LLANSPYTHID, or LLANSPYDDID (LLAN-SPYDDYD), a parish, comprising the hamlets of Llanspythid, (or the "Church Hamlet")
Modldd, and Penpont, in the hundred of DaVyNOCK, anion and county of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES; and containing 983
inhabitants, of which number 212 are in the hamlet of Llanspythid, 2 miles (W.) from Brecknock. The name of this place,
originally " Llan-y-Spitty," of which its modern appellation is said to be a corruption, is derived from an ancient
hospitium, formerly supported here by the priory of Malvern, in the oonnty of Worcester, to which establishment Milo Fitz-
Walter panted the manor and advowson. The parish is bounded on the north by the river Usk, over which are three bridges,
situated respectively at Aberbrin, Abercamfais, and Penpont: of these, the first was built and is kept in repair at the
joint expense of the hundreds of Devynock and Merthyr-Cynog, and the other two, which are private property, are re0 paired
by the proprietors of the lands in which they are situated. In the lower part, the parish is intersected by the
turnpike,road between Brecknock and Carmarthen, from which, near the farmer town, a branch leads through the upper part of
it to MerthyrTydvil. The annual value of the rateable property in the whole of the parish is £3692, of which £1525 is the
return for the hamlet of Llanspythid. The village is beautifully situated on the south bank of the river, ecabosomed in a
luxuriant grove of stately trees; the surrounding scenery is highly picturesque, and the views over the Vale of Usk and
the adjacent country are rich in every variety of romantic beauty. From the village towards Aberbriin the vale is
exceedingly narrow; but the view of the river below Venni-Vfich wood, with the richly wooded heights that inclose the
vale, is beautifully picturesque, to which the church of Aberyscir forms a pleasing addition. Beyond Aberbrfin the river
expands considerably; and it is seen winding its devious course through the fine grounds of Penpont, a seat in the hamlet
of that name, which is noticed under its own head, and in which it forms an interesting and highly ornamental feature.
Abercainlais, a good residence; and the remains of Aberbrin, the ancient seat of the Williams' family, are also in the
same hamlet; and all three are within two miles of each other, on the south bank of the Usk. Cevn Pare, another house, is
situated in the parish, on a gentle eminence, commanding a delightful view of the vale below, and extending over the town
of Brecknock. The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's books at X& 17. 8/1.; and the tithes of the whole
parish have been commuted for a rent-charge of £417, of which, with the exception of £55, payable to the archdeacon of
Brecon out of the commutation for the hamlet of Penpont, two-thirds belong to the Marquess Camden, who is patron and
impropriator, and one-third to the vicar, who has also a glebe of four acres, valued at £6 per annum: the commutation for
Llanspythid or Church Hamlet amounts to £200. The church, dedicated to St. Cattwc, and situated near the high road, is a
long low building, consisting of a nave and chancel, with a small belfry at the west end: the churchyard is planted with
yew trees, several of which have attained a prodigious growth, but are now beginning to decay; one of these, which are
considered to be some of the finest in the county, is twenty-seven feet in girth: in the cemetery was formerly an ancient
stone, inscribed with a rude cross, said to have commemorate Brychan, Prince of Brycheiniog, or his father. The vicarage-
house, to which about five acres of glebe land are attached, is a very indifferent building, situated in the village. In
the hamlet of Penpont is a chapel called Bettws; and there are places of worship for Baptists and Calvinistic Methodists,
the latter of which is in the hamlet of Modr'dd. A few children are instructed in a day school at the expense of their
parents; and there are two Sunday schools, one of which is supported by subscription; and in the other some males sad
females are taught gratuitously by Baptists. Mr. Tobias Williams, in 1063, left a rent-charge of £2. 12. on the lands of
Modrkdd to be distributed in bread to poor widows; Mrs. Catherine Games, in 1721, bequeathed the sum of £260, since laid
out in the purchase of land, the produce to be given in bread, in equal portions, to the poor of the parishes of
Llanspythid and St. David's, and of the ehapelry of St. Mary's; and a poor woman from this place eligible to form one of
the twelve sisters in the hospital founded by the same benevolent lady at Limvaes, in the parish of St. David's, Brecon.
On a hill above Aberbria are the remains of a small encampment, termed the Gaer, apparently of Britishoeigin; it is
nearly of an oval form, and is defended by a single rampart: this fortification, which crowns the summit of the hill,
commands a magnificent view of the Vale of Usk, with the windings of the river, en the opposite bank of which, and
immediately in front of the Geer, is another eminence, crowned with a similar intrenoliment. In the vale, near the influx
of a small rivulet into the Usk, near Penpont, was a castle, built by Einon Says, a Welsh chieftain who attended Edward
III. in most of his wars, and was present at the _memo. rable battles of Creasy and. Poictiers: this castle afterwards
descended to Sir David Gam, but not a vestige of it is now distinguishable. At some dietance to the south-west, at a place
called Blaengwithid, are traces of the " Sam Lleon," a Roman road, originally extending from the station Dana (Chester) to
Nidum (Neath); but after passing an artificial mound, supposed to have been the site of an exploratory station, and
subsequently of a fort, or keep, probably constructed in the reign of John, by Maud de St. Valeri, wife of William de
Breos, it is lost in its course into the Vale of Usk, where it crossed the Via Julia Montana from Caerlleon, by the "
Geer," near Brecknock, to Maridunum.