CAYO, otherwise CYNWYL-GAIO, a parish, in the higher division of the hundred of CAYO, county of CARMARTHEN, SOUTH WALES, 8
miles (N. W. by N.) from Llandovery, intersected by the road from that town to Lampeter, and containing 1971 inhabitants.
This place presents the appearance of having been formerly of much greater importance than it is at present: in some
ancient writings it is called Caer Gaio, a name evidently implying that it was defended either by a castle or some other
military work. From the discovery of numerous relics of Roman antiquity, it was undoubtedly known to the Romans, and was
probably occupied by them. According to tradition, a large town was erected here by the Romans, the houses of which, being
chiefly of brick, obtained for it the name of Y drev Gdch yn Neheubarth, or the " Red Town in South Wales." Roman bricks
are still frequently dug up in the adjacent fields; and near the summit of an eminence are vestiges of a mill, called
Melin Milwyr, or the " Soldier's Mill." The rivers Cothy and Twrch unite in this parish. The principal seats are,
DOlcothy, the property and residence of John Johnes, Esq., an elegant mansion finely situated on the banks of the river
Cothy, from which it takes its name; and Britt Nant, the seat of George Lloyd, Esq., a neat mansion occupying a pleasant
situation a little higher up in the vale. Fairs are held here on May 30th, August 21st, and October 6th. The living is a
vicarage, with the perpetual curacy of Llansawel annexed, in the archdeaconry of Carmarthen, and diocese of St. David's,
rated in the king's books at 5, and in the patronage of the King, as Prince of Wales. The church, dedicated to St. Cynwyl,
is a spacious structure, in the early style of English architecture, with a square embattled tower; and, from its
capacious dimensions, it has been conjectured that some monastic institution anciently existed here in connexion with it.
There were anciently chapels of ease at Court y Cadno, in the north-eastern part of the parish, and at Pump Saint, of
which there are no vestiges. There are two places of worship each for Baptists and Methodists, and one for Independents. A
parochial school, in which from forty to fifty children are instructed gratuitously, and to the use of which a neat
cottage in the churchyard is appropriated, is liberally supported by subscription. Morgan Price, in 1686, bequeathed a
small rent-charge for the relief of the poor of this parish. At a place called Panty Polion stood two monumental stones,
on one of which was the following inscription, communicated by Mr. Saunders, of Jesus' College, Oxford, to Bishop Gibson,
and printed in the additions to Camden's Britannia: — Servator fidei, patrieque temper motor, Hie Paulinus jacet, cultor
pientissimus equi. This memorial is supposed to have been in honour of a warrior, who fell in a great battle which took
place at Maes Llan Wrthwl, in this parish, between the Romans and the Britons, and was interred at this place. At Cwm
Cothi there are some remains of ancient mines, now called Gogovau mines, supposed to have been worked by the Romans; and
near them are vestiges of a stupendous Roman aqueduct, conducting the water of the river Cothy to the excavations in the
mountain, in order to wash away the dross, according to the Roman method of separating the ore. Among the antiquities
found in this parish are also two beautiful torques of gold, ploughed up on the estate of John Johnes, Esq., of DOlcothy,
in whose cabinet they are preserved: to one was attached the figure of a serpent, curiously wrought, and to the other
that of a dolphin. In the same cabinet there is a beautiful amethyst, with a fine intaglio of the goddess Diana, found
among some loose gravel, which had been raised for repairing the road. In 1762, no less than three thousand medals of
copper, intrinsically of small value, were discovered here, among which were some of Gallienus, Salonina, and of several
of the thirty tyrants ; and in the neighbourhood of the mines various relics of antiquity are frequently found. On the
road to Llandewy Brevi are the remains of a Roman causeway, called Sam Helen, according to some writers, in honour of
Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, who is represented as a native of Wales; but others are of opinion that it is a
contraction of Sam y Lleng, or Lleon, the road of the Legion by which it was constructed. There are several tumuli in the
vicinity, especially near Pont RIV Remus, or the bridge of Remus' ford. Near the mines is a spring of remarkably cold
water, issuing from a rock, and formerly held in great estimation for its efficacy in the cure of rheumatic complaints;
and near Briu Nant and Dolcothy are two mineral springs, which, according to Mr. Rasp, the mineralogist, contain a far
greater proportion of sulphur than those either of Brecknockshire or Radnorshire. At Pump Saint there is a chalybeate
spring, held in considerable repute in the neighbourhood. The poor are maintained by an average annual expenditure
amounting to £578. 12.