Crickhowell, or Crug-hywel, is a little neat market-town, of late very much improved by the erection of several handsome houses. It is an ancient borough by prescription, governed by a bailiff, who is annually sworn in at the leet. His Grace the Duke of Beaufort is lord of the manor. This place is very pleasantly situated, with a gradual fall to the river Usk, over which there is a bridge of 14 arches: it commands many picturesque and beautiful surrounding scenes, and lies within two miles of the confines of Monmouth, 6 miles from Abergavenny, 13 from Brecknock, the county town, and 151 miles from London. The river abounds with trout, and the neighbouring hills with grouse. This place is highly in repute for goats’ whey, which may be had here in great perfection; it is much resorted to by valetudinarians, the air being much esteemed for its salubrity. Coals, and all the necessaries of life, are in great plenty, and cheap. The town is situate on the direct road from London to South Wales and Milford Haven, and is supposed to have been built in the time of Hywel Dda, prince of south Wales (who flourished about the year 940, celebrated for his code of Welch laws, collected by Dr. Wotton), or his son Hywel. Near it are the remains of an encampment, with a double ditch, mentioned in Leland as the Cragus Hoclinus. Here formerly was a castle, called Alisby castle, the ruins of which are still to be seen, and shew it to have been a place of considerable strength, but by whom it was erected is uncertain. It has a plentiful market on Thursday, and an annual fair on the 12th of May. The Brecon, Caermarthen, and Milford, stage coach, passes through twice a week; as also do the London and Bristol wagons. Great variety of sea-fish is almost daily to be bought. The principal inns are, the White Bear, where are kept the excise and post offices; and the White Hart.
The following are the principal inhabitants:
Gentry, &c.
Pogson William, Gent.
James Mrs. Jane
Kendall Mrs. Elen
Rumsey John, Gent.
Vassar John James, Esq.
Williams Robert, Gent.
White William, Gent.
Clergy.
Davies Rev. Wm. Rector of Talyllyn
Jones Rev. John
Jones Rev. John, curate
Powell Rev. Morgan, Vicar
Williams Rev. William
Physic.
Thomas D. Surgeon and Apothecary
Law.
Williams H. Rumsey, Attorney
Traders, &c.
Bassett William, Shoemaker
Davies Benjamin, Shopkeeper
Graterex Thomas, Shopkeeper
Herbert John, Farmer
Herbert William, Shopkeeper
Hinckley George, Farmer
Hurst Henrietta, Innkeeper, and Post and Excise Offices
Jones Anne, Shopkeeper
Morgan Evan, Taylor
Morgan Henry, Farmer
Parry Thomas, Taylor
Powell James, Taylor
Price Valentine, Butcher
Rogers Robert, Victualler (White-hart)
Rogers Sampson, Farmer
Rumsey Walter, Farmer
Watkins Thomas, Maltster and Tinman
Williams Rees, Auctioneer
Williams Thomas, Shoemaker
Williams Thomas, Maltster
The principal seats in the neighbourhood of Crickhowell are – New Meadows, the property of Charles Craycroft, Esq. – Court of Gollen, the seat of the Rev. Mr. Davies; – Millbrook, the seat of George Augustus Davies, Esq. – Moor Park, the seat of John Powell, Esq. – Gwernvale, the seat of the late Dr. Samuel Croxall, author of the annotations of Aesop’s fables, &c. &c. – Danygraig, the seat of Walter Watkins, Esq. – Dany Park, late the seat of John Harcourt, Esq. – Llangattock Parsonage House, the residence of the Rev. Canon Payne; – Llangattock Court, the seat of Philip Williams, Esq. – Glanusk, the seat of Frederick Fredericks, Esq. – Llangattock Park, the seat of Henry Williams, Esq. – Payne’s Hill, the seat of the Rev. Henry Payne; – and Beaufort, the seat of Edward Kendall, Esq.
Source: Universal British Directory 1791
