229 



English " Monigh" or moors — i.e., the heights of marshy places, which is the 

 meaning of EllenyilJ, according to Leland. From these hills the Irfon takes 

 its rise, flowing rapidly thiough Llanwrtyd and Llangammarch as if in haste to 

 join the romantic Wye as she descends from the peaks of Plinlimon, and thus 

 combined they pass the pretty town of Builth as they meander down the vale. 



The town is irregularly built, consisting of two main streets which, 

 meeting in an angle at the Swan inn, unite and afterwards extend for a con- 

 siderable distance along the road leading to Llandovery. The population of 

 Builth by the last census is only 1,100, but through the summer months the 

 renown of its saline wells brings many hundreds of visitors there. 



The view from the handsome bridge of six arches, erected in 1770, 

 which spans the Wye, esptcially if the day be bright, is perfect of its kind. 

 The history of the place may be indicated by the following events. Its 

 Welsh name Buallt is said to be derived from Bu an ox, and allt a wooded 

 eminence, signifying an ox-cliff or oxen-holt. In ancient documents it is 

 styled Llanfair-yn-BIuallt — this was evidently a great grazing county. Camden 

 and others claim for Builth great antiquity. The town in ancient days is said 

 to have extended from a brook on the east side of the Castle called Glyro, 

 from its contiguity to a centiuel's station, to another brook called Llogyn 

 falling into the Irfon on the west, and if so it was a mile in length. In the 

 neighbourhood are several entrenchments in which Roman bricks with the 

 inscription "Leg. II" have been found. In recurring to the Chronicle of 

 Caradoc we find this place suffered considerably from the Danes in 893, who, 

 being pressed by Alfred, sailed to Wales, and after destroying the counti^y 

 round the coast advanced to Buallt, which they likewise demolished. The 

 present town appears to have arisen subsequently to the erection of a castle 

 by the Norman invaders of this part of the principality, under Bernard New- 

 march, brother to William the Conqueror, as some hold, in the year 1078. 

 Phillip De Breos, one of Bernard's followers, attacked and conquered the 

 territories of Elystan Llodrydd on the river Wye, established in them the Lord- 

 ship of Buillt, from which circumstance he is styled "Lord of Buillt," which 

 he obtained by conquest. He, no doubt, strengthened and enlarged the castle, 

 the foundations of which, including some very strong earthworks, exist at the 

 east end of the town, and make a conspicuous appearance. The keep stood on 

 the lofty moated mound in the centre, which is many yards (50) in circum- 

 ference ; the state apartments and offices were on the south-west side, to which 

 there was a branch from the inner moat. Sir Roger Mortimer held it for 

 the Crown in 12C0, but it was taken by Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, who, as some 

 historians say, held it till his death, when the garrison betrayed him. There 

 is but a small portion of a wall now remaining. It is situated on the north 

 side, and to judge from this, the walls must have been of considerable 

 thickness. It is built, however, of the crumbling blue shale of the district, 

 and could never have successfully withstood an attack of artillery. When or 

 by whom the castle was destroyed is not known. 



