Diserth Radnorshire Family History Guide

Status: Ancient Parish

Alternative names: Disserth, Diserth and Tre Goed, Y Ddiserth Yn Elfael, Disserth and Trecoed.

Other places included in the parish: Crossway, Howey, Cwmbach Llechryd

Parish church: St Cewydd

Parish registers begin: 1734

Nonconformists include:

Table of Contents

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

DISSERTH, a village and a parish in the district of Builth and county of Radnor. The village stands on the river Ithon, under the Carneddau hills, 1½ mile E of Newbridge-on-Wye r. station, and 5 N by W of Builth. The parish includes also the village of Howey and the township of Trecoed. Post town, Builth. Acres, 6,650. Real property, £2,994. Pop., 521. Houses, 97. The property is divided among a few. The living is a rectory, united with the p. curacy of Bettws-Disserth, in the diocese of St. Davids. Value, £310. Patron, the Bishop of St. Davids. The church is excellent.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

A Topographical Dictionary of Wales 1849

DISSERTH (DISERTH), a parish, in the union of Builth, hundred of Colwyn, county of Radnor, South Wales, 2½ miles (N.) from Builth; comprising the townships of Disserth and Tre ‘rcoed, each of which separately supports its own poor; and containing 627 inhabitants, of whom 350 are in the former township. This parish is said to have derived its name from the flatness of its surface, the word Diserth signifying in the Welsh language a tract of country without a rise or elevation. A place called Llêchrhŷd, situated within its limits, has generally been considered the scene of the celebrated victory gained by Rhŷs ab Tewdwr, the rightful prince of South Wales, at the head of his Irish forces, over the usurping princes of Powys, the three sons of Bleddyn ab Cynvyn; but this event may, with greater probability, be referred to Llêchrhŷd, near Cardigan, on the river Teivy. The parish is situated on the banks of the river Wye which is not navigable in this part of its course; and is intersected by the turnpike-roads from Builth, in the county of Brecknock, to Newtown in Montgomeryshire, and to Aberystwith in the county of Cardigan. It is bounded on the north by the parishes of Llandrindod and Kevenlleece, on the south by that of Llanelweth, on the east by the parish of Llansantfraid, and on the west by Llanyre; and comprises, according to a late survey, 6650a. 27p., of which 2030 acres are arable, and 400 woodland consisting chiefly of oak, ash, and larch. The soil is in general wet and clayey, and the produce of the arable land wheat, barley, and oats, but the main dependence of the farmer is on stock reared on pasture land. The general uniformity of the surface is occasionally broken, especially by a range of hills called Carneddau, which rise to a considerable height, and command an extensive and interesting prospect over the northern parts of the county of Brecknock, and a considerable portion of that of Radnor: these hills afford good pasturage to numerous flocks of sheep, of which the wool is of very superior quality, and highly esteemed. Attempts have been made to obtain lead on the side of the Gilwern Hill, towards the eastern boundary, but they have not been attended with success. Besides being bounded by the river Wye, the parish is intersected by the river Ithon, and also watered by the rivulets Howey and Dulas. The principal seats are Howey Hall, Maesgwynne Hall, Newcastle, Bryngroes, Newmead, and Tyncoed; and the parish contains the small villages of Howey, Pentre, and Smithfield. Fairs were annually held on Howey Common, on the Saturdays before the 11th of February, the 11th of May, and the 11th of November, chiefly for the sale of live stock; but they have fallen into disuse.

The living is a rectory, rated in the king’s books at £16, with the living of Bettws-Disserth annexed; patron, the Bishop of St. David’s. The tithes of the parish have been commuted for a rent-charge of £229. 19. 11., with a glebe of three-quarters of an acre, valued at £1. 1. per annum. The church, dedicated to St. Cewydd, is a spacious and venerable structure, consisting of a nave and chancel, with a tower seventy feet high, containing three bells, and crowned with turrets, and which, from being whitewashed, forms a conspicuous object in the distant view, but loses much of its interest on a nearer inspection; the length of the edifice is sixty-three feet, and the breadth twenty-five. Ezekiel Williams, in 1762, bequeathed £40 to the poor not receiving parochial relief; but the money having been entrusted to a person who afterwards became insolvent, only £28 were received. With a part of this sum, a cottage, garden, and appurtenances were purchased; and out of the rent, £2 are distributed on New Year’s day among poor decayed housekeepers, selected by the vestry; the cottage being occupied rent-free by a pauper.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis 1849

Parish Records

Powys Archives

Parish Registers

Baptisms 1813-1864
Burials 1813-1915
Marriages 1757-1784
Marriages 1785-1812
Marriages 1813-1839
Banns 1786-1886
Baptisms 1734-1812, burials 1734-1812, marriages 1734-1793
Baptisms 1865-1991

Other

Offertory book (Howey) 1903-1927

Churchwardens Accounts 1789-1825

Churchwardens Accounts 1824-1872

Vestry minutes 1738-1790

Vestry minutes 1789-1822

Vestry minutes 1819-1876

Vestry minutes 1823-1921

FamilySearch

Church Records

Bishop’s transcripts, 1687-1867

Marriage bonds and allegations : 1680-1867

Parish register transcripts – Church in Wales. Parish Church of New Radnor; Church in Wales. Parish Church of Cefnllys; Church in Wales. Parish Church of Diserth and Tre-goed

Parish register transcripts, 1735-1812 – Church in Wales. Parish Church of Diserth and Tre-goed

Parish register printouts of Disserth, Radnor, Wales ; christenings, 1813-1867