NEVERN, a parish, in the union of CARDIGAN, hundred of KEMMES, county of PEMBROKE, SOUTH. WALES, 2 miles (E. N. E.) from
Newport, and 8 (S. W. by W.) from Cardigan, the post-town; containing 1625 inhabitants. 'Phis place derives its name from
the river Nevern, so called from the Welsh Niver, " a number," on account of its being formed by the union of numerous
rivulets that intersect the parish, and flow together in one considerable stream into St. George's Channel. Martin de
Tours, a Norman knight, who, having attended William the Conqueror, was rewarded for his service by a grant of territory
on the coast of Devonshire, embarked an expedition for the invasion of such part8 of the principality as be might find
most easily assailable, landed his troops at Fishguard, and made himself master of the lordship of Kemmes. For the
protection of his newly acquired territory, which became one of the lordships marcher, he either erected a fortress at
this place, or strengthened one previously built, which be made his residence, and which descended to his son William,
who, having strengthened his interest by marrying the daughter of Rh's ab Grufydd, abandoned this seat of his father,
called Llanhyvor Castle, of which there are some remains on a hill above the church, for one that he had built on a more
magnificent scale at Newport. The parish, which is very large, extending from the sea to the foot of the Percelly
mountains, is situated on the shore of Cardigan bay, in a beautifully diversified and fertile district, and comprehends
some of the most picturesque and romantic sceoery in the county of Pembroke, being intersected by a deep wooded dingle,
through which flows the Nevem, the banks of which are occasionally formed into rocks of fantastic character, while in the
lower part, near Newport bay, stands the village: the prospects from the higher grounds are also pleasing and extensive.
The high road from Newport to Cardigan passes near it, and by far the greater portion of the parish is inclosed and
cultivated. The coast is generally bold and in some parts precipitous, with a good depth of water close to the shore. The
rateable annual value has been returned at £4788. 2. 6. There were formerly several ancient mansions, inhabited by some of
the most opulent families in the county; but, with very few exceptions, they have been abandoned by their proprietors, and
are at present in the occupation of tenants. Llwyngwair is an elegant mansion, pleasantly situated on the margin of the
river Nevern, and nearly within a mile of its mouth; and among the other seats are Burry, Cwmgloyn, and HenIlya, the last
once the residence of the ancient lords of Kemmes, and of that distinguished antiquary and scholar George Owen, lord of
Kemmes, in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. The living is a discharged vicarage, with Kilgwyn annexed, rated in the
king's books at £8, and in the patronage of the Crown; present net income, £174, with a glebe-house: the impropriation
belongs to Mrs. Atwood. The advowson, which was once appendant to the lordship of Kemmes, was alienated by deed, bearing
date 1347, to Bishop Hoton, who appropriated it to his new college of St. Mary at St. David's, from which, on the
suppression of religious houses, it reverted to the Crown. The church is said to have been originally founded in the sixth
century, by St. Brynach, or Byrnach, to whom it is dedicated, and rebuilt by some of the Normin lords of Kemmes: the
present is an ancient and venerable structure, in the Norman style of architecture. In the churchyard, to the south of the
porch, is the shaft of an ancient British cross, elaborately wrought, and bearing an inscription near the centre, which is
almost obliterated: it consists of a single stone, thirteen feet high, two feet broad, and eight feet thick, with a
circular top charged with a cross, and carved on all sides with other crosses, and knots of various shapes. On the north
side of the churchyard was another stone, six feet high, with the inscription 66 vrramiant EMERITI," but this has been for
some time removed. In the chapelry of Kilgwyn, in the parish, is a chapel of ease, dedicated to St. Mary; and there are
places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists. A. day school affords instruction to 40 children
at their parents' expense; about 50 children daily, and 80 on Sundays, are taught in a school, maintained by the Trustees
of Mrs. Bevan's charity; and there are three Sunday schools, gratuitously conducted, and containing 290 males and
females. Mr. William Rogers, of Kensington, bequeathed £800 in the three per cents. to the poor, the dividends arising
from which, amounting to £24 per annum, are annually distributed in barley and beef on the 21st of December, in shares of
between two and three gallons of barley and two and three pounds of bee£ Near Pentre Evan, in the parish, are the remains
of one of the largest cromlechs in the principality: the table stone is eighteen feet in length and nine feet wide, and
is supported on three coarse upright stones, from seven to eight feet high: it is considered not to be surpassed in size
and height by any other Druidical monument in Wales or England, except Stonehenge and Abury.