LLANWRTYD (LLAN-WRTYD), a parish, in the union of LLANDOVERY, hundred of BUILTH, county of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, 12
miles (N. E. by E.) from Llandovery; comprising the hamlets of Clawddmadoc and Llchwether, and containing 638
inhabitants. The river Irvon, (which falls into the Wye at Builth), runs through the centre of the parish, which is
intersected by no less than four smaller streams, that discharge themselves into the principal river within its
boundaries. These are the Cerdin, Cledan, Cledwiail, and Henog, which in their several courses to the Irvon add greatly to
the picturesque beauty of the vale of the same name, which abounds with scenery of pleasing and diversified character,
though other parts of the parish are barren and mountainous, especially the portion bordering on Carmarthenshire. The
parish is distinguished for the efficacy of a mineral spring, discovered close to the river Irvon, by the Rev. Theophilus
Evans, vicar of Llangammarch, in 1732, since which time it has been, during the summer season, a place of resort for
respectable families. This spring, called Llanwrtyd Wells, and, from the foetid odour of its waters, in Welsh " Fyinion
Ddrewllyd," flows over a rich bed of sulphur, with which it is strongly impregnated, partaking also of a chalybeate
nature, and containing a small portion of marine salt. The water is a specific remedy in all scorbutic and cutaneous
diseases, relaxation of the fibres of the stomach, and in chronic distempers, and is considered by many skilful chemists,
who have analyzed it, to be inferior to none of the kind in Europe. Doll-Coed, about one mile below. Dines, and formerly
the seat of the family of Jones, a spacious and pleasantly situated mansion, is always open for the accommodation of
families frequenting the wells; the grounds attached to it afford every opportunity of exercise, and the surrounding
scenery is greatly admired for its romantic beauty. Considerable additions have been made to this during the last year,
and suitable accommodation for visiters have been made, who are boarded on moderate terms. The village, which is
pleasantly situated on the banks of the Irvon, derives an air of cheerful activity from the resort of visiters, and has
been greatly improved since the efficacy of its mineral water has been established. The manufacture of woollen cloth is
carried on through all its processes, from the introduction of the raw material to its completion for the market, is a
large factory that affords employment to some of the inhabitants. The parish is intersected by the road from Builth to
Llandovery; its rateable annual value is returned at £1810. The living is annexed to the vicarage of Llangammarch: the
church, dedicated to St. David, is not distinguished by any architectural features. There are places of worship for
Independents and Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. A parochial free school was founded by Mrs. Margaret Jones, of Great Queen-
street, London, a native of the parish, who, in 1783, bequeathed £300 four per cents., now producing £10. 10. per annual,
for its endowment: the school, which is held in the vestry-room, is under the superintendence of trustees, of whom the
incumbent for the time being is always one; it contains about fifty children in winter and twenty in summer, and in
addition to the above dividends, the master receives Xt3 per annum for keeping the parochial accounts. There are two
Sunday schools, appertaining respectively to Calvinistic Methodists and Independents, and affording gratuitous instruction
to two hundred and ninety persons. The same Mrs. Jones bequeathed also the interest of £200, at four per cent., for
clothing and feeding the poor; and £50, the interest to be spent in a feast on the 1st of November, for the trustees.
Dines, an ancient seat of the family of Lloyd, and now in the occupation of a farmer, IS situated at a, short distance
from the church, upon an eminence embracing an extensive and richly varied prospect: immediately on the north, and almost
adjoining the house, is a precipitous and beautiful knoll, completely clothed with wood, commanding a fine view of the
Vale of Irvon, on each side of which the country for two or three miles is richly wooded. The proprietor of Dines has
erected a handsome mansion in the parish of St. David's, Brecknock, to which he has transferred the name of the original
seat, and which was completed for his residence in 18/26.