MAESMYNIS (MAES-MYNYS), a parish, in the union and hundred of BUILTH, county of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, l j mile (S. W.)
from Builth; containing 252 inhabitants. This parish is situated in the northern part of the county, between the rivers
Irvon and Dihonwy, by the latter of which it is separated from the parish of Llanddewi'r-Cwm; it is divided from Llanynis
by a rivulet called the Cniddon, which flows into the Irvon; and is intersected by the turnpike-roads from Builth to
Brecknock and Llandovery, that unite within a mile of the church. It is bounded on the north by Llanynis, on the east by
Builth, on the south-east by Llanddewi'r-Cwro, on the south by Llangynog and Merthyr-Cynog, and on the west by
Llangammarch; and contains by computation 5770 acres, of which about 2509 are amble, 501 meadow and pasture, 400 woodland,
&c., 5 garden, and 2355 waste, mountain, common, &c.: the soil is generally light and barren, but produces good wheat,
barley, oats, and peas; and live stock is also reared: of timber, the prevailing sorts are oak, ash, and wych, with
birch, alder, and thorns; and there areplantations of fir. The surface is extremely uneven, rising into hills of
considerable elevation, part of the Eppynt range, alternated with deep and narrow valleys, of which one termed Cwmbwch,
from the river Bwch, by which it is intersected, and another of greater extent, through which the Dihonwy takes its
course, are finely ornamented with flourishing plantations, and in other parts almost covered with underwood. Near the
rivulet Cniddon is an extensive wood, named Gilvich Ddedwydd, on the southern side of which the parish church forms an
interesting feature in the highly picturesque scenery that distinguishes this part of the parish: in a field adjoining
this wood, stood, not many years since, a large stone, or rather some petrified gravel, of an oblong shape, about eight
feet high, and from four and a half to five feet long, on each side, called Maen Dewi, or St. David's stone; it was
broken up by the proprietor, but there are fragments still remaining. On the river Dihonwy, which flows nearly through the
whole length of the parish, are two corn grist-mills; and on the Irvon is a flannel manufactory, employing about ten
persons, near which is a small village designated Nant-yrArian, or the Money brook. The rateable annual value of the
parish has been returned at £1175. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £7. 1. 3.; present net
income, £128; patron, Bishop of St. David's: there are 6 acres of glebe land, and a commodious house, about 200 yards
from the churchyard, erected by the late incumbent, the Rev. Thomas Bowen, on the site of a former rectory-house, built in
1694. The church, dedicated to St. David, and situated on an eminence, is an ancient structure, with the remains only of a
tower, that appears to have been in ruins for ages: within the walls, which are not more than seven or eight feet above
the ground, an old ash tree had obtained a considerable growth, from the roots of which three young trees are now growing.
The interior of the church consists of a nave and chancel, recently celled, and is in length about seventy-five feet, and
in breadth about twenty: the ancient roof of the chancel was of oak panelled in compartments, each of which was
ornamented with the device of two lions seiant, and beneath them the legend "Nor is this," in old characters; but these
panels have been removed: near the entrance is a font rudely sculptured. There is meeting-house for Independents; and
about 30 males and females are gratuitously taught by that denomination in a Sunday school. A tenement named Tir Twppa, in
Llanynis, is charged with the annual payment of twenty shillings to the poor of this place; and the rental of a tenement
in the same parish, called Pen-y-Rhiw, and now producing £15 per annum, is divided among the poor of both parishes. The
shaft of an ancient stone cross, beautifully sculptured, and a great curiosity, has been inserted in the wall of a farm-
house, designated Neuadd Siarmon; it is said to have been removed from Porth-y-Crwys, in Llanynis.