MERTHYR-CYNOG, a parish, comprising the hamlets of Upper-Dyfryn-Honddu, Lower-Dyfryn-Honddu, Yscir-Vawr, and Yscir-
Vechan, in the hundred of MERTHYR-CYNOG, union of BRECKNOCK and county of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, 8 miles (N. N. W.) from
Brecknock; containing 815 inhabitants. The name, signifying " Cynog the Martyr," is derived from the erection of a church
to the honour of Cy-nog, son of Brychan Brycheiniog, who is said to have been murdered on a mountain called the Van, in
this parish, towards the close of the fifth century, and to have been canonized after his death. The parish is situated
principally between the rivers Yscir and Honddii, by the former of which it is intersected on the west, and by the latter
on the east, and is traversed on the same side by the turnpike-road leading from Brecknock to Builth. The surface is
chiefly mountainous, though occasionally alternated with valleys and low grounds, comprising a portion of arable land,
and, towards the sides of the rivers, some rich meadows, affording excellent pasturage. The prevailing scenery is
strikingly varied, and in many parts beautifully picturesque: the winding Vale of the Honddii abounds with features of
pleasing character, and with objects of romantic appearance. Near the chapel of Llanvihangel-Vechan, the Vaenol is
prominently conspicuous, rising almost precipitously in the vale to a very considerable height, and crowned near to its
summit with a pleasing cottage; on the left is a beautiful knoll, luxuriantly wooded, towards the top of which, on the
right, is a projecting rock, from the fissures of which grows a yew-tree, adding a romantic character to the landscape.
Beyond the rich woods near Castle Madoc, the remainder of the vale is chiefly amble, but is agreeably softened by a few
verdant meadows near the margin of tbe river. At the extremity of the dell named €wm Login commences a range of mountains,
that constitute more than one-half of the parish, extending on one side to the boundary of the hundred of Tdlgarth, and on
the north to the hundred of Builth. Along this whole tract there is scarcely a house, except at the head of the river
Honddfi, where are a few small cottages, called " Pentre Blaen-D61-Honddh." The right of common forms a very important
object to the occupiers of small farms on the hills, who, raising little more corn than what is sufficient for the supply
of their families, depend greatly on the rearing of their flocks. The village is situated in a cheerless mountain dell,
accessible only by a dreary road along a high ridge between deep dingles, watered by two branches of the river Yscir, over
which is a neat bridge of one arch, designated Pontvaen. Of the annual value of the rateable property in the parish the
return is £3862. The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's books at £7. 10. 5., and endowed with £400 royal
bounty, and £800 parliamentary grant; present net income, £90; impropriators, Marquess Camden and John Lloyd Vaughan
Watkins, Esq., the latter of whom is patron; the impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of "fA10. The
tithes and advowson were given byMilo Fitz-Walter, Earl of Gloucester, to the priory of Malvern, after the dissolution of
which establishment they de volved to the crown and were sold in the reign of James I. In 1646, they were the property of
Sir Francis Few, a zealous loyalist, and were, on that account, perhaps, sequestered by the parliament, who ordered an
annual payment to be made out of the rectorial tithes of £50 to the vicar of Merthyr-Cynog; £40 to the officiating
minister of Llanvihangel. Nant-Briin; £40 to the minister of Llandilo-Vawr; and £10 to the minister of Dyfryn Honda
chapel; all which places were then comprehended within, or considered to be dependent upon, this parish: at the
Restoration the property reverted to the rightful owner, and the grants made by the parliament became void. Of the several
places above-named, the chapel of Dyfryn Hontidb alone remains within the limits of the parish. The church, dedicated to
St. Cynog, is a neat ancient structure, with a square tower at the west end: the churchyard is surrounded with stately
trees,. of which only two or three are yews. There are places of worship for Indepen. dents and Welsh Calvinistic
Methodists. In the hamlet of Upper Dyfryn Honddil is a Sunday school, in which 100 males and females are instructed
gratuitously by the Independents, books being supplied by subscription; and there is also a Welsh Sunday school for the
hamlets of Yscir-Vawr and Yscir-Vechan, which contains about 110 males and females. Edward Gwyn, of Pant-y-Cored, in 1760,
charged a tenement called ailwydd with the annual payment of £2 to the poor, to be distributed on the 20th of December. On
the bank of the Honddfi is a small farm, designated Mynachtk, which name is derived &omits having been the residence of
the monks of Malvern, for the purpose of superintending their possessions in this parish, and of transacting the business
relating to them: at the east end of the building is astone, about fire feet long, marked with a rude cross, the head of
which is inscribed within a circle; and in the porch is another of the same sise and character, having the head of the
cross within a square: they are both considered as relics of the fifth or sixth century. A hill in the parish, styled
Alltarnog, bean distinct marks of a British encampment, of elliptical form, and about two hundred yardsn circuit,
originally defended on the north by three ramparts, and on the south inaccessible from its precipitous. declivity; it is
supposed to have been occupied by the deseendants.of Maenarch, prior to the erection of their mansion in the Vale of
Honda.