LLANYCIL (LLAN-Y-CIL), a parish, comprising the market-town of Bala, in the union of BALA, hundred of PENLLYN, county of MERIONETH, NORTH. WALES, the church being situated 1 mile (S. W.) from Bala, on the road to Dolgelley; and containing, with that town, 2465 inhabitants, but exclusively of the town, 1210. The name of " this place, signifying the church in the retreat," is probably denved from its retired situation in a sequestered part of the county, embosomed in hills, and nearly surrounded by mountains. The parish extends in length nearly nine miles from Bala lake, in a north- westerly direction, and is about four miles in breadth, from north-east to south-west. With the exception of that part adjacent to the lake, in which the town of Bala is situated, the surface is generally hilly, and the soil indifferent, consisting chiefly of clay and turbary; but below the town are some fine luxuriant meadows, forming a rich and pleasing vale watered by the river Dee, and its first tributary, the Treweryn, the latter issuing from a small pool of that name in the upper part of the parish, and the former having its source immediately above the lake, through which it flows; the Treweryn, after pursuing a rapid though devious course through the vale, unites with the river Dee previously to its leaving the parish. The chief produce is oats and barley, with a little wheat; and the wood comprehends oak, ash, and sycamore, and some young plantations of fir. The mountains, called respectively Arenig Vawr and Arenig Vich, at the bases of which are pools abounding with excellent trout, are within the limits of the parish; they exhibit some volcanic remains, and indications of lava are discernible in many parts of them. Peat, which constitutes the principal fuel, is procured in several parts of the parish. A large part of the land belongs to Jesus' College, Oxford, and the remainder principally to Sir W. W. Wynne, who is lord of the manor. The village is beautifully situated on the north-western side of Bala lake, commanding a fine prospect over that extensive sheet of water, and some pleasing and highly picturesque views of the surrounding country, and of the lofty mountains in the distance. The knitting of stockings is carried on to a very considerable extent, affording employment to many of the inhabitants; and fairs are held in the village on June 3rd, September 11th, and October 2nd. The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £9. 4. 41. present net income, £252, with a glebe-house; patron, Bishop of St. Asaph: the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £319, subject to rates, averaging £52, and there is a glebe of five acres, valued at £7 per annum. The church, dedicated to St. Beano, an ancient structure, in the early style of English architecture, underwent a thorough repair in 1828, when it was enlarged by the addition of a gallery at the west end; it contains 250 sittings, of which about 50 are free; among several good monuments are some to the families of Lloyd and Anwyl, formerly rectors of the parish: in the churchyard are eight fine yew trees of venerable growth. There is a chapel of ease in the town of Bala; and the Independents and Calvinistic Methodists have each places of worship. A day school in the town, containing 75 boys, is partly supported by endowment, for which 90 are instructed and clothed, the rest being paid for by their parents; the master receives a salary of £40 from the Principal and Fellows of Jesus' College, together with £6 arising from the rent of a dwelling-house and garden, and LI2 from a field of three acres, attached to the endowment; and the college keeps the premises in repair and appoints the master. In another school about 15 boys and 40 girls are taught at their parents' expense. There are also seven Sunday schools, conducted by gratuitous teachers; six of which, containing 515 males and 435 females, appertain to Calvinistic Methodists, and the others are connected with Independents, and consist of 60 males and 80 females; these numbers include most of the children attending the day schools, besides many adults. Mrs. Margaret Price left £100, directing the interest to be applied to the clothing of five men and seven women; and William Price, in 1774, be- queathed £100 for clothing people of both sexes, and £100 for bread to the poor: about £7. 6.8. in clothing, and £3. 18. in bread, the produce of these charities, are at Christmas distributed among the poor; as are £3. 7. 6. the produce of Hugh Jones' charity at Corwen, and £7, that of Evan Jones' in or about April. Elinor Williams, in 1752, gave £40, the interest to be divided annually among eight poor persons; and Edward Meyrick, in 1712, bequeathed a rent-charge of £15 for clothing thirty boys of North Wales, and a charge of the same amount, the use of a house, and three acres of land, to a schoolmaster at this place, for the gratuitous instruction of children.