CORWEN, a market town and parish in the hundred of EDEYRNION, county of MERIONETH, NORTH WALES, 10 miles (S. by w.) from
Ruthin, and 194 (N. W. by W.) from London, containing 1980 inhabitants. The name of this place signifies " the white
choir." On the invasion of North Wales by Henry H., in 1165, that monarch advanced at the head of his army to the Berwyn
mountains, near this town, where he was met by the combined forces of the Welsh, consisting of the entire power of North
Wales, under the command of Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr; the forces of South Wales, led by the gallant RhSrs
ab Grufydd; those of Powys, by Owain Cyveilioc and the sons of Madoc ab Meredydd; and the men of the country between the
Wye and the Severn, by their two chieftains, the sons of Madoc ab Ednerth. These exerted themselves with so much vigilance
and activity in cutting off the supplies of the English troops, and in harassing them by skirmishes, that Henry, unable to
compete with the resolute spirit of the Welsh and the unfavourableness of the season, deemed it prudent to retire with his
forces, and for a time at least to abandon the project of subjugating the principality. The English monarch took up his
position on the ridge of the Berwyn chain of mountains, and the Welsh occupied a strong intrenchment on the steep
declivity of a hill on the opposite side of the vale. This camp, called Caer Drewyn, was of a circular form, and was
defended by a single wall: there were two entrances, near the north-eastern of which was an oblong square, strengthened
by a ditch and a wall:- within the area were several strong buildings, together with cells in the walls themselves.
Remains of these works are yet visible, consisting of a circle of loose stones, about half a mile in circumference, and
the foundations of the buildings. This strong post is also said to have been occasionally resorted to by Owain Glyndwr,
whose magnificent house on the Dee was situated about four miles from Corwen, on the eastern side of the road to
Llangollen, where part of the moat by which it was encompassed is still visible, being almost the sole relic of that noble
and extensive pile, which was surrounded by every convenience for the exercise of unbounded hospitality: at a short
distance from its site there is a mount of considerable size, supposed to have been the station where a watch was kept.
The town is pleasantly situated on the southern bank of the river Dee, on the great road from London to Holyhead and
Dublin, under a rock at the foot of the Berwyn mountains, and in the rich and beautifully di versified vale of Edeyrnion.
About half a mile to the south-west, on the line of the Holyhead road, the Dee is crossed by a handsome stone bridge of
seven arches, the view from which, both up and down the vale, is exceedingly pleasing, especially upward, where the river
assumes the appearance of a glittering lake, skirted on each side by luxuriant meadows and thick enclosures. Upon the
Berwyn mountain, behind the church, is a place called Glyndwr's Seat, which commands a charming prospect; and from this
spot it is superstitiously reported that Owain threw a dagger, which, falling upon a stone, formed in it an impression of
its whole length, half an inch deep; this stone is now in the south wall of the church. The parish is very extensive,
being eleven miles in length, and from three to four in breadth. There are two weekly markets, on Tuesday and Friday; the
former being principally for corn, which is pitched in the open street. Fairs are held on March 12th, May 24th, July 14th,
October 7th, and December 20th, for the sale of horses, horned cattle, &c. One of the bridewells for the county is
situated at this place, under the care of the constable; but as it is a very small inconvenient structure, prisoners are
only confined in it until they can be conveyed to Dolgelley. The living consists of a sinecure rectory and a vicarage, in
the archdeaconry and diocese of St. Asaph, the former rated in the king's books at £15. 5. 10., and the latter at £7. 1.
3., and both in the patronage of the Bishop of St. Asaph: the tithes of the parish are divided into two equal portions,
which are respectively assigned to the rector and the vicar. The church, dedicated to St. Sulien, is a cruciform
structure, in the Norman style of architecture, with a square tower at the western end. Under an arch on the northern side
of the chancel is the tomb of one of the early vicars, named Iorwerth Sulien, representing, in relief, a human figure
habited in priestly robes, and bearing the following inscription in old characters: —" HIC JACET JORWERTH SULIEN,
VICARIUS DE CORWAEN, ORA PRO E0." In the south wall of the church, on the outside, is the stone before mentioned as
bearing the cross supposed to be the impression of Owain Glyndwr's dagger. In the churchyard stands a curious stone cross,
consisting of a square upright pillar of one entire stone, ornamented at the top, and inserted in a flat circular stone,
which rests upon four or five rude smaller ones. Built in the porch is a rude pointed stone, called Carreg y Big yn y vdch
Rewlyd," the pointed stone in the icy recess," of which it is fabulously related, that every attempt to erect the church
on a different site having failed, the founders were directed by a supernatural power to the spot where this stone stood.
At Rtig there is a private unendowed chapel, supported by G. H. Vaughan, Esq., in which the English service only is
performed. There is a place of worship for Calvinistic Methodists, with a Sunday school attached. A parochial school is
supported by subscription, aided by a bequest of 4 per ann. by a member of the family of Salusbury, formerly owners of the
adjacent domain of Rtig, who have been great benefactors to this place, and one of whom also bequeathed funds for clothing
four boys annually. Situated behind the church is a college or hospital, for the support of six widows of clergymen of the
Church of England, who died possessed of cure of souls in the county, which was built and endowed in 1750, by William
Eyton, Esq., of Pl&s Warren, in the county of Salop. Only two of the houses are now occupied: the inmates, who have each
a good house and garden, receive in addition £20 per annum each. Almshouses for eight poor women were founded by a member
of the family of Salusbury. There are also various pecuniary bequests for the relief of the poor, including one of £400,
by Lumley Salusbury, for clothing eight poor women of this parish, two of Gwyddelwern, and two of Llangar; one of £200,
by Roger Salusbury, for clothing six poor old men and twelve children; one of 4150, by Mrs. Jones, for the benefit of
thirty decayed families; and £75 by Hugh Jones, £50 by William Jones, £20 each by Roger Jones, the Rev. Mr. Humphreys,
and Mrs. Wynne, and 410 by David Jones, for distribution among the poor. Within the limits of the parish is situated the
elegant mansion of Rag, now the property and residence of G. H. Vaughan, Esq., which is memorable in history as the spot
to which Grufydd ab Cynan, King of North Wales, was inveigled by one Muriawn GOch, soon after the decisive victory
obtained by him at Carno, in 1077, which placed him upon the throne; and there betrayed to Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester,
and Hugh Belesme, Earl of Shrewsbury, by whom he was conveyed to the castle of Chester, from which he escaped by
stratagem, after an imprisonment for twelve years. Near it is a well, called St. Sullen's, the water of which is
efficacious in the cure of rheumatic complaints. On one of the Berwyn mountains, called Moel Verma, in this parish, an
urn" of earthenware, containing human bones, and now in the possession of Col. Vaughan, was discovered some years ago. The
average annual expenditure for the maintenance of the poor is £766. COSHESTON, a parish, in the hundred of CASTLEMARTIN,
county of PEMBROKE, SOUTH WALES, 2 miles (N.) from Pembroke, containing 678 inhabitants. The village is beautifully
situated on the southern declivity of a hill, the base of which is washed by an estuary of Milford Haven, navigable for
barges. The living is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of St. David's, rated in the king's books at
411. 12. 11., and in the patronage of Sir John Owen, Bart. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient structure,
in the early style of English architecture, with a low tower surmounted by a spire. The poor children of this parish are
admissible into the National school at Pembroke. John Jones, Esq., M. D., in 1698. bequeathed certain property for
apprenticing poor children, and the relief of the aged and infirm, of the four parishes of Lawrenny, Cosheston, St.
David's, and Lampeter-Velvrey, with a discretionary power to his brother, the Rev. Mr. Jones, as executor, to add other
parishes: of the produce of this charity, Cosheston receives a sum amounting to about £30 per annum, which is
appropriated agreeably to the directions of the testator. The average annual expenditure for the support of the poor
amounts to 4137. 15.