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the Usk at Buckland, and of the Wye at Hay, no road was open uules3 over 

 these mountains, and hence the greatest pains were taken to protect the only 

 practicable passes over them, those at Penycenffordd and Bwlch. The castles 

 of Hay, Clifford, and Brynllis defended the approach by the Wye valley, and 

 Blaenllyfni Castle, close beneath us, protected the pass at Bwlch, and with its 

 dependent castles of Tretower and Pencelly, the valley of the Usk. Dinas 

 Castle protected the great pass at Penycenffordd, and thus with garrisons placed 

 at each of these points, all access from Breconshire to and from Herefordshire 

 and Monmouthshire was cut off. 



Another mouldering castle bids us think of days gone by, when the great 

 Norman barons made their first incursions into Wales, with their own retainers 

 and on their own account. The great battle near Brecon, in which the Welsh 

 under Bleddin ap Maenach were defeated, placed the whole of Breconshire in 

 the power of the conqueror, Bernard Newmarch. The King assigned to him 

 the conquered lands, and he in turn sub-divided them among his knights and 

 followers. Bernard Newmarch built his chief castle at Brecon, and founded the 

 present town. Probabl}', too, at the first leisure time, he commenced the 

 building of other castles, the better to overawe the Welsh, and as residences 

 for his chief followers. 



Blaenllyfni Castle was among this number, and it not only served these 

 purposes, but it was very valuable as a half-way post to England, and to protect 

 the pass of Bwlch and the Vale of Usk. 



Many of the old historians wonder and exclaim against the folly of those 

 who built a castle in such a place. Jones says, "It cannot be conceived or 

 ascertained what could induce a person to build a castle in such a low situation, 

 surmounted by heights on all sides except one." It maybe said, however, in 

 favour of its site that it was close to the pass, sheltered from observation, and, 

 with its deep moats around it, formed a very secure defence. The tiny stream 

 of the Llyfni was diverted far up the mountain side, and brought, as it is to 

 this day, to supply the moats. 



Blaenllyfni Castle has had various possessors, and was usually held with 

 that of Dinas. The Lord of Goodrich Castle in Herefordshiie Gilbert Lord 

 Talbot, in 1340, was one amongst the number. There is still a considerable 

 portion of the old castle left, and the moats are almost perfect. The latter 

 are now used as a reservoir for the adjacent saw mill, and the enclosure of the 

 castle is thickly planted with young larch trees. An old town is said to have 

 existed near the castle some time since. Of its real history there is but little 

 known. Leland's reference to it is as follows : — " In sum ancient writings this 

 custell was called Everi Castel, and Lleveni water called Everi brooke. The 

 house of Blain Lleveni standing in a valley ys in the Walshe Talgarth, where 

 is yet the shape of a veri fair castel now dekeiyng, and by was a borow town, 

 now also in decay, both longged to the Erie of Marche. Though Blain Lleveni 

 be iu Walshe Talgarth, yet the tenauntes keep the Englishe tenor." 



