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Carreg Cennen Castle (Wales)
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Agriculture; accounts of journeys,

A volume containing general observations and instructions relating to agricultural and horticultural matters, a corpus of data relating to agricultural practices, agricultural and rural economy, animal husbandry, horticulture, and related matters in various counties in England and Wales, ?incomplete accounts of journeys in parts of Wales [by Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg')], and other miscellaneous items, all in the hand of the aforesaid Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'). The general observations and instructions relating to agriculture and horticulture have usually been extracted from such sources as, according to the superscriptions to the notes, 'Will's Almanack, 1804', [Arthur] Young: [The Farmer's] Calendar, and [ ] Lawrence: The New Farmer's Calendar. The data relating to agricultural practices, etc., in the counties of England consists mainly of extracts from, or notes based upon, sections of the published surveys of agriculture, etc., in these counties which appeared largely under the auspices of the Board of Agriculture in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, viz. those of Jacob Malcolm and William James for rather William, James, and Jacob Malcolm] for the county of Surrey, George Turner for the county of Gloucester, John Boys for the county of Kent, John Monk for the county of Leicester, Nathaniel Kent for the county of Norfolk, Robert Lowe for the county of Nottingham, John Billingsley for the county of Somerset, and John Middleton for the county of Middlesex. The data concerning agriculture, etc., in Wales relates to the counties of South Wales. Some of this data has been extracted from, or is based upon, published agricultural surveys similar to those for the English counties also made in respect of the Welsh counties, e.g., those of Charles Hassall for the counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke, John Clark for the county of Brecknock, and Thomas Lloyd and the Reverend Mr. Turner for the county of Cardigan. It would appear, however, that most of the data relating to the counties of South Wales has not been extracted from such sources but it may possibly be linked with the work which Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') himself undertook in 1796 in surveying the counties of Glamorgan and Carmarthen on behalf of the Board of Agriculture and with the work he undertook in assisting the Reverend Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain') in collecting material for his review of the economy of South Wales subsequently published under the title General View of the Agriculture and Domestic Economy of South Wales . . . Drawn up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement (London, 1815) (see the introduction for references to the assistance rendered by Edward Williams to the Reverend Walter Davies in respect of this project). Pp. 73-88 of the present manuscript contain an account of a journey undertaken [by Edward Williams] in the course of which he passed through or by the following neighbourhoods, places, buildings, etc., commenting on the features noted in brackets after the names - Penygored or Llechryd (tin works, salmon weir, coracle), Kilgeran, Cardigan, Blaen y Ffos Baptist meeting house, Fryni Vawr, Llanfernach ('a rich lead mine on the Estate of Captain Lloyd of Bronwydd worked by Lord Milford about 7 years ago . . .'), Bribwll ('a large old mansion'), Glandwr Meeting House ('very large, Independants'), Llangludwen Mill ('saw the place where they had been without any success digging for coal'), Llanboidy (adverse comments on the inhabitants of the area and also on the 'Pembrokeshire Peasantry'), Meidrym ('a decent village'), Job's Well near Caermarthen, and Gillimoor near Caerm[arthe]n Town ('100 acres of the rankest moor or bog drained by . . . Philips, Esqr.'). (continued)

Pp. 149-71 contain further notes relating to a journey [by Edward Williams] proceeding from Aber Cothi via Llanegwad, Hendre Wencyn Farm, Plas Newydd, Middleton Hall ('fine seat of Sir William Paxton . . . highly finished appartments and numerous flourishing plantations'), Grongar Hill, Dryslwyn Castle, Llanarthne, Golden Grove ('a fine old Mansion'), Llandeilo ('an ill planned and in general ill-built Town . . . some good houses . . . a large clumsy old Church', adverse comments on the inhabitants of the district, comments on a local custom of hanging jugs on nails 'all round the rooms of their houses', rather adverse comments on Dinevor Castle, Dryslwyn Castle, Carreg Cennen Castle, and the tomb of Sir Rhys ap Thomas in the church of Caermarthen), Newton Dinevor ('Fine seat of Lord Dinevor, the Park . . . one of the finest in the whole Kingdom', report on a conversation with Lord Dinevor), Derwen fawr, Aberglasney ('Mr. Dyer's, the Birth place of the Bard of Grongar Hill', praise of Grongar Hill and the views of the surrounding country to be seen from there), Crongaer Farm House, and Cross Inn (a brief note on and a sketch of 'Caermarthenshire Gates and Posts'), to Allt y Gog (a note here on 'Caermarthen Trade' with mention of 'Vaughan's anchor smithery', 'Vaughan's foundery', shipping, and ship building). Pp. 177-205 contain a further account of a journey [by Edward Williams] from Landilo ('Scattered Town with some good houses others wretched') via Dinefwr Park, Dinefor Castle, Llanfynydd village ('neat without & whitened, dirty & black within'), Glyn Cothi Mountains, Bryn Llywelyn Mountain, Llanybyddar, Llanwnen ('people most intelligent of any in Wales, mostly Presbiterians, very little English'), Cribin Clottas, Silien ('a scattered village of shabby aspect'), Langybi ('Church no Windows . . . a grammar school in the church . . . women do all the works of husbandry, threshing, grubbing, hedging . . . . have a tone or brogue that is far from pleasant . . . meeting houses numerous'), Llonio isa farm house, John's of hafod's estate, Llonio Mill, Llan Ddewi Brevi ('large double Isle Church & large village'), Tregaron New Bridge, Tregaron ('ragged Town that has a market, inferior to a Glamorgan village . . . Church large and long a clumsy high Tower, no windows in front'), House of Twm Siôn Catty ('½ mile out of town in ruins'), Llynn maes y llynn, Pont Rhyd fendigaid, Ross Fair ('4 or 5 houses only'), Yspytty ystwyth, the great bog between Tregaron & Ystrad Meuryg ('the property of Johns, Lisburne, &c., who are paid 5s per day for as much as one man can cut . . . this is called Corsgoch ar Deifi'), Ystrad Meuryg ('a dry healthy place, fine views . . .', note on E[dward] Rich[ar]ds and his school and library), Devils Bridge ('meet Messrs. Boddington & Este . . . walk over Havod grounds'), Ystrad Flur (brief note on the ruins of the abbey), dreary mountainous Country for many miles in Lanbadarn parish (' the inhabitants very stupid and extremely ignorant . . .'), foot of Pumlumon, Glasbwll village, Machynlleth ('a very good Town for Wales, many neat houses, good hall recently built. . . '), Pennegos, Dolgeiog, Llanwryn, Llancemais ('Decent Church & good village'), Mallwyd ('a very pleasant village . . . Church is a rude building with a Tower of oaken boards constructed in 1640', notes on Dr. John Davies 'the saviour of the Welsh language', his 'grammar of the Welsh language', his 'Welsh & Latin Dictionary', his revision of 'the Welsh Bible and prayer book' and his translation of 'some useful books of practical devotion into the Welsh language'), Mallwyd Bridge (sketch of bridge), Dinas ym Mowddwy ('a Market weekly but its number of houses do not exceed 30, here is a new meeting house built about 4 years ago'), Abercowarch village ('many new cottages . . . a spinning mill at work', a note here on South walians who were thronging 'to the Methodist Association at Bala' and on one young woman whom the writer had met who had come '100 miles on a pilgrimage to this circulating Mecca of Welsh fanaticism'), and Llanymowddwy, as far as Bwlch y Groes (further note on the Methodists looking forward to hearing [David] Jones of Llangan preaching at Bala). The accounts of the three journeys noted contain observations on topographical, agricultural, and geological features of the areas through which the traveller passed.

Carmarthenshire records

Sixteen volumes containing transcripts and extracts in the hand of Dr E. A. Lewis of record material, mainly in the Public Record Office and the British Museum, relating to Carmarthen, Carreg Cennen, Kidwelly, Dryslwyn, Dynevor, Llandovery, Llanstephan, Laugharne and Newcastle Emlyn castles, towns and lordships, Carmarthen priory and Talley abbey.

Lewis, E. A. (Edward Arthur), 1880-1942

Materials relating to Carmarthen,

Two volumes of transcripts, etc., lettered on the spine 'Collectanea concerning Caermarthen . . . Alcwyn C. Evans, Caermarthen'. In addition the fly-leaf of the first volume is inscribed 'Collectanea relating to the Town and County of Caermarthen'. The contents include a printed copy of Cartularium S. Johannis Bapt. [recte S. John the Evangelist] de Caermarthen . . . (Cheltenham, 1865), together with a transcript, an English translation, notes, references, a list of priors, and indexes compiled by the scribe in 1869 [see Peniarth MS 401 and NLW MS 12376C]; inscriptions and epitaphs in the churches and churchyards of Llanelly, Penbre, Kidwely, St. Ishmael, Llanstephan, Cilycwm, Mothvey, Mydrim, Llanvihangel, Llanginning, Llandevaelog, Llanvihangel Aberbythich, Llanvynnydd, Llanfair ar y bryn, Llanarthney, Cowbridge, Llanbleiddian in Llantrissaint, Llanfihangel (Y Pont Fon), Llandochai, St. Hilary, and the Irish Franciscans' Church in the Convent of Isidore at Rome, together with a few plans and armorial bearings, the latter both emblazoned and in trick; reminiscences of 'old' David Rees, clerk of St. Peter's Church, Carmarthen (a list of public houses in the borough in 1798, a grinding mill in Blue Street, the imprisonment of the French on 26 February 1797, the pillorying of Thomas Evans ('Twm Penpistyll') ['Tomos Glyn Cothi'] four times in one year for treason, the visit of Lord Nelson, etc.); annotated transcripts of 'cywyddau', etc., by Hopkin ap Thomas ap Eineon, Ieuan Deulwyn, William ap Ieuan hen, and Lewis Glyn Cothi; archaeological and historical notes, from Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1852-1859, on Castell Carreg Cennen, Cwrt Bryn y Beirdd, 'Llyn fan. The Caermarthenshire Van pool and its fairies', Kidwelly Castle, Kidwelly Church, and the boundaries of Carmarthenshire; abstracts of grants of the manor of Emlyn otherwise Emlyon, co. Carmarthen, 1611-1614; transcripts of an instrument of sequestration of the fruits of the parish church of St. Peter's, Carmarthen, 1705, and of the presentation of Richard Prichard, M.A., to the benefice, 1709; 'Hanes Mynachlog Talyllychau. The History of Talley Monastery' by David Howell ('Llawdden'), with an English translation by Edwd. Davies, classical tutor in Brecon Independent College; an annotated transcript of a letter from John Vaughan, 2nd viscount Lisburne, from Crosswood, to Thomas Pryse, M.P., at Gogerddan, 1739 (the writer's misfortune at Llannidloes, observations on the inhabitants of Cardigan and a wish for the recipient's success); a transcript of 'Valoi Benefic' in Wallia' from Harleian MS 128; 'An Inventory of the White or Grey Friars at Caermarthen' [1534] transcribed from public records; a transcript of 'The Roll of Fealty and Presentments in Caermarthenshire on the accession of Edward the Black Prince to his Principality of Wales', 1343; a biographical note on Sir Stephen Bawcen ( ob. 1257); 'cywyddau' and 'awdlau' by David ap Edmund and Lewis Glyn Cothi, with annotations; accounts of the Caermarthen Literary and Scientific Institution from its foundation in 1841 to 1863; lists of officials (chancellors, precentors, treasurers, and archdeacons) of the diocese of St. Davids from the twelfth to the nineteenth century; 'Chwedyl o Rhydychain'; a parchment missive in Norman-French, 1356, from John Laurens, mayor of Caermarthen, to the people of Barnstaple, 'expressing Reciprocal Professions of Good Will' (endorsed 'Agreement . . . to have access to each other's Fairs without Toll'), together with an English translation; epitaphs in the church and churchyard of St. Peter's, Carmarthen; poetry, partly extracted from Rhys Jones: Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru (Amwythig, 1773), by Aneurin, Taliesin, Risiart ap Rys ('o Langarfan'), Llywarch Hen, Bardd Glas o'r Gadair, Rhys Goch (Tir Iarll), and Rhys Goch o Eryri; two English translations, one being by Lady Flora Hastings, of poems by [Johann Christoph Friedrich von] Schiller; a bill from John Jones, Carmarthen, for engraving the inscription (enclosed) on a brass plate put in the foundation stone of St. Paul's Church, Carmarthen, and the inscription on a silver trowel used by Thomas Burgess, bishop of St. Davids, in laying the first stone, 1824, with annotations by the scribe; extracts from Cambrian Register and Archaeologia Cambrensis, etc. ('What 'Dyved' was', 'The Caio Gold Mines', 'The Rebellion. Temp. Oliver Cromwell', translations of poetry by Lewis Glyn Cothi, Gogofau, Owen Glyndwr's progress in South Wales in 1403, a description of Allt Cynedda, 'Eisteddfodau: Temp. Henry IV', 'On Carn Goch in Caermarthenshire', 'The Dolau Cothy Stones', etc.); a 'cywydd' by Gruffydd Llwyd ap Dafydd ap Eineon Lygliw, with an English translation and annotations; extracts relating to the tale of Merlin; a list of festivals of Welsh saints; a 'cywydd' by William Egwad ('o'r Ynyswen'); a history of Dryslwyn Castle; an English translation of the charter granted to the burgesses of Llaugharne by Sir Guy de Bryan, circa 1300; 'A Sketch of the Life of Revd. John Evans [Unitarian minister at Evesham and Carmarthen], written by his nephew'; extracts from public records relating to Carmarthenshire; a list of parliamentary representatives for the county and for the county borough of Carmarthen, with dates and biographical details, for the period 1536- 1895 (continued)

Printed abstracts and manuscript transcripts of fourteen charters of the borough of Cardiff, 1338-1687, and transcripts of cases and opinions of John Richardson, Middle Temple, 1818, Henry Al(s)worth Merewether, Chancery Lane, 1824-1825, etc., relating to the appointment of constables and capital burgesses, exemption from corporation tolls, etc.; a grant of the lordship of Kidwellie to John Vaughan, 1st earl of Carbery, and Richard, lord Vaughan, his son and heir apparent, 1630; transcripts and translated abstracts of the parish registers of Trelech a'r Bettws, 1663-1837; abstracts of pre-1600 probate records preserved in the St. Davids Diocesan Registry, Carmarthen, with a list of testators recorded in each bundle and an index of places; material towards a history of the families of Vaughan and Lake, in the form of annotated transcripts and abstracts of probate records, compiled pedigrees, extracts from the parish registers of Llandevaelog, 1695-1780, Llanfihangel Aberbythich, 1704-1774, Llanarthney, 1729, St. Peter's, Carmarthen, 1704-1806, Llandybie, 1702-1781, Llangunnor, 1728-1779, and Llangendeirn, 1739-1779, similar epitaphs from the parish churches of Llangunnor and Llandevaelog, and records of the services of Captain Harry Vaughan, R.N., Carmarthen, and of his brother-in- law Captain James Katon, R.N.; material relating to the families of Bloome (Blome) and Copner, in the form of annotated transcripts and abstracts of probate records, compiled pedigrees, and extracts from the parish registers of Abergwili, 1723-1767, St. Peter's, Carmarthen, 1675/6-1756, and Llanvynydd, 1692-1782; a transcript of the will of Walter Rees of Water Street, parish of St. Peter, co. of the borough of Carmarthen, 1824; pedigrees based on probate records of the family of Thomas of Trelech a'r Bettws, Mydrim, Llangeler, etc. (among them being Samuel Thomas, Principal of Carmarthen Presbyterian College); a transcript of the will of William Davies late of Carmarthen but now of Five Fields Row, parish of Saint George, Hanover Square, co. Middlesex, 1788, providing for the establishment of a free school at Trelech a'r Bettws; an account of the action of the King v. General Thomas Picton in the Court of King's Bench, 1806-1808, on a charge of putting Louisa Calderon to torture in the island of Trinidad; pedigrees based on probate records of the family of Philips (Phillipps, Philipps, etc.) of Marthri [sic], co. Pembroke, Cwmgwili, Llandissilio, Laugharne, Llanarthney, Henllan Amgoed, etc.; the names of the clergy evicted from churches in co. Carmarthen by virtue of the Act of Uniformity of 1662, extracted from Edmund Calamy: The Nonconformist's Memorial (London, 1775); annotated selections, 1662-1683, taken in August 1890, from an 'old MSS Book, parchment bound, in Caermarthen Registry' [i. e., a register of St. Davids Chapter acts and leases now designated SD Ch/B 19 in the Church in Wales Collection in the National Library of Wales]; abstracts of miscellaneous probate records in the Diocesan Registry, Carmarthen, among them being the records of the family of Middleton of Pwllcrochan, co. Pembroke, etc.; 'Notes made in a search for the ancestry of Horatio Davis, of Boston, Mass., U.S.', including abstracts of Bristol and St. Davids probate records, and extracts from the parish register of Tickenham, co. Somerset, 1540-1674; poetry by John Blackwell ['Alun'] ('o Wyddgrug'), [Thomas Evans] 'Tho[ma]s Glyn Cothi', David ap Ieuan ap Rhydderch (i.e., David Davies, Castell Hywel), Siams Dafydd ('Iago ab Dewi'), 'Gwilym Tew Glan Taf', Edw. Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'), Henry Thomas ('Don Glantowy') (a poem entitled 'Bryn Grongaer' written without a single apostrophe), and the Reverend John Evans, Coed (1808-1819); lists of freeholders and of land- and householders sworn at Carmarthen, 1764; a description of 'Caermarthen Civic Emblems'; 'Old Welsh Phrases. Collected by Mr. Lloyd Morgan, of Llanidloes', almost entirely taken from William Owen [-Pughe]: A Dictionary of the Welsh Language, vol. I (London, 1803); a transcript of George Owen's Brief Account of Wales; etc. There is a list of contents of the first volume and an alphabetical index to the second volume. Inserted as a frontispiece to the first volume is an etched view of the quay and town of Carmarthen, 1868, by D. Jones, and to the second volume an engraving of the bridge and town, and in the text there are a number of pen-and-ink illustrations.

Alcwyn C. Evans.