CADOXTON, or LLAN-CATWG, a parish, in the hundred of NEATH, county of GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, 1 mile (N.) from Neath,
comprising the hamlets of Blaenhonddan, Coed-frank, Dyfryn-Clydach, Lower Dylas, Upper Dylas, Neath-Genol (or Middle),
Lower Neath, Upper Neath, and Ynisymond, each of which separately maintains its own poor, and containing 4536
inhabitants. This extensive parish, which derives its name from St. Catwg, to whom the church is dedicated, is beautifully
situated on the north-western bank of the river Neath, along which it extends for a distance of fifteen miles, from its
entrance into the county at Pont Neath Vaughan to its influx into the sea below Briton Ferry. It is not less distinguished
for its mineral wealth, valuable manufactures, and extensive public works, than for richness and variety of scenery, and
the number and elegance of the gentlemen's seats with which it abounds, exclusively of the highly respectable residences
of the proprietors of the different works, or their agents. Numerous collieries, besides iron and copper works on a large
scale, are carried on within its limits, affording employment to a considerable proportion of the inhabitants. The Neath
canal, and the Swansea and Neath junction canal, which unites with the former by means of a handsome stone aqueduct at the
village of Dylas, afford every facility for the conveyance of the produce of the mines, and of the various extensive works
in the parish, to the shipping-places at Briton Ferry and Swansea: the latter canal is the private property of George
Tennant, Esq., of Cadoxton Lodge. Rheola, the seat of John Edwards Vaughan, Esq., is a splendid modern mansion, occupying
a delightful situation on the banks of the Neath, and commanding a view of the most admired scenery in the beautiful vale
through which that river flows. Dyfryn, the seat of the ancient family of Williams, whose pedigree in the church is
noticed below, is situated at the base of a precipitous mountain, near the road leading to Llandilo-Vawr: the family
having become extinct in the male line, the property has descended to two females. Cadoxton Lodge, the summer residence of
George Tennant, Esq.; Cadoxton Place, the seat of William Powell, Esq.; Court Herbert, the property of the Rev. Mr.
Gronow; and Aberpergwm, an ancient seat belonging to William Williams, Esq., are also among the principal residences
which are profusely scattered throughout this extensive and highly picturesque portion of the county. The living is a
vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaf, rated in the king's books at £ 5.11.10i., endowed with £200 royal
bounty, and £800 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of Capel Hanbury Leigh, Esq. The church is a spacious edifice,
but not remarkable for any architectural features: it contains several handsome mural tablets, of which two are
commemorative of the ancient family of Williams of Dyfryn, one inscribed with a curious acrostic on Mrs. Rose Williams,
who died March 24th, 1680, and the other containing the entire pedigree of the family, from Iestyn ab Gwrgan, the last
native prince of Glamorgan, in the reign of William Rufus, engraved on several sheets of copper, and concluding with
Philip Williams, Esq., who died in 1717. There are two chapels of ease, called Crynant and Aberpergwm chapels. There are
various places of worship for dissenters in the parish. The abbey of Neath, a magnificent structure, was founded about the
year 1111, by Richard de Granville (who assisted Fitz-Hamon in his conquest of Glamorgan-shire), for Grey friars, who were
afterwards superseded by monks of the Cistercian order. In this monastery Edward of Carnarvon, after his escape from
Caerphilly castle, took refuge, and remained for some time in security; but the house being threatened with a siege, he
was induced to retire, under the conduct of one of the monks, in the hope of reaching his partisans: in this attempt he
was, however, frustrated by the treachery of his guide, by whom he was betrayed at Llantrisaint castle. Leland describes
this house " as the fairest Abbey in all Wales," and the present remains still afford interesting specimens of ancient
ecclesiastical architecture. It is situated on the western bank of the river Neath, about a mile from the town of that
name, and appears to have been the work of successive periods, and a pile of very great extent, stretching far beyond its
present limits. The ruins present a venerable and interesting appearance, but their beauty is greatly disfigured by the
smoke of the various works which have been erected near the site: the white stone, from Sutton near Margam in this
county, of which the cornices and other ornamental parts are constructed, is perfectly free from the ivy and other
parasitical plants by which other portions of the structure are covered. The walls of the Priory house are still in
tolerable preservation, and the hall, the refectory, and some of the apirtments, may be traced: the remains of the chapel
and of the chapter-house are also considerable, and the ruins convey a striking and impressive idea of the grandeur and
extent of this once magnificent pile: the revenue at the dissolution was £150. 4. 9. On the summit of the lDrymmeu
mountain, to the north of Neath abbey, was formerly a kistvaen, five feet long and four feet wide, in which, on its being
opened a few years since, were found a heap of bones, and an ancient celt, very much corroded, which is now in the
possession of Mrs. Williams, of Dyfryn, to whom, under the late enclosure act, this portion of the waste land was
allotted. To the east of this mountain, and just above the village of Dylas, is the Long Mountain, over which is carried
the Via Helena, commonly called the Sam Helen: this ancient road diverges from the Strata Julia Maritima, and crosses the
river Neath a little above the present bridge, where it enters the parish; and, taking a north-eastern direction across
the mountain towards Crynant, enters the county of Brecknock. The average annual expenditure of the whole of this parish,
for the support of the poor, amounts to £1603. 16.