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BRECKNOCKSHIRE. 



BRECKNOCKSHIRE. 



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and from east to west about 30 miles. Brecknock is the county town. 

 The area of the county ia near 754 square miles. The population in 

 3831 amounted to 47,763; in 1841 it was 55,603; in 1851 it was 

 61,474. Brecknockshire was anciently called Garthmadrin, or the 

 ' fox-hold,' and derives its present name from Brychan, a Welsh prince, 

 who lived in the 5th century. 



face, Hydroyraphy, and Communications. The surface of this 

 county is extremely irregular, the valleys are deep, and the mountains 

 the highest in South Wales. It is intersected on the north and south 

 by two long ranges of mountains : that on the north goes by the 

 general name of ' Epynt,' an obsolete British word for a hill ; the other 

 range, beginning with the Caermarthen Beacons, runs nearly parallel 

 to the Epynt Hills, and inclining more towards the south, terminates 

 in Monmouthshire. Between these two chains a third, which is called 

 the Black Mountains, rises abruptly near Talgarth. Another line 

 branches across in a direction from north to south, about eight miles 

 below Brecknock, dividing the hundred of Devynnock from the hun- 

 dreds of Talgarth and Penkelly. The highest mountains in Breck- 

 nockshire are the Brecknock Beacons, about three miles south-west 

 of Brecknock, which are 2862 feet above the level of the sea ; Capel- 

 lante, which is 2394 feet above the level of the sea ; Pen Cader, or 

 the ' Cradle Mountain,' 2545 feet above the level of the sea ; and 

 Dwggan, near Builth, which is 2071 feet above the sea. The princi- 

 pal rive are the Wye, which flows along the north-eastern side of 

 the county, separating it from the county of Radnor ; the Usk, which 

 rises in the Caermarthenahire Fan, about five miles from Trecastle ; 

 the Honddu, which rises in Drum-dim, and falls into the Usk at 

 Brecknock ; the Yrfon, which rises in Bryn-garw, in the north-west 

 boundary of the county, and falls into the Wye about a mile above 

 Builth ; the Elan, the Claerwen, and the Tawe. The Tarell also, a 

 small river rising in Bryn-du, joins the Usk a little above Brecknock, 

 and the Taf Fechan, a small, and Tsf Fawr, a large river, which rise 

 in different parts of the south declivity of the Brecknock Beacons, 

 unite into a considerable stream the Taf at the south boundary of 

 the county, near Cyfarthfa Park. None of these streams are navi- 

 gable. To facilitate the conveyance of goods from Brecknock to 

 Newport, a canal capable of conveying boats of 24 tons was finished 

 in 1811 at a cost of 170,0002.; a railroad was soon after made from 

 Brecknock to Hay, and from thence to Kington and the lime-rocks 

 near Old Radnor. The Swansea Canal enters for a short distance the 

 south-west part of the county. The mountains Mynydd Llangynidr, 

 and Mynydd Pen Cyrn, near the Clydach, at the south boundary of 

 Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire, are intersected by many rail- 

 roads, which communicate with the various collieries and iron-works. 

 Two branches descend into the vale of Usk, so as to form a connec- 

 tion with the Crickhowell Canal ; the one near Tal-y-bont, the other 

 near Llangattock. A long line of railroad also begins near the ninth 

 milestone on the Brecknock and Trecastle road, and passing up 

 the valley of Forest Fawr to the east of the river Tawe, and nearly 

 parallel to it, communicates with Drim Colliery, and finally with the 

 Swansea Canal. About five miles E.S.E. from Brecknock is situated 

 Llyn-Safaddu, or Llangorse Pool, a sheet of water two miles long 

 and in some places a mile in breadth. It abounds in fish, and in 

 winter is much frequented by wild fowl. In 1235 permission was 

 granted to the monks of Brecknock to fish in this lake three days in 

 the week, and every day in Lent, provided they only used one boat. 

 The other lakes in this county are Llyn Van Vawr, under the Breck- 

 nock Beacons, about four miles from Bivery ; Llyn Carw, about six 

 miles from Llanwrtyd ; and Pwl Bivery, near Capel Calwen, south- 

 cast of Mount CapeUante. The scenery in this county is extremely 

 beautiful. The extensive views from the mountains, the abrupt out- 

 line of the Brecknock Beacons, the undulating surface, frequently 

 clothed with woods and intersected by torrents, from their expanse, 

 their variety, and their wildness, are very striking to the admirers of 

 the picturesque. 



The principal roads are from Trecastle, through Brecknock to 

 Crickhowell, which is travelled by the Caermarthen and London 

 mail ; that from Brecknock to Hay ; also the roads from Brecknock 

 to Merthyr, and from Builth to Hay. These as well as the less 

 important thoroughfares through the county have in late years been 

 greatly improved. Lines of communication of great public utility 

 have been opened between Hay, Talgarth, and Crickhowell ; and 

 between Brecknock and Builth. 



Geology. The geology of this district has occupied the attention 

 of that able geologist, Sir R. I. Murchison. The oldest rocks which 

 occupy the west of Brecknockshire consist of grauwacke slates ; a 

 remarkable line of trap and porphyry breaks through the rocks of 

 this age, extending from Llanwrtyd for about four miles to the north- 

 east. Between these old rocks and the escarpment of Mynydd 

 Epynt and Mynydd Bwlch y Groes, the transition-rocks are dis- 

 played ; the uppermost consisting of that which Sir R. I. Murchison 

 has described as the Ludlow rock, which there pauses up into the old 

 red sandstone. These transition rocks, which in Shropshire and Rad- 

 norshire contain thick masses of lime, are throughout the whole of 

 their range in Brecknockshire remarkably void of limestone. The great 

 mass of the county, especially the central and south-east district, 

 consist* of the old red sandstone, which has been shown by Sir R. I. 

 Murchuon to be divisible into three sub-formations : 1. A lower 



zone of tile-stones, remarkably exhibited along the rectilineal escarp- 

 ment of Mynydd Bwlch y Groes, extending into Caermarthenahire. 

 2. A central portion of marls, concretionary limestones (locally called 

 'cornatones'), sandstones, &c. 3. The upper portion of sandstone 

 and conglomerate ; this upper portion, occupying the summits of the 

 Fans (Beacons) of Brecknock, and other lofty mountains between 

 Brecknock and Abergavenny, is by ita inclination carried under the 

 whole of the great productive South Welsh coal-field. The remainder 

 belongs to the Silurian system of Murchison. We thus see that the 

 whole of the district to the north-west of this tract of country lies 

 j beneath the carboniferous aeries. 



The mineral springs at Builth and at Llanwrtyd rise in the silicified 

 and hardened schists, at points where they are penetrated by trap- 

 rocks. Their origin ia considered to be due to the decomposition of 

 the vast quantities of sulphuret of iron which are collected at such 

 points. With the exception of the strata containing iron and coal, 

 which, though for the moat part in MONMOUTHSHIRE, in some places 

 cross the boundary of Brecknockshire, there are no mines or minerals 

 in this county worthy of nptice. Some traces of copper-ore have 

 been found in the old red sandstone, which upon trial have proved 

 to be unprofitable. One of the most remarkable features in the 

 geology of Brecknockshire is a peninsula of transition rocks, which 

 is thrown up from north-east to south-west, ranging from Erwood on 

 the Wye to the rocky promontory of Corn y Fan, five miles north 

 from Brecon. 



Climate, Soil, <tc. The climate varies considerably, according to 

 the elevation and exposure. In the neighbourhood of the Brecknock 

 Beacons, the Black Mountains, and the elevated districts between 

 Trecastle and Builth, the wind, the snow, the cold, and continual 

 rains, are often severely felt, by which the crops are injured, and the 

 harvests retarded ; the lower valleys are comparatively warm. The 

 country is subject to much rain, but the air is on the whole bracing, 

 and the population healthy. The soil in the hundred of Talgarth 

 and Crickhowell is more favourable to cultivation than in any other 

 part of this county. Wheat is here grown in considerable quantities ; 

 and there are orchards, from which good cider is frequently manu- 

 factured. In the hundred of Devynnock, and perhaps more so in 

 that of Builth, where there is much cold wet clay, barley and oata 

 are the grain crops chiefly cultivated by the farmers. Agriculture 

 throughout the county has considerably improved during the last 

 fifty years ; partly through the exertions of an agricultural society, 

 one of the earliest in the island, which was established in 1755, by 

 Mr. Powell of Castle Madoc. In the highlands are bred small black 

 and brindled cattle, horses, ponies, and good hill-sheep, whose wool 

 though finer than that of the neighbouring county is nut so suitable 

 for the manufacture of flannel. In the lowlands the Herefordshire 

 breed of cattle predominates. The ewes are brought down from the 

 hills in winter, and are not taken back until the cold weather has 

 ceased and the lambs are strong enough to bear exposure. 



Divitiortt, Towm, <fcc. Brecknockahire, excluaive of the borough of 

 Brecknock, is divided into six hundreds : Builth, Crickhowell, Devyn- 

 nock, Merthyr, Penkelly, and Talgarth. It contains 66 parishes, 

 with 73 churches and chapels. The market-towns are BRECKNOCK, 

 the only corporate town within the county, CRICKHOWELL, which 

 stands upon the rich banks of the Usk, and BCILTH and HAY, whi<-h 

 occupy two picturesque situations oil the Wye. These will be noticed 

 under their several heads. 



A few of the more important villages may be briefly noticed here. 

 Sronllyi, or Bryn-ttys, 7 miles N.E. from Brecknock, is on the high- 

 road, about midway between Brecknock and Hay. Here ia a building 

 of considerable antiquity, somewhat resembling in appearance one of 

 the Irish round towers which has lost its upper part. Crickadarn, 

 10 rnilen N. by E. from Brecknock, stands on the right bank of the 

 Wye : the population of the pariah in 1851 was 414. The church 

 is a small building of ancient date, and has a massive tower. The 

 scenery about Crickadarn is very picturesque, especially along the 

 Clettwr, which in ita course through Crickadarn to the Wye flows 

 through a deep and richly wooded dingle. Dirynnock, on the right 

 bank of the Uak, 9 miles W. from Brecknock : the population of the 

 parish in 1851 was 1969. The village lies in the Vale of Semii. 

 The church is spacious ; it is of the perpendicular style and date, 

 except the tower, which is older. The Calviniatic Methodists and 

 Independents have places of worship. There are an endowed Free 

 School and some almehouses. Fairs are held in April, May, August, 

 October and November. On the Senni was auciently a strong fortreaa, 

 known aa Castell DO, or the ' Black Castle.' Henry IV. stayed some 

 time at Devynnock, whence was dated a proclamation of pardon to 

 the Welshmen who were willing to submit. In Ihe parish are several 

 carneddau, or cairns, and other primeval remains. Cerrig duon, or 

 the 'Black stones,' a stone circle, is a short diatance from the village. 

 Llangammarch by the Vale of Llanwrtyd, 14 miles N.N.W. from 

 Brecknock : the population in 1851 was 1038. The village is chiefly 

 noticeable for a large circular British camp, which is atill traceable. 

 The Irwen ia much reaorted to by anglera. Llangammarch waa the 

 birthplace of the Rev. Theophilus Jones, the hiatorian of Brecknock- 

 shire. The Vale of Llanwrtyd affords scenery of uncommon beauty 

 and grandeur. Llangattock, or the Church of St. Gattock, 12 miles 

 S.E. from Brecknock, ia situated on the right bank of the Usk, 



