , o d

5. 8d . n 5 . 12 ee 0d. Th £ 9 . s and a r to £ 9 . 48 e ev , , cco di g Sp d , il

m e e s r t of enr V . w t a rut ess an r e the i p ll d pi i H y III , i h hl h d, obb d

m an C ath esta s ments of t eir r ert and t e ra Ro olic bli h h p op y , h y g

ua thr u u t the n m rum e eneat his fr wn The d lly o gho ki gdo c bl d b h o .

r r Of A er avenn e ame n e ected too and was fast m u p io y b g y b c gl , o l

er n awa u nt it was u se for t er t an re us r s s d i g y , il d o h h ligio pu po e .

It is now nverte nt a rivate we n and nta n m co d i o p d lli g, co i s so e

va u a e and nterestn e es of ta estr . n r n l bl i i g pi c p y Ki g Cha les I . a d

II . are sa to ave n u re it w t t e r resen e and n r id h ho o d i h h i p c , o e oom

' w - It w n as called the king s bed room . as the the residence Of the an c ent fam of G unter w se au ter and e r s i i ily , by ho d gh h i e s t

asse nt the o rne fam and is now in ssess n p d i o Milb ily , po io of C .

- em s T nte E s . the reat ran s n of a a K y y , q g g d o L dy M rtha Mil

rne au ter of the t r E ar of f r in w se r bo , d gh hi d l Ox o d , ho th ee gran d - daughters concentrated the un ited properties O f G u nter

b rn The r r is s tu ate n h - and Mil o e. p io y i d o t e south eastern side o f

the t wn and mman s a ﬁne v ew of the V a e of U sk w ere o , co d i l , h the Scyrryd V ach and the B lawreng are the chief features of the

’ n s u w n pictu re. When St. Joh ch rch as co verted into a free

’ s St. ar s the r r a e su ee e t at str chool , M y ( p io y ch p l) cc d d h uctu re as

i h n n u ar sh u r w t as t e ever s n e. It p i ch ch , hich co i d i c was origi

na u t ru f rm b ut the a terati ns it has un er one an lly b il c ci o , l o d g , d

the a t ns ma e to it ave een so reat t at the re u t ddi io d , h b g , h g lari y o f

he stru ture t in the nter r and e ter r has een entir l t c , bo h i io x io , b e y

estr e and it w u now be fﬁ u t to tra e the ntenti d oy d , o ld di c l c i on o f

w the ur e n its f u n er . A s a e r se ts a str k n o d hol , ch ch p i i g combin a

n e ri u tio n of the sublime a d th dic lous . The colossean ﬁgu re o f 2 2 G U IDE To THE TOWN AN D

ra am es in the Her ert a e and t er ures are mis A b h li b ch p l , o h ﬁg

Th m nu ments are astere w t w te l me in placed . e old o pl d i h hi i ,

n s T e eas rn some places nearly a quarter of an inch in thick e s . h te

n f h n i in a t a e t the arved wo - w r e d o t e bu ildi g s pi i bl pligh ; c od o k ,

n e so eautfu is ro en and ne e te — reat art of it o c b i l , b k gl c d g p

van s e A las ! o r u r ! To attem t a es r t n of it i h d . p o ch ch p d c ip io

i n w sts were utter f so we must es r e it as it was as t o exi olly, d c ib

re u s o the ear 182 0 w en the a terat ns of mas ns and p vio t y , h l io o bricklayers did the work of ru in

T n ns ste of a nave n rt a s e art of the tran he bu ildi g co i d , o h i l p .

se t w t a entra t wer a r w t two a s es and a an e . p , i h c l o , choi i h i l , ch c l

The w n ws and rs are in the r na nte st e e e t a i do doo o igi l poi d yl , xc p

n r u ar arc in the transe t w nts at the ear N o r bli d ci c l h p , hich poi ly

man . The r is near in its r st ne state av n nventu al choi ly p i i , h i g co

stal s on ea si e f rme of oak ru e arve the one nten e l ch d , o d , d ly c d ; i d d

for the r r is e evate and su rm unte a m tre. T u p io l d , o d by i ho gh ,

as a s e men of ar ite tu re t s e ce has ease to s a p ci ch c , hi diﬁ c d di pl y

mu t atcan nterest the ver of t at n e s en e et fr m ch h i lo h obl ci c , y , o

its nnect n w t rem te tmes and the nu mer us m nu ments o f co io i h o i , o o

ers ns who n e r u ure on the t eatre of fe the v s t r p o o c p o dly ﬁg d h li , i i o will ﬁnd himself disposed to i nspect the i nscriptions on the

u n art of the s ut a s e of the r is denom i sc lptured sto e . P o h i l choi

nated the Her ert Cha e e au se man of t at st n u s e b p l , b c y h di i g i h d

fam lie u r e t ere and severa an ent and u r us m n u ily b i d h , l ci c io o

men mmem r te t e r n m v n f ts co o a h i a es. Se eral bra ches o this family

r s e in th n ur T ere r a s m e id d e eighbo hood . h a e l o to bs of other noble

r r pe sonages who were Lords of Abe gavenny. The richest monu

ment in t s ur is t at o f Sir R ar Her ert of w as so n hi ch ch h ich d b , E y ,

o f am rst E ar of em r e and an est r of the E a Willi ﬁ l P b ok , c o rls of Pembroke and C aernarvon it occu pies a recess in the south wall

o f the c a e the u re is re u m ent w t u fted an s a ted h p l , ﬁg c b , i h pli h d , h bi

in a at of m a the ead vere re ses o n a e m and h co il h , co d , po h l et t e

feet rest on a l n . A ve it are s a e the Her ert arms io bo di pl y d b .

His w fe was ar aret the au ter of Sir att ew ra i M g , d gh M h C dock ,

n t of wansea G am r ans re . A t the a of the m n K igh , S , l o g hi b ck o u

me nt are severa sma l u res arve in a a aster the ar est f l l ﬁg , c d l b , l g , o

w m an as en n to eaven su brted b an a o c di g h , pp y angel u nder her

nd ra t ers ver n a feet a seve ut her. o me , l o h ho i g bo S have su pposed N E IG H B O UR H OOD or A B E R G A vE N N r . 2 3

that the l atter ﬁgu re was intended to represent the wife of Sir

R r R e resentat ns Of a man in arm ur and a ichard Herbe t. p io o ,

w man are nee n e w t ese are r ab Sir ar er ert o , k li g b lo ; h p ob ly Rich d H b

n i n s e are the r t ree s ns in arm ur and a a d h s l ady ; o each id i h o , o , dau ghter kneeling ; above are escu tcheon s charged with the Her f er and rad arms . A n and narr w e e o rass con b t C ock lo g o pi c b ,

ta n n an ns r t n w as ﬁ ed on the e e of the m nu men t i i g i c ip io , x dg o

art o f it rema ns and artis fal en b ut the mar s on the st ne p i , p l , k o

are yet visible .

n eat an a a aster m nu men t nta n n two re um ent Be h l b o , co i i g c b

u res u n er an ar etween the a e and the r are e ﬁg , d ch b ch p l choi , d po s te the rema ns of Sir R ar Her ert of r k and i d i ich d b , Coldb oo ,

ar a ret his w fe au ter of Sir T mas a G ruff dd n t. M g i , d gh ho p y , K igh The tomb is ornamented on the sides with a variety of ﬁgures in

re ev bu t so efa e as to be w th fﬁ u t ma e out. The li o , d c d i di c l y d

u res are re um ent w t u fte an s Sir ar Her ert ﬁg c b , i h pli d h d ; Rich d b is re resented in a fu su t of ma w t his ea are and su p ll i il , i h h d b , p

rte a s eaf of arr ws w h w as his rest his feet reston po d by h o , hic c ;

n His a is a te in n r e her ea re a lio . l dy h bi d a lo g ob ; h d poses on a u s n su rte two u res m u r en— in all r a c hio , ppo d by ﬁg , ch b ok p ob

— bilit an els and her feet rest u n two s. Sir ar w y, g , po dog Rich d as the r r et r of r k near A er avenn w en e he w p op i o Coldb oo , b g y , h c as

st n u s e the a e at n of Sir R ar er ert of di i g i h d by pp ll io ich d H b , Cold

r k . H e was a man Of un mm n e t and r wess nd b oo co o h igh p o , a

n w ne in r He st n u re o d feats of a ms. di i g ished himself during the

ntent ns of the uses of Y r and an aster and the er s co io ho o k L c , h oi m which he displayed at the battle of Banbury is related in the style o f va r his des en an t the rd er ert of er ur chi l y by c d , Lo H b , Ch b y . With his pole- ax e he passed and retu rned twice through the

’ en em s arm and e w t his own an one u n r y y , kill d i h h d h d ed and forty men ; but when his p arty was on the point of gaining the

v tor the e s tr s m sta n a sma r s of h ic y , W l h oop , i ki g ll co p t e army for the a van e u ar of the an astr an art u n er the E ar d c d g d L c i p y , d l o f

W w were w t a n and ﬂ d n l s ar se e a e o al es . Si ick , iz d i h p ic id r

ar Her ert and his r t er the ear of em r e rema n n Rich d b , b o h , l P b ok , i i g o n the e of att e were ta en r s ners led in tr u m ﬁ ld b l , k p i o , i ph to h f an u r and senten e to eat on t e w n da . B b y , c d d h ollo i g y M uch 2 4 G U IDE TO TH E TOWN A N D

inter ess n was ma e to save his fe t for his o ers na e c io d li , bo h g odly p o g

and the va u r he s la e on the ﬁeld but in va n the senten lo di p y d , i ce

was arr e nt e e ut n and Sir R c ar Her ert su ffere eath c i d i o x c io , i h d b d d ‘ w t a s r t and res ut n w rt of his ara t r i h pi i ol io o hy ch c e .

In the entre of the a e is an t er a a aster m nu ment c ch p l o h l b o ,

r e rate w t arv n to the mem r of Sir i am a ichly d co d i h c i g, o y W lli p

T mas and G wlad s his w fe arents of am H er ert rst ho , y , i , p Willi b , ﬁ

ar of em r ke of t at name and of Sir R ar Her ert of E l P b o h , ich d b ,

ro Hi m nu ment is rn men Coldb ok . s o o a ted with a variety of em

blematic ures and is ecu ar nterest n to the nat ves’ ﬁg , p li ly i i g i becau se the person s interred were not o nly the origin of the great

fam of Her ert b ut Sir am w as the son of the fam us ily b , Willi o

T mas a G w m au the au ter of Sir n r e ho p ily , by M d , d gh Joh Mo l y, from whom he inherited the castle of R aglan ; and G wladys w as

the au ter of the no ess st n u s e Sir av G am a nd d gh l di i g i h d D id ,

w w o f Sir R er V au an who fe in the atte of A n ido og gh , ll b l gi

u rt the s e of enr . T e r efﬁ ies lie in a re um ent co , by id H y V h i g c b posture on the top of the sepu lchre ; he is habited in a complete

su t of arm u r w t a a er an n fr m a r e t his ea i o , i h d gg h gi g o ich b l ; h d

rests on the u st of a Tu r or a am r w w as his rest b k , bl ck oo , hich c , and is still borne by som e bran ches o f his family ; his feet rest o n

is w fe is resse in a s rmen v r w a lion . H i d d clo e ga t co e ed ith a

se r e and re ses on a us n su rte b two smal loo ob , po c hio , ppo d y l

u res m u r en bu t w c a ear to have een an e s a ﬁg , ch b ok , hi h pp b g l ; t

w O n a h f her feet are t o dogs. e c side o the tomb are twelve sm a ll a a aster u res in re ev n s r s : t se on the s u th l b ﬁg , li o , holdi g c oll ho o side are said to represent twelve apostl es ; those on the north are

h rn nd i m r m n r a m art rs . A t t e easte e s a lar e a t e t p ob bly y g co p , m u r en nta n n the sa utat n of the r n ar w th ch b ok , co i i g l io Vi gi M y , i

T s m nu m n i r r r b an angel o n each side . hi o e t s pa ticu la ly desc i e d b the e s et Lew s G n G t in his e e on the eath y W l h po , y ly o hi , l gy d

— of t s e e rated and atr t a . See a e 1 of em s hi c l b p io ic l dy ( p g Po ,

Lew s G n G th u s ed the C wridorion et in by y ly o i , p bli h by y Soci y

Londo n . )

Some mistake this tomb for that of his brother others suppose thatthe E a rl f P bro e was burie in some other ar of the church bu e n l f r o em k d p t , t rro eous y, o h e e was buried in Tintern A bb y .

2 6 G UIDE r o u rn TOWN AN D

The ers n ere ur e was r a Sir war ev e who p o h b i d p ob bly Ed d N ill ,

e ame ar n of A er avenn in r t of his w fe E a et b c B o b g y , igh i liz b h ,

au t f d u d gh er o Richard e Bea champ .

A t the n rt - east rner ne t the an e are two st ne o h co , x ch c l , o

eﬁi ies re resentn Sir A n rew and a we a atera l g , p i g d L dy Po l , coll

f a u e and ran of the er ert am . Sir A n rew was b ch H b ily d J dg ,

or eutenant of the u ntes of Heref r nm ut and L d Li co i o d , Mo o h ,

re n . The ﬁ ures are re u m ent and a te as a m n B co g c b , h bi d o k

nd n a u n .

In the Her ert a e is a ﬂ at se u ra st ne etween the b Ch p l p lch l o , b

r rt mo n uments of Sir William ap Thom as and Sir Richard H e be . The inscription commemorates the last male of the Coldbrook

ran and is nserte e au se it as erta ns the e a t s tu at n of b ch , i d b c c i x c i io

the two ast- ment ne m nu ments and ten s to u strate the l io d o , d ill genealogy of the family

Here lieth the bod of Sir James

Herbert of Col brook Knt. Who departed this life ye 6th u ne 1 09 in the 65 ear Day of J 7 , y of his age having in his Life time cuj o ed in his native Country all t e chief honours Due to his berth and quality as member P as he were e o e of arliament, etc. t y nj y d B his ancestors ever since the rei ° enr h rst he bein of ng H y t e fi , g t nineteenth in decent from Herbert Lord Chamberlain to the said King and the ninth from Sir Richard Herbert o b n rr un r h tomb of C ld rook, i te ed de t e on his left side who with his brother William first E arl of Pembroke of that N ame was (valiantly fighting r th ourth in that King E dwa d e F , G reat narrel between the Houses of Y ork and ncaster) taken prisoner r and behea ed at N ortham ton B anbu y , d p In the year 1469 both the said brothers B eing eons of Sir William Thomas and G ladiee de G am who are interred under the middle tomb ye said Sir James Herbert leaving behin d him Lady Judith h e s the 12 th da Herbert, w o d cea ed y r h e he of N ovembe t e same y ar. T y left behind them one daughter his l ei name u ith marrie so e h r, d J d , d ow ll of B roa w To Sir Thomas P e , d ay e t of armarthen Baronet In y coun y C , To whom she hath born several sons rs ls lieth the bo and daughte . Here a o dy P th son of e sai Sir hou of Sir James owell, fif y d T P w l n son of the sa i Sir ames o e l, gra d d J who di an infant e 11th H erbert, ed y f ril 1 09 Day o A p 7 . 2 7 N E IG HB OUR H OOD or A B E R G AVE N N Y .

A t the n rt end he r r tw re um ent ures of o h of t choi a e o c b ﬁg ,

freest ne re resent n two fema es of ru e s u ture mu a o , p i g l , d c lp , ch dil

idated one of w h a r n to ur ard is A a s p ; hic , cco di g Ch chy l dy

of s me n e use w se name n w not. r m a . o obl ho , ho I k o F o MS

’ a unt u te G u in his e t n of am en s r tann a cco , q o d by o gh , di io C d B i i ,

t e are sa to ave een the co - e resses of B raose r of h y id h b h i , Lo d A bergaven ny :all the distinction s which might l ead to ascertai n

f In ur the person represented by the ﬁrst ﬁgu re are de aced . Ch ch

’ ar s t me she e d a s u rre in her an of wh ta e was y d i h l q i l h d , ich a l

t t at in en eav ur n to at a s u rre she fe fr m a wa l old , h d o i g c ch q i l , ll o l

and was e The efﬁ of a w m an at her feeth s a eart kill d . gy o old h

in her an and ears on her reast a s e ar e w t three h d , b b hi ld , ch g d i h

- - - ar e ﬂ eu rs de lis. T ese are the arms of the r s of ern ddfi l g h Lo d W ,

and seem to n te t at the ers n ere nterred was r stan i dic a h p o h i Ch i i ,

e ress of ern - ddfi who marr e A am a R e inald descendant h i W , i d d p g ,

of enr t er ert r of an we and mm n an est r of H y Fi zh b , Lo d Ll llo l , co o c o

r n t r r the diffe e t branches of he H e be ts .

In the n rt a sle of the r is a sma n su re a e the o h i choi ll i clo , c ll d

ew s a e fr m a remar a e m nument f rme of one e e L i Ch p l , o k bl o , o d pi c

of st ne to the mem r of Dr. av ew s ere te mse f. o , o y D id L i , c d by hi l

The efﬁ is re um ent resse in a n r e w t his an gy c b , d d lo g ob , i h h d

u n a an an r arve on the fr nt a u es to his fﬁ e po book ; cho , c d o , ll d o c

’ sa s he was f A l - u as Judge of the A dmiralty . Wood y o l So ls

l e e and was afterwar s r n a of esus e e u e of Co l g , d p i cip l J Coll g , J dg

’

the H urt of A m ra t aster of St. at er ne s H s ta igh Co d i l y, M C h i o pi l ,

near to the t wer of n n one of the asters in C an er and o Lo do , M h c y,

’ ’ f r a u n E a t s R u sts He in n o he M j esty s (Q ee liz be h ) eq e . died Lo

do n the 2 7th da of A r 1584 and was u r e atA er avenn , y p il , , b i d b g y

on the 2 4th of M a f w n . He ve at an ew R dd rch y ollo i g li d Ll dd i y y , and the mansion and estate conti nued in the possesion of his

es en ants t a ut the m e of the ast centu rv w en d c d ill bo iddl l , h they

were s to the trustees of the w of ar es ams of a old ill Ch l Willi , C er

e n and u n te to the r estate. l o , i d Coldb ook

In the m d e w n w of the n rt a s e is a ssean ure id l i do o h i l colo ﬁg ,

arve out of a s n e e e of oak w t a n ear and i c d i gl pi c , i h lo g b d d s hevelled a r a aren tl arr n a sma er ure on hi h i , pp y c yi g ll ﬁg s shoul

ers . It was at one tme su se to re resent St. r st d i ppo d p Ch i opher, 2 8 cums TO m rows m

arr n a r n to the e n our av ur w en a d c yi g ( cco di g l ge d) S io , h chil , a r ss a r ver bu t on a urate ex am nat n ita ears to ave c o i ; , cc i io , pp h been nten e for the atr ar A ra am re resente in a recum i d d P i ch b h , p d

ent sture w t an an e su rt n his ea and the enea b po , i h g l ppo i g h d , g

i l r og ca tree of the Tribes of Is ael .

Un er the rst ar between the cha e and the r is a d ﬁ ch , p l choi , m nu ment of st ne w t two ures in re ev of a man and o , o , i h ﬁg li o , w man nee n on ea s e of an altar w t a atn inscri o k li g ch id , i h L i p

n H r v m s s n s G V LI E LM U S u rne rs a m tio rc rN Cn s sr o o c B , ,

x I I B A T E I N TE G R IT A T I S &c. m mvaa cn a w sr rrm e nz , LL , ;

— h i ere commemo OB . 3 0 OCT . am a er w o s , Willi B k , h rate was stewar of r A er avenn and his w fe was s ster of d , d Lo d b g y , i i

Dr. av ew s bu r e in the n rth a s e of the c a e . There D id L i , i d o i l h p l is a ta etto the mem r of his son ar aker unse lo r bl o y , Rich d B , co l

- W n fat er and at law . illiam a d Richard are remarkable as h

r t er of Dav a er a earne ene tne fr ar w se su en b o h id B k , l d B dic i i , ho dd

nvers n s n u ar c ara ter and l terar a urs are re r ed co io , i g l h c , i y l bo , co d ” b A nt n o in his A t enae Ox oniensis. y ho y Wo d , h

In the ance w t n the mmun on ra s in the u er art ch l , i hi co i il , pp p of the s e wa is a se ul ral st ne w t a at n e ta id ll , p ch o , i h L i pi ph ,

wr tten Dr . erts r v st of to n e e w in bar i by Rob , P o o E Coll g , hich , m n of num ers and ur t of st e ma vie w t the w r s o f o y b p i y yl , y i h o k

the antuan hard or an su bse n r n . M , y que t p odu ctio

In the w n w ver the se u r w is the re um en t i do o p lchre of D . Le is c b efﬁ carve in w o of a man w t his an s u fte and the gy , d o d , , i h h d pli d , leftleg crossed over the right; he has a helmet and short coat o f ma his feet rest on an an ma w h is ea ess bu t fr m the il ; i l hic h dl , o

c aws a ears to be a n . T s it is r a e is the same u re l pp lio hi , p ob bl , ﬁg w is r in n u nd fr m he arm s hich desc ibed a old MS . by G o gh ; a o t of V a en e and ast n s nce em a ne on the w n w a ve l c H i g , o bl zo d i do bo , was r a n de ast n s a r of er avenn who p ob bly Joh H i g , Lo d Ab g y , es ouse sabe au ter of A amar de V a en e ar of Pem p d I l , d gh d l c , E l r b oke.

A m n st the numer us ta ets in the ur the f w n o g o bl ch ch , ollo i g w ms al e ta ns r e on a se u ra st ne in the n ave hi ic pi ph , i c ib d p lch l o , may be particu larised N E IG HB OUR H OOD or ans nosvnm . 2 9

' li e s e Here eth on of A bel rac , Whom Cain did huntfrom place to place Y et no i ed abo t he went , td smay , u , Working until his days were spent N ow one he ta es a na having d , k p, ’ Here in our common mother s lap . W i the ri e room sa aitng to hear b d g y, ise m ar and come awa A r , y de , y. ObiitH en Maurice 30die 1612 . , , .

” ' w i “ Th u r n es es at s ter me e a d St. ar B id h d Old Ch ch , M y s t ere is a new s a u s a n d e e antl - u t stru tu re in the h , p cio , l g y b il c

G rofiield n wn as Tr n t hu r . It is in nt of ar h , k o i i y C ch , poi c i tectural eaut the rnament of the t wn and as an nstan e b y , o o ; , i c of r vate mu nificence it has bu t too few ara e s in t s afil u ent p i , p ll l hi ” a e . In it the r and r meet t et er an d the r te u s g ich poo og h , igh o

“ on s erat n is e t in v ew — The r is the maker of t em c id io k p i , Lo d h ” ll velvett - fr n e rta n ew a d t n n a . No y i g d cu i sh s is i ctio between the m an who has een esse w t the r t sm es of f rtu ne and b bl d i h b igh il o , the man t at nee s um e to the ust the ressure of h k l , h bl d d , by p w ant but t e bow t et er ef re t at e n who is the c m , h y og h b o h B i g o

er f l T ur i m o n Fath o al . he ch ch s the centre of a neat and

’ b eau tfu t s uare f rme the er man s u se free i l go hic q , o d by cl gy ho , s o and e t tta es for r and a e w men all in a cho l , igh co g poo g d o , st e of b u n in u n son wit t at of the ur and resent yl ildi g i h h ch ch , p

n ste a r n e T e u r w r an exceedi gly cha ppea a c . h se str ctu es ere e ected

n d u ta en we ss e rt f A nn a s r e o er ave . Th i bly do d by Mi H b , b g y e

c ur was n se rate in 1842 the t R ev . the r h ch co c d , by Righ Lo d

f Land ﬁ. The r wa T s o a a te t s mas . att E s . Bi hop chi c ho H Wy , q ,

n n of Lo do . The rise and progress of Dissent in Monmouthshire forms a remar a e feature in its st r in nse uen e of its ear k bl hi o y, co q c ly esta s ment and the ra r ress it has ma e in ater tme bli h , pid p og d l i s. The I ndependent and Baptist denominations at A bergavenn y were the ﬁrst Dissenting interests in the cou nty ; and itis probable that the spread of these principles has been more rapid in this district ‘ n m than in a y other part of the kingdo .

In con rmation of this s ent w i i h o r ﬁ tatem , e may nstance the ne g b u hood of the a r iron-works alone aboutten miles fro b nn where in a ga , ( m A ergave y.) com ass of two miles there ar ten issentin cha els ei ht of which are Wls p e D g p , ( g e h and tw o E n lish andthe total of the con ations amounts to ﬁve thousan ,) g d persons. A Sun sch l i l y oo s attached to each 0 pe . 3 0 G UIDE TO TH E r ows A N D

A bergavenny contains ﬁve Dissenting places of wo rship - on e

e n n to the n e endents t ree to the a t sts and one t b lo gi g I d p , h B p i , o

the es e ans Th n W l y . e I dependent congregation at A bergavenn y

is the est ssent n d in t s u nt nm w old Di i g bo y hi co y. Mo outhshire a s a strong- hold of I ndependency in the tim e of C rom well ; an d it

w be remem ere t at Sir Trev r ams and s me t e r ill b d h o Willi , o o h

ent emen of the u nt who were ta en r s ners the R g l co y, k p i o by oyalists

a s rt t me r r to the s e e of R a an ast e and tr e b ho i p io i g gl C l , i d y

har es I . in erson a t A ber a venn were w arm a erents of the C l , p , g y , dh

mm nw ea t and n e en ents . Hen e w e m a raw the Co o l h , I d p d c y d

n us n t at t is au se had an e sten e in the t wn as far co cl io , h h c xi c o

as the ear art of the sev enteent entur H wever t back ly p h c y . o his

ma be it is erta n t at in the ear 1688 the nterest was esta y , c i h y i

blished and n u m ere am n st its m em ers s me of the m st , b d o g b o o

w t an d n u nt a n a an f h f eal hy i ﬂ e i l i h bit ts o the town . T e place o meeting at that period was in a bu ildi ng su bsequently called “ “ - The G e r e s tu ate in r ss street. In 1692 a a e w as o g , i C o ch p l

ere ted in ast e- street at a reat e ense an d the mem ers of c C l , g xp , b the Independent denomination con tin ued to worship in this plac e

u nt 1792 w tme t e r num ers had so n rease t at it il , by hich i h i b i c d , h

n t r nd l r u l n Th was necessary to erect a o he a a ger b i di g. e old

w nvert nt a re en e for the m n s er In 183 chapel as co ed i o sid c i i t . 9

the a e w as en ar e at a stof £900 bu tt s su m w as s n ch p l l g d , co , hi oo

ra se b the mem ers and fr en s of the nterest and in 1844 the i d y b i d i ,

n m T is n chapel was une cu bered by debt. his a light a d spaciou s

bu n a a e of nta n n 800 e e. The num er of mem ildi g , c p bl co i i g p opl b

Th f n bers co nnected with the chu rch is at present 112 . e ollowi g are the names of those gentlemen who have successively min i stered

— M er v R v s M r . e Dr. a w er a a in the place e d ¢ Col , y, Fo l W lk , D id

ar ne en am n av es n G r fﬁt ene er Skiel am J di , B j i D i , Joh i h , Eb z , Willi

m v ew s and the R ev . H . . u nn who is rr s . a es a H a i , J J , D id L i , J B ,

r In nne t n w t the n e en ent au se in the present pasto . co c io i h I d p d c ,

m to e u ate u n f he R ev . . ar ne an a a a the time o t D J di , c d y d c yo g

f r r m a s it an e sten e. A ter seve a e v men for the ministry had xi c l o l ,

i n has at length been ﬁnally established n Breco .

- f Bellam E s . wine merchant. The presentresidence o J . y. q , N s rcns noon or A B oun E R G A VE N N Y . 3 1

” The a tsts who are numer u s in the t wn nd ne ur B p i , o o a ighbo hood , have from an early period prevailed in Abergavenn y and the ad in n r f nw n n a s o a e art . I the ear 1652 a a tst j o i g p i h Ll h y , B p i

n re at n was f rme and r an e in the t wn and the R ev . co g g io o d o g iz d o ,

M r . A tt a er man of the ar s and u se uent one o f bbo , cl gy p i h , , s b q ly , the e e te m n sters as a mer in his N on - n f rm st em r a j c d i i , ( P l , co o i M o i l ,

sta tes was a a tst. He was resen at h e e rate u , ) B p i p t t e c l b d p blic

’ m i in w s ute on a ts e n 1653 St. ar s u r et t di p b p i , h ld , M y Ch ch , b ix

the R ev . n T m s B . D ar of e m nster and the R ev . Joh o b , Vic L o i ,

V n hn ra M . . n th ev H nr u a A . h A a d e R . e a M . t e rst Jo C gg, , y gh , ; ﬁ

n ten n for a tsm a m n stere to a u t e evers mmer co di g b p i d i i d d l b li , by i

s o n n and the t er two ar u n for its a m n strat n t i o ly , o h g i g d i i io o

’

nfants and aﬁusion . A t t s t me the a tsts ra d mul i , by hi i B p i pi ly

i li d in r av nn B ut in nse uen e of the re entess and t p e Abe g e y . co q c l l san gu inary persec ution to which the Dissenters of thatday were sub

ected es e a at and after the R est rat n the a t sts in a few j , p ci lly o io , B p i ,

ears in t e r ur a a t ease to e stin A er avenn and y , h i ch ch c p ci y , c d xi b g y ,

wn at anwenart w ere in 1695a u n re and ft settl ed do Ll h , h , , h d d ﬁ y

ears a o on r u n ven Dr. r sto er r e who es y g , g o d gi by Ch i ph P ic , li ’

ur e in the an e in St. ar s Chur t e ere te a a e b i d ch c l M y ch , h y c d ch p l ,

he rst connected with the denomina tion in the P rinci a lit and t ﬁ p y ,

in w en a e to tw e its r na mens ns wn to the hich , l rg d ic o igi l di io , do

resent tme a ar e and n uent a a tst n re at n has on p i , l g i ﬂ i l B p i co g g io c

t nn to assem e and w rs the serv e e n in th i ed bl o hip . ic b i g e Welsh

T s re us s et has ew se a a e of w r language. hi ligio oci y lik i pl c o ship

in the t wn u t in 1769 in w to the resent tme e o , b il , hich , p i , W lsh

’ n u r L r O n h service has been co d cted eve y o d s Day. t e l st of

Jan a 1807 an event t a e w c r du e a new era in u ry , , ook pl c hi h p o c d

in T n the ann als of the Baptist interest this locality . he i stitution

“ ” n n wn as The A er avenn a tst A a em was t n lo g k o b g y B p i c d y , he

mm n and esta s e in the t wn in w co e ced , bli h d o , hich young men

es ne for the m n str of the s e were e u ate and con d ig d i i y go p l d c d ,

nt w t t s was r nate an n s a tst au se w joi ly i h hi o igi d E gli h B p i c , hich ,

f m i e nn n to t s tme has stea r se ute its areer ro ts b gi i g hi i , dily p o c d c ,

n The a a em was a e n r and grad ually i creased . c d y pl c d u de the

n r nten en e of a T mas to w m the tu e tire su pe i d c Mic h ho , ho ition of

n w as mm tte and at w se use t e wer the stude ts co i d , ho ho h y e aecom 3 2 G UIDE r o THE rows AN D

modated. T s arran ement ntnu e for nearl thirt ear hi g co i d y y y s ,

w en M r . Th mas n n his ea t mater a e nin h o , ﬁ di g h l h i lly d cli g , was ,

nse uent ne ess tated to res n his fﬁ e as tut r n co q ly, c i ig o c o , a d ,

h t ert s e n u tor of the nsttu i h o , ol co d c i i tion . In 183 6 it was te

m ve to P nt after an e sten e of w n - o d o ypool , xi c t e ty n ine years and i s x m nt s in A ber avenn . u r n its s urn in t is wn o h g y D i g ojo h to ,

a ve a u n re ou n men en e its a van a A bo h d d y g joy d d t ges . t the

same t me t at the a a em was nsttu te the a tst c n r i h c d y i i d , B p i o g ega

t n t en r nate was ns ne to th io , h o igi d , co ig d e pastoral care and

f r T mas nd fr m su erv s n o M . a a smal n n n p i io ho , , o l begi i g of ﬁve

m n em ers it has r sen t a s era e ma n tu e . F r s r b , i o co id bl g i d o eve a l years he and his congregation assembled for divine worship in the

a e ef re- ment ne e n n to the e s e ch p l b o io d , b lo gi g W l h p ople of Llan

wenarth buthis atten ants m u t n and t at e e m n ; d l iplyi g , h diﬁc beco i g

' too m te to nta n t em it was f un necessar to see m r li i d co i h , o d y k a o e

nd nv n T spacious a co enie t place. his led to the erection of a n ex e ent a e furn s e w t a vestr and a ar ur n c ll ch p l , i h d i h y, l ge b yi g

n in h r ar s u t h t m f m - r u t e e t ate a t e t o r re str t. Th g o d , i bo o F og o ee e

- f u n at n st ne of the a e was a M r. T mas on o d io o ch p l l id by ho , the

- i an n 6th une 1815. The meetn u se s l s uare mea J , i g ho ob o g q , sur n a u t60feet n and 3 6 w e su l e w t t ree a er es i g bo lo g, id , pp i d i h h g ll i , a nd altogether of sufﬁcient dimensions to hold ﬁve or six hu ndred

- earers. A a ath s s run u w th t s ause and h good S bb chool p g p i hi c , has co- ex ste and cc- erate w t it to t s da and M r i d op d i h hi y ; .

T mas w t w se a a em u tes and m n ster a la urs the ho , i h ho c d ic d i i i i l bo

nterest mmen e st ntnues to ofﬁciate as the so e ast r . i co c d , ill co i l p o

In nse uen e of s me m su n erstan n in the ear 182 7 co q c o i d di g, y , a v s n t o a e in the E n s a t st c a e and a se a di i io o k pl c gli h B p i h p l , p

n artes was the ns uen The w ration of the disputi g p i co eq ce. ith

w u rc ase a e e of an in n - stree u dra ing party p h d pi c l d Lio t, pon

in the f l w n ear a c a e was u t in w that which , ol o i g y , h p l b il , hich

r s n e m f r v n w r The st o body has eve i c asse bled o di i e o ship . co f

u n and u n was t s sum t u reat the gro d b ildi g hi , ho gh g ,

nd h T e a t e a i f r m e t. h r n n ra se e s ree f o ese t. was soo i d , ch p l d b p number of members is 87 .

T e e rated tﬁe n e rea ed in A er avenn and he c l b Whi ld o c p ch b g y ,

W e f we in his f tste s . In the u rna of the atter esl y ollo d oo p Jo l l ,

3 4 G UIDE To THE TOWN AN D

A er avenn u nt the ear 1804 at w t me it a ears the b g y il y , hich i pp

in wn h m friends of the Wesleyan body the to ad beco e nu merou s .

In 1805a use os te to the We s a tst a e in Tu r , ho opp i l h B p i Ch p l , do street was ur ase and a a te to the ur ose of a meet n , p ch d , d p d p p i g

n n t m u nt ea r house. In this place they co ti u ed o asse ble il the y

182 9 w en the resent e e was mmen e u n er the direc , h p diﬁc co c d , d m t 500 we . T s a is a a te to a m e tion of M r. Po ll hi ch pel d p d cco oda

- n n w he R ev . M r. ater rs ns . The f un at st e as a t pe o o d io o l id by Sl ,

R ert and the open ing services were condu cted by the R ev . ob

ewt n and the R ev . M r. r . The nne n is in a r s N o , Fo d co xio p o

- erou s n t n and has in erati n an efﬁ ent u n a s l . p co di io , op o ci S d y choo

A er avenn r na was in the Caordiff r u t but a few v eats b g y o igi lly ci c i , ago it was considered of sufﬁcient importance to form a district o f i ts ow n .

There is a chapel connected with the Roman Catholic Chu rch in t s t wn the mem ers of w are t nf uenta and hi o , b hich bo h i l i l

nu m r e ous. 3 5 N E IG H B OUR H OOD or A B E R G A VE N N Y .

C HA PTE R III .

— R E MAR KA B LE M E N THE CY MB E IG Y DD ION .

A M ON G the eminent i ndividuals who may claim A bergaven ny as t e r rt - a e we mu st art u ar e h i bi h pl c , p ic l iz T H E V I C A R

h l n T urs a M a 3 oth 1844 a tea t w B . D . O e R ev . . e W Po l , h d y , y , , , and ffee serv e in s ver t et er w t a sa ver ear n a urse co ic , il , og h i h l b i g p o f 3 00 s vere ns as a testm n a of res e t was resente to o ig , i o i l p c , p d him hi fe w - t wnsm n The s ene on t at as n was by s llo o e . c h occ io

interest n e n es r t n . It was not the nu m er resent i g b yo d d c ip io b p , nor any intrinsic value that might have been attached to the gift; but it was that community of heart— that u nan imous feeling of respect and reverence that pervaded an assembly composed of all asses all o t a artes and ever re us ersu as n cl , p li ic l p i , y ligio p io ,

t a m I w s tru a n e s t. h t formed the sou l of the eeting . t a ly obl igh

T ere he st o in all the n t of a e ev ent t uc e the h o d dig i y g , id ly o h d by

r n A h k u nt p oceedi gs . s t e variou s spea ers co ed the beads on ’ ” m em r s r sar one S r t erva e all— t at of venerat n an d o y o y , pi i p d d h io l W m n a u e f m n the u r ove . e ay ge er lly j dg o a a by p blic rega d man feste for him and we ma safe sa t ere is no n v ua i d y ly y, h i di id l in existence would breathe any other sentiment than esteem for a c aracter ar e t r u ut nte r t of p ur se and a stea h m k d h o gho by i g i y po , dy

erseveran e in the areer a tte to him as a m n ster of the p c c llo d , i i

s e and a s as an a tve ma strate in w a a t his go p l , , l o , c i gi , hich c p ci y serv es ave ften een a n w e e in tmes of reat fﬁ u ic h o b ck o l dg d i g di c lty .

He was rn in the ear 1778 and entere t e m n str in bo y , d h i i y the

2 2 nd ear of his a e . The ar in a t n to his atta nments y g Vic , ddi io i as a lass al s ar ssesses a re ne and u t vate c ic chol , po highly ﬁ d c l i d m n . He was in his ear er a s the ass ate of s me of the i d , li d y , oci o m st st n uis e ara ters of the tme am n w m were o di i g h d ch c i , o g ho Sir

ames ac nt s Sir r n n T i a s ur ett, r e e Dr . rr J M k o h , F ci B d Ho ook , Pa , 3 6 cums:TO rm; TOWN u m

B a r e at urst ar e ent am Dav ams &c. &c . gg B h , Sh p , B h , id Willi , , and his natural wit and powers of conversation have always been

a re ate M he pp ci d by those who could bestj udge of his talents . ay live long to grace by his presence the society of those who so

tru v a ue him ly l .

D r. an the aut r of The a st and t er w r s Ry , ho Di logi o h o k , w as we e eve a na e of r avenn and his son a s , b li , tiv A be g y ; , l o , D r . R an ecturer on em str natura l s &c. in y , l ch i y , l phi o ophy , , the te n nsttut n on n a s a ms A er avenn Poly ch ic I i io , L do , l o cl i b g y

as his rt - bi h place. The following is an Ode written by the last- named gentleman the al usion is to t massa re of the elsh ch efta ns in A er l he c W i i , b

avenn am e B s g y, by Willi d rao e

Q nis talia fando Myrmidonnm 10pm antdnri miles ” Tem er t a lac11: is p e ym .

“ no“ .

Hark hark again on the passing blast Is heard the vo ce o wailing A ain a in s i11 iti:s g , ga , as a past, Some earthly sufferer breathes his last, H is groans on the wind are sailing A ain a g , n, again itis heard, Like t 0 voice of the tempesthowling ; ‘ Tis like the scream of the third Or the demon of mischief scow in B ut hark ! hark hark !a a moment e is lost,

Sa h r h u tter th y , arpe , say w y y moan The festive hall is ted String thy harp to s merrier tone aste h the f for there al e H , aste to east, on The risst and monk are slighted E nter 0 hall the table is s read , p , The voice of the tempestis chidmg s u of the Y on dark cloud , like the shro d dead, r hi n h o rn our sightthe mountains a e di g. ’ Heston to G wents mighty cu tie, for feasting ll there ” B l screams uthe wild y cried N o, and his

H or as guest, R eturned his red sword to its iron rest N E IG HB OUR H OOD or A B E B G A VE N N Y . 3 7

ha ess bri e Has he sou htthe pl d , A nd the ingant at her side ’ i ftain s soul H as he pierced the ch e , While he quaffed the festive bowl ? ’ H as the infants blood been spilt ” Has he done the work of gu ilt 1 s e howlin mi ni htblast Thu sang th e minstrel to th g d g , ’ Wh o f rm s re lie Tis one the hour is ast ile the dem n o p d, d , p

’ Hark ! you sound : tis the ring of a sword N o w the clashing of many Death has taken his seatat the board ; Stained with the blood of a mighty lord Is the str m of a enn ea g y G av y. The chieftain lifted the Oblethigh A nd he called on his ienda to cheer him el- la hi h His bri ht sword slept on his ste c d t g , A nd is youthful son was near him his l s in the bowl B ut Seisylltap Dyfnwald breathed a t , ’ re ul A nd the sword of De B raose pierced brave G eoff y s so .

’ On Isca s shore was heard in the night The sound of horsemen rushing E ach horseman bore in his hand a light The purple waves reﬂected the sight Of swords with the life-stream blushing ; v ri in he bore A capti e b de in their tra t y , A nd she tried her sorrow to smother ’ h i f nts ore H er robes were stained with t e n a g , They slew on the breast Of its mother Y es ! she smothered her rief for she ho ed her brave lord g , p i Of the s ord Would revenge the child 8 death at the po nt w .

Hark ! hark again ! the minstrel sings In sounds of solemn sadness The demon of death with his wings Obscures the torch of gladness h h l stle ate T roug the g oomy ca g , loom as her wa war fate (G y y d ,) ir See the widowed bride repa , To the night-breez e streams her hair ’ Hark she calls on Seisyllt s name B ids her sons revenge her shame M id her stern captors she enters the hall The blood of her friends hath purpled the wall ! Hark the agonising cry ! N ow behold the fren z ied eye e she las m ur ere bo Se , c ps the d d y, r e her o Once he hope, and onc j y ’ Falls upon her husband s form From his breast still issues warm life-bloo r am hile she closes his eath- laz The d st e w d g ed eye, ’ A widow s curse ascends to you avenging sky

Am n st the nsttut ns of a es the A er avenn C m o g i i io W l , b g y y r i io n m m n nt e gydd assu es a pro i e position . Po ssessing a ﬁrm

on the affe t ns of all the true s ns of th m unta ns it hold c io o e o i ,

e a hor latel re ceive a ol tch and a en a es f Th ut of the above y d g d wa pp d g , o the value of one hun ui e r s n b hi ien s and u ils i i dred g n as, p e e ted y s fr d p p , n testmony of his scientiﬁc attainments. 3 8 G UIDE TO THE TOWN A N D

swa s t e r n ns on su ects of s a and a nterest a n d y h i opi io bj oci l loc l i , the men of A bergavenny may j ustly be prou d of the honou r done

to t e r t wn in its e n se e te as the s t v r w the h i o , b i g l c d po o e hich

imm rta s r f nat na is w o l pi it o io lity still allo ed to hover . We frequently cou ple the character of a place with the nature of the

nsttu t ns it nta ns — and n ee it ma be sa t at man i i io co i , i d d , y id , h y towns rely solely for their consequ ence upon the prosperity of a

s n le s et — fr m t s ause A er avenn c mman s an im i g oci y o hi c , b g y o d

in n i w It is portance the Pri cipality t ould not otherwise possess .

ratf n for the n a tants to n w t at s u the e sh g i yi g i h bi k o , h ho ld W l

an u a e die awa to a w s er w eaven f refen A er l g g y hi p , ( hich H o d b

avenn w be reat e in u n s n with its ast n te as the s ot g y ill b h d i o l o , p en eare to the nat ves of a es the ast ea efu l stru es d d i W l , by l p c ggl ma e on it f h u r f r m nd an ua d or t e s ppo t o thei custo s a l g ge.

' He who n ws not how to va u e the e s man s ve of u ntr k o l W l h lo co y,

r n n nte n at nal dese ves the pity of all men of se se a d i llige ce. N io feelings are natu ral to u s all ; and a mor pu trid:is admitted to claim an empire more particularly in the hearts of the wise and

r f s f n good . The existen ce of periodical demonst ations o thi eeli g ar ues we for the nterna state of u ntr and s ews t at the g ll i l a co y , h h energies of the people are directed in right channels ; it tends to s t e t a s r and n s all t et er that mmu n t oo h poli ic l di co d , bi d og h by co i y of innocentand lau dable i nterests so essential to the prosperity of

a e e. In t s twe v ew the nf uen e of the C m rei ddion p opl hi ligh i i l c y gy , and such will be the conclusion to which every unprej udiced mind ” mu st arr ve He n ee is n ﬁt for treas n in w se i . , i d d , o ly o , ho breas t there does not ex ist any spark of n ational ﬁre inherited fr m his an est rs w t u t it he is ver oor The e s man o c o ; i ho , ily p W l h still retains the spiritof the chivalrous A rthur— the ever- memorable words of Rio the B reton are true King A r thu r is not dead and ere t s fee n is era ate ea r u s m u nta n mu st be hi li g dic d , ch glo io o i rem ved fr m ef re his e es t e as it is w t a t u san asso o o b o y , ipp d i h ho d ciations — he ma a m st fan t em fte w t nte l en e as , y l o cy h gi d i h i l ig c , having looked dow n from their cloudy tops u pon deeds that G reece

n R me m t ave n r w Th f am n t rr n a d o igh h bee p ou d to o n . e o i g o e t mu stbe tu rne fr m its r c urse ru s n w t the same v e d o o ky co , hi g i h oic i t did centuries ago ; the harp must no longer breathe forth its O 3 9 N E IG H B OUR H OD or A B E B G A VE N N Y .

me ea h stra n ea e u ar t u t an ua e tse f mu st lody ; c i , ch p c li ho gh , l g g i l

be for tten ef re the e s man can f r et his own an . go , b o W l h o g l d

S u an u t the trut of t ese m ress ns t e ave n ho ld y do b h h i p io , h y h o ly once to ear the s utt at re ts the na na m t G as b d h ho h g e tio l o to , 3; y

' i r ia ith Cymraeg to be convinced that Welshmen can feel as much pride and attachment to their country as any other ancient

’ ra e in th w r In t r f w r s has h c e o ld . wha pe iod o the o ld s hi tory t e demonstration of national feeling been viewed in any other light

t an t at of a m rat n save n ee t at of s me of ou r m ern h h d i io , , i d d , h o od

ut tar ans who e ause t e w l not see the ev en es of d ili i , , b c h y il id c goo , and can not discover a noble feeling warming the breast of another

race n u e t at su not ex st. The eart of the e s , co cl d h ch do i h W l h man is as inalienably allied to his country as the river is to its sour e and t u we ma not ast e s u rse ves we c ; ho gh y bo W l h blood o l , can r n m n n n app eciate the se timents that Welsh e e tertai . The present society of the Abergavenny Cymreigyddion was f rme ab ut the ear 183 2 a Of atr t tra esmen in o d o y , by body p io ic d the t w n and it v n It was su rte ver s rt after its o s ici ity . ppo d y ho ly commencement by all the principal resident gentlemen in the ne u r who saw w t easu re so es ra e a s u r e of ighbo hood , i h pl d i bl o c i nterest and amu sement Opening to those who possessed any

n w ed e Of the an ua e the terature or the mus of a es k o l g l g g , li , ic W l , l as the meetn s of the s et e ou t w en r es are awar e i g oci y h d , h p iz d d ’ for ems or essa s on fferent su e ts and ntests for re po , y , di bj c ; co p em nen e ta e on the tre e- str n e ar the nat na i c ke plac bl i g d h p , ( io l

nstrument of the r n a t and a s in s n n for w the i P i cip li y , ) l o i gi g , ( hich

We s n r av e u ar ta ent as we as for the rev va l h peasa t y h e a p c li l , ) ll i l o f o na na mus m s t n w is now e go d tio l ic , by co po i io , hich chi ﬂy k n wn t r u th ver eau tfu bu t m st ancient me es of o h o gh e y b i l , o lodi

W T r s f the C mrei ddion t eref re are the ales . he pu pose o y gy , h o , ,

an ua e and terature the n rease Of cultivation of the Welsh l g g li , i c h s r a rese r the en u ra ement of nat na mus and i to ic l a ch , co g io l ic

oetr and ew se of natve n ustr — to a m s w p y , lik i i i d y, cco pli h hich

n o su essfu m et t rs var n in ends rewards are gi ve t cc l co p i o , yi g

0 The w r C mrei ddion s n es 1 0. a moun t from £ 1. to £ o d y gy ig iﬁ

a See A ppendix . . 40 G UIDE TO TH E TOWN A N D a s et of e s men but to the re t of t e r n n i oci y W l h , , c di h i E glish e gh

u rs it ma he remar e t at man an s me r n bo , y k d , h y h d o p izes have bee

est we and mu su rt ven not n n s n b o d , ch ppo gi , o ly by E gli h reside ts in the env r ns but n s v s t rs at the u i o , by E gli h i i o p blic celebration s t e ave atten ed and w t e ns ere ecu iar es h y h d , hich h y co id d p l ly d irable , as we in a s a as in a nat na nt of v ew as un tin th ll oci l io l poi i , i g e sympathies of all ranks witho ut any mixture of dissension from

n m i i politics or religio . Cy re gydd on societies (similar to this at its rst mmen ement are mm n all ver a es bu tthe reat ﬁ co c , ) co o o W l , g

fferen e in t at of A er avenn is t at nstea of the e e ra di c h b g y , h i d c l b tion of its anniversaries always being conﬁned to a dinner or a su er of the mem ers and as na meet n s when a com pp b , occ io l i g ,

aratve sma n um er of r es are est we for tr a s of s l p i ly ll b p iz b o d , i l kil in r se and etr a lone on ven su e ts its e e rat ns are p o po y , gi bj c , c l b io a tual E ste f au w ere ar s and ar ers and oets m ete c i dd od , h b d h p , p co p , fr m stant arts as in t se n resses of the ar s w ave o di p , ho co g b d hich h

een so e e rate t r u ut a es and ave een atr n e b b c l b d h o gho g , h b p o iz d y so man r tis m nar s am n w m ueen l a et and y B i h o ch , o g ho Q E iz b h

V r m n m r Th nn v r es Q ueen icto ia ay both be u be ed . e a i ersa i of the

A er avenn C mrei ddion e ame so attra t ve and the r es b g y y gy b c c i , p iz and an ates were so nu mer us t at the e e rat ns were rst c did o , h c l b io ﬁ of all eferre to two ears and n a to tr enn a meet n s as d d y , ﬁ lly i i l i g , (

ste df au to w fferent mem ers of the arist ra f Ei d od , ) hich di b oc cy o

rt a es as n a ntr ute r es as we as t se m re No h W l occ io lly co ib d p iz , ll ho o

mme ate n ne te w t the s u t ern art of the r n a t i di ly co c d i h o h p P i cip li y ,

nd w f n nd r a nw esid a especially ith the districto G we t a Mo g g . B es the r es ef re ment ne ven b fferent n v u a s to en p iz b o io d , gi y di i di id l , cou rage the poetical and m usical talentpossessed by the peasantry

of the untr and var n fr m £ 1. to £ 15. or t ere has co y , yi g o h

een for s me ears a ar e su s r t n r e nsttute of fr m b o y l g b c ip io p iz , co i d o s t to n net u neas for the est essa u n su e ts w ix y i y g i , b y po bj c hich

ave a e f rt not nl the earn n of e s men bu t t at f h c ll d o h o y l i g W l h , h o the terat of n an Fran e and G erman and has r u e li i E gl d , c , y , p od c d

f ver r r b nat ves of n works o a y high o de y i each cou try . This ‘ r has een awar e tw e to G ermans w ose attent n has p ize b d d ic , h io

S e A e ppendix .

42 G UIDE To i n]:TOWN AN D in a tants of t ree untes w e t ere are w t n the ir u t o f h bi h co i , hil h , i hi c c i a few m es a num er of n v du a s who m ne in a s n u a r il , b i di i l co bi , i g l

W mu s e ree the w and ower to r m te t e r r s erit . e t d g , ill p p o o h i p o p y

rst ment n Sir ar es r an of Tre e ar we n wn his ﬁ io Ch l Mo g , d g , ll k o by

r th n His an ent and cou ntrymen as Ivor H ael (Ivo e G e erou s). ci

r n e res en e is e n the m ts of a r e fr m A er avenn p i c ly id c b yo d li i id o b g y , and t eref re e n the m ts of t s w r but the ou n ar o f h o b yo d li i hi o k , b d y his continu al and mu niﬁcent su pport of every thing national has

never et een n wn . a ear he ves a ar a e the y b k o E ch y gi h p, c ll d

n M . P r Trede ar H a r his e est so ar es r an E s . . tb g p ld , Ch l Mo g , q ,

re n res ent for 1845 ves an t er a e the R u er ra B co , p id , gi o h c ll d p

H a r and his un est son tav u s r an E s . mem er for p yo g , Oc i Mo g , q , b the u nt of nm ut ntr utes to the terar and mus al co y Mo o h , co ib li y ic

i u r n nd his u r- in - l w M r es h s a te a e a a te a rs. p iz ; d gh , L dy Rod y, d gh ,

r an su rt the manu fa tures of the str t. A s the Mo g , ppo c di ic l o, an ent fam of anart w se mem ers were not n am n st ci ily Ll h , ho b o ly o g the ear est su s r ers but to w m the et is n e ted li b c ib , ho Soci y i d b

t r u t e r nne t n w t t at em nent ret n enteman ( h o gh h i co c io i h h i B o g l ,

ns eur R io for the rev va of an nter urse w t r ttan b Mo i , ) i l i co i h B i y , y

the atten an e Of the ﬁve ret n n es in 183 8 who ame ver d c B o obl , , c o at the nstan e of ns eur R io w se r ant e uent a dress i c Mo i , ho b illi , loq d

had so e e tr f n an effect at t at E iste f t at his w r s are l c i yi g h dd od , h o d not likely ever to be forgotten by those who were so fortunate

as to ear t em . ex t we ma n ame a ar tte G uest h h N y L dy Ch lo ,

who es es the era e u n ar su n r f and , b id lib l p c i y pport give by he sel

Sir n G uest in mm n w t man t ers is in an t er Joh , ( co o i h y o h , ) , o h

nt of v ew one of the reatest en s ra poi i , g b efactresses to Wel h lite

tu re av n erse f trans ate and ub e at an mmense , h i g h l l d p lish d , i

e en se t se an ent and u r u s nu r a ed the xp , ho ci c io M a sc ipts c ll ” M a n n w are too we kn wn am n the earn ed bi ogio , hich ll o o g l

to n ee mment. esi es t s n e a we m ust n ot omit d co B d hi obl l dy,

A — the ber er wm fam M r. l ams of Aber er wm e n p g ily Wi li , p g , b i g

mse f m st s n u ar fted and c ns ere one of the est hi l o i g l ly gi , o id d b

e s s ars of the da es es e n master f numer us m ern W l h chol y, b id b i g o o od

lan ua es. His s sters the sses l ams in a t n to t e r g g i , Mi Wi li , ddi io h i

natona tastes and a u rements ssess a ta ent for mu s w ch i l cq i , po l ic hi i s rarely found ; and Miss Jane Williams has herself not only been N E IG H BO UR H OOD or AB E B G A VE N N Y . 43

a successfu l candidate for the prize for the best collection of ” u n ub s e an ent e s a rs w t the w r s as sun butshe p li h d ci W l h i , i h o d , g,

has n e u s e t at e t n w t a t ns and it is a w rk si c p bli h d h coll c io i h ddi io , o

o f rare va ue. A f urt a ma be name t u now a as ! l o h l dy y d , ( ho gh , l

n o m re who was one of the ear est fr en s and su rters f o , ) li i d ppo o

A er avenn and its C mrei ddion - a G reen who e b g y y gy , L dy ly , lik wise was herself a successful candidate for the prize for the best

mo ern e s air of w she erse f was the m ser In d W l h , hich h l co po .

ad it n to t ese a es a Ha of an ver G wen nen d io h l di , L dy ll , Ll o y

G went never rela es her eff rts to ass st and r m te the we f re ) , x o i p o o l a

o f t s s et and Sir en am n Ha and erse f ren er an ver hi oci y , B j i ll h l d Ll o

a ntof te- u n n on t ese as ns for all t e r stantfr en s poi io , h occ io , h i di i d who are i nterested in the proceedin gs of the A bergavenny E istedd

fodau and an u s to atten t em . es es the a ve we mu st , xio d h B id bo ,

n o t f r etthe v n t of the R ev . T . r e of wm u a o g ici i y P ic , C d , Welsh

sc lar and an ant u ar of reat em nen e who has ever ven ho , iq y g i c , gi

his est serv es to the ause of nat na teratu re and is the b ic c io l li ,

h m t H st r f s of m rn au thor of t e os complete i o y O Wale ode date.

W t in tw nt m es a s res es Ta es n the son of the we i h e y il l o id li i , ll

. kn own ar l r anw w se e t n of e s . is b d , Io o Mo g g , ho coll c io W l h MSS

m o st va ua e and e tens ve. A nd ast bu t not east w t n a l bl x i l , l , i hi

’

da s urne is the mans n of Sir . us e r w se y jo y , io S R h M y ick , ho

l terar re utat n nee not be ere a verte to and who is now i y p io d h d d , ,

w ith his usua atr t sm and era t en a in n l p io i lib li y , g ged editi g (gratis)

us n a V those curio ge ealogical MSS . c lled the isitations of Lewis

w f r E u n o the e s . c et w t k its rt ent r , W l h MSS So i y , hich oo bi h i ely from the concou rse of literati brought together by the A bergavenny

meetn s . o sum u t s e u ar m nat n as re ar s the i g T p hi p c li co bi io , g d contigu ity of so many individu als circumstanced and qualiﬁed to

u rt su nat na at er n s we must not ass ver th s ppo ch io l g h i g , p o e

v c n t of the an ver ress n u te M r . ees w i i i y Ll do y P , co d c d by R , ( hose

fam l has been remar a e for earn n and wh is e ua if i y k bl l i g, ) ich q l ,

not su er r to an esta s ment of the same n in r p io , y bli h ki d G eat

r ta n . M r . ees is mse f a man of ns era e nf rmat n B i i R hi l co id bl i o io ,

a n e ce ent e s s ar and a true atr t. His aim has een x ll W l h chol , p io b to m ake the Llandovery Press pre- eminent for the perfection of

hi own its w r s and has su ee e . He em s s untr o k , cc d d ploy co ymen 44 G UIDE To run r owN AN D only and the Mabinogion and the Liber Landavensis are alone su fﬁcient to j ustify the title he has obtained of The Elzevir o f ” S cie Wales . A ll the works brought out by the Welsh MSS . o ty

‘ are i u di u s e M r. ees at lan ver w a a n s s p bli h d by R , L do y , hich g i ciently near A bergavenn y to be pecu liarly conven ient to the ed t rs in the n i i o e ghbourhood . H aving given a sketch of the Obj ects Of the A bergavenny G ym rei ddion and ment ne a few of its fru ts in the am unt o f gy , io d i , o m n w i it has r u t nt erat n the stmu u s ven to i d h ch b o gh i o op io , i l gi native literature by the valuable works ithas been the means o f

r u n the rev va of nat na mu s the m rovement Of natve p od ci g , i l io l ic , i p i m anu factures t et er w t the r m t n of s a inter urse , og h i h p o o io oci l co between ers ns Of all ree s of all artes on the one oin t o f p o c d , p i , p neutra r un st r ma n n w re all ma meet in am t as l g o d ill e i i g he y i y, we as the enera bene t to the t wn we w l n lu e a ll g l ﬁ o , i l co c d by sket O f the r e ste f au ch p oceedings at these festivals. Th Ei dd od

ave t ert been e at A er venn in tem rar rooms h hi h o h ld b ga y , po y ere te for the ur se or in m ar uee in nse uen e of the c d p po , a q , co q c town not being possessed of a hall su fﬁciently large for su ch an assem bly . B ut that inconvenience is now obviated by the public s r t of M r. . ew s Of A er avenn who has re entl com pi i E L i , b g y , c y

leted a u n w is rente the mm ttee of the soc et p b ildi g, hich d by co i i y , and is a e the m i d n H a It i e eve to be the c ll d Cy re gy dio ll . s b li d ar esta artmentin the unt and w nta n 2 000 ers ns. The l g p co y , ill co i p o

a earan e Of n pp c the town on these occasions is most exhilarati g .

The nns are e rate w t fl n wreat s of wers and i d co d i h ags a d h ﬂo ,

an t ee s rea and art a wave in var us uarters . The gig ic l k , l iﬁci l , io q

resi ent atten all the ne ur n entr enters the p d , ded by ighbo i g g y , t wn in r ess n w fre u ent rea es a m e in en th . o p oc io , hich q ly ch il l g

The st- s of the r n a nns wear a ets of e s w ollen po boy p i cip l i j ck W l h o , f O the gayest colou rs :the horses and servants of the president and principal families have large cockades of green and white ribbon th e ur of the anner Of a es arr e at sw rt e . ( colo b W l , c i d Bo o h ﬁ ld)

The a es ma e a nt Of we r n nat na c stu me wh h l di k poi a i g the io l o , ic t is much to be regretted they ever allow to fall into disuse ; and

See A en ix c pp d . ( . ) 45 N E IG HBOUB HO OD or A B E R G A VE N N Y . on this occasion they add mu ch to the picturesqueness and gayety of the s ene b t e r ss ac eaver ats t e r r an t a s c , y h i glo y bl k b h , h i b illi clo k an d w ttes and t er ra er of natve man u fa ture . ver n hi l , o h d p y i c E y i di v wh c n r it w ars a s ver sat n or ear ee in a idua l o a affo d e il , i , p l l k , conspic uou s part of his or her dress (generally in the hat of

- the a es and the utt n e of the ent emen . The re l di , b o hol g l ) p sident is met outside the town by all the members who are

in a tants re e e a s and anners two - and- two and a h bi , p c d d by ﬂ g b , ,

ram a car e w t ar ers rawn f u r ﬁne rses py id l , ﬁll d i h h p , d by o ho ,

a c m an e the et of ru s in fu stume. The co p i d by Soci y D id , ll co a d ress e n s en and re e to the res ent the w le d b i g pok , pli d by p id , ho

’ r ess n s w es t r u the t wn and the res dent s tak n p oc io lo ly ﬁl h o gh o , p i i g

the a r is ann un e a u r s of tru m ets f we a ch i o c d by ﬂo i h p , ollo d by

c h rus Of ar s a n an an ent e s mar after w the o h p , pl yi g ci W l h ch ; hich

mm n It is s ar n r p roceedings of the day co e ce. c cely ecessa y to

a dd t at ea ran of tra e m re or ess ne essar fee s the , h ch b ch d , o l , c ily l

b ene a effe t of the n u of v s t rs of all ran s w t ese. ﬁci l c i ﬂ x i i o , k , hich h

m eetn s as n . The r ee n s ast two a s and t ere is i g occ io p oc di g l d y , h

T ere is a s an t er a n Ordinary atthe principal inns alternately . h l o o h o pportu nity for enjoying the music of the Welsh harpers at the ’ e ven n meetn as the a l is se- O ene at seven O and i g i g, h l p d clock,

a dm ttan e ta ne at ver m erate r es to hear t e r i c ob i d y od p ic , h i

m el es odi . 46 G UIDE TO THE Town A N D

V CHA PTER I .

THE A SCE N T OF THE BLA WR E N G — SCY B B YD VAWB — WE R N -B DU— PE N Y V A L

— — - — — D E B I B H OLB E N G B A IG B B YN AB W S KYR R Y D VA CH COE D Y PR IOR .

We climb we t we use i e climb , pan , pa aga n w , wn not stern moun n h hro , tain , or around t ee t w, Th mistand storm butl with clou ! y , ook d ’ O er all th iant e y g y sublim , While toiling up t e i mmeasurable hei ht ” g , We climb we t we , pan , pause.

E V n s A T B E N N E VIB. R . C . Ho ,

IN the as ent of the B lawren re rid e the trave er rosses c g, (g y g , ll c

ver the river Usk an ctures ue st ne r e w o by old pi q o b idg , hich

f rmer ns ste of s teen ar es bu t is now m te to e t. o ly co i d ix ch , li i d igh

A rcumstan e of rat er an nterestn ara ter re r e in his ci c h i i g ch c , co d d aut ra urre ere to the e e rate and e entr r obiog phy , occ d h c l b d cc ic Lo d

er ert of er ur . It a ars t t at a tme w en the ra n H b , Ch b y ppe ha i h i ,

es en n fr m the m u nta ns had sw en the r ver to a m st d c di g o o i , oll i o ex tra r nar ex tent t s n eman a m an e a s n e o di y , hi obl , cco p i d by i gl

atten ant had cas n to ass t s wa . The stream was swee d , oc io p hi y p

n r The we - n wn ing and foami ng along with u p ecedented fury . ll k o sk of r er ert in u n the m st er ar er ena e ill Lo d H b , g idi g o ﬁ y ch g , bl d him to ass the r e in safet the servant wever e n p b idg y ; , ho , b i g terr e b the restveness of his stee let s the r e and the iﬁ d y i d , lip b idl , horse immediately leaped over the parapet of the bridge into the

The word B lawreng has been differently translated but we cannot quote a o r r rid h t e O inion of the late m re satisfactory authority for g ey (o blue) ge, t an h p eminen t We h . Pa ne of Crickho l . ls antiquary, M r y , we q imOUnn oon or A B E R G A VE N N Y . 47

r n t rrent e w w en the va r and ar n s r t of the roa i g o b lo , h chi l ic d i g pi i nobleman was the means of rescu ing the poor man from a watery

W n h saw he re ar us state of his atten ant rav e. e e t g h p c io d ,

oos n a fav ura e s t he das e in after him and re him ch i g o bl po , h d , bo

t an The r e mman s an e tens ve v w f h safely o l d . b idg co d x i ie o t e

u n nd fu v ew of the wn of A er nn u ntr ar a a t ave . co y o d , ll i o b g y

Hav n b e to t s nterest n re of t er a s we i g bid good y hi i i g lic o h d y , tu rn to the r t and s n ﬁnd u rse ves in the v n t of the igh , oo o l ici i y

' Llan ﬁoist tram- r a the an ma of mmer e b t the rut less o d h d id co c , u h

I r desecrator of nature 8 loveliness . tt ails along the valley a tacit ev idence of the existence of that u tilitarian philosophy which is n m n v w r s f G ea r ta n ow aki g a ast o k hop o r t B i i .

' The church of Llanﬁoist forms an interesting and picturesqu e obj ect in this ride : it is about a mile and a half from A berga i venn and s mme ate at the f t of the B lawren . In t e y, i di ly oo g h churchyard is one of the most aged and remarkable yew trees in

h u n w ha n h m f i t e t s ee t e t e e o ets . T s tree i co y , hich b h po h s

e eve to ave e ste s n e the tme of the ru s a m u b li d h xi d i c i D id , by co p

f w r n i u tat n of the avera e r wt o e t ees a d ts rt . N t p io g g o h y , gi h o far fr m the u r are two res en es a e U er and ower o ch ch old id c , c ll d pp L

Llanﬂ oist the f rmer e n n to . . ams E s . of , o b lo gi g F H Willi , q , Cold

r and the atter is the aterna n er tan e of M rs . nes of b ook , l p l i h i c Jo ,

lana L rth . A t length we arrive at the place where the inclined planes begin

to rise u p the side of the B lawreng. These frequ ently afford a

T tr ve er a m great assistance in climbing the steep . he a ll se ts hi sel f

in a tram- art and is u e u war s the f r e of the a e c , p ll d p d by o c lo d d

arr a es es en n means of a a n w w r s r un a c i g d c di g, by ch i hich o k o d

w e a h T us he a m s es m re t an a f he l t t e top. h cco pli h o h h l the

d stan e to the summ t of the m unta n a e t of 172 0 feet i c i o i , h igh ,

with tte eff rt on his own art. B ut eader ! ave li l o p , R h you at at any time stood u pon the summit of one of the mou ntains

of G went and a e t en e on the ran n entrat n of , g z d h c g d co c io

e s and n is s ener — and a e r ver and stream et W l h E gl h c y hill d l , i l ,

m t w ods and wavin rn - ﬁelds and all t at can ma e a igh y o g co , h k landscape lovely ? A nd have you never felt a warm gush of feeling thrilling your bosom— an almost enthusiastic fervour 48 com: r o rm:TOWN a m

at beholding the sublime and beau tiful so gorgeously mingled ?

If so ou w rea n w t m in m nt n , y ill dily joi i h e la e i g that so few are

a e to m and art i bl cli b p icipate n this happiness.

G ood Heavens ! must scenes like these expand Scenes so ma iﬁeently nd A nd millions reathe an pass away ’ U nbless d throughout their little day " W h ne s ort lim s it o h g p e.

u was the emanat n fr m the s m of the et m e d S ch io o bo o po Bloo ﬁ l , when in raptures he gazed on the landscape now stretched out

ef re u s The s ener as v ewe fr m the B lawren is ma n b o . c y , i d o g, g i

n ﬁcent beyond conceptio . It seems as though Nature had ex

hau st d all h r w r n s n s T ere i e e po e s o thi o e pot. h s the ru gged

r and the ra efu u n u at n a n— ere the r s ock , g c lly d l i g pl i h ich pa

tures and t ere the w n n r ver— n er the ta w s— an , h i di g i yo d ll ood d

r w n n - at u b near to them a e the avi g cor ﬁelds. Wh co ld e mo re happily blended than the craggy greatness of the Scyrryd V awr sacred soil - with the exuberant luxu riance of its declinin g

s e and va e eneat it? See the tt e Sc rr d further lop ll y b h li l y y ,

t war s the s ut vere w t the r est f a e. How it o d o h , co d i h ich oli g

sm es as it were il , ,

On the dun peak of Pen-y

w a ears n rt war s and hich pp o h d ,

Stands like a sentinel, whose brow " l r o Scow s on the sleeping wo ld bel w.

The gentle risings of the grou nd form so pleasing a con trast with

f the s ener t at the e e is e te w et the rougher parts o c y , h y d ligh d h

Far sou t war ma be m seen the r stol ever it rests . h d y di ly B i

s te the ver ant va e of Crickhowel stret es channel ; while oppo i , d l ch to a point in the distant perspective

ul The scene is clothed in beauty and the so , e t l m of are N 0 long r lingering in he g oo c , ‘ t r i il he re clou s roll Doth gree C eaton s sm e. T g y d ' E en from the mountain s, and melt the air The landscape looks an en l Who could wear The frown of sorrow now P This lorious hour R eveals the ruling G od i The cavens are bare ! E ach sunny stream and blossom-marked bower ’ B reathes of pervad love, and proves the Power ’ ’ " That spoke him into hath bicsa d man s earthly down .

50 euros TO u rn TOWN AN D

au es n n It a i ar se fr m a l n con c s me tio ed . ppears to u s that t o o o g t nne es ent of ra n w s n n ee nt the eart i d d c i , hich , i ki g d ply i o h ,

osene its art es and e n of a ose san nature vi ed lo d p icl , , b i g lo dy , di d the s e fr m the ma n u es are no means id o i body . S ch cas by unfre uent am n st the m unta ns ar un but the most stri in q o g o i o d , k g

nstan e is that of the arren in he V ale of E wais— we ave i c D , t h

r e n r f f r ma t ac d ea ly ﬁ ty o these slips on its side. Whateve y

ave een the ause t ere it stan s as a remar a e natu ral h b c , h d k bl

ur s t . On the ta ma be a n trace the s te of a a e c io i y p y pl i ly d i ch p l ,

w w s n it is s met mes hich a dedicated to St. Michael ; he ce o i ’ w h a S . m u n I has n een a ra t e t c lled t Michael s o t. t lo g b p c ic i

man at s to re a r th t er on ae mas eve for ev Ro C holic p i i h Mich l , d o

tional u r ses . The eart is stll s me of t at ersuas on p po h i , by o h p i ,

ns ere sa re and is a e in the fﬁns and thr wn nto co id d c d , pl c d co , o i

the raves of the e ease . me ears a o a n t n was reva g d c d So y g , o io p

n lent that it had the power of curing diseases. A s you pass alo g

its s e sa a ate em nent wr ter the m u nta n resents the id , id l i i , o i p

’ a earan e of a ants rave — ma a a es en ant of the pp c gi g yh p , d c d

reat A rt ur who ﬁx e his t r ne u n the m unta n t s and is g h , d h o po o i op , said to have been able to spring from the summit of Twm B arlwm

n m r e r It is e n su a maus eum w u be i to Pe b ok shi e. c rtai ch ol o ld

rat er too a a u s for an r nar son of A na or G at h c p cio o di y k , oli h ,

re it r a e one of t em w we p ob bl h as bu ried in this spot. The view from the tap of the Scyrryd is by many preferred

to t at fr m the Pen - - V al nasmu as the Pen - - V al tse f h o y , i ch y i l

f rms the r n a feature in th ur The stan e fr m o p i cip l e pict e. di c o

A er avenn to the summ t is u - n - - m The b g y i abo t two a d a half iles.

‘ remains of the ancient mansion of Wern - ddii might be visited in

retu rn n . It is s tu ate a u t two m es fr m the t wn and is i g i d bo il o o ,

now u e farmers T r i occ pi d by . he e s a famou s old well near to the ” use E f nnon Wern - ddﬁ — the water of w is st con ho , y , hich ill

sidered as ssess n me n a rtu W ma ere a r po i g dici l vi es . e y h pp opri ately repeat the entertaining anecdote ill ustrative of the pride of

e s an estr w is ment ne e of M r r er the W l h c y, hich io d by Cox , . P og , l astmale descendant of Jenkin ap G wylim who inhabited Wern

dd5the res en e of his an est rs the r s of an wel an d , id c c o , lo d Ll llo

lande lo . M r L r. P oger accidentally met a stranger at the foot of N o V arm om o n or AB E RG A E NN Y. 51 the Sc rr d who ma e var u s en u ries res ectn the c untr y y , d io q i p i g o y, the ros ects and the ne ou rin ou ses and amon thers p p , ighb g h , , g o

“ a s e ose is t s anti ue mans n ef re u s T at sir k d , Wh hi q io b o h , , is ern- ddu a ver anc ent ouse for outOf it ame the ar s of W , y i h , c E l

P em r e of the rst l ne and the ar s of em r e of the b ok , ﬁ i , E l P b ok , secon line the or er ert of er ur the er erts of d ; L d H b , Ch b y ; H b

C r R h mn Caerdiff and Y r the r ans of A t n oldb ook , y y, , o k Mo g , c o ; ’ the ar of uns n the nes s of Iscowen and anart and E l H do ; Jo , Ll h ,

a ll the we s . O ut of th s h u se a so the fema e ne ame Po l i o l , by l li , c ” the u es of eauf rt. A nd ra sir who ves t ere now i D k B o p y, , li h “ ” sir. T en ar n me and a e t a e e of a vi e I do, h p do , cc p pi c d c

C ome ou t of it ou rse f or it w tum e and rus ou . y l , ill bl c h y

Itwi not be m s a e to add an t er ane te ven the ll i pl c d o h cdo , gi by

s ame aut r in re at n to t s n v ua and his us n M r. ho , l io hi i di id l , co i ,

P we of Perthir who ve at an t er an ent res en e o l , , li d o h ci id c

— b e n in to a ran h of the same fam near nm u t z M r. lo g g b c ily , Mo o h

P r er n n w t a fr en at nm ut r se r n ac og , di i g i h i d Mo o h , p opo d idi g b k to ern- ddu in the even n but his fr en e t n e ause itwas W i g, i d obj c i g, b c

l ate and e to ra n M r. r er re e t re ar to the , lik ly i , P og pli d , Wi h g d l ateness of the h ur we s al ave m n- t and s u it o , h l h oo ligh , ho ld h a en to ra n Perthir is not far fr m the r a and m u s n pp i , o o d , y co i ’ ” P we w am sure ve us a n ts n . The a r o l ill , I , gi igh lodgi g y cco d in l m u nte the r rses but e n seen verta en a v ent g y o d i ho , b i g o k by iol ll shower r e to Perthir and f un a the fam retre to rest. , od , o d ily i d

M r r er w ver all n to his us n M r. we O ene the . P og , ho e , c i g co i , Po l p d “ wind w and n out as e In the name of w n er w at o , looki g , k d , o d h ” m eans all t s n se— who is t ere i Itis u r us n r er hi oi h I , yo co i P og , o f ern- ddu who m me to ur s ta e r for s elter W , a co yo ho pi bl doo h fr m h n l men of the weat r and e ou w be so n o t e i c e cy he , hop y ill ki d

” “ as to ve me and m fr en a n . at! is it ou gi y i d lodgi g Wh y ,

ou s n r er — ou and ur fr en s a be nstant a m tte C i P og y yo i d h ll i ly d i d , b ut u n one n t n t at ou w l a w and never hereafte po co di io , h y i l llo (

h f m a id u sa dispute) that I am the head of t e a ily . Wh td yo y

i s th r r r er. sa f ou e e t to as e eturned M . P og Why, I y y xp c p n ht in m ouse ou must a w t at am the ea of the ig y h , y llo h I h d " m t t at :were it to r n fam . N sir never w u a a ily O , I o ld d i h i swords and daggers I wou ld ride this nightto Wern- ddﬁ rather than 52 0mm; 7 0 r un rows A N D

" l wer the nse uence of m fam — me u al me u i o co q y ily, Co p, B d co p

Ste a m ment ous n r er— have ou not ften c nfessed p o , C i P og y o o

t at the ﬁrst ar of em r e of the name of erbert was the h E l P b ok ( H ,)

u n est son of Perthir and w ll ou set urse f a ve the arls yo g , i y yo l bo E f m ? ” o e r e True must. ve a e to the E ar of Pem P b ok , I gi pl c l

br e e au se he is a eer of the rea m but st t u a eer ok , b c p l ill , ho gh p ,

he is the un est ran of m fam e n des en e fr m the yo g b ch y ily , b i g c d d o

our th son of Wem -ddu who was our an est r and sett e at f , y c o , l d

Perthir w ereas am escen e fr m the e est son : n ee m , h I d d d o ld i d d , y

us n nes of anart is of an O er bran h t an ou and co i Jo , Ll h , ld c h y , ” W et he never s u tes t at am the ea of the fam . h y di p h I h d ily y , ” us n r er ave n th n m re to sa so o n tto ou . Co i P og , I h o i g o y, g od igh y ”

t a m ment M r. we sa the stran er ou see how S op o , Po l , id g , y

it urs— do adm t me at east: wil not s ute w th ou a ou po i , l I l di p i y b t

d re d ur fam es . ra sir w at is u r name an w e o o u o ili P y , , h yo , h y come from My name is and I come from the

unt of A a n of urse :it w u b e co y S xo , co o ld very curiou s indeed should I dispute with a Sax on abou tfamilies

no sir ou must suffer for the stna of ur fr en and so a , , y ob i cy yo i d , ” pleasant ride to you both .

P en - Val— a e a s the u ar- af unta n — nex t y (c ll d , l o , S g Lo Mo i , )

m u n n The w r V4! is s metmes ons ere o f clai s o r atte tio . o d o i c id d

u tfu et m but it seems to u s ver ev ent t at it can do b l y ology , y id h

n be fr m B dl a ea — P en - l the su mmit of the eak o ly o , p k y , p

t u in nse uen e of M oe! s n f n bold or u nclothed ho gh , co q c ig i yi g , (

with wood and the summ t of t s m u nta n answerin to this , i hi o i g

es r t n as we as the a a ent str e n a e the f res t d c ip io , ll dj c di ict b i g c ll d o

of M ael it has een s u te t at it u t to be wr tten and ro , b di p d h o gh i p

- B ut we ar n n m i nounced P en y Voel . e i clined to disse t fro th s

O n n on the r u n t at the We s t emse ves r n un e it pi io , g o d h l h h l p o o c

- P en l a t u t e a l the str tM eet. The as entto t is y , l ho gh h y c l di ic c h

m u nta n ma be ma e on f t or on rse a to w t n a ver o i y d oo ho b ck , i hi y short distance from the top itis altogether about two miles from

r aven n . In as en n a ut a m e ou t of the t wn w e A be g y c di g , bo il o , pass two very beautifully situ ated residences on the right and

The one n the eft n i r ert o f left of the road . o l ha d s the p op y

ss H er ert the f u n ress of the ur ef re s r e an d Mi b , ( o d ch ch b o de c ib d , ) N E IG HB OUR HOOD or A BE B G A VE N N r . 63

the t er e n s to nes t r son of the ate . ones o h b lo g Philip Jo , hi d l J J ,

- - o f anart E s . The Pen V al is the m st eaut fu and Ll h , q y o b i l strikin g mou ntain - obj ect in the neighbourhood ; and though the s cenery v iewed from its top is less extensive and varied than that fr m the summ t of its ne ur the Sc rr d V awr it is m re o i ighbo , y y , o generally frequented by the inhabitants of A bergavenny in their

- easure ex urs ns . A s n u ar and nterestn fa t in conne pl c io i g l i i g c , c t n w t t s m unta n ma ere be ment ne — ear to the io i h hi o i , y h io d N tO and a ut 1750feet a ve the r ver t ree s r n s ta e t e r p, bo bo i , h p i g k h i r se the waters o f w On the ttest summer- da reta n an i , hich, ho y, i

intens t of t at is ast n s n . These after w n s i y cold h o i hi g , ﬂo i g epa rate s me stan e u n te in one and t er s r n s urst n u ly o di c , i o h p i g , b i g o t

of the s e of the m u nta n fl w nt it and swe its u rr n id o i , o i o ll c e t.

The stream ws on as far as the e of w n- ddﬁ w er ﬂo W ll Ll y , h e the

current is a a n n rease the un t n of an t er s r n g i i c d by j c io o h p i g, which has become in some degree famo us for its medicinal pro

erties b ut w u nf rtu nate is eft in a ne e te stat p , hich , o ly , l gl c d e,

the s r n thus av n e me a r vu et - the r vu et a ro p i g h i g b co i l , i l b ok,

’ ” b th un i s si Bab ling down e mo ta n de,

t r u the m st r mant n e in the ne ur mant e h o gh o o ic di gl ighbo hood , l d

with t ets and en vene the s as of its waters fr m hick , li d by pl h o

w n - ddﬁ the r e mes a urrent and as es nwar s to Ll y , b ook b co c , d h o d

the t wn su n the n a tants w t water. The v ew fr m h o , pplyi g i h bi i h i o t e Pen - y- V al is so vast and extensive that itis impossible to attempt

a es r t n of it e n sa n t at n rt war s a ears the d c ip io , b yo d yi g h o h d pp magn iﬁcent range of the Black Mo untains ; westwards is seen

the B l wren re t s ut the r st anne and east a g ; di c ly o h , B i ol Ch l ;

war s a eau tfu am a n untr r w t reen e s and d , b i l ch p ig co y, ich i h g ﬁ ld

nt e u an s . T s m u nta n fr m fferent s t ns assumes ge l pl d hi o i , o di po i io ,

s a a great variety of appearances. It looks like a h rp ridge from the Opposite side of the Usk ; sometimes it has a globul ar shape ;

and at t ers - art u ar in a s u t - easter re t n - it o h , p ic l ly o h ly di c io ,

rf r m T s m unta n presents to the eye almost a pe ect py a id . hi o i

n is 1852 feet abo ve the G aven y.

s n ions as he ascen ed the mountain followe th The writer ha , on ma y occas , d , d e h ul a vise the tourist to do the same and if h course of the brooklet, and e wo d d ; e ret rn b the same ath after sunset he will have the ni htin ales for his com u y p , , g g pamons. 64 G UIDE To run TOWN AN D

The Dori name fr m the a s the R hélben and the ( d o o k ), ,

G rai f rm as it were a ase to the ne- e ea w c is g , o , , b co lik p k , hi h

- - r er a e the Pen V al . T e are near t ether and can p op ly c ll d y h y og ,

be nc u e in the same e curs n t u of m n r imens ons i l d d x io ; ho gh i o d i ,

t e r ascentw we re a the tr u e fr m the eautfu s ener h i ill ll p y o bl , o b i l c y

a On the e rn f r i il on the ro d . aste side o the De i s situated Tre y

urt the res en e of J. e er E s . w en e th e i ne f Co , id c Fi ld , q , h c er s o o

the est v ews of the Sc rr V awr b i y yd . The B ryn A rw (the r ugged hill is north- eastwards of the

er 00feet a ove e a n r r v f an 8 th G ve n . A s n u a o e o ish D i, b y i g l g Sp

esnu ts is to be notc in r cee n to the to Of it and seems ch i ed p o di g p ,

to ave een ante at the same tme as t se at anv an el h b pl d i ho Ll ih g ,

as they appear to be about the same age. The Scyrryd Va ch (Little Scyrryd) rises abou thalf a mile from

the t wn in a s u t ern re t n and is 765feet 3 n es a ove o , o h di c io , i ch b

- the G avenn . It f rms art of r ar the summit y o p Coldb ook p k , commands some of the most exqu isite v iews of A bergavenny and

n n n t n b i r the surrou di g sce ery hat ca e Obtained . It s a desi able

’ point for an even ing s ramble .

The eautfu tt e m unta n n wn as Coed- - P rior is a ut b i l li l o i , k o y , bo

v nn We w u re mmen rav l two miles from A berga e y . o ld co d the t e ler

‘ to as en fr m wer Llanﬁoist and tu rn n to the r t r ss c d o Lo , , i g igh , c o

the ana r e fr m w a ane n e the r c l b idg , o hich l (o c old oad to

aenav n ea s r u t u s to the mm n on the to of Bl o ,) l d ci c i o ly co o , p

e - - r r and an t er ane es en s on the t er s e w en e Co d y P io , o h l d c d o h id , h c the turnpike road leading from Abergavenny to Pent- y- pool may

be a ne re- r ss n the ana and ass n t r u he f rm g i d by c o i g c l , p i g h o gh t a

r of the m of e n ran wh is se to the rt wr ya d ill F li Oc , ich clo Po h Ma

n Th ews f r entrance to Lla over . e vi o A be gavenny and the sur rounding mou ntains are probably ﬁner in the direction abo ve

' - - Llanﬁoist t an fr m an t er a e. The e r r is of a , h o y o h pl c Co d y P io

r un f rm art vere w t w s of ee oak and ir o d o , p ly co d i h ood b ch , , b ch . Its name indicates that it belonged to the priory the woods of the priory — and a large part of it is now the property of

em s T nte E s . who a s is the ssess r of the r r a C . K y y , q , l o po o p io y t

T e r n - w r Abergavenny . h i o o ks of Blaenavon are within two miles

- - r r of the summit of Coed y P io . 5 N E IG H BOUR H OOD or A B E R G A VE N N Y .

V CHA PTER .

' nx cua smN TO LL AN TH ON Y — LLAN V IHAN G E L C OUR T - OLD cA srLE

— — ' L ouD connAm n m va n or H ON DDU LLA N m ON Y A B B E Y .

n Small when compared with many of the e dowments of our land, of urs bath a leasant site and seems well arran e for the I will say o p , g d ll t in It v r s e them that dwe here . e e eemed to me better ﬁtt d

n for warriors. Itlieth here low and seclu e as iet loveth for religious men tha d d, p y ” — DE LB e . to lie. Wu . r. n u A

u . s n R ise with the u , A nd take a breakfastof the morning dew

IN gu iding the traveller throu gh the neighbourhood of A berga

v enn after he has ta en a enera v ew Of the eautfu s ener y, k g l i b i l c y

from one of the m u nta n tO s we w u re mm n him o i p , o ld co e d to

ex am ne it in eta and in the rst nstan e r e wa or r ve i d il , , ﬁ i c , id , lk , d i ,

far as t A e of ant n a stan e of ten m es fr m a s he bb y Ll ho y, di c il o

r nn A be gave y .

A fter ass n the A er avenn nurser - r un s the r r et r p i g b g y y g o d , ( p op i o

o f w i in his e of wers and t e r eautfu arran ement h ch , choic ﬂo h i b i l g ,

s eems to vie w t the r es t in eastern ta es we me in i h glo i old l , ) co

s t f S r V w A t th n rt - w igh o the cy ryd a r. e o h estern end of this

m ou ntain is situ ated the v illage of Llanvihangel Cru corney .

Llanv an u h r n H n ne e t e es e e o e o . . . ih g l Co rt ( id c f th W P Rod y , )

is one of the es man ns in th u n It is u n erta n w en old t sio e co ty . c i h

th e r na u n was ere te but the s ut - eastern fr nt is o igi l b ildi g c d , o h o

k n wn to have een re- in he ar 1559 s r an o b bu ilt t ye , by Rhy Mo g ,

h e t en ri t r t in 1576 s the r ert t r e Of he estate. He h p op o , , old p op y 56 G UIDE To r un TOWN A N D

to as A rn the r r et r of L ant n A e and its Nichol old , p op i o l ho y bb y

e en en es who he the same u n er rant fr m Henr V . d p d ci , ld d g o y III The property remained in the A rnold family till the year 1726’

w en it t et er w t t at of ant n was s to the h , og h i h h Ll ho y , old

Hon . war ar e A u t r of m rest to ueen A nne r ther Ed d H l y , di o I p Q , b o

to R ert rst ar of x f r and rtmer the r ob , ﬁ E l O o d Mo i , Lo d High

Treasurer fr m w tme to the ear 1802 it rema ne in the , o hich i , y , i d

H ar e fam the m ans n e n u sua ass ne as the nture l y ily , io b i g lly ig d joi

u f r h d w f f r n 02 h se o t e w s o the E ar s o f . I 18 t e ho i o l Ox o d ,

mans n w t the nt u u s rt n of the r ert n u n io , i h co ig o po io p op y , i cl di g

the S rr d m u n n wa s h H u P we l E c ta s to t e ate s . y y o i , old l gh o l , q ,

’

treasu rer Of St. art mew s s ta the resent ar of B holo ho pi l , by p E l

f r . M r . P we e in 182 1 u nmarr e and as is enera Ox o d o ll di d , i d , , g lly

su se out of res e t for the Har e fam but m re articu ppo d , p c l y ily , o p

larl as a t ken of rat tu e to his atr n and fr en the at y o g i d p o i d , l e

t Hon . T mas H ar e he e u eat e to the ran s n of Righ ho l y , b q h d g d o

m n H n n n wn t at ent e a the o . . . R e the rese t er the h g l , ( W P od y , p o , )

mans n t et er w t the r n a rt n of his an e estates . io , og h i h p i cip l po io l d d The mansion is surrou nded by groves of venerable oaks and

anis esnuts w e the n e avenues of ﬁrs su se to be Sp h ch , hil obl , ( ppo d the nest in the n m ve a w e r tures u eness to the ﬁ ki gdo , ) gi i d pic q

i n n n s ene that s ver str k n . The vern me t o o e o as n c y i i g go , cc io ,

f re M r. w ll f n of e d Po e or these alone. They are ot the

mm n t ﬁrs as s me ave een led to e eve but of a co o Sco ch , o h b b li ,

n w are ver se m met w t A t anv an el the ki d hich y ldo i h . Ll ih g y

d r n sow t emselves an s u s ntane u s in the w s . The h , p i g p po o ly ood chesnu ts appear to be also of great antiqu ity ; but althou gh m u ch pains have been taken to gain information as to the possible d ate w en t ese avenues were ante t ert all resear es on the h h pl d , hi h o ch

n poi t have proved fru itless .

Old Castle is a ut f ur m es fr m anv an e an d is bo o il o Ll ih g l , s tuate on the S of th u n n T s ast e is w e i d lope e Black Mo ta i s. hi c l ll ’ worthy of the traveller s attention upon more than one accou nt it has een su se b s me wr ters t at a f rtress was ere ted b ppo d , y o i , h o c on t s s t r r to the rman nvas n a r ts h eftain hi po p io No i io , by B i i h c i , a u t the n nt entur and was co- e stent w t astel G w n bo i h c y , xi i h C y

(White C astle). G ale and Stukeley ﬁx it as the site of the R oma n as com:ro m rows are .

Havin assedthe villa e of Llanvihan el we turn to the left g p g g , , in the vale of Hon u where to dd ,

’ The oak s thick branches stretch

Alas ! alas thatBritons should forsake the land of their sires for a rei n s i w en utes i e t ese can be f un at ome fo g o l, h bea i l k h o d h .

Oh ! s ns of the s f r et not the mee a s that r ses in ur o oil, o g k d i y i yo

reen ﬁe s for the au ex t t at ooms afar ! g ld , g dy o ic h bl

There ls a ﬁower, a little With -ﬂ u e n t

o N ear Butthis small ﬂ ower , t ature d , While moons and stars their courses run, r l Wreathes the whole ci c e of the year,

waste and wood-land rock On , and plain, Its hnmble buds unheedsd rise ; t The rese has bu a summer rsign. MONTGOM n rcnnom oon or n am an m . 59

What are the glittering glaciers of A lpine scenery— what are the

er etu al snow-c a m untain to s to our own ru e t p p ly l d o p gg d , ye

beau tful reen s at me ? We sit bes e the a e of om i g hill ho id L k C o,

and w e we u n i s ac waters we f r etthe tn lin hil look po t pl id , o g i k g r vu ets and e r m ss- la ban s wh se mus we e ted to i l th i o c d k , o ic d ligh

' W n n w hear in nfan . e remem er o m re the stream i the i cy , b o hich trout loves to leap ! While we tread the vineyards of southern

ran e we t n no m re of the ee e w ere we e te to F c , hi k o d p d ll h d ligh d roam— the s van mestea w t its rc ar w te with ossoms yl ho d , i h o h d hi bl

— the w tewas e v a e— the urc tower over r wn w th hi h d ill g old ch h , g o i

— — iv the a e ew trees all all are f r tten . The ver lan y g d y , o go y

u h m r a a i m l s g age of t e ho e of ou e rly d ys s al ost o t to us. ” r tons return to the native w o - notes w of our native B i , o d ild y

— va e s. The e s are st reen the trees t rou h the lon ll y ﬁ ld ill g , h g g

r t su mmer a s wear st t e r su ts of aut — the river b igh d y , ill h i i be y ’ contnues to r on etween its an s line with ature s i oll b b k , d N wi est c oth n — the oor too r st waitn o hear our ld l i g p , , a e ill i g t y vo ces a h r o a o i t t ei c tt ge d ors. We venture to say that there is not a more beautiful ride for the lov r of nature in the Un te in om than that throu h the e i d K gd , g

Th w n ns f vale of the Honddu. e path ay leads betwee mountai o

the most var e es r ton its an s ne w th w l owers. i d d c ip i , b k li d i i d ﬂ

Beneath the roa murmurs the r mant n u its water d o ic Ho dd , ! tumb in over a u n re mim c atara ts and l g h d d i c c ,

The troutbedroptwith crimson stains, Forsakes th ri rs rou o e ve p d d main, ’ Forsa es the sun s unwelcome le k g am, To bask within this humble stream.

G raldu s Cambrensis in the 12 th entur t us wrote of e y , c y, h th

V ale of the on u A ee va e u et and retre for H dd d p ll y , q i i d

n n wit th A m t ere t co templatio h e l igh y . H he sorrowful com a nts of the O resse do not s u et nor the mad con pl i pp d di q i , . tention s of the froward do not disturb ; but a calm peace and

f r l n r per ect charity invite to holy e igio . B ut why do I desc ibe the s tu t n of the a e w en all th n s are so muc c an e s nce i a io pl c , h i g h h g d i the pristine establishment? The broken rocks were traversed by herds of wild and swiftfooted animals ; these rocks surrounded 60 G UIDE TO mm mm AN D

n ar n the val e f r e were rowne with tall towerin a d d ke ed l y, o th y c d g

trees w e e a e tfu ros ect at a reat istance to all , hich yi ld d d ligh l p p g d

be o ers th sea and an The m e of the va e h ld , bo by l d iddl ll y,

alt ou t e wit wood and sun int a narrow and ee h gh clo h d h , k o d p

ab ss was sometmes stur e stron w n s and at ot er y , i di b d by g i d , h

imes sc re ar u s and v ent r ns nc mm e w th t ob u d by d k clo d iol ai , i o od d i

severe fr st or ea ed u w t sn w w st in t er a es t ere o , h p p i h o , hil o h pl c h

n i The ar e and entfu s r n s fr m was a mild and ge tle a r. l g pl i l p i g o

the ne h ourin m unta ns fe w t a eas n murmur nto a ig b g o i , ll i h pl i g i

river in the m stof the va e a oun n w t ﬁsh. The s a ou s id ll y , b di g i h p ci mountains contained fru itful pastures and rich meadows for feed

in atte w m ensate for the arrenness of t er a es g c l , hich co p d b o h pl c ,

and ma e amen s for the want of c rn . The air t u thic d d o , ho gh k ,

was ea t fu and reserve the n a tants to an ex trem e h l h l , p d i h bi

old age . It is one of those spots which appear to be shu t out from the

u n verse. It is ve va e in ee ! T ere ma be ells i a lo ly ll y , d d h y d where the balmy breeze sheds its thousand sweets u pon the

trave er but t en it is not so ure so fres as the w n s ll , h p , h , i d

freshen he waters of the n u. The ta l t wer n ed by t Ho dd l , o i g ” ” trees — the ru e r en r s — are st t ere and th gg d b ok ock ill h , e ” plentiful spri ngs are still heard falling w ith a gentle mu rmur ” in t i T r are to he river n the midstof the valley . he e the spacious ” ” m unta ns the fru tfu astu res and reen mea ows . T e o i , i l p , g d h simple cottager descends to the grave like a shock of corn fu lly ” ripe. M ay it be long before the peace of that qu iet valley

has ﬂ ed .

A t len t ant on A e a ears in s t al e th g h Ll h y bb y pp igh , c l d by e ’ - - nat ves an ddewi nant on u i . e St. avi s ur of i Ll H dd , D d Ch ch

the r of the Honddﬁ. It is a stri n ru n and mas b ook ki g i , bold

s ve its ara ter is the reat and s and ffers fr m T ntern i ; ch c g olid , di o i ,

as the latter ns sts of the l t and eautfu e t n the co i igh b i l , xhibi i g u sual distinction between the styles of the A ugustine and Cieter cian orders of architectu re :the visitor is especially struck with its

a earan e. Its s tuat n is ve b ut t at m an o of bare pp c i io lo ly , h co p i n

ru ns the iv es not tra al n its to or n to its m assive i , y , do il o g p, cli g

fra ments ere and t ere it is true it ma be tra e but nl g ; h h , , y c d , o y N mounom noon or AB E B G AV E N N Y . 61

’ where a new stone has been laid ; so soon as itreaches the ancient

ne-wor it turns ac a a n to the eart as t u itwere o sto k , b k g i h , ho gh to

sacre for its touc . N o a e ews i e ar ma es of the ast d h g d y , l k d k i g p , add gloom to its venerable appearance ; but it stands truly in

itar su m t It et ere low and se u ed a sol y bli i y li h h , cl d , s piety ” Th v es of the swee n ast and m loveth to lie. e oic pi g bl urmuring

“ n a is ur its n Hon ddu are the only sou ds th t d t b sile ce.

e an bserves N anthondde a r r of a e chanons L l d o , , p io i bl k ,

tan et in the V a e of E wais x iiii. m es fr m B rekenok T s d h l , il o . his ” ri ri was fa r and stoo etw t 11. reat es. The tm p o i , d b ix g hill i e of

the erect n of th s a be has c as ned man s utes and io i b y o c io y di p ,

mu h nfus n has ar sen res e t n it fr m the var e a un c co io i p c i g o i d cco ts.

O ne has su ose t at it was u t Sir . . de a pp d h b il by W H L cy, a

reta ner of the arl of eref r who ave lands to him i E H o d , g here.

Fr m t s n t es ende the a es who were n t m o hi k igh d c d L ci , o iced a ongst

r n A n t r the ﬁrst con querors of I ela d . o he said it was founded by

E rvistus a r est and am a s oldier reta ners of th , p i , Willi , , i e Earl of

ref r . T ese e ame erm ts and res ve to He o d h b c h i , ol d lead a secluded

l fe. A t rst t e w u n ta e a enev en e Of t e r atr n i ﬁ h y o ld o ly k b ol c h i p o ,

re t a sma a e w t e mmence in the ear 11 to e c ll ch p l , hich h y co d y 08

bu t afterwar s E rvistus n uence the a v e of A nse m d , i ﬂ d by d ic l ,

A rch ish of anter ur ersuade his c m an n to n b op C b y, p d o p io co vert it

nto a nvent for re u ar an ns of the A u ustne r er i co , g l c o g i o d .

Th f ow n art u lars wh ma notbe un n r e oll i g p ic , ich y i te esting to the

rea er are er ve fr m an a u nt of the f u n at n and d , d i d o cco o d io history ’ f the ab e Du dale s M onasticon from the ser o b y ( g ), ob vations of

G raldu s C ambrensis and t ers y , o h

St. av the u n e of n A rt ur the ttu ar sa nt of D id , cl Ki g h , i l i Wales,

with raw n fr m the cares of the wor retire to t s w s t d i g o ld , d hi ild po ,

i i n ere he b t as the scene of h s devoto . H uil a small chapel and

hermita e but su se uent to his eath the ce l was untenant g , b q d l ed , f u n and the place was long un req e ted . In the time of William

R ufus H u h de a a rman ar n in a huntin e ursi n , g L ci , No b o , g xc o ,

ur u the eer nt t s va e and w i st rest n p s ed d i o hi ll y ; , h l i g himself after

the fat ues of the ase w t his m an ns l am on ig ch i h co p io , Wil i , e of his

reta ners s vere the ru ne a e of St. av su i , di co d i d ch p l D id , ddenly ex

erienced a es re to ea a re us fe and str n m p d i l d ligio li , o gly i pressed 62 cumn ro m rown m

b the sanctit of the s ot u tte his militar career and ere y y p , q i d y , h

devoted his l fe to t erv f After he had a f w i he s ice o G od . passed e

ears in t s s tu e and ta ned devoti nal ele r t B rnas y hi oli d , ob i o c b i y , i ,

cha a n to au ueen of enr I. was n u ed to n liam pl i M d , Q H y , i d c joi Wil

as an as c a in r tr men the r m in ff so i te his e i e t. By i co b ed e orts a

! cha e was ere ted and was nsecrate a an the ocesan p l c , co d by N b , di ,

and ame ne B s of Heref r 1108 and ed ated to S H li , i hop o d . , d ic t.

n the a tst. A tthe re uest of E m esi so n after u d Joh B p i q , o , H gh e

a of eref r f u n e an A u ustine rior and ed cated it L ci , H o d , o d d g P y , d i

to the same sainths the cha e w s r inall and B ruca b p l a o ig y , i ecame

ri r. enr . and hi s ueen be ame its benefactors and thus p o H y I Q c , ,

atr n se the new m naster u was fame for ex tra rd na p o i d , o y q ickly d o i ry

san tt and ot onat ns and e uests ra mu t e A c i y , b h d io b q pidly l ipli d . t

' ﬁrst the numerous oﬁers were rejected by the prior and his pious brethren with the reason that they had determined to die poor in the house of G od ; but this reluctance having been overcome by

the re uest of M au ex tensive bu in s were erecte and q d , ild g d ,

th onventual ur h c nstru te w ich G raldus C ambren e c ch c o c d , h y sis

es r e as a oo u n hav n its roof vau ted w t ston d c ib d g d b ildi g, i g l i h e, ” re w t ead. Its r s er t was but of s ort duration and cove d i h l p o p i y h .

On the ath of enr I . the wars etween te en and the de H y , b S ph E rupress Mau d extended their baleful inﬂuence even to this spot

the m n s were nsu te and t e r e ce a e the e sh o k i l d , h i diﬁ pill g d by W l ,

ho s e t is ortu n t of s ew n t e r atre to the n ish w eiz d h opp i y h i g h i h d E gl .

n t s stress the m n s a e to t e r r r who was er I hi di o k ppli d h i p io , Rob t

de Detun e s of eref r . He w t the aid of de aci , Bi hop H o d , i h Milo L ,

nd his own era nat ns ena e t em to ere t a new m nas a lib l do io , bl d h c o ter at a ace ca e e near G ucester w i was conse y, pl ll d Hyd , lo , h ch

s f r ester and er r in l 1 hi crated by the Bishop o Wo c H efo d 3 6. T s

was a e ant on w c name the ru n now ears . The new c ll d Ll h y , hi h i b m naster was n a e s m ar to the r na one in the V le o y o ly c ll , i il o igi l a

B wa a but av n een en we w th ar e ossess ons b of i , h i g b do d i l g p i y

i nd n n it s on ar se to e e r t and s en our . M lo a Ki g Joh , o o c l b i y pl d

w t s new and u u r ant s tuat n the m n s for et Delighted ith hi l x i i io , o k g

m unta ns and not n refuse to return as the their seat in the o i , o ly d , y

in t e r en a ements but eman e for the mo ern promised h i g g , d d d d

- nen ve th m r The a ter establishment pre emi ce o r e othe church. l t N kIG nDom oon or AB E B G A VE N N Y . 3 6

stri ed of its valua es to enr h the former and converte pp bl ic , d

into a house of rre i n f r refr r n Thi deso ate co cto o acto y mo ks. s l

state of the ab e in u e ward V un h n b y d c d Ed I . to ite t e two mo as teries ha rter ma n at the same tme the ne at u s r by c , ki g i o G lo ce te

the a be and the ot er a e atta e to it and bli e b y, h c ll ch d , o g d the monks of the principal house to maintain one residentiary prior

and f ur anons. It has wever been uest ne w et er t o c , ho , q io d h h his

' w as ever eﬁected t s is san t ne the fa t t at the annua ; hi c io d by c , h l revenues were sep ara tely valued at the time of the dissolution of

- m naster es the one near G ucester £648. 19s. 11d. and t is o i lo , , h

in nm ut s re at 7 1. 3 s. 2 d. a r n to u da e. Th Mo o h hi £ , cco di g D g l e

s te was rante to ar A rn and ame nt the ssessi i g d Rich d old , c i o po on o f the Ox ford family by A uditor H arley having purchased it from

r i r h the g antee . It s at p esent t e property of Walter Savage

Lan r E s . the et now in ta . do , q , po , I ly Little now remains of this monastery b ut the ru ins of its con

’ ventu el ur . In the A ti ns to G u s am en it is state ch ch ddi o o gh C d , d that the present ediﬁce is notthe original church belonging to the

abbe but one of ater ate — The ur wever was evi y , l d ch ch , ho , dently constructed soon after the period when the pointed style

was intro u ced and rev us to its enera ada tion for oth d , p io g l p ; b

that and the c r u ar are seen in this stru ture and a ear to ha i c l c , pp ve

entere nto the r nal an . It was u t ruc form a d d i o igi pl b il c i , n ,

th u h not on the ran est s ale was a mira r rti n o g g d c , d bly p opo o ed .

l n from the . oor is 2 02 feet and rea th n u n The e gth W d , b d , i cl di g

f r n fr m W. 1 the two ais es 50. The len t o t a se t to S . 00 l , g h p o

The w e ui n is in a sa ruine state— the wal s feet. hol b ldi g dly d l

f in wn In the centre there rose a s uare are gradually all g do . q

mess t wer su orte o o nte arches O enin into the y o , pp d by b ld p i d p g

hoir nave and transe t. B ut the a e is a tale of the times c , , p bb y

l and i is r evou s to o serve that it is not to tim of o d t g i b , e a lone

v of the last ft ears are attr u Th that the ra ages ﬁ y y ib table. e

en ravin s ven Sir . . are of anthon in his editi n of g g gi by R C Ho , Ll y , o

raldus Cambrensis ve the best ea of an we are ac uainted G y , gi id y q

i ins within the resent centur and since he r w with of ts rema p y, d e them they have much decreased 64 G UIDE TO m TOWN AN D

The farm - house attached to the ru in is inhabited by kin d hearted persons of the name of Webb ; and in their small parlo ur and s ac us t en art es who me to see the e are p io ki ch , p i co abb y su e w t e s ac n t aste eese tea rea and utter ppli d i h gg , b o , o d ch , , b d b ,

. M r e is a wa s rea to n iven w t his v n those &c . W bb l y dy e l i h ioli wh n o are i clined to dance.

60 cums To THE TOWN AN D

” the votary of wit and pleasure ! It is not determined when the mans n was ere te b ut it is ev ent that it was at an ear io c d , id ly

er . Itwas n e the seat f th Her ert fam but asse p iod o c o e b ily , p d from the possession of one of the descendants of Sir Richard

Her ert to a r an ur and sett e u n his t ir son ar es b M jo H b y , l d po h d , Ch l , who in nse u ence of the nature of the w to the name of , co q ill , ok n in ams. T s ent eman afterwar s so e e rate was r Willi hi g l , d c l b d , bo the ear 1709 e u ate at t n and afterwar s trave e thr u y , d c d E o , d ll d o gh th r f O n is return in 17 3 2 he marr e e g eater part o E urope. h i d

a ran es u n est au ter of r n n s . The L dy F c , yo g d gh Lo d Co i g by f w n ear he t his seatin ar ament and the e tra r nar ollo i g y ook p li , x o di y sa a t of his m n s n s a n tse f he e ame ntmate w th g ci y i d oo di pl yi g i l , b c i i i

’ L r rf r and the s w t t ers of the m st u ara o d O o d Fox , i h o h o p blic ch c

ter of th d Th a t his m n at t s er vente s e ay . e viv ci y of i d hi p iod d

f h In 4 itsel in t e shape of political ballads and satires . 17 6 he was nsta e n t of the at and afterwar s a i ll d K igh B h , d p

nte env n re he e ame dis poi d oy to the cou rt of Dresde . He b c

in i r A s a r n t gu shed in his character of foreign ministe . pe so

ssess n in a e ree all the ua t es w c nst p o i g , high d g , q li i hich o i tute a s fu matst he was es at e on an em ass to kil l diplo i , d p ch d b y

h t f his th u r t rs u r . He a c m she t e e o e co t of St. Pe e b g c o pli d obj c miss n but in nse u en e of a an e in the m n str at me io , co q c ch g i i y ho , hi w n O n his return in s re ard was an expression of disapprobatio .

1757 he retire to r H u se and in a s rt time e d Coldb ook o , ho di d ,

a e 50. A s he eft n two au ters his r ther G e r e g d l o ly d gh , b o o g su ee e to the estate t en e it es en e to his son n cc d d ; h c d c d d , Joh in an an u r ams E s . The mans n r na l w as u t H b y Willi , q io o igi l y b il

f n irre u ar st e w t a t wer at ea an e. The n rt ern r t g l yl , i h o ch gl o h o ,

i ms. w t an e e ant rt was n stru te Sir . . a i h l g po ico , co c d by C H Will

It nta ns s me ver va u a e a nt n s V an e and t ers co i o y l bl p i i g , by dyk o h ,

— of remarka e ers n a es Henr etta u een of ar es I . ver bl p o g i , q Ch l , Oli

r mwe W am d r r f u m er and an a G e e . u e o C o ll , illi M y, o g II , D k C b l ,

Sir ert a e r c e er k . r erve r Cataret & . Rob W lpol , F d ic II , Lo d H y, Lo d , , O ne room is hung with the celebrated beauties of the reign o f

- n arles . T ere is a ma n ent mar e mne e e Ki g Ch II h g iﬁc bl chi y pi c , m a nd s e va u a e na e te Sir . an u r am o l bl chi , coll c d by C H b y Willi ,

T ere is a s a ur u s oak mne - e e w f rmer e n ed h l o c io chi y pi c , hich o ly b lo g to R a an C ast e gl l . N E IG HB OUR H OOD OF A B E R G A VE N N Y . 67

Fu rther on we pass the ancient small and picturesque church of

’ Llansaufraed with the f rm of e fr so mu a m re in man , old o b l y ch d i d y

f Th r in - r o the Welsh cou ntry churches . e c oss the chu rch ya d

was rest re the t R ev. Dr. est ne the resent o d by Righ Coppl o , p

' f f w n se u ra n r n i Bishop o Llandaﬂ . The ollo i g p lch l i sc iptio s

nterest n as nne te w t the er ert fam i i g, co c d i h H b ily 68 s cu m TO rm:“rows as ] :

l n r the u rc w ich was A stately mansion fortn er y stood ea ch h , h remarkable as once being the seat of the celebrated Thomas ap

w lim from w om the ar s of embroke ow s and Caernar G y , h E l P , P y , von r es ende b the male and the Beaufort fam l the a e d c d y , i y by

line. He ac u red it b his marr a e with au dau hter female q i y i g M d , g

i n M r e The resen house be on s to the H ana rth of S r Joh o l y . p t l g

fam and is in the o u ati n of E . T . H utc ns E s . ily, cc p o hi , q

e t on the r t is seen the mans n of Pant oitre e n n N x igh io yg , b lo gi g k M r an . It is s tuated on the O s te an of the Us to iss Mo g i ppo i b k , and is striking from the ex tensive and varied landscape by which i i surr un e and the ma n ent woods in the a rou n . t s o d d , g iﬁc b ck g d

t fu rt er on the left- an stan s anart the h s ta e S ill h h d d Ll h , o pi bl

’ res en e of the nes s one of the m st an ent C at o fami e id c Jo , o ci h lic li s ‘ in a es who ave een en a e t r u h a n series o f W l , h b bl d , h o g lo g

enerati ns w st stri t a er n to t e r an ient fa th to g o , hil c ly dh i g h i c i , reta n t e r ex tens ve ssessions and at the same tme to en o i h i i po , i j y the esteem res e t and o - w of their ne ours of ever , p c , go d ill ighb , y

la s n d n m n Th m n i n i m m b ﬁne c s a d e o inatio . e a s o s so e boso ed y w d t at itis n b e fr m r A m n st the i tu re s oo s h ot visi l o the oad . o g p c

’ of this use is one of e s SO hia Fermor of w m he sa d ho Pop , p , ho i ,

“ Hi h ou her g breast a radianterom shs wore, ” Which ews mi htkin i J g , and nﬁdels adore.

A tta e to the use is a a e in w mass is re u arl er ch d ho ch p l , hich g l y p f rme the mest n h a a t e R ev M r. F sher and it i o d by do ic ch pl i , . i ; s atten e the at s in the ne urh in ad t n to the d d by C holic ighbo ood , di io

f h fa members o t e mily .

A a n on the eft- an we ass l t a the mans n o f g i , l h d , p C y h , io

m nes t r son of a the ate T. nes of anart E s . Willi Jo , hi d l Jo , Ll h , q

T s fa r was ere te a few ears a o the r n ssesso r hi b ic c d y g by p ese t po , who n er te the estate fr m his u n e the te am nes i h i d o cl , la Willi Jo ,

Descen e from enr Fitz - rt d d H y Herbe , chamberlain to Ki Henry L, the common ancestor of all the erberts In th rei n o f IL Will . e enr H g H y , iam ap ohn ﬁrst a o te the E n lish custom of a e J d p d g ﬁx d surname, and John has d uce been - altere into ones. A am itz erbert Lor of Llanll w l t d J d F H , d o e , married he daughter of G war ndu Lor of Llan eilo whose escen ant William Pro r sol th y , d d , d d , ge , d e estate of Worn -dds reservin the use of it urin his lif t Mr f , g d g e o . Lee, a ther of the resen t. M rs nes Ll p . Jo , Of anarth . nz tcn ounnoon or s h am a nism . 69

E s of tha . s te t is res en e on a w o e in q Cly Oppo i h id c , o d d hill ,

the rounds stan s t a astle a modern stru ture ere ted g , d Cly h C , c , c , according to the inscription on the tablet inserte d in the castle

wall b the ate am nes E s . in mem r of his w fe , y l Willi Jo , q , o y i ,

E liz abeth au hter of Sir il iam or an of Trede ar and , d g W l M g , g ,

ra nd-d au hter of l am secon uke of evons r h g g Wi li , d D D hi e. T e

v ew the trave ler asses under the brid e w u n i , as l p g hich ites the

r un s on eac side of the roa forms a ma n cent an r m g o d h d , g iﬁ p o a a

when oo in towards the mountains wh ch then rst urst all a l k g , i ﬁ b t

on e u on the si t in com n from nmouth to A r a nn c p gh i g Mo be g ve y .

A o utthree mi es furt er is the sma v a e of a lan w t a b l h ll ill g R g , i h

T e i n inn w very picturesque church . h re s a here parties can be well accommodated bu t it is more generally customary to take

o r v s ns to the aste w ere t ere is a mf r e f r c ld p o i io c l , h h co o tabl room o

r n m n To t se n est a d refresh e t. ho who have ever visited R aglan

ast e it is m oss e to ve an ea Of the e u ar u n n of C l , i p ibl gi id p c li io

mass v ma n en e w t ru n w i s s r n in i r m n i e g iﬁc c i h i hich s o t iki g ts e ai s . Every portion that is standing is so perfect that the stones seem

a most as if recent c se le so ean is the r surface so erfe t l ly hi l d , cl i , p c ly are they ﬁtted together ; while the contrast afforded by other parts

rent asun er v en e and vere w th masses Of the nest d by iol c , co d i ﬁ

' iv ro uce an eﬁect t at can ver se m be f un in an ot er y, p d h y ldo o d y h

The ru n is a to et er one- t r of a m in m Old castle. i l g h hi d ile circu

ference. The shell incloses two c urts the one n m n o , de o i ated the

an h r f u n n n paved d t e othe the o tai court. I the latter formerly

stood a edesta u n wh was the statue of a orse arved in p l , po ich h , c

- n m w h a f un a ur us su ureous sme n sto e fr ta n ssue . c io lph lli g , o hic o i i d

The former w s ave now owever the reen tu rf a ne a a p d ; , h , g lo p

ears Aroun the eastern and n rt ern s es were ran es of p . d o h id g

cul nar ofﬁces and a n the s u t ern s e was a ran su te f i y , lo g o h id g d i o

a ar m n T h n rt of the a were batteries and be p t e ts. o t e o h h ll , yond

n The western r n these another series of apartme ts. doo Ope ed into the ha e and e n is a se n urt s rte a ran e c p l , b yo d co d co , ki d by g of in w u n the s e for rra uild s r e serve a s. b g , hich , d i g i g , d b ck ” Tw r M el n G wen t or the Y e w T wer O f G went th y y , llo o , e citadel is a ar e e a n efen e ast ns surr u n ed , l g h x go , d d d by b io , o d by a

m at and nne te w t the aste a raw r d e . A s o , co c d i h c l by d b i g piral 70 G UIDE TO THE TOWN am:

th n it r f rmer ex sted a staircase leads to e top . Rou d the e o ly i

terra e w was ornamente statues of the man em er rs . c , hich d by Ro p o

A r un the ast e are wa s of rea t e tent and eaut one of o d c l lk g x b y ,

w w w t th u nf r un r hich as a favourite i h e o t ate Cha les I . The

' ma ni en e of the a artments t e r e tent and n umber aﬁord g ﬁc c p , h i x , abu ndant evidence of the style in which the worthy lords of this

ma n in the en time the n urs of the table . N ever do i , old , did ho o ,

we ma ne were s enes of festiv t m re fre uentthan w t n the i gi , c i y o q i hi

r m t w n walls of R aglan . F o he follo i g records of the Marqu is o f

’ r ester s esta s ment we s u ave u e it rather to Wo c bli h , ho ld h j dg d have been the residence of a so vereign than a subj ect

LIST OF TH E O SE HOLD O F E N RY THE IRST MA R IS OF H U H , F Q U

WO R E STE R A T RA LA N A STLE . C , G C ’ bl A t eleven o clock in the forenoon the ca stle gates were shut, and the ta es ’ lai vi — o iu the inin -room thr W z . tw ee in the hall o in rs n art d , , d g , , ne M . atso s ap ment where the cha lains eat Sir Tob M atthews bein the ﬁrst and two in th , p ( y g ), e ’ ’ house- ee er s-room for the la ies women E arl entere the inin - room k p , d . The d d g , atten e b his en tlemen . A s soon as he was seate Sir Ral h Blacksto ne d d y g d , p , s war of the house retire . The com troller M r ollan atten e i te d , d p , . H d, d d w th

staff as did the sewer M r. B lac burn the ail iters M r. lou h M r . his , , k d y wa , C g , ’ more n man n l s Mr. Scu a a d e teman sons with estates of fr tw Jelly, d , y g , om o to ’ re oun s a- ear who were bre u in the cast seven hund d p d y , d p le my lady s gentlemen of the chamber M r . M or an and M r. Fox . A t the ﬁrst table sets the noble famil , g y ,

the obilit s came the - and such of n y a re. A t the secon table in the inin room d , d g , i t honou rable ent sate the n h s and lemen atten e b footmen . In the hall k g g , d d y , at the ﬁrst table sate Robert B lac stone stewar the com troller , k , d p , Mr. Holland

he er of the h r - the secretar t mast o se Mr. elawar the master of the fish o nds y , D p , ’ s m Lord H erb rt s M r. A ndrew e rece tor Mr. A ams ith c y p p , d w su h gentlemen as came there un er the e ree of a ni ht atten e foo n and d d g k g , d d by tme , plentifully ’ serve with wine. A t the secon table in the hall serve from m lor s t bl n d d , d y d a e, a d with other hotmeats sate the sew er with the entlemen waiters and a , , g p ges, to - ber of twent four. A t the thir table in th h s te the the num y d e all, a clerk of the itchen with the eomen ofiicers of the house two rooms of the chambers k , y , g , are. rs f the househol were ief r Other Office o d , ch auditor, M . Smith ; clerk of the hithorn urv accounts Mr . eor e W e or of the castle Mr. Salisbur , G g p y , y ushers of - le and Mr. oo e close e er ntl the hall Mr. May C k tk e e eman of the cha el M r , p g p , . m Davies keeper of the records aster of the wardrobe ; master of the m a ny te oms of the stables f r he war-h twelve mas r gro , o t orses master of the hounds ; r his master falconer porte and man two b utchers two keepers of the home r two ee ers of the red eer ar footmen rooms and oth r m pa k ; k p d p k , g , e enial s to the number of one hundre and fift ! Some f servant , d y o the footmen were

- and bakers. Ontoﬁioers : stewar of E n land Willi m ones E s brewers a . d g , J , q ; of Che stow astle Sir N icholas em s Bart ho governor p C , K y , . use keeper of Wor ' nd n ames ester ouse in Lo o Redman E s . thirteen bailiﬁs two co s o H , , J , q ; unsel , ‘ ” i s to have recourse to solicitor Mr o tOr the bail ff , . J hn Smith.

For a length Of time the marqu is suppo rted a garrison of 800

n The ast e was smant e rder f me . c l di l d by o o parliament on the N E I G HB OUR H OOD or A B E R G A VE N N Y 7 1

on us n of the v w r T was no ll he rude treatment c cl io ci il a . his t a t to wh ch the ast e w Th tenan s of the mar u s i c l as subj ected . e t q i

t awa ar e uanttes of the st ne for re a r n barns &c . ook y l g q i i o p i i g , , and severa farm - i m n r ur n l hou ses w ere entirely bu ilt n this a ne . D i g

' these proceedings no less than twenty - three staircases were re m ve but to his n ur be it sa no s ner had the ate u e o d ; ho o id , oo l d k su cceeded to the estate than he ordered that not an other stone s ou be rem ve and t us the ent re em t n of t ese ma h ld o d , h i d oli io h g

niﬁcent rema ns w r n i as p eve ted .

The ast e was f un e Sir am a T mas who marr e c l o d d by Willi p ho , i d

G wlad s au ter of Sir av G em and w w of Sir R er y , d gh D id , ido og

V au an t of w m fe on the e of A n u rt and it w gh , bo h ho ll ﬁ ld gi co , , ill

be remem ere were n te w e in the a n es Of eat b b d , k igh d hil go i d h y

en r V . as a. rewar for the r es of va u r e h d di H y , d p odigi lo th y a s

a e ia the n m n r m i pl y d e gage e t. F o these t descended to William

er ert ar of em r e who a te the name of er ert in H b , E l P b ok , dop d H b

on ur of his an est r enr t - Her rt who was am er a n h o c o H y Fi z be , ch b l i

to enr . In m an w t Sir R ar er ert of r k H y I co p y i h ich d H b , Coldb oo ,

he was ta en r s ner at Danesmoor and e ea e the Lan k p i o , b h d d by

i i am H r r caster an art 1469 . H s son e ert marr e a p y, , Willi b , i d M y ,

s ster Of ar R vers w m he had a au ter, a et who i E l i , by ho d gh Eliz b h , , marr a e nve e the vast estates of the er erts to Sir by i g , co y d H b

arles merset afterwar s ar u is of r ester. Ch So , d M q Wo c The incident of principal importance which has occurred in the

st r of the aste and w stn u s es it a ve t er hi o y c l , hich di i g i h bo o h

f r resses in the unt is the e e rate s e e it u n erwent in the o t co y , c l b d i g d

tme of r es . T at u nf rtunate m nar ver me his i Cha l I h o o ch , o co by

enem es and rt man of his fr en s t refu e as on e i dese ed by y i d , ook g ,

of his st res ur es in the s ta e a s of the ar u s of la o c , ho pi bl h ll M q i

r ester a n eman who had ev te his tme and f rtu ne to Wo c , obl d o d i o

the r a ause and who rem a ne fa t fu to the ast. The n oy l c , i d i h l l ki g,

we he wn the num er and var et of his tr u es r e ig d do by b i y o bl , b ood d over each misfortu ne until his naturally vacill ati ng and weak spirit

sett e wn nt e e t n . ur n his s urn in the aste the l d do i o d j c io D i g ojo c l , noble marqu is exerted himself to the utmost by entertainments

nd t r amu s ments to rem ve t s es n en an O e a o he e o hi d po d cy , bj ct which the peculiar piqu ancy and brilliancy of his conversation was 72 G U IDE TO THE TOWN A N D

we su ite to accom is . In the e r 1642 he raise an arm ll d pl h y a , d y

of 1500foot and 500 horse lace them un er the comman of , p d d d

his son r erbert and su rte t m at his own ex ense. , Lo d H , ppo d he p

' A fter an ineﬁectual stru in var us arts of outh a es the ggle io p S W l ,

s attere rema ns of t s itt e arm were reca le to a an the h d i hi l l y l d R gl ,

cast e f rt ed and efen e w t a raver tru ast nis n l o iﬁ , d d d i h b y ly o hi g against the Parliamentarians under the command Of Sir Thomas

a rfax T s mem ra e event mmen e une 3 rd 1646 and F i . hi o bl co c d J , ,

the a lant veteran not e u nt A u u st 19 th when onour g l did yi ld il g , h

a e terms were a ree to and the arr son marche o ut with bl g d , g i d m ‘ their ar s.

A mong the many persons in the castle at the time of its evacuation were hil of on th which ci S ir P ip and Lady Jones, Tre Owen, near M mou an ent mansion b Ini o ones was on v l id butis no was y g J , and ce ery sp end , w reduced and couve into a farm- ouse sin [J h ma the inci h , ce anarth as been de pr pal residence f f l o that ami y.

74 ovu m TO THE TOWN A N D

Th m n - f he r n a a art relieved by gilding . e a tel pieces o t p i cip l p ments are specimens of the marbles of South Wales ; the inla id table in the centre of the hall is made of the root of the G olyn os oak w rew in t s u nt the e n s are e u ar , hich g hi co y ; c ili g p c li ly

ns e The handsome ; the gardens and groun ds are very exte iv .

r of the - - M eirch Ford o the War H orses w h b ook Rhyd y ( f ) , hic

ves the name to the v a e ru ns t r u t em f rm n several gi ill g , h o gh h , o i g

n In a sma pieces of water within the enclosu res of the garde s . ll

r ve of ee and es are n ne we s in a r e w seem g o b ch holli i ll ci cl , hich each to possess a separate so urce ; the l argest is known u nder the name of non ver the Well o G over an an ent sa nt n O ( f ) , ci i of G went to w m the ur of an ver is e ate and fr m , ho ch ch Ll o d dic d , o w m he ar i n T wa er w re n e in reat ho t p ish took ts ame. hese t s e o c g

re ute and are st mu va ue b the n t ves . p , ill ch l d y a i

The an ent res en e of the r t ar s A R ar the ci id c P i ch d ( p ich d),

es en ants of ara V raich V ras f rmer n wn as e t d c d C doc , o ly k o

’ ” ver G aver s Court and now enera a e The u rt O ( ) , g lly c ll d Co ,

es in a o w of the ar on the left of the a r a to the li h llo p k , pp o ch

f n and the rema ns u se. Th s u n was n e o reat e te t ho i b ildi g o c g x , i are still cu riou s and picturesqu e :it is now only u sed as a farm

fr m he rt awr u war s of a hou se. The park wall extends o t Po h M p d m e to the v a e o f - - M eirch w ere an t er entran e il , ill g Rhyd y , h o h c ,

a e the P rt - - Pentref the villa e a tewa ea s to the c ll d o h y ( g g y) , l d “ r f v r n he t e use o L an e w e n M rs . a n t t o h ho l o , hich b lo gs to W ddi g o ,

m t er of a a and w w f rm r the res en e of o h L dy H ll , hich as o e ly id c

Wa ter e the es en ant of the e s or S ts llts rds of l C cil , d c d C cil ( y y ) , lo

A llt r- n s and ancest rs of the reat r ur e and the y y y , o g Lo d B l igh , last male of that family who resided in G went f

In the roun s belon in to this la is sin le Rho en ron 150feetin g d g g dy a g dod d , circumference which is n st if not the , generally u derstood to be one of the large , lar est in rea t B ritain :it as lant b M rs Wa in ton herself about ft g , g w p ed y . dd g , ﬁ y ears a o havin been sentfrom A m rica a n b a ri n y g , g e as prese t y f e d.

In the ossession of Mrs W i n collection of p . ad dington is the valuable and un o owers execute from nature b her r at- aunt the au hter of clone] B ernard ﬂ , d g e , d g ranville niece of G eor e Lo Lans owne and wi ow of M r Pendarves of G , g d , d . , ’ R oscrow in ornwall an of Dr e of Do M ar d E wes onl , C . D lany, Dean wn. y ( y ’ ’ au hter of Mrs . elna a sis A n il and of ohn d E wes E s . d g D y ter, n G ranv le, J , q , of Welsborn in Wa i P I o ave u rwicksh re marri ohn ort E s . of lam wh , ) ed J , q , , ( g p I the Welsh name oi S arrow on inh rit n I ro r n th ir au hter p e i g the lam p pe ty, ) a d e d g ,

M rs . W a in ton is the dd g , possessor of these specimens of one of the rare talents of M rs. elan b whom she was b u h r invente b D y, y ro g t up. The wo k was d y u rem m oon or u nm x vnmn . 75

A bout three miles from R hyd -y- M eirch lies the small village of

amh a wit one of t se str k n eautfu ur es M il d , h ho i i gly b i l old ch ch

w are s attere ver a es u t su stanta of r u st nes hich c d o W l , b il b i lly o gh o

neat w tewas e w t a s m e e fr ver s m ar to the one ly hi h d , i h i pl b l y y i il W at Llansanfraed . e s u not wever ave es e a n t ed ho ld , ho , h p ci lly o ic

t s ur was it not for the ma n ent ew trees w sur hi ch ch , g iﬁc y hich

r u n it and are remar a e for s e and nu m er even in t s o d , k bl iz b , hi vicin ity where yews are found of great beauty in most of the

chu r - ar ch y ds. Proceeding three miles from Mamhilad we arrive atthe tu rnpike

r a ea n to the t wn of P nt- - the s tuat n of w is o d l di g o o y pool , i io hich

v r n m i rru t n e y pictu resque. The a e s a co p ion of Po t ap Hyw el

the B rid e o el near to w st the h use o f Dav dd ( g f n ) , hich ood o y

a we f rmer a entto the Han ur fam and r na p Hy l , o ly g b y ily ; , o igi lly ,

the r e was a e nt Dav dd a H we afterwar s itwas b idg c ll d Po y p y l , d

a brev ate to Pou t a H w e w at en t e ame the name b i d p y l , hich l g h b c of the town that grad ually spru ng u p aroun d the residence and

r e of D av dd a H we s e t the E n s fr m the s u n b idg y p y l , p l by gli h ( o o d)

nt- - b ut w rt ra m ete m stiﬁes its his Po y pool , hich o hog phy co pl ly y

n n The few uses w rev us nsttute tory and mea i g . ho hich p io ly co i d ’

the t wn were a e Trefethin after the ar s . The resentt wn o c ll d , p i h p o

w s its nse u en e to the fam of an ur and to the tin o e co q c ily H b y,

- w r s w are we w rth v s tn . nt ar the res o k , hich ll o i i i g Po ypool p k , i

n f a e Han u r e E s . the resent re resen de ce o C p l b y L igh , q , p p tative

f the e er ran of the anbur fam and r eut n o ld b ch H y ily, Lo d Li e antof

the u nt is nt u u s to the t wn . The mans n nta n Co y , co ig o o io co i s some ﬁne apartments— among them is the drawing- room ﬁtted u p

f ate ears b M rs . Han ur e and in w the arv n o l y y b y L igh , hich c i g of

e s Har s a e as entre rnaments in the w n w the W l h p , pl c d c o i do

om es are art u ar a m re . T ere are a s s me ﬁn c ic , p ic l ly d i d h l o o e

’ tures art u ar ur s and an e e ent i rar nta n n pic , p ic l ly M illo , xc ll l b y, co i i g

n m n u r The ar is rem r valuable books a d a sc ipts. p k a kable for its

ela a d commence in the 2 nd ear of her a w M rs. D ny, n d 7 y ge, hen she ve intin an art in which she reatl e celle and was up Oil pa g, g y x d, complete at of 84 when the f il ure of her e e-si ht revente the contin an the age , a y g p d u ce of her on T e nsist of ten lar e olumes in a ca in favorite recreati . h y co g v b et each volume ntainin one hun re lants more closel resemblin nature than ai n co d d p , y g p ting ieces of colou re er cut out they are ormed and shaded by p d p , and pasted over rfu l s ill This col action is sti l o each other with the mostwonde k . l c mplete with the ex ce tion of twent owers which were left to her l ate ma est ueen harlot p ﬂ , j y Q C te, b hom and b r e U L Mrs. elan was well nown and hi hl valu y w , y g , D y k g y ed. 76 curb s To r un TOWN AN D

r mant beaut and fr m the va u a e r tt of M rs. anb u r o ic y , o l bl g o o H y

e and her u tr urt a v ew is ta ne of the r st l L igh , po l y co , i ob i d B i o

anne w e the v s tor sees in the s te re t n m u nta n Ch l , hil i i , oppo i di c io , o i u n m unta n t e w t w d aff r n a uri us ntrast to po o i clo h d i h oo , o di g c o co the stant sea v w T ere is s a r ve of ree m es thr u di ie . h al o d i th il o gh the grounds to a tower commanding a still more. ex tensive prospect. The insertion of some of the verses of the ode to the beau tiful

ss arr et an u wr tten her un e Sir ar es H an u r Mi H i H b ry , i by cl , Ch l b y

‘ ams of r ma aﬁord nterest to the rea er as Willi . Coldb ook , y i d , associating that well-known wit with the present locality and its possessors

l B ut soon those eyes their strength shall fee , Those charms their powerful sway shall ﬁnd n Y outh shall in crowds before you k eel, ’ r in A nd own your empire o e mank d.

’ s Charms thatin time shall ne er be lo t,

A t leastwhile verse like mine endures, A nd futu re H anbury? sha ll boast

Of verse like ine o rms like ours. m , f cha y

li tl in e bo h ma be A t e va w t y , Since scarce another house can show A tthatcan sing like me ” l u beauty thatcan charm ike yo .

A nd a a n in a s n a resse to the R ev. M r. rt on g i , o g dd d Bi ,

Harr et Han ur we ﬁnd the f w n um ur us nes i b y, ollo i g h o o li

’ f t M s Dear Doctor o S . ary In th un of B er avenn e h dred g y, ’ I v s suc e een h a lass, With a sha e and a f p ace, n ver as match A s e w ed by any .

S h w it such bloo h ut uc , m and suc bea y, f - Has this girl o Pont y ool Sir, i h e s ha o ] pm e W t ye t tw n z ak , he hes he r c e T toug t a ta h ,

l . A nd the wisestman a foo , Sir

’ h r h Sir A tour fair t ot e da s e a eared , , pp r A nd the Welshmen l ﬂ ock to view he , A nd all of them said She was ﬁtto be made

A wife for an Owen Tudor.

’ The would ne er have been tired with gaz ing d l ir A n so much her face di p ease, S , Thatall of them staid w Till their ale dead , i A nd cold was t eir toasted cheese, S r.

l a u h r T hen pray make a ba lad bo t e , ’ We know you have wit if you d shew it ’ Then don tbe ashamed, bla me Y ou can never be d, s often a oet For a propheti p . nerons ocmroon or ss nncs vx rmv. 77

’ ” We are not aware whether the Doctor of St. Mary s complied ” w t s re u est but Sir ar es m se f r ve a true r e i h thi q , Ch l hi l p o d p oph t

in n r s e t as the fam has nt n ue re- em nent f r o e e p c , ily co i d p i o per sonal attractions ever since that period .

If the trave er ex ten s his r e e n the t wn he w ll d id b yo d o , ill be amply repaid by the scenery su rrou nding the large reservoirs

for h m u nta n streams f rm n m n ature a es a n w t e o i , o i g i i l k lo g hich the

r a asses severa m es aff r n at ever ste new r s e ts o d p l il , o di g y p p o p c ,

t he rea es A er arn the r ert of Sir . a in th m ill ch b c , p op y B H ll , e ou n

- - ta n s a ut seven m es fr m nt . i , bo il o Po y Pool We wou ld strongly advise the tourist to spend a day in the ne u r of Crickhowel not on on a u ntof th ighbo hood , ly cco e historical

nterestt at ma be nne te w t it but to v ew s m i h y co c d i h , i o e of the

n ure t a can be e H fairest scenes of at h t b held . e shou ld leave

A ber avenn the re n r a at the n rt - western n g y by B co o d , o h e d of the t wn and as Crickhowel is n six m es stant he w o ; o ly il di , ill have sufﬁ entle su re to serve the eautes of the r a w ci i ob b i o d , hich passes throu gh what may truly be denominated the G arden o f Sou th

It i t be e rette t at the re er rt Wales. s o r g d h p p o hography of

C rickhowel as we as man t er e s names is not et , ll y o h W l h , y

rest re as w ere t e are reserve ever s t fu rn s es i o d ; , h h y p d , y po i h ts own e anat n e n n atve of s met n to he remark xpl io , b i g i dic i o hi g ed or remem ere as ass ate w t it. T ere is now a mu b d , oci d i h h . h ppily , ch interestevinced in the restoration of correct orthography of Welsh

names so essent a to the e anat n of the names of a , i l xpl io pl ces .

’ C rickhowel is a rru t n of Crd - H wel H wel s unt co p io g y ( y Mo ),

u in r nu n at n mu h the same sti the f rm tho gh p o ci io c , ll o er word is

w t u tsense w n to its rt ra . i ho , o i g o hog phy

A ut f u r m es fr m A er avenn on the eft of the r a w bo o il o b g y , l o d , e

serv the mans n of D a n - - P a rc on an em nen ob e io y , i ce under a w ood on the opposite bank of the river :this beautiful place is the

. nd th res en e of . . trett n E s a e Hon . M rs . r n id c W R S o , q St etto . On the right we pass the ancient seat of the Davis family

- - llen Th name of t s a i e t y G o . e hi pl ce s derived from the

a e w t w the w s a un the trans at n e n — h z l , i h hich ood bo d , l io b i g the

ur f the a e . en was we are aware the n m Co t o H z l Coll , , a e of a

r t s sa nt fr m w m an en t its name but B i i h i , o ho Ll goll ook , that ” e t- - G en not is ev ent b the use of the y oll did , id y y , which 78 cums r o m rows m

n cates t at the ha e - trees and not the sa nt were the cause of i di h z l , i ,

i - - ts denomination . The situation of e t y G ollen is very beau

tfu e n a e and surr un e woo s and ro r s i l , b i g b ck d o d d by d cky c ag ,

on w ma be serve a o of ats s rtn t m e hich y ob d ﬂ ck go di po i g he s lves ,

mu to the ratﬁ at n of the trave ler who now ften s in ch g i c io l , o look vain in his progress throu gh Wales for a sight of these picturesque

an ma s the ab r na s of the r n a t and wh a r ri i l , o igi l P i cip li y, ich pp op

ate rnament t r man e t n - - n ly o he o tic h igh s ear e t y G olle . A

ur us st ne of ons era e e t is to be serve w t in the c io o , c id bl h igh , ob d i h

r un s on the r a - s e enera ns ere to be ru a g o d o d id , g lly co id d D idic l , ” bu t the learned Theophilus Jones believed the Maen bit (long

stone near e t- - G en to be the bou nda r mark between ) , y oll , y

G The t wn n ne r went a nd B recheinia wc. o a d ighbou hood o f

C rickhowel nta n so man e ts w rt of n t e t at he co i y obj c o hy o ic , h t

f r w n m f r s r T scope o this wo k ill ot ad it o thei de c iption . here are many an cient as well as modern fabrics— amo ng the former are the m ine of Crickhowel astle w n ate t at it was u t C , hich i dic h b il su se uentto the n u est and the tures ue atewa a ed b q co q , pic q g y , c ll

h P orth M a wr w f rmer led to an an ent res en e o f t e , hich o ly ci id c

the er erts on the s te of w the seat of . H b , i hich E

now stan s . T r u t s ar wa t ere is a ve r s e t d h o gh hi ch y h lo ly p o p c , w is en ra nte out to the n t e of the trave er and hich g e lly poi d o ic ll , of which Bloomﬁeld speaks in glowing terms in the Banks o f ” the Wye — amongst the latter is G lan U sk Park the seat of

h m he u n f . P t e v w fr t r s w a e E s M . e s o h Joseph B il y , q , i o g o d hic

n We w u a v se the t ur st to a r a r are magn iﬁce t. o ld d i o i pp o ch C ick

an of the U sk and retu rn on the s te howel on the north b k , oppo i

r u the v a es of G oveilon and Llanffoist. side, th o gh ill g n the r n str t fu rt er t an to sa We shall not tou ch u po I o di ic h h y ,

- n — - l t atthe r n r s of eauf rt Tre e ar R mne , a t G o h I o Wo k B o , d g , hy y N y ,

l n and a na w a s and Pendarren ma be v s ted Cwm Ce y Bl i , Do l i , y i i

a nd ert r T dﬁl w t n a stan e of e teen between Clyd ch a M hy y , i hi di c igh

avenn and the e stw in t s ex u rs n miles from Aberg y g ologi ill , hi c io , ﬁnd ample occu pation in examin ing the character of the Silurian

n a is a sma r n -w r a out f u r m es fr m formatio . Clyd ch ll i o o k b o il o

n on the ert r r a and sh u be ex lore ear A bergaven y , M hy o d , o ld p d ly

- - - in the da as it is near the water fa of w Cwn , and y , ll P ll y n n r n ac the surrou nded by very roma tic se e y . Beyo d Clyd h nercrrsounnoon or u nncx vx imv. 7 9 m unta ns e me arren and as the w s are ver uns t o i b co b , ork y igh ly

e ts da we s ul a v se th trav r v s the m re obj c by y, ho d d i e elle to i it o

stant r n re ns at n t. The ast n mmen s at 12 A . M . di i o gio igh c i g co ce , when the rivers of liquid ﬁre appear to the greatest advantage in the ar as we as the um nat n of he k r the d k, ll ill i io t s y p oduced by fu rn a es c .

A u t one m e fr m a is the waterfa of w - - Cwn bo il o Clyd ch ll P ll y ,

w is w w rt of n t e. The trave er ma in ﬁne weather hich ell o hy o ic ll y, ,

r cee u the bed of the r the r ks on the s e of w h are p o d p b ook , oc id hic a rne w t w vere w th iv and vers e eaut fu l do d i h ood , co d i y, di iﬁ d by b i

- as a es. The w r s P wll Cwn s n f the of the s c c d o d y ig i y Pool Dog , and e n a m st se uestere s t ou r own m ress n is t at it b i g o q d po , i p io h

u t u r has reference to some s persti io s t adition . This locality is fam us for its ra e en s of su ernatura e n s one of w h o o l l g d p l b i g , hic ” ’ the c ca — is a u e to in r ft n Croker s e en s of , ll d d C o o L g d

relan to w s me e s e en s are a en e w t an I d , hich o W l h l g d pp d d , i h

en rav n of the c ca who was sa to fre uent t s s t and g i g , id q hi po , was drawn by a gentleman from the desc ription of a Welsh

asant wh it a eare to be a a m w t a pe , by ich pp d bl ck pig y , i h body ‘ a man and a ea e a r . We ann t ta e eave of like , h d lik bi d c o k l

su e t w t ut re mmen n the trave er w en he v s this bj c i ho co di g ll , h i its

s s t to ver e fr m the - r a etween a and the thi po , di g o high o d b Clyd ch

f w - - Cwn ta n the tram- r a on the eft- an v illage o P ll y , by ki g o d l h d

s e and after n on for a few un re ar s he w ﬁnd id , , goi g h d d y d , ill a

sm a u - u se a e The rn n tar — Seren - - B orau ll p blic ho , c ll d Mo i g S y ,

w re an nte ent and v e s w man name R he i llig ci il W l h o , d achel

r an s ster of the st w nt out the at s te th Mo g , i ho , ill poi p h oppo i e

u se wh ea s to a e tfu we u n er the r s and w ere ho ich l d d ligh l ll d ock , h the grandest scenery may be enjoyed in the shade of the trees

r an the t rrent w e the e of a sm which ove h g o , hil , by h lp all board

a e fr m one st ne to an t er the stream ma be r ssed and pl c d o o o h , y c o ,

w n n - at ex re on the t er s e ea n a i di g p h plo d o h id , l di g to the water

fa t r u the m st e u s te scener . T s s t is a m st a ll , h o gh o xq i i y hi po l o s

It is possible that persons desirous of learning the ori n of the word - - w'n mi htbe successful if the collecte the le en ar ta es of i P ad l y O , g y d g d y th s valley and a priz e for the best collection mightnotbe ill besto wed by one of the members as he iscover of a na of the Cymreigyddion Society, t d y me hitherto unheeded is like ne e and fre uentl hro s i the ac uiremen tof a w sens , q y t w l ght upon the history of other 0 j ects in the vicinity . 80 s ome TO rm:rows AN D

eau tfu in the e t of w nter as in the s ummer as the r re b i l d p h i , ocks a

t en rnamente w t es w an fr m t em in hr sta h o d i h icicl , hich h g o h c y l

’ en ants u n er the ar f a e of the wee n ew w p d , d d k oli g pi g y s hich o er

an h n c opy t e gle .

H aving now arrived at the limits which we have imposed u pon

u rse ves we ann t n u e w t u t re rettn our na t to o l , c o co cl d i ho g i g i bili y

reater u st e to t s nterest n a t and we are aware do g j ic hi i i g loc li y ,

t at m an e ts w rt of n t e are m tte even w t n the h y obj c o hy o ic o i d , i hi distance from Abergavenny which w e desired to describe ; bu t

s u w e e ten t s w r fart er it w u artake m re of the ho ld x d hi o k h , o ld p o

ara ter of a unt st r t an of a G u e to the E nv r ns of ch c co y hi o y, h id i o

A ber aven n . To t se who are n a tants of the t wn t ere g y ho i h bi o , h

ma be nterest if not nf rmat n as t u t e can earn y i i o io , , ho gh h y l n t n fr m w at t e t emse ves m a ave ass ste to ntr u te o hi g o h h y h l y h i d co ib , yet they will n aturally desire that the records dear to them shou ld be collected in a manner which m ay tend to perpetu ate their remembrance in the mi nds of their descendants ; and perhaps the au thor may ex press an hu mbl e bOpe that a still further spirit of

n u r m a b e reated w m a ve rt to a w r m r e q i y y c , hich y gi bi h o k o e

w rt of the a e. u th s v lume be eruse stran ers o hy pl c Sho ld i o p d by g , who have time and disposition to explore farther than its pages

n ate w e ave a en e the stan es fr m A er avenn i dic , h pp d d di c o b g y to

a es of nterestw are not es r e in the fferent a ters pl c i hich d c ib d di ch p ,

r m n h f r r as well as to othe s. A o g t e orme Cae leon c annot be

e t u to u st e to the st r of t at an ent a e omitt d , ho gh , do j ic hi o y h ci pl c the Cou rt of King A rthu r — the City of the Legions — and o nc e the M etropolis of Wales — a place which numbered Dubricius and

av am n st its A r s s w u re u re m re a es St. D id o g chbi hop , o ld q i o p g

w We ave n w n than are contained in this ork . h o o ly to take o ur leave of the reader ; and if ou r attemptto attracthis attention to an of the eautes of t s str t or its nterestn ant u tes y b i hi di ic , i i g iq i i , in reatn a es re to n w m re of t em we be i has failed c i g d i k o o h , g h m

that it is not the fau t o f the su e t but of the m to believe l bj c , an ner t m of treating it; and the bes ethod of convincing himself of this

t is to u e w t his own e es w et er A er avenn and i tru h , j dg i h y h h b g y ts

u r are not eserv n of a etter r n c er n eighbo hood d i g b ch o i l .

82 A PPE N DIX.

— i en S um scrs or Pa w n To give an idea of the subjects for which priz es are g v , we su bj oin the list offered for the E isteddfod of 1845

— r i th ou nt of l A priz e of not less than E ighty an d Japan Wo ks n e C y — f n uineas . G uineas for the best E ssa y on the M onmouth A Priz e o Te G — h 6 B s Powel E s . ofG l nllec Comparative M erits of the R emains of . t y , q y A ncient Literature in the Welsh Irish For the best A ccou nt of the Chieftains , , ' and aelic Lan u es and their value of G l ntow I strad unla ss) to ther G g ag , y y g , n ci e i is t r and with the N atural Pro uctions 0 that i elu dating th A nc entH o y, d istrict and N ational ostume of the the M ental C ultivation of the Inha D , C I — P z e of ive uinea bitants of B ritain Irelan and aul. nhabitan ts ri , , d, G F G r i e and a Silver B a d c A x . D . — the M isses Williams of R h m 7. B y , y The most N oble the M arquis ny : For the best A ccoun t of the of B ute 1010 O Changes and Improvements that have Sir B en amin all B art. M . P . j H , , , ta en lace urin the last Thirt l o 10 O k p d g y Y ears in M erthyr and the N eighbour t of Lady Charlotte ues , G hoo d — A Priz e of Two Guinea s in a Dowlais 10 O ’ Purse. vi s 10 10 O The Lor B isho of St. a d p D d 8 La G ranville Somerset . B y dy The R i ht H on . Sir . B . g J For the best Poem on B ees— A Priz e B osan uet 55O q 1 s of Three uineas : M edal £ . 1 . ; R T h m e G , he ev . e T J . M . ra , ! Premium £ 2 . 28. of Coedri lan 0 c , g — wen nen G went: For the 9 . B y G y R ev Sir has . Salisbur B art. . C y, th ba s of 1 Four best E n Iynion for e ck of Llanwern 5 0 c — iz of T o Four E asy Chairs A , Pr e w H is E xcellency the Prussian in in a Purse. O Gu eas M inister 2 [ O — b G wen nen went For 10. A lso y y H er E cellenc M a ame B un G x y d the best W elsh Son on the Lee the Q O g k [ O E mblem of Wales to be adapted for William Williams E s . of , q , iv l elsh A ir ! singing to any old l e W A ber r wm 50 C y g A Priz e of Two u neas : M e al G i d , I vi n . M P . H . i a , E sq , . . , Premium 1. l s. £ 1. l s . ; , £ of Sin leton ° — n en went For l l . A lso by we n l t a a 6 G G William ones E s . of h , q , C y the best E n l n on tre non Over f g y n I P rawfor E s . o . . C d , q , ! ! A Priz e of One uinea in a Purse . ] G 6 0 C — E s . of G lan a l 2 B . avies f . y D D , q , g Octavius M or an E s . o g , q , b ric Ode A wdl 0 ) fenny :For the est Ly ( Tre e ar M P 1 N O d g , . . ' w n raise of the su erior B ri e 0 O A r est i p p dg B ruce Pr se E s . of Duﬂ r n [ I O ' y , q , y a n of the conti uous over the T if, a d g Tunnel constructe un er the able 87 3 0 , d d o e] of direction of M r. William H w , T he E ssa to be written either in Welsh T d for the Tali- ale R ail y , M erthyr y ﬂ l , V

E n lish G erman or rench . If in n The Stanz as of the Ode g , , F wa Compa y . erman or Weish an E n lish or rench to y ious a a te to the Tunes of , g F e var ly d p d G ” translation is e ected to be a e . Codiad r E hed dd lan M eddw xp dd d y y , G ” ha w r Har Ju e S . Pritc r w D f rwch G dg , d . dod M , y y y ” ” 2 — B Lo iscount E brin ton and yprch M e an and an other . y rd V g , lech, e g , y ha ir B all B art M . P. For the best wo the com etitors lease so t t S . H , . t that p p , t conom ada ted for i h tentof its Tracton Co tage E y, each may su t t e ex n ti n amon stthe bour i h ut an re etition of ge eral circula o g tive tune, w t o y p in Classes of Wales and the b est lines— A Priz e of ive uineas Me al g , F G d ,

means of im rovin their sanator con 2 P mium 3 . 3 s. p g y £ . 2 s. re , £ ition A Priz e of Ten uineas — B a La :For the bestE n l n d G 13 . y dy g y

M e 1 l s Premium 9 . 9s r n Oak Tree dal £ . . , £ . fo a Stone Seat under a 3 B Tho as enn e E s :For urse . y m H y, q . A Priz e of One G uinea in a P . the best E ssa in Welsh with an E n l 4 — t e follo n :For the best y , g . B y h wi g lish Translation on the E vils arisin n Woollens no t , g specimen of Rod ey , from the Destruction of Salmon when under ten yards long and forty-ﬂ full of Spawn — A Priz e of Twelve inches wide the w to be either of

G uineas Me al 2 . 2 s P e i i o on a t e oof to be of : d , £ . ; r m um, l nen or c tt , nd w

10 a. n £ . 10s. cotton and yarn . — 2 0 4. B R well o 2 y . Cox , E sq f The Lady R odney A blin on G loucestershire For the l P 550 t B al B art. M , Sir . H , , . ., best y on the Heraldic Poetry of G wenynen Gwen t 3 3 0 — s 50 Wales Priz e of ive Pou n . 5 A Sir ohn uise Bart. F d J G , 5— . B y the Tradesmen of A ber vep uy :For th e best A ccoun t of t e 1515 0 On m and Pro ress of the Wire Tin g g , , A Priz e of Fifteen G uineas in a Purse. 3 A PPE N DIX. 8

- — l 5. B Mrs n of R u e 24 B a La For the second best y . M orga , m . y dy For th b st o W l o l i itto un er the above restric e e Col ured e sh o ien d tto, d , d — Whittle in the national stri es or chec s tions A , Priz e of Two uineas in a , p k , G not un er e a d on y rd and three quarters Purse. wi e e cl si of ot o 2 — B M iss Ma ocks of u ve frin e n t e 5. d , x g , xceed y dd , two pounds in weight— A Priz e of Three ter :For the Three bestN ew Variations ” G uineas in a Purse of d N os — A Priz e of Three . A r hy y

16. B M s D i o 1 l Premium r . eW nt n of Maesllw h i M al s y , c teas : ed , £ . . ; , For the bestspecimen of Welsh Woollen ggés for a s — s M Willi ms of ber res not un er twelve ar s lon 2 6. B M i s . . a A d , d y d g y J , and twent - seven inches wi e in the er wm For the best N ew Welsh A ir y d , p g : natio l — hre s in the Ke of na stripes or checks A Priz e of consisting of T e Part , y FivePounds l l P i for the ar b a resi ent in M eda £ . rem um £ 4 . B ﬂ at, H p, y d l — B Ie an a l o r M or anw — A Priz e of Two 7 . y u b Hywe : F r the Gwen t o g g

b est iece of Welsh Woollen for a dress uineas in a Purse. p , G of o less n — l b iss M J Williams n t tha twelve ar s i 2 . A so M . y d , d tto 7 , y . ditto -A Priz e f ive Pou n s To the best Female Sin er to the ar o F d . g H p, 18 — B rses m . rs . M s f who sh sin the two rst ve y M addock , o Tre n all ﬁ ’ ter : For the best specimen of Inc Welsh of the ir called Y Deryn Pur ’ cloth for a cloa of Welsh manufa tu as ublished in M iss ane William s k c re, p J not under three yards long by one yard Collection of A irs of G went and M or and a half wi e— A Priz e of Thr an w e icate to the ueen - A d ee g, d d d Q uineas l 1 griz of Three uineas M l 1 l s G M e a £ . l s. Premium e : e a £ . d , , G d ,

2. 2 s. Pre 2 2 s £ mium , £ . . 19 — B h in :For th 28 — f th . t e follow e B W R olls E s . o y g e b st . y J . . , q , e imen of Welsh Woo llen not H é n To th se o in , u nder dréf e best t f S gers in t ree ar slon and ent -seven i Parts— A Priz e o uineas y d g tw y nches f Five G . wi e 29 — B the R i ht Hon N icholl of d . y g . J . , 8. M erth r M awr : To the secon best M r W Wa k s y d . n b r 2 2 . t i A e gavenny 0 itto ditto — A Priz e of Four uineas B a 1 d G . r . f 1 . be . o — 3 0 B Summers arfor E . To am . y H d , J . J es 1 1 0 sq the best Female Singer under l we ty Y ears of A e — A Priz e of Two uineas 4 4 0 g G . - 3 l . B M rs. Williams of Sc bor A Priz e of o r i P y y F u u neas in a urse. G Fawr : To the best Welsh Female 2 — B 0. y the following For the b est Sin er with the Tri le ar after the Woollen Waistcoat iece no t less than g p H p, p , ma nner of went and M organw — A two ards lon an en - G g y g, d tw ty seven inches Priz e of Two uineas :M e al £ 1. 1s. wi e in the n i n G d , d , ato al stripes or checks P emium 1 l s r , £ . . 8. 1) 2 — B the MissesWilliam f R h 3 . s, o ym M r. R R ees . of A beup venny 1 1 0 ny :To t 0 second best Female Sin J . Davies 1 1 o with the Tri le Harp— A Priz e of no ne in a purse G ui a . 2 2 0 — 33 . B the R ev. M . Price of G un A ri f y , P z e o Two uineas in a Purse. G le :To the best Penillion Sin ers after 2 l — B h fo y g . y t e llowing :For the best ° the manner of N orth Wales— A Priz e men of Colours in Welsh Y arn , of ive uineas ed in G went or Mor anw r an F G . y g g, o y — 3 4. B M iss Williams of A ber er other art of South Wales y , p p 8 . To the best M ale Singer to the M iss De Winton W e liff l 0 , y C H who shall sing the two ﬁrstverses

A . all E s W . Woodlan s l 0 in elsh of the A ir , q , d , called Calliu M a r ” W . be E s . B recon 1 0 h s s ublish i y y, q , Serc u , a ed n Miss Jane ’ Williema e Co lection of N ational A irs of Gwent and M organw dedicated to A Priz e of Three Poun s — d . the Q ueen A Copy of iss Jane Wil — ’ 22 . B La y a dy :For the bestpair of liams s Collection of A irs of G wentand ’ Women s nitte Woollen Stoc in s M or anw K d k g , g g. in u n e B lac Wool 5— B ir dy d k 3 . S harles Mor an y C g , B art. , of A Priz e of One uinea in a Purse ' G . Tredegar ( I vor Y r I voria rd) :To the — 2 3 . B the followin :For b y g the est best Female Performer on the Tri lo ’ La s B eaver H at manufacture in ar — A N ew Tri le ar value dy , d H p p H p, on B recon ’ , Crickhowel or A ber avenny uineas and a o of Per s W , g G , C py ry elsh ' 8. D . ar er O en h H p . ( p to G went and M or

ohn J . De Win ton E s . of anw onl J , q , g g y. )

— 36. B harles Mor an E s y C g , q. , of R u erra M P t P p , . . :To he best erformer on the Triple Ha A N ew N plc ar value Ten uineas H p , . (Open to A ri P z e of Three G uineas. went and Mor anw onl G g g y. ) 84 A PPE N D IX.

3 — — e i s W 7. B Miss Webb :To the next 44. B y th M sse illiams, Rhym best Pe ormer on the Tri lo Harp— A ny : For the best Performer on the N ew Tri le ar value en uineas Tri l r of the Old Welsh A ir p H p , G . p e Ha p, O to went and Mor an on l Y r H en S bi — A Priz e of On ( G g w y. ) y e w— B La E d M l wards ac n leth uinea in a Purse . y dy , y G To the best Perform r - a t e on the Tri lo 45. B y the H on . C . R obertG ore ar — A N ew Tri le al H p p Harp, v ue en For the best Female erform er on the ” uineas. O to went and M or Tri le ar of the A ir of Pen E baw G ( G p H p, , an w and a W t hav w g g, N orth ales. ) who shall no e on a harp at any 39 — B the fol wi t f . y lo n To the next previous E is edd od at A bergavenny bestPerformer on the ri le ar A Priz e of Three uin M e l p H p G eas : da ,

p ? £ 1. l s. Premium £ 2 . 2 s. Sir B H all B r M P 5m 46 — B M iss Wi lliams of A be . a t . e , . o . y , rp r a - Lieut. Col nne olfor o the best erformer o . Gwy H d 3 c c wm :T P n the “ R i t H on N ioholl of Mer i of the A ir of Tri . J . , ple Harp ban h ” gt Yr o G wyr M or wg. The Competitors no ﬁve the A e of Twent t to be a g y. 9 9 0 A Priz e of Three uineas : M edal G , P emi m 2 2 £ 1. 1s. r u , £ . s. A N ew Tri le H ar value N ine uineas. p p, G 4 — B the followin :To the best O en to G went and M or anw and 7. y g ( p g g, ' Perfo r on the h 'i 1e ar amon all N orth Wales rme p H p gst . ) tho wh are ebarre 40 - h se o d d from compe . B y the followin To t e next tition for Instruments best Performer on the ipis H rp 8. D ae s. D . . i 5 5 a l 5 S r H ll B art. M P 0 L a l 5 B . a dy H 0 , , . . R ev M o t r 3 w n n w ent 2 2 0 . s yn P yce 3 0 G e e G

E s . o the T. akeman, q , f 8 8 0 3 0 A N ew Tri Jls Harp value E ight 101 uinea anda Silver-hu ux ed ar 0 0 g H p e . ?) n to G wentanaiior anw i O e g 8, A Priz e of Ten G u neas . ( p n to an; all N fifth Wales . ) went and M or a and all South G g n , — 4l . B the followin :To the b est y g Wales . ) Performer on the Tri le Har 48 — B the followin To the secon p p . y g d s D . . best ditto ditto under the same circum B recon 55 0 stances M iss E mma ennor 2 2 0 Miss a war of B recon 1 1 0 H y d,

8 8 0 A N ew Tr le Harp value E ight

G u ineas ipon to t e ou nties A Priz e of ive G uineas . . C of F — B recon and n onl 49 B Octavius M or an E s . M . P armarthe y. ) . y g , q , - - — 42 . Mrs winin of Pont Pan To the thir best ditto itto A Priz e .T g, y dy d d r s To the ywo best Performers of a Duet of Three Guinea . — on 0 B O wen E s . of N ewton Tri le r s of the A ir of Llw n 5. p Ha p , y y , q , ” On — of h To the best Performer on the Tri le , with Variations A Priz e T ree p ui ar of the Welsh Air calle Y neas in a Purse. H p , d G ” 4 — r o D : B ardd n ci A wen with the four last 3 . B M s. M r an f T i y o g , i y , ’ Fo h h ri ariations as ublishe in Parr s r t e best Performer on t e T ple V , p d y — ar u T v ears of A W elsh ar er A Priz e of ive G uineas. H p, nder wel e Y H p F ’ of the A ir of “ A r Hyd y n os (Open to all veteran Harpers who have m N ort A M e al value Three uineas . O en before s in e Priz es fro h and d , G ( p d to w nl South ales. G entand M organ wg o y . ) )

T O M B O F G W L A D U S . 8 See e 2 4 — The followin oem was written b Lew is G l n G othi, ( pag . g p y y Wels ard e n the rei ns of enr I . E ward I ., h b , who flourish d i g H y V , d V R i memor of the atriotic G wladus char III . an n V IL to the d , d He ry , y a v em The oet cal s this la The d ughter of the famous Sir Da ydd G . p dy in he tomb Star of A berga venny in the priory of which she was buried t W i m a Thomas her secon hus (which she pro bably hereelf erected) of Sir ill a p , d ban who with his father- iu -law Sir Dav dd G am w as so istin u ishe (both d, , , y , d g d ’ 108i li s i savin the in s and were ni hte on the fiel of A mcourt ng their ve n g k g ), k g d d g before ir — henc the oet calls Sir William s Thom as The sta of they exp ed e, p y ” p E n lan e usb an 0t G wladu s was Sir R o er au han of Tretower. g d . Th fi rst h d g V g , S ir Will b r v nn in 1446 and his widow G wladus iam ap Thomas was u ied at A berga e y , in the same tomb in 1454 I 85 A PPE N D X.

s m wua n G WLA DUB A R CH DA V Y DD G A E . a nnoy ON owu nus, muse u m or

DA V Y D D ca n . r a venn Y Seren o y V enni , Th e Star of Fonni (A be g y ) ’ A tD u w a r sainty troes hi I s gone to G od and to the saints ; G L A D UB l w d1an and fau ltless W , yd nus ddlnam, G wladu s , the happy , Oedd o gorf syr Da vydd G am W hose father was Sir Davydd G am B wriodd D n - l t of earth has G od w dan bridd do ir , U nder a fresh cover e

laid her, B raich i W enta B rychandir : W ho was an arm (a su pport) to G wentand the land of B rychan ’ ’ N id llai n mynu du n ngwlad Went N o less than three thousand in the land of G went

N o i lac . theirmil yn el therment. A ttended her funeral , n b k G alw d did sh all ar Iesu tra vu vyw, On Jesu s, before she die , e c , A c ar y grog a oryw ; A nd on the cross. A r l w ddes san S was she g y a tes oedd , A Lady and a aint ; ’ ’ O r h n r lw he desc nd e a g yddi r hanoedd. From the old kings did s e ; M ae ci meibi on hirion hi H er tall (1) sons will (now) give ’ - 1 roi wieddau n l w manner. g arg yddl . Festivals in a lord like M anera n t h eru dite W elsh lad gy , Cymmraes all , M a asra of yore, t e y ’ A r ddwy -iaith a roi ddeall U n derstood the two languages Welsh an d

E nglish) , ’ ' A i hil bu n h - - ded accordin to the y N al y B edd , A nd from her procee ( g ' ’ N aw a u h n n mbstone nine des e wau n vrenhinedd. i scription on her to , ) cen dants with royal names. ' G wladus a hi n w us wh was considered a saint was , gweled saint, G lad , o , Oedd ail hon i ddal henaint like Marsia for the great age which she attained ; 0 hon nd from h r likewise y enwu vrenhinwaed , A e , , A l erll G went ’ W e shall have a race of kin s and olden ewrlliw o i gweed. g , g E arls of G went out of her blood . in th f rmer G wladus Ddu (th e da rk) , e o

times of W ales, W ncess to thebeneﬁtof her countr Iariles codd er lies iddynt as a pri , y 1 A fter she had been l aid on the b ier A r 0 si rhoi ar elawr, , ' h elsh lan u Y r aeth leng o r iaith i lawr ; A great portion of t e (W ) g age went down ' w mead u on the A heddyw mae nrrhoddi medd Y et it now still besto s ( p Welsh bards) . r h t r al breast the Welsh bar ds O vron b ono vrenhinedd. F om t a oy aga in enj oy honou r: and gifts in conse gaca ca of the protection which the Welsh n r eived r om Gwlad us la nguage ha s agai ec f , am a nd which is da ughter of Davydd G , m still continued by her fa ily . ) A ll G wlad second G wladus— who to the Cymri us , haul goleudent C mmr like the sun the avilion of light) . y y , oedd acw ym mro Went ( p d r in the land of G went and Dyhuno a chytroi lived yon e , she awakened and aroused to life our A wnaeth yn oes ein iaith ni. , language. d s otin G went Y sgrln ar gysegr o W ent A shrine on a sacre p micile of the ad of both By dy arglwyddes dwy - Went: I s (now) the do L y the G wents ful is the scul tu re of the monu P ond teg pasntiad y gadair ! H ow beauti p mentl ’ M ar Chu rch Pin ah v Pinnacles like the top of St. y s , g al pen E glwys V air. i arls M ain ber l n wmi w N ine thou sand ﬁne wh te pe , y , a l yn yn , still reater ortion of M a A nd marble, and a g p rmawr a mwyjo ermyn . ermine mb of all the nobilit itis B edd yr holl vonedd yw vo The to y l d i ontained in it 011 a r l A nd the sta of E ng an s c , g owndwal L oegr yudo. y ’ that tomb now lies u nderneath the Mae n gorwedd mewa gweryd In ( ) , earth , ’ f the world ! D raw n bedd She) the third parto y draian yibyd . ( the head of the tomb like a star Y n seren ar ben y bedd A t , , been placed , I n order to mark her honorable descent, Y rhoed i gadw enrhydedd ,

l ' Sir i erbert, of Co dbrook, (1) A llu sion to the surname of the eldesto ler s ns l Sir l icllatol li‘r i rggrgag who oil acco rl tof his 8 ‘l re was cal ed , , g ’ m accordin to G eoffre , of M on nt . the 2 4th kin of B rita n , g (2 ) Dl arsia fclu sen of Culi elyn , g i marr ysucc seiveq a’ n h G reat a Iorwerth), y . 3 w hter of lewell t e ( p o ) G lad u s Ddu , dau g L y e h R o er li;0rtm el ancestor ei in R al h M ortimer b whom she ad g R g ald de B raose , and to Sir p , y

Of E d ward IV . o Dar . h r G wladu s called the B lack r (4) In Opposition to the surname of the ot e , k - (5) G wentI scoed and G went Uwch Coed . ’ am s Thomas. (6) G wladus s husband , Sir Willi p 86 A PPE N DIX .

drssus M ass glas val cledd Pendrasus A field as blue as the sword of Pan ’ ’ W ith a lion ar ent and the colour of the A r llew llr ; a r lliw 0 ins. g , bilberry (purple). l h R ou nd the turret of the monument) have 0 gylch y twr yn g yc , tog ( been placed in beautiful prominen t figures ’ v deudd ord Ch ristand the Twelve A ostles) ; D u w a codd , c a r eg. L ( p ’ les d an are around it E ngylion gwynion i w gylen B se gels , ' A drig bob dri i w ogylch ; O f wh om three together Stand abou tit i A ll with or ans resoundin “ the hei hts Organen oll hyd vr g Dev, g , g ! g of H ea ven , - i A c arianllais car nu llev ; A nd with the silver sounding voices of the r u nited choir (sin A thousand fire-cc cured torches (there are) M il o dyrs amliw o dan , M il erelll aml o arian ; A nd thousand others of solid silver . M ore than a thousand hermits monks H wy no mil 0 vendvvyald ( ) , n w r bob deunaw U nder the wax Ta ers Da g y , , a gaid p Y n nesav mac deunawsaint E ach eighteen to ther. N ex t to the tom are at hteen saints Y n b wrw naw rem ger bron saint. ( Pou ring nine streams o incense over the buried saint fin ew l und Si W liam M ain beryl eyl eh Syr Wiliam A e j e ro r il I s he whit omb h u hter of Dav dd Oedd vedd gwyn march Ddavydd G em t e T of t e da g y (! am 1

‘ wn h i r Dean nawdd G od took her to the ri ht hand of his race Du w, a , aet , , , , g g ’ D u w Iesu a i dewisa wdd Lord Jesu s chose her ' ’ A nd we choose a Prince ou tof hor reos A c o i rhyw n benalg y rhawg, w To be our Kin henceforth ﬂ Y dewiswn dywysa g. g

drasu s a fabulo n - - — (7) P an , us ki g of the G recians, father ln law to the B ritish B rutus 8ee G eoffrey of M onmouth . he arms of the H erberts descendan (8) T , ts of Sir William ap Thomas, were party per

ur and ules three lions ram antur ent. pal , az e g , p g

‘ The above m a translation of this interesting poem was made and ven to or b Er Me er of R inteln from the ori inal W sh h s the auth , y y , , g el , t e tudy 0 which a e and literature attracte the learne entleman from his native countr in langu g d d g y, 1843 after havin been a successful com eti or for the reat riz f t the year , g p t g p e o he iste fo of 1842 A bergavenny E dd d .

0 A am 5. er E R N DD U . See bert Lor of Llanllo l lin W ( d H , d we , eal

en an t of erbert hamberlain to in enr I. married Christian au ht desc d H , K g H y , d g er war n- d ii G wa i s the blac Lor of Llan eilo whose sec son en i of G y , ( y , k, ) d d , ond , J k n A am was rst calle Lor of G war n-d ii and from his ra son en in a d , ﬁ d d y , g nd , J k p lim were erive the Pro ere of Wern- ddh— G w lim was surname B it wy , d d y d port ern- ddii is li ( the Ta ll a nd H andsome) . be eved to have been the cradle of the hi t of the countr Herbert family in t s par y .

— 8 — The resent ossess Ca r ma (See page 6 . p p or of Clytha built this man sion at a little stance from the site of the former one erecte b his un l di d y c e, l own This entleman has a resi which he pul ed d . g dence in London which he also bu ilt situate near R utlan ate containin a aller to which his most valuable , d d G , g g y, ’ have been remove :there also is lace the she 4 pictures d , , p d q of modem l ture — the rou of the elu e esi ne and ex ecu at Ro me th scu p G p D g , d g d by e late tist essel and which has been admitte b some of the B elgian ar K , d y best j ud to

e ceed an thin ever ro uce b Thorwalden or anova. M r. ones of th x y g y p d d y C J , C y a, s s s the won erful icture of the el likewise pos es e d p D uge, by Dauby which was ressl for him and was several ears in bein pain ted exp y , y g completed; and these h onl insta ces of his liberal atrona e of th are not t e y n p g e arts.

; G onrnos On e — See a e — This won erful tree which o Tm ( p g d , verspread s uare ar s of roun rew on the estate from which itta es its nam 452 q y d g d , g k e, abou t i es from the sea ort town of N ew ort in the count o M n four m l p p , y f o mou th . The ter of the main trun was nine feetand a half from which ew diame k , gr (exclusive of ranches the lar est containin dead limb s) twelve b , g g 472 feetof timber ; and the ro uct of this enormous oak was feet I whole p d . ts bark , which round the was three inches thick was estimate at six t s trunk , d on . From the buttitwas calculated thatthe tree had been improving upwards of four hundred years ; and E N D X A PP I . 87

from man of its lateral branches bein ea and some bro en off itis y g d d , k , presumed itmusthave stoo after ithad attaine m aturit little short a c d, d y , of entury . It was

r Thomas arrison - urchased by the late M . H , (Purveyor of Plymouth Dock yard and n orest in the ear 1810for one hun re uineas and when con er F , ) y , d d g , v ted, its o n total produce was six hundred p u ds.

Canam c e cu Vase— (See page 74) — Caradoc of the mighty arm — was ’ one of the ni hts of in r hur s Ro u n Table and K g K g A t d , keeper of the dun n ” , — calle cartel dolorcs the olorous tower. The le r d y , ( d ) a ned Theophilus ones ° ves a lon account of him in his istor of B reconshire H g H y . e was grandson of r han wh i o t e ear 450 nd had three v yc , o d ed ab ut h y , a wi es, by whom itis emeri ed he had fort chil ren who almost all embrace reli ious lives and became nursi d , d g , ng f u Wales n athers an mothers to the Ch rch of , a d of whose name B recon is a ” corru tion ara oc is st le Prince between W e an v p . C d y d y d Se ern , in the inseri tion still preserved on the copper-plate over the burying- places of the Pritchar 8

his escen an ts in Llanover hurch. H e is also allu e to in the Welsh Tria ( d d ), C d d ds, ’ whe i i sai belove chiefs of A rthur s re t s d, the three d court, who never could bear a eu erior in their families of whom A rthur sun as follows : s , g The e are my three hui ts o f ttle— ae] and Llud cla in armour P W g ba M d, d , and the illar of ales ” , o Carad c.

- - — — Ow ar v G om n See a 8. A s the E n lish rea er . ( p 7 g d may be at a ion to un erstan wh he shoul ﬁnd Collen the haz el and Collen the i d d y , , , sa nt, both ’ s elt with a C and e t- - G ollen and Lia n- G eller:s elt with G p , y p a , we think it ri ht to add that these mutations of the initi l letter are rul , a ed by the we which rece es and are in accor ance with rammatical re ulations w d , d g g , hich those who esire to understand will ﬁnd best e lained in works devoted to the subj ectof this copious and ancientlanguage — a eu j ectwhich is now engrossing the att ntion f hil l is in ifferent arts of E uro e o p o og ts d p pe.

TI N TE R N A s s am— A lthough this ruin is nearly twenty miles from A ber aven it cu i s cons icuous a lace at an ob ect of g y, oc p e too p p , j interest and

cu ri t i h t o be omitte . A visitto itis w ll wo osi y n t e coun y, t d e rth the sacriﬁce of a da but the limits of this wor will not a mit of an elaborate escri tion Th y , k d d p . e tra ller hrou h U sk from which wn T ve must take the road t g , to intern is about ten miles is nt bein three miles on the A ber avenn si e of he st d ta , g g y d C p o w. The abbey is i foun e i 11 1 b Walter a Cistercian ere cton, d d n 3 , y de Clare the architecture is

of the urestst le of ori G othic. The tow of U sk is beautifull p y ﬂ d n, y situated on the ban s of the river whose name it bears the Welsh call it B £ 0 k 9 . The tower of U sk astle still remains bu t the ate of its foun ation is uncertain C , d d , thou h the st le of architecture is sub uentto the N orman on uest h g y C q . C epstow will well a the itional trouble o a ri e of som mil rep add d e es, the scenery in the i ni c t b u ne ghbourh of the town being mag ﬁ en , t we are unable to enter into it miles on the U sk- roa lea in articularl . A boutthree to aerleon is Ll y d, d g C , angibby

astle the resi ence of W . A . Williams E s . escen antof Sir T vor W , d , q , d d re illiams . T mo ise butthe ruins f the old buil in he house is dern d , o d g remain in the ﬁne wood t c f h n mansion at he ba k o t e prese t .

e - l ure an is Li n ma n H an signiﬁes an en c os , d applied to all old churches i ve that most of the ancie B ritis in Wales. It is bel e d nt h churches were er th Lian reviousl evote to rui ical worshi ected on e p y d d D d p , and that some ones sometimes chisele on the o si of the massive hollow st , d ut de with circular ch ar now use as fonts are of rui ical or manshi devices, whi e d , D d w k p . However this it is otunlikel thatthe earl hristians ur osel m de s f may be, n y y C p y a u e o the 8 ts which had been chosen by the Druids for the es ebration of the rights of their reli ion When churches were b uilt the a e to the Lian the n g . y dd d ame of a saint f eminent iet were then enominat a (as all persons o pre p y d ed, ) nd itmay admit of ’ a question whether the oldest churches distin iehed by saints names were not those erected on the sites previously used for idical worship and thu s dis l b h it as Llan- G ors— the — tinguished mere y y t e local y, Church of the R eeds (built on the si e of a la e &c. robabl were notsu ose to nee the rotection of d k ), , y pp d d a sai h as hose ra to re lace ru id cal al rs B u t nt as muc t p D i ta . t is is a subj ect which eserves careful investi ation and minute in uir The ore m W d g q y. m odern elsh ” ” wor for church E lw s was ta en from the ree énx kdia — latin ecclesi d g y , k G k , , a — con re tion and is of la ter ate. ( g gation house of congrega ), d The churches with the name of a sain a en e to Lian are b far the most numerous s L - t p d d y , a ian san — — lish t - freed the Church of gan Freed (known in E ng as S . B ride) ; Lian dollo 88 A PPE N DIX . the Church of Teilo (A rchbishop of Llandail in the sixth century) Llanover h hur h of ov r m ione nw n warre as one of the t e C c G e , ent d (with H e g a d G g)

ncientsaints of went. Where the initial consonantis not omitte after Lian as a G d , in he latter i it is h n mutation as in the former and as t nstance, c a ged to the soft , , in Llan- ibb — or ro er Lla n — hurch of C bi The B ritish nam e g y ( , p ly, the C y of Holyhead is Caer- Cypi— the cit of Cybi and there is a latin inscription on the church of that to wn allu e to R ichar Llw d in is to o ra hical notices , d d y d y , h p g p ttache to the istor of W l s r f lanc r i in G othic a d H y a e , by Ca adoc, o L a van ; t is ” characters Sancti R bi are ro u bis he letter K oes notform artof the y , p o . T d p W elsh al habet itis ta en from the reek al habet and was robabl intro uce p k G p , p y d d n this lati in i i n as has b i an o conve i n scr to ( it een n m y Welsh M SS . and books, ) t y to the eneral r agera the soun of that alatic consonant which is in the Welsh of g e d p , the resentda as itw as in ancient latin re ular] re resente b the letter 0 p y, ( , ) g p d y alone till in con se uence of the intro uction of ormau ic- rench into reat , , q d F G B itai the E n lish ntrac a ha t of i th le ter tw ifferentsounds r n, g co ted bi g vin e t C o d , z its rimitive one whi h is t me as and also thatof an S in those vi . , p , c he sa , bl wher i s o f h li ht i and conse uentl the sylla es e tprecede ne o t e g vowels, , e, y ; q y, on s in th bov in ri ti n u se he K ve t bi bein calle S bi M k , e a e sc p o , d t to pre n Cy g d y , accor in to the e enerate ractice than ﬁrst intro uce into E n land and which d g d g p d d g , c used one e h u h K i Wal s reserve the rimiti e ronun a , at poc , the se of t e n e , to p p v p c tion of the la C bi lived atthe issolu tion of the R oman em ire ia Cymric nguage. y , d p ,

tain a f t iriol he o foun e monaster . in B ri , nd was the great friend o S . Se als d d a y ho t s hes in we t we woul recom To t se in erested in the name of ancient churc n , d G ” en h eru l - h s the m d t e sa of the interesting priz e work entitled Wels Saint , by lat leern g rof R e e P essor ees.

TA B LE OF D ISTA N CE S FR OM A B E R G AVE N N Y

Swansea

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PR IN TE D A T TH E Tl M E S OFFICE W i DE M A R SH - STR E E T H E R E F R D , , O .