LIACHRHYD (LLECHRYD), a parish, in the lower division of the hundred of TROEDYRAUR, union of CARDIGAN and county of
CARDIGAN, SOUTH WALES, 3 miles (S. E.) from Cardigan; containing 397 inhabitants. This place is by some historians
supposed to have been the scene of a sanguinary engagement that took place between Rhys ab Tewdwr, sovereign of South
Wales, and the three sons of Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, who, in a previous insurrection, had compelled that sovereign to seek
refuge in Ireland. Rh$s, returning thence, in 1087, with a powerful army to recover possession of his dominions, landed on
the neighbouring coast, and was met at a place called Llechryd by the sons of Bleddyn, who resolved to give him battle
before his army should be increased by the number of his friends that were hastening to join him; and an obstinate and
severe battle was here fought, in which the sons of Bleddyn were totally defeated, and two of them slain on the field. A
place of this name in Radnorshire has been generally reputed the scene of this engagement, to which opinion Mr. Jones, the
historian of Brecknockshire, has afforded some negative sanction by deriving its name from a stone that may have been
raised there to the memory of Riryd, one of Bleddyn's sons, who fell in the encounter. But there are numerous
circumstances that conspire to give the greater degree of probability to the former opinion, among which, the situation of
Llechrhyd in Cardiganshire, in the direct route of this sovereign's march through his own territories, where he might
reasonably expect the assistance of his friends, in his progress towards the seat of his government at Dynevor, or
Carmarthen, is not the least important. The parish is pleasantly situated on the northern 176 bank of the river Teivy,
which is navigable for small vessels to Llechrhyd bridge, an ancient structure mantled with ivy, and forming a truly
interesting feature in the scenery of the place: it is bounded on the east by the parish of Llandygwydd, and on the west
by that of Llangoedmore; and comprises by computation 636 acres, of which 240 are amble, 16 meadow, 2:30 pasture, and 150
woodland; the whole, except the last, subject to both great and small tithes in kind. The country in every direction is
remarkable for its beautiful scenery, which, perhaps, is not surpassed by that of any other portion of the principality,
and which is much indebted to the picturesque Teivy, a river celebrated for its fine salmon. Coedmore, the seat of the
lord of the manor, is a modern residence delightfully situated, and commanding many fine views, among which is one
embracing the ruins of Kilgerran Castle, in the county of Pembroke. The parish also contains the villages of Llechrhyd and
Llechrhyd Issa; the former on the turnpike-road from Cardigan to NewcastleEmlyn, along which, for the last seven years,
the royal mail has passed and repassed daily from Cardigan, through Newcastle - Emlyn, to Carmarthen. The inhabitants
derive a considerable profit from the drying of salmon; of which great quantities are taken in the river; and many hands
were formerly employed in an extensive manufactory of tin plates, but it has been discontinued for some years, and the
buildings have been demolished, on the site of which Lewes Gayer, Esq., has recently built a set of splendid stables,
ornamented with a high tower, containing a turret-clock. Llechrhyd, though now a parish of itself, was, it is said,
formerly only a chapelry in Llangoedinore; but no record of such connexion can now be traced. The living is a perpetual
curacy, endowed with £1200 royal bounty; net income, £131; joint patrons, T. Lloyd, Esq., Mrs. Lloyd, and C. R. Longcroft,
Esq., the impropriators, whose tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £36. 6., subject to rates, averaging £1. 6.
per annum. The church, dedicated to the Holy Cross, is an ancient edifice, lately much improved through the exertions of
the incumbent, the Rev. James Owen, by whom a subscription was raised for the purpose, to which he himself liberally
contributed; nearly all the sittings are free. There are places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists and Independents;
the latter said to have been originally built by Major Wade, an officer under Oliver Cromwell. There is a day school under
the superintendence of the incumbent, the master of which is paid partly by subscription, and partly by Mrs. Bevan's
charity; about 60 children attend. Two Sunday schools, also, are conducted gratuitously by the dissenters, in each of
which are about 160 males and females.