VOL. XVII. (i) EXCURSION— BTJILTH-WELLS & RHAYADER 27 



have spent some time in or near the cave towards the top of Aberedw Hill. 

 One early morning he arrived at Court Llechryd (near the present Builth Road 

 Station), that was held by a loyal Welsh chieftain. Crossing the river, 

 he proceeded to Builth, and then found the castle closed to him. Giffard's 

 scheme was then apparent, so that, after destroying Builth bridge, he fled to 

 Pont-y-Coed, near Llany's Church. Telling his few men to defend the 

 bridge, he went, probably to rest awhile, in a tithe-barn near Cefn-y-bedd. 

 How long he was there we do not know, evidently long enough for the 

 Mortimers and I'Estrange to cross the Wye at Erwood — (for Llywelyn 

 had destroyed the bridge at Builth) — and to reach Llanynis. Finding 

 the bridge too strongly guarded, they sent a detachment of cavalry, piloted 

 by Helias ap Philip ISIalwyn, to cross the ford above Cefnllys-gwynne. They 

 succeeded, and at once attacked in the rear the gallant eighteen, probably 

 supported by some loyal Welshmen from the neighbourhood. The battle was 

 uneven, but the fighting was furious. The eighteen fell to a man. Llywelyn, 

 when told of what had happened, declared it impossible. But rushing back 

 to see for himself, he was met by one of Roger I'Estrange's men, Adam, 

 a Welshman from the village of Francton, near Ellesmere, who, mortally 

 wounded, without recognising him. Some time later Adam Francton returned 

 to the spot (now marked by a monument) and identified his wounded victim 

 as Llywelyn. He soon despatched and decapitated him. The headless body 

 was buried at Abbey Cwmhir, and the head, accompanied by a despatch 

 from Roger I'Estrange, was sent to Edward I. at Rhuddlan. He sent it on 

 to London, where, crowned with ivy, it was carried through Cheapside 

 on the point of a lance, and finally placed on the Tower. 



The parts of Llywelyn's Castle that remain show that it consisted 

 of a square work of about 40 yards each side, surrounded by a deep dry ditch, 

 and enclosing an area of about one-third of an acre. By a gross act of 

 vandalism, two of the towers and one side of the fortress were destroyed 

 by the railway company in making the line. 



After a bread-and-cheese meal at the village inn, and an inspection 

 of the remains of Llywelyn's Castle, now partly destroyed by the railway, the 

 Members departed by the 1.25 p.m. train for Hereford and Gloucester. 



During the excursion some good work was done by the botanists, a 

 number of records new to the district being made by the Rev. H. J. 

 Riddelsdell (see pages 57-61). 



