Llandewi-Ystradenny (Llanddewi-Ystrad-Enau), a parish, in the union of Knighton, partly in the hundred of Kevenlleece, and partly in that of Knighton, county of Radnor, South Wales, 11 miles (E.) from Rhaiadr; contains 693 inhabitants, of whom 336 are in the church township in the hundred of Knighton. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. David, and its position in a winding vale, contains by admeasurement 8075a. 1r. 27p., and is situated on the river Ithon, and intersected by the turnpike-road leading from Builth, Brecknockshire, to Newtown, in the county of Montgomery. It comprehends an extensive tract of land, of which by far the greater portion is inclosed and cultivated, and includes, besides the township of Llanddewi, that of Maestyr Rhoslowthy; the surface is boldly undulated, but the soil is in general productive. The scenery among the hills is extremely magnificent, and the distant mountains are seen in distant ranges, varying in elevation and differing in aspect, finely grouped in almost every variety of form, and so numerous, that it is impossible with any degree of correctness to allocate them to their respective counties. The village comprises only a few houses, occupying a pleasant situation: the inhabitants obtain their letters from a receiving-house at Pen-y-Bont. The living is a perpetual curacy, with that of Llanvihangel-Rhyd-Ithon annexed, both of which were originally parochial chapels, ecclesiastically subordinate to the mother church of Llanbister; and is endowed with £600 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary grant; net income, £112; patron, Chancellor of the Collegiate Church of Brecknock: the appropriate titles have been commuted for a rent-charge of £365, payable to the Prebendary of Llanbister, but subject to rates, averaging £42.15. 7. per annum. The church, dedicated to St. David, has lately undergone extensive alterations, the north aisle having been removed, and the southern new pewed and rendered commodious; it is a small but neat edifice, consisting of a nave and chancel, the latter of which has a handsome east window of good design: the churchyard is surrounded by some ash trees of majestic growth and very imposing appearance. The produce of two small charitable donations amounting to £1. 10., is annually given to the poor; one being a rent-charge of £1, by an unknown donor, and the other 10s., a portion of the Rev. Robert Barlow’s grant in the parish of Llanbister.
On the summit of one of the mountains within the parish, impending over the Vale of Ithon, are the remains of a strong intrenchment, termed the Gaer, considered to have been one of the fortified posts alternately occupied, in the twelfth century, by Cadwallon, and Mortimer, during the arduous conflicts which took place between them. It is elliptical in form, being inaccessible on the side towards the vale, and an every other side defended by two parallel intrenchments. On the opposite hill is an extensive tumulus of earth, surrounded by a moat, called Bedd Ygre, “the grave of Ygre,” supposed he have been raised in memory of some ancient British chieftain of that name who fell near the spot and was interred there. About two miles from this place formerly stood an old fortification, termed Castell Cymaron, erected on the banks of the Cymaron, and thought to have been originally built by the Anglo-Normans, to protect the territories they had violently seized in this part of the principality, and which was soon afterwards destroyed by the Welsh, in their continued efforts to recover possession. It was subsequently rebuilt by Hugh, Earl of Chester, who, in 1142, obtained the whole of the district of Maelienydd, in which I was included, and was constantly an object of contention between the Anglo-Normans and the Welsh, in the frequent conflicts that arose from the repeated efforts of the former to extend their encroachments, and of the latter to repel them. This castle at length fell into the hands of the Mortimers, about the year 1360, and remained for ages with their descendants. Its site, and the moat by which it was surrounded, may still be distinctly traced; but of the building itself not the slightest portion remains.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis Third Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV.
