LLANSANTFRAID-IN-ELVEL (LLANSANT-FFRAID-IN-ELFAEL), a parish, is the union of BUILTH, hundred of COLWYN, county of RADNOR, SOUTH WALES, 5 miles (N. E. by E.) from Builth; containing 313 inhabitants. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church, is pleasantly situated on the turnpike-road from Buil', through New Radnor, to Kington in the county of Hereford; and is bounded on the north by Bettws, on the south by Aberedw, Lianvareth, and Caregrioa, on the south-east by Girls-comb, and on the west by Disserth. It comprises by computation 4000 acres, of which 500 are arable, 2000 meadow and pasture, with some wood, and 1500 common land; the surface is boldly undulated; and the hills present a singular, and, in some instances, a fantastic, variety of form and aspect. The lauds, with the exception of the more hilly parts, are inclosed and in good cultivation: the soil in the lower grounds is of a clayey nature, but not unproductive; and the acclivities of the hills afford pasturage for sheep. The surrounding scenery, though in some parts pleasingly varied, is distinguished rather by features of wildness than of beauty; mountains of various elevation, interspersed with fertile tracts of land and denuded eminences, meet the eye almost on every side; and in some situations the views are fine, particularly where enriched by plantations of fir and oak. The river Edwy, which joins the Wye about four miles telow Builth, separates the parish from Glascomb. Within less than a mile westward of the church is a neat house, pleasantly situated, and forming a good object in the scenery of the place. The village is on an eminence, and commands a fine prospect of the Vale of Edwy. The parish constitutes a prebend in the collegiate church of Brecknook, valued in the king's books at £6. 14. 9i.; patron, Bishop of St. David's: the viearial tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £198, subject to rates, averaging £16 per annum; and the incumbent has recently erected a handsome house, almost 'adjoining the church, which has much improved the appearance of the neighbourhood. The church is a small ancient edifice, consisting of a nave and chancel, with a tower at the west end, the upper part of which, having fallen, has been replaced by a slanting roof; it contains about two hundred sittings, of which 'fifty are free: the churchyard, which contains some fine old yew trees, has a very picturesque appearance, and commands a good view of the surrounding mountains. Two Sunday schools, one in connexion with the Established Church, the other appertaining to dissenters, and each containing about 20 males and females, are supported by subscription. An estate called Forest Colwyn, which is partly in this parish, and partly in that of Caregrina, adjoining, forms part of the endowment of the Boughrood charity, for the apprenticing of poor children and other charitable uses; and this place is one of the sixteen that participate in that munificent charity; one, and sometimes two children from it having been apprenticed annually with, premiums af £6 each. Hugh Evans, in 1720, bequeathed a rent-charge of £2 to be paid at Midsummer and Christmas, and distributed among such poor as receive no parochial relief; and a small rent-charge of £1, derived from an unknown donor, for decayed housekeepers, has been lost. There are but slight vestiges of Colwyn Castle, erected here in 1242, by Ralph Mortimer, on the site of an encampment supposed to have been of British origin, for the protection of his newly acquired lordship of Maelienydd, from which fortress the circumjacent hundred derived its name: they consist chiefly of the ancient lines of defence, and of a mound, now covered with under-wood and fir trees. A barrow near the site of the fortress, on being opened a few years ago, was found to contain a rude urn with burnt bones, &c. Near a stream in the parish, called Camnant-Rh6s, which is tributary to the river Edwy, is a mineral spring, of which the water is strongly impregnated with sulphur.