LLANWDDYN, or LLANOUDDYN (LLAN-OWDDYN), a parish, in the union and upper division of the hundred of LLANVYLLIN, county of
MONTGOMERY, NORTH WALES, 12 miles (W. by N.) from Llanvyllin; containing 593 inhabitants. This place, which formerly
constituted a chapelry, dependent on the adjacent parish of Llanrhaiadr-ynMochnant, is said to derive its name from a
giant named Wddin, or Owddyn, who was born here; and on the neighbouring hills is a spot called Gwely Wddin, or " the bed
of Wddin," where he is supposed to have resided; but other accounts, with more probability, describe Wddin to have been an
anchoret, who had a cell among the rocks here, in which he lived in seclusion and retirement. It is affirmed, on the
authority of an absurd local tradition, that immense treasures are concealed in this place, and that all attempts to
discover them have been frustrated by incessant storms. The path of Wddin, when he went to visit St. Monacella, whose cell
was at Pennant Melange], on the other side of the mountain, five miles distant, is still pointed out, and called by his
name. The vale in which the village is situated is about five miles in length, and varies from half a mile to a mile in
breadth; it is frequently covered with water during the winter months, but, if drained, would be one of the most
picturesque and fertile in this part of the principality. The village occupies a pleasant site near the river Owddyn, a
tributary of the Vyrnwy, and nearly at the north-western extremity of the county, in a sequestered spot sheltered by
mountains on both sides. Within the parish are two slate quarries, one at Gallt Vorgan, near Rhiw Argor, which has been
worked for some years; the other at Lluestwen, about two miles south-westward from the village, that was opened in 1830:
the quantity of slates raised is very inconsiderable, and though the mines are capable of producing a vast amount, must
necessarily remain so till better roads are made for conveying the produce to the surrounding districts. Attempts to
procure lead-ore have been repeatedly made at Cynon Isilv and other places, but without sufficient success to remunerate
the adventurers. Fairs are annually held in the village on May 8th and October 2nd, principally for cattle and horses. The
rateable annual value of the parish has been returned at £1885. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £400 royal
bounty, and £1000 parliamentary grant; net income, £100, with a glebe-house; patron, Earl of Powis. The tithes of the
parish belong to the Earl, and to the Dean and Chapter of St. Asaph, with the exception of those of the township of
Garthbwlch, which are appropriated to the rector and vicar of Llansantfraid-yn-Mechan; and they have been commuted for a
rent-charge of £227. 17., of which a sum of £164 is payable to his lordship, £62. 17. to the Dean and Chapter, and £1 to
the parish-clerk. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is an ancient structure that formerly belonged to the
Knights Hospitallers: in the churchyard are some remarkably fine yew trees. There are three Sunday schools, appertaining
respectively to Independents, and Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists, in which 350 males and females are taught
gratuitously. Mr. David Humphreys, in 1721, bequeathed £30; Ellis Davies, the elder, £15, in 1809; and Ellis Davies, the
younger, £10 a few years since, to the poor; the interest of which sum is annually distributed according to the will of
the testators; besides which, an unknown donor gave £5, to be divided among the psalm-singers of the parish.