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was seen, find in a few minntes the members wore landed on the 

 well-kept green sward, in the midst of the ruins. A more 

 secluded spot than this could scarcely be found. Encircled by 

 the Black Mountains which rise up on either side, the situation, 

 as Giraldus Cambrensis writes, Avas " truly calculated for religion 

 and more adapted for canonical discipline than all the monasteries 

 of the British isle." The remains of the conventual Church, 

 founded by William de Lacy, Earl of Hereford, soon after 1108 

 for the Black Canons of the Order of St. Augustine, are remark- 

 able for the simplicity of their architectural details, but cannot 

 be compared in extent or beauty with those of Tintern. The 

 roof has entirely disappeared and with it a great part of the 

 eastern and southern Avails. The west front is the most perfect 

 portion and is a beautiful sjjecimen of the Early Pointed style. 

 The greater part of its two flanking toAvers remain, as also do the 

 piers and arches on the north of the nave. Two lofty pointed 

 arches support all that exists of the great central tower, and a 

 large ill proportioned circular arch Avith Early English corbels 

 opens from the transept into the south aisle of the choir, of wliicli 

 but little now remains, the site being utilised as a flower and 

 vegetable garden. After enjoying pretty little peeps of the dis- 

 tant hills, framed to east and Avest by pointed arch and ruined 

 AvindoAV, a visit Avas paid to the small building on the south 

 called the Church of Cwmyoy Upper. A more dank and deso- 

 late church and churchyard it is perhaps difficult to find even in 

 Wales. Ha\'ing obtained the keys from the schoolmaster of the 

 village, the fcAV points of interest Avere quickly mastered, and 

 may be summed up, as a font on probably an ancient pedestal, a 

 timbered roof lately cleared of a ceiling Avhich concealed it, per- 

 haps of 15th century work, two or three deeply splayed Avindows 

 on south of chancel possibly Norman, several 17th century 

 monuments of slate, and a general odour of dampness and decay 

 which accounted for the Sunday morning congregation consisting 

 of about seven faithful Avorshippers. Refreshments at the small 



