NANTMEL (NANT-MAEL), a parish, in the union and hundred of RHAIADR, county of RADNOR, SOUTH WALES, 6 miles (E. 8. E.) trom
Rhaiadr; containing 1345 inhabitants. This parish is pleasantly situated on the small river Dulas; and the turnpike-road
from Rhaiadr to New Radnor passes through it. It extends for nearly eight miles in length and five in breadth, and is
computed to comprise about 20,000 acres, being the largest in the county, next to Old Radnor; it is divided into four
townships or hamlets; namely, Coedglasen, Gwasteclyn Vawr, Macs Gwyn, and Vainor; and is bounded by the parishes of
Rhaiadr, Llanwrthwl, Cwm-Toyddwr, Llanyre, Llanvihangel-Helygen, Llanbadarn - Vawr, Llandewi - Ystradenny, Abbey Cwm Hir,
and St. Harmon. The surface is rather billy, and the sides of the bills formerly exhibited large groves of oak, now almost
entirely out down, and the stumps removed for firing; it comprehends a large tract of good arable and pasture land, of
which by far the greater portion is inclosed and cultivated; but about a third part consists of two commons, on one of
which, called Rhuslh, is a fine sheet of water, named Geln, or White Lake, one mile in circumference, and in some parts
three fathoms deep, which abounds with carp and eels. On the west, the parish is separated from that of Llanwrthwl by the
river Wye, the largest in South Wales, which here also divides the counties of Radnor and Brecon; and the vale through
which the river Dales, and the road from New Radnor to Rhaiadr pass, is on one side finely wooded and pleasingly
picturesque. The soil is various, being partly composed of a strong white and blue clay. Llwynbarried, Dolldordlod, the
seat of the celebrated James Watt, and another named Pen-y-Lanole, are in the parish, in which also is the manor of
Cantrev-Melienydd, now vested in the crown, but formerly the property of the Mortimers, Earls of Maroh, who possessed it
until the time of Henry VI., when Edmund, the last of the family, died, at which period it devolved on his brother-in-law
Richard, Earl of Cambridge, upon whose attainder it reverted to the crown. The living is a vicarage, with Llanyre annexed,
rated in the -Icing's books at £11. 17. 6.; present net income, £350; and there is a glebe-house, with 15 acres of land
attached; patron, Bishop of St. David's; impropriators, Precentor and Chapter of St. David's. The church, dedicated to
St. Cynllo, and situated under a steep bank above the turnpike-road, was rebuilt in the year 1792, and is a neat edifice,
consisting of a nave and chancel, with an embattled tower, which forms an interesting object from several points of view.
There are places of worship for Baptists at Dolau, and for Independents at Cwrtgwn. About 27 children are instructed in
two day schools at the expense of their parents; and there is a day and Sunday school, containing 35 children daily and
25 on Sunday, supported partly by subscriptions amounting to £10 per annum, and partly by payments from the parents; also
a Sunday school, in which 15 males -and females are gratuitously taught by Baptists. A farm in the parish, called
Penfynnon, is charged with the annual payment of £5, under the will of Hugh Philips, in 1712; a rent-charge of £2, on
Coedglasen, was bequeathed by John Davis, in 1718; and Evan Hope, in 1812, granted by will a charge of £1 on the Tat
Newydd estate; all which sums, amounting to £8, are distributed on the Friday before the 3rd of December, among the poor.
Two of the largest carneddau in the county are situated here, one occupying the summit of Owastedyn, and the other that of
Camlo bill.