Extracts from Some 'Cronicl Powys' Issues

Cronicl 35

article by David Leitch

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Cronicl 39

"March 9. 1747. Llanvair ym Muallt in ye county of Brecon, is a village of about 40 houses, situate on ye side of ye river Gwy, over which there is a handsome wooden bridge about 100 yards long. At this neighbourhood at a place called Cwm Llewellyn, Prince Llewellyn the last of British blood was betrayed into the hands of ye English by one Madog Mir of Buellt near the river Irvon. Hence the inhabitants of that lordship are called by their neighbours Bradwyr Buellt. There is ye ruins of an ancient British fort, with deep trenches, where there has been since a stone castle, but now all demolished and some houses built out of it.

Here is a well of mineral water at ye sign of ye Black Lyon, noted for curing cutaneous distempers by washing, and taken inwardly is good for asthma and diseases of ye lungs, consumption, &c. It tastes strong of sulphur, and smells much like gunpowder. About a mile out of town there is a salt spring called Ffynon y Park, which produces common salt but not white, about 3 pints of ye water will purge briskly. It tastes a little brackish.

Here is one church, dedicated to St Mary, and a dissenter’s meeting house, now in building by ye order and direction of Howel Harris a Methodist, who told his congregation last night in my Hearing that God had never been before in Llanfair. The people has made him a good collection the day before. Most of the people are here drunk with religion. Buellt is derived from Bu, a cow or ox, and Allt, a hill: the hill, of cows, Buallt.

This river produces good salmon, trout, chub, graylings, pike and jack, salmon pinks 4 or 5 inches long very good eating, lampreys, daces, whilks 2 inches long. Coch Canghenod 3 or 4lbs. Wt. Full of bones, and of no value, never eat but by ye poor.

The hundred of Buallt took its name from the Castle, called Buallt, where there seems to have been anciently a Roman station, and in this country St. Garmon, with all the clergy of Britain met with Gwrtheym and excommunicated him, see Neurius."

A drawing of the wooden bridge is given, also a sketch of Buallt old fort. At the back of the manuscript is the following note: "Thomas Bowen y Crydd and Robin y fidler plays Hymns on ye fidle, preachers to ye Society of Methodists, 1747." The manuscript is unsigned; it is in the collection of Lewis Morris at the British Museum, page 94 of volume 14907.

With respect to the curious reference to Howel Harris in the above, and the mention of the meeting house, It is difficult to say whether this is the building or not which was resolved upon by the "Fathers of Methodism" at an association held at Porthyrhyd, October 3rd, 1744, where it was determined that a "House for religious purposes" should be erected at Llansawel. This resolution was not carried into effect, and no such building was erected until three years afterwards at Builth (according to page 51 of Williams’ Calvinistic Methodism).

The reason why this peculiar term was applied was on account of the connection which still existed between Howel Harris, his colleagues, and the Establishment, making it difficult to call it a "meeting-house". Judging from this, one might imagine that this particular chapel, if standing now, is the first distinct move of separation between the Methodists in Wales and the Established Church of England.


Ivor Bowen. Gray’s Inn, September 22nd, 1888.
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from Old Welsh Chips No 10 Nov 1888 published by Edwin Poole of Brecon, at Brecon.

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Item: To eschew many Diseases and Mischiefs, which have happened before this Time in the Land of Wales, by many Wasters, Rhymers, Minstrels and other Vagabonds: It is ordained and stablished, that Waster, Rhymer, Minstrel nor Vagabond, be in any wise sustained in the Land of Wales, to make Comorthies or gathering upon the common people there.
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[Commorth: An aid, a contribution or collection in aid] 4 Henry c. 22-28, XXVII.

Cronicl 40

Is an ancient borough and market-town, in the hundred of its name, and county of Montgomery, 206 miles from London, 70 from Chester, about 17 and a half from Aberystwith and Dolgelley, and 10 from Aberdovey; pleasantly situated in a valley encompassed by mountains; the high and majestic eminence Arran-y-gessel rises here upwards of 2,220 feet above the level of the sea; the view from this mountain is not so extensive nor so pleasing as it would be, were it not impeded by the more lofty Cader I’dris which is upwards of 2,914 feet high.

This town has little to attract the attention of the antiquary, with the exception of the remains of the house in which Owen Glendwr exercised his first acts of sovereignty in 1402, having assembled a parliament, and formally accepted the crown of Wales. The places of worship here are one church under the establishment, dedicated to St. Mary; the present incumbent is the Rev. Geo. Venables, the benefice is a rectory in the gift of the Bishop of St. Asaph; the independents, the Calvinistic, and Wesleyan methodists and baptists, have each a chapel.

There are slate quarries in the neighbourhood, which are very extensive, particularly those belonging to Mr. J. P. Ellis, at Aberlleffenney, and their produce are conveyed to Derwenlas, and shipped in his own vessels to various parts of the globe. There are also several lead mines in the vicinity, which are worked to a considerable extent; but the staple of manufacture is that of flannel, which gives employment to many hands.

The river Dovey passes within three quarters of a mile of the town, and is navigable for vessels of about seventy tons burthen to Derwenlas, about two miles distant. Many streams pass through the neighbourhood, upon which are corn mills, others for carding wool, fulling mills, &c.

The principal inn here is the "Eagles Hotel," a very excellently conducted establishment; there are, besides, other very respectable houses for the accommodation of the traveller. The market-day is Wednesday, and there are eight fairs in the year, viz. the first Wednesday in March, May 16th, June 26th, July 9th, August 7th, Sept. 18th, October 10th, and November 26th, for grain, cattle, horses, sheep, cheese, &c. The population of the parish and town, in 1821, was 1,595.

POST OFFICE, Maengwyn-street, Jane Lewis, Post Mistress. - Letters for LONDON, NEWTOWN, SHREWSBURY and the North are despatched (by a horse post) to WELCHPOOL, every night at nine, and arrive every morning at three, when the letters for ABERYWTWITH and SOUTH WALES are despatched (by a horse post also) to ABERYSTWITH every morning at three, and arrive every evening at eight. COACHES. FROM THE EAGLES HOTEL. To ABERYSTWITH, the Duke of Wellington (from Shrewsbury) every Friday evening at six, and during the summer on Mondays also - and the Llanbrynmair, every Wednesday afternoon at four. To SHREWSBURY, the Duke of Wellington (from Aberystwith) every Friday morning at eight, and during summer on Mondays also; goes thro’ Mallwyd and Welshpool - and the Llanbrynmair, every Wednesday morning at nine; goes through Newtown and Welshpool. CARRIERS. To ABERYSTWITH, Mary Edwards, from Pentre-rhedyn st, every week. To SHREWSBURY & WELSHPOOL, Rowland Lewis, every Monday - and Edward Davies, from Pentre-‘r-allt st, every week. To TOWYN, John Matthews, from the Raven, and Robert Roberts, from the White Horse, every Monday.

[The names, inn and public house titles and addresses in the index below are followed by category headings as listed in the Directory except for those under "Miscellaneous" which are followed by their stated occupation. Categories given are: Gentry & Clergy; Academics; Attorneys; Bakers & Flour Dealers; Bark Merchants - Oak; Blacksmiths; Boot & Shoe Makers; Butchers; Coopers; Corn Millers; Curriers; Dress & Straw Hat Makers; Flannel Manufacturers; Fullers; Grocers & Dealers in Sundries; Inns; Joiners; Lead Merchants; Lime Burners; Linen Drapers & Mercers; Painters, Plumbers & Glaziers; Porter &c. Merchants; Saddlers; Skinners; Slate Merchants; Surgeons; Tailors; Tallow Chandlers; Tanners; Taverns & Public Houses; Wheelwrights; Woolcarders; Wool Merchants & Miscellaneous. Carriers’ names have been added to the list before sorting alphabetically into a convenient index. - MGH]

Cronicl 42

Lord Teviot kindly raised questions on behalf of the Federation of Family History Societies in the House of Lords recently and replies were received from Lord Macintosh of Haringey on behalf of HM Treasury who in turn referred the questions to the Director of the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The first question posed asked when researchers can consult the 1911 and 1921, 1951-1991 Census Returns and whether the Government plans to review the prescription of closure periods of the Census returns.

The 1901 and 1911 Census Returns are held by the PRO. The 1921 and subsequent Census Returns are in the custody of the Registrar General. The Returns are subject to the Public records Act 1958 and are closed for public inspection for 100 years. The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has recently considered a case for early release for the purposes of genealogical research but is of the opinion that whilst such release would be of historical interest and commercial value to researchers, the maintenance of "public Confidence in the Census is paramount". The Government also feels it would be unwise to amend retrospectively the period of closure "as the creditability of assurances about recent and future censuses would be affected" if the Government was seen to depart from previous assurances.

The second question concerned the Government's intention with regard to the possible destruction of original Census material held by the Registrar General and if any decision had been taken to microfilm original records and, if so, whether the originals would be retained and preserved. The reply given is that no decision on microfilming Census Returns which are presently held by the Registrar General has been taken, nor has any decision been taken on the permanent retention and preservation of original records.

The third question concerns the retention of the Returns as public records and their preservation. The 1911 Returns are held by and in the custody of the Public Record Office. The 1901 Returns are presently being microfilmed and will be released for public gaze in the year 2002. The 1921, 1951 and 1961 Returns are retained by the Registrar General and have not been deposited with the PRO. There are no plans to deposit them at present. The 1971-1991 Returns are equally retained by the Registrar General but because they are not yet 30 years old are not treated as public records.

The 1921-1961 Returns will be preserved permanently if they are selected for preservation and if the Lord Chancellor agrees that they should be preserved. At present the Registrar General seeks permission every 10 years to retain the Returns. There are discussions presently ongoing between the Registrar General and the PRO on how such records could be preserved. The Federation intends to ask that it be consulted before any final decisions are taken and will be raising the issue at a forthcoming BGRUC meeting which will be attended by the PRO and ONS.
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FHN&D Newsflash Sept 97

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Cronicl 42

Thomas Daniel, of Ystradfellte, having noticed that the milk of his father’s cows was in the course of last summer of a very extraordinary appearance, he believed it to be affected by witchcraft. Accordingly he went, by his father’s orders, to the defendant, Daniel Jones, at Llanafan Fawr, who immediately said it was the effect of witchcraft, and that he would prevent it.

Witness then went to him again, and he promised he would be sure to put the milk right, and that he should see who did the mischief to it. Then he again looked into his book, and described the person of a woman, who, he said, was a witch. Defendant again directed the witness to use the same charm as before, and with the addition of two horse-shoes, having three nails in each of them. Witness then paid the defendant 2s 6d. This having failed in success, defendant said he must be on the spot before he could effect the cure; and fixed a time to be at his father’s house, desiring witness to inform the neighbours of his coming, and that he could tell fortunes and recover lost and stolen goods.

Defendant afterwards came to his father’s house, and remained there four days; during which he pretended, by various means - having generally a book before him - to find out the witch. He said there was a conjuring book of his at Glynllech, which he would give five guineas to have restored to him.

The result of the trial is not given in the old paper, but the jurors presented a True Bill.
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from "Historical Memoranda of Breconshire" Vol II, John Lloyd, London 1904

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