LLANIESTYN (LLAN-IESTYN), a parish, in the union of PWLLHELI, chiefly in the hundred of DINLLAEN, but partly in that of GAFLOGION, in the Lleyn division of the county of CARNARVON, NORTH WALES, 8 miles (W. by S.) from Pwllheli; containing 1090 inhabitants. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church, is pleasantly situated at the head of a small valley opening towards the south, near the south-western extremity of the county, almost in the centre of the great headland that separates the bay of Carnarvon from that of Cardigan; it is bounded on the southeast by the parishes of Llangian and Bottwnog, and on the north-west by those of Tydweiliog and Penllech; and comprises about 4500 acres, nearly equally divided between arable and pasture land. The scenery, though bare of wood, is interesting and picturesque, being greatly diversified with hill and dale; and the soil, some of which is light earth and other parts heavy clay, produces chiefly barley and oats. Of the rateable annual value of the parish, the return made amounts to £2534. 19.6. In the mountainous part of the parish are some appearances of lead-ore and nikel, but the veins are not of sufficient extent to promise remuneration to the mining adventurer, and no works have been yet opened. The village is seated at the base of Caro Madryn, a lofty, barren, isolated hill, which was formerly one of the strong-holds of Roderic and Maelgwyn, sons of Owain Gwynedd, to whom this part of the principality belonged. The living is a rectory, with the perpetual curacies of Bodverin, Llandegwining, and Penllech annexed, rated in the king's books at £21. 3. 9.; present net income, £595, with a glebe-house; patron, Bishop of Bangor. The tithes of the parish have been commuted for a rent-charge of £371, subject to rates, averaging £20. 6. 2., with a glebe of 23a. 2r. 31p., valued at £30 per annum. The church, dedicated to St. Iestyn, is a spacious and handsome structure, partly in the later Norman, and partly in the early English style of architecture, consisting of a nave, south aisle, and chancel, the whole seventy-eight feet long and forty-two broad, and containing about five hundred sittings. The aisle is separated from the nave by a range of pentagonal pillars and circular arches, and is lighted by a series of elegant.lancet-shaped windows; and some fragments still remain of the exquisitely carved oak screen that divided the chancel from the nave. The pulpit and the reading-desk are singularly placed, the former being attached to the northern, and the latter to the southern, wall. There are two places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists, and one for Independents; also four Sunday schools, three appertaining to the former and one to the latter denomination, conducted by voluntary teachers, and affording instruction to about 520 males and females. The fental of a tenement bequeathed by Mr. Roger Jones, in 1621, and now producing £13 per annum, is distributed among the poor at Christmas; and there is also a sum of 12s. 6d., a portion of £5 interest, payable on a turnpike bond of the trustees of the Conway road; and about a similar sum from an ancient rent-charge, disposed of in like manner. The whole summit of Cam Madryn was once surrounded by a wall, still traceable in its whole circuit, and remaining in some parts to the height of several feet; within the area are foundations of circular buildings, and near the base of the mountain are the remains of numerous circular and quadrilateral buildings, of which the walls are in many instances tolerably perfect. The upper part of the mountain is supposed to have been occupied by the chieftains during their sojourn in this strong- bold, and the base by their vassals and subsidiary forces, who during times of invasion came hither with their cattle for security.