LLANYWERN (LLAN-Y-WERN), a parish, in the hundred of PENCELLY, anion and coup of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, &I miles (S.)
from Brecknock; containing 115 inhabitants. The name of this place, properly Llan-y-Gwern, signifying "the church of the
alder grove," appears to have been derived from the situation of the village in a tract of moist ground, favourable to the
growth of those trees, for the number and luxuriance of which the neighbourhood was distinguished. The lands and tithes of
the parish, with a manorial right, were, by charter of Bernard Newmarch, bestowed upon the monks of the priory of St.
John, at Brecknock, and subsequently confirmed to them by two successive charters of Roger, Earl of Hereford. To this
circumstance is attributable the name of Monkton, by which it is designated in several ancient deeds; and also the names
of some estates within its limits, of which one, called Waun-y-Mynacii, or " Monks' meadow," became the property of David
Lloyd, Esq. By a charter of Henry I., granted in 1127 to the abbey of Battle, in the county of Sussex, of which the priory
of St. John was a cell, the inhabitants of this place still claim the privilege of exemption from the payment of toils
throughout the kingdom. On the dissolution of the priory, the appropriated estates became vested in the crown, and were
sold tithe-free to various individuals, who, voluntarily subscribing to the support of a minister, acquired the right of
nomination to the living. The parish, which is of small extent, is bounded on the north by the parish of Llanvillo, on the
south by that of Llanhamllkh, on the east by that of Llanviliangel-TillyllS,n, and on the west by Brecknock; the land,
the soil of which is loamy, is divided between arable and pasture, with a portion of wood, and produces wheat, barley,
oats, and hay: the population is exclusively agricultural; and of the rateable annual value, the return amounts only to
£723. The village, which appears to have been formerly of greater extent than at present, is situated within a quarter of
a mile to the left of the turnpike-road leading from Brecknock, through Llanvihangel-Tily4n, to Tilgarth; and the
surrounding country, though not distinguished by any striking peculiarity of features, is characterised by the pleasingly
varied scenery that prevails generally in this part of the principality. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with
£800 royal bounty; net income, £81: the Bishop of St. David's presented on the two last vacancies, previously to which the
advowson was understood to belong to the freeholders within the parish, who contribute £4. 10. per annum towards the
stipend of the incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a small ancient edifice, appropriately accommodated to the
use of the parishioners, but possessing no architectural details of importance: through the exertions of the curate it has
been lately celled, flagged, and pewed, and a free place erected in it. Mr. Watkin Prees, in 1781, bequeathed a rent-
charge of ten shillings upon a field named Cleo Penyglan, which is annually distributed on Good Friday among the poor. At
the north-western exremity of the common called Waun-y-Geivr, now inclosed, are the remains of a small cromlech.