MOTHVEY (MYDDFAI), a parish, comprising the Upper and Lower divisions, in the union of LLANDOVERY, higher division of the
hundred of PERVETH, county of CARMARTHEN, SOUTH WALES, 3 miles (S.) from Llandovery; containing 1073 inhabitants, of
which number 476 are in the Upper, and 597 in the Lower, division. This parish is situated on the turnpike-road leading
from Llandilo, through Llangadock to Llandovery, and is watered by the rivers Towy, Rhythan, Gwytherig, Ydw, Clydach,
Brim, and 'Usk, which last is said to have its source among the Black Mountains, a short way beyond its limits. The
surface is boldly undulated, and in some parts hilly and even mountainous; the lands, with the exception of a considerable
portion of rocky and sterile ground, are inclosed and in a high state of cultivation, those in the lower grounds being
extremely fertile, and consisting of many well-wooded inclosures; and the scenery, which is strikingly diversified, is
characterised by features of picturesque beauty and romantic grandeur. The luxuriant richness of the vales is finely
contrasted with the rugged barrenness of the mountains; and the numerous rivers that flow through the lower grounds add
greatly to the beauty of the scenery, which is further enlivened by the several gentlemen's seats scattered over the
parish. Kilgwjn is an elegant and spacious mansion, beautifully situated on the banks of the river Ydw, and comprehending
within the grounds, which are tastefully laid out, a rich variety of interesting scenery: Llwynywormwood is also a
handsome residence, pleasantly situated higher up on the same stream, and commanding some interesting prospects: and
DOlgarreg is another seat on the bank of the river Towy, and surrounded with some rich and beautiful lands and ornamented
plantations. A small woollen manufacture is carried on; and there are two king's mills in the parish, Kilgw3hi and Brith,
each of which pays a chief-rent of £2 to the lord of the manor, to whom also is paid a fee of ten shillings on the
marriage of every freeholder, in lieu of the feudal custom of a first night's lodging with the bride: a fair is held in
the village on the 18th of June. The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's books at £6. 6. 8., and endowed
with £200 royal bounty; present net income, £1 1 5: the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £419. 14., of
which £280 are payable to the Bishop of St. David's, the patron, subject to rates that average £32. 10., and £139. 14.,
subject to rates, averaging £16. 5., to the incumbent, who has likewise a glebe of about 5 acres, valued at £10 per annum,
with a house. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, from which circumstance the parish is sometimes called Llanvihangel
Myddfai," is an ancient structure, situated in a vale at the foot of the mountainous district in the eastern part of the
parish, but the exterior is not distinguished by any architectural details of importance. It is, however, adorned with
many handsome monuments and tablets; the pillars by which the roof is supported in the middle are light, lofty, and
graceful; and few churches in the country surpass it as to the beauty and elegance of its interior: in the chancel is a
stone to the memory of Dr. Morgan Owen, who was buried here; he was promoted to the see of Llandaf in 1639, and died in
1644. In the churchyard are, an ancient yew-tree, twenty-five feet, and a sycamore, fifty-four feet, in girth. There was
once a chapel of ease at Dal Hywel, which is now in ruins. From the parish register, which was formerly kept in the Latin
language, it appears that, during the usurpation of Cromwell, all the marriages at this place were solemnized by John
Powell, Esq. There are two places of worship for Independents, and one for Calvinistic Methodists. A day school, in which
are about 60 children, is partly supported by payments from the parents, but principally by subscriptions; and there are
three Sunday schools gratuitously conducted, one of which, containing 50 males and females, is in connexion with the
Established Church; and in the other two, respectively belonging to the Calvinistic Methodists and Independents, are about
60. Dr. Owen, Bishop of Llandaf, bequeathed £10 per annum in 1644, payable out of the tithes of Llanegwad, for the relief
of poor persons not receiving parochial aid: after some litigation the sum of £238. 18. 5. was awarded by a decree of the
court of Chancery, in 1709, as arrears due to the parish; which sum is now invested, in the name of the churchwardens, in
the Old South Sea annuities; and the dividends, amounting to £7. 3. 4. per annum, are distributed every third year, and
the original rent-charge of £10 twice a year among the poor, who also receive the interest of £200, in the three per cent.
consolidated bank annuities, arising from a bequest of John Josiah Holford, Esq., of Kilgwjrn. Some interesting remains,
supposed to be of British and Saxon origin, are said to have been found on a farm called Pen-okyn by the late Mr. Holford,
just mentioned; and in the year 1807, thirty small silver coins were discovered near the ruins of Doi Hywel chapel. In a
field not far from the vicarage-house, designated Monks' Field, are two tumuli. In the mountainous district is Craig Cwm
Clyd, a rock nearly sixty yards in perpendicular height. During the thirteenth century this place was much frequented by
physicians, among whom was Rhiwallon, who, in conjunction with his three sons, while residing here, distinguished himself
by a manuscript treatise on the practice of physic, which is preserved among the Welsh manuscripts in the library of the
Welsh charity school in London. Tradition affirms that his descendants continued to follow the practice of medicine in the
parish till within the memory of persons living at the beginning of the present century.