KENVIG-LOWER (CEVN-Y-VIGYN), a parish, joint with Pyle, comprising the greater portion of the borough of Kenvig, in the
hundred of NEWCASTLE, county of GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, 114 miles (S. S. E.) from Neath, and containing, exclusively of
Pyle, 276 inhabitants. This place, which is of considerable antiquity, derives its name from its situation on a ridge of
ground above a bog. It was anciently of much greater importance, having formed part of the great lordship of Glamorgan,
and passed by right of conquest, with the other possessions of Iestyn ab Gwrgan, the last native prince of Glamorgan, to
the posterity of Fitz-Hamon, the Norman invader, in the reign of William Rufus, who, on partitioning the conquered
territory among the knights that accompanied him in the expedition, reserved to himself this lordship and castle; and the
town, under his descendants and their successors, in creased in importance, and was invested with valuable corporate
privileges. In the reign of Edward II., these immunities were increased through the influence of this monarch's favourite,
the younger Spencer, who obtained for it, in common with other towns in his lordship of Glamorgan, a new charter from the
crown. The castle, town, and lordship of Kenvig, about the middle of the fourteenth century, formed part of the dower of
the widow of Hugh le Despencer, on her marriage with Guy de Brien. The charter endowing this place with municipal
privileges was confirmed by Thomas le Despencer, lord of Glamorgan, in 1360, and renewed by his son Edward, in 1396, and
by his daughter Isabel, in 14.23. The decay of the old town, castle, and church are ascribed to an overwhelming inundation
of the sea, which took place about the middle of the sixteenth century, and covered with sand an extensive tract in the
neighbourhood of the coast. From the desolating effect of this calamitous event the town has never since recovered, and
now forms only a small straggling and insignificant village, near the open coast of the Bristol channel. Kenvig contains
about seven hundred and fifty acres of enclosed land, and eight hundred acres of waste, which latter are principally
composed of sandbanks and rabbit warrens, of about twelve miles in extent, from Skeir rocks to Briton-Ferry. These sand'
banks, subsequently to the inundation, have been planted with the arando arenaria, in order to bind them; and, on taking
a farm on the adjoining moor, the tenant usually covenants in his lease to give annually the labour of a day or more, in
proportion to the extent of his farm, for planting it. The bog referred to in the etymology of the name of this place has,
from time immemorial, formed a lake, which is nearly two miles in circumference, and, though situated close to the sea-
shore, and encompassed with sand, never imbibes any muriatic properties. Prior to the desolation caused by the furious
encroachment of the sea, the road from Cardiff to Swansea and Carmarthen passed through the town; but it was subsequently
diverted through Pyle, and now passes at the distance of about a mile and a half to the north of it. The borough still
retains its municipal privileges, and is governed by a portreeve, recorder, and aldermen, of whom the portreeve is
annually chosen from among the in-dwelling, or resident burgesses, subject to the approbation of the constable of the
castle. It comprises within its jurisdiction the whole of Lower Kenvig, and the whole of the hamlet of Higher Kenvig,
and part of that of Triasient, the two last being in the adjoining parish of Margam; it also forms a lordship of itself,
with a superior manorial jurisdiction over North Cornelly, South Cornelly, and Scarveur. The borough is one of the most
ancient in Wales, and, prior to the passing of the late act for amending the representation of the people, was
contributory with Cardiff, Aberavon, Cow-bridge, Llantrissent, Loughor, Neath, and Swansea, in the return of a member to
parliament; the right of election being in the burgesses at large, in number two hundred and thirty, of whom fifty-seven
are resident. It is now contributory with Swansea, Aberavon, Lough-or, and Neath, which have been raised into an
independent district, returning one member: the right of election is vested in the resident burgesses, if duly registered
according to the provisions of the act, and in every male person of full age occupying, either as owner or as tenant under
the same landlord, a house or other premises of the annual value of not less than ten pounds, provided he be capable of
registering as the act directs: the number of tenements of this value, within the limits of the borough, which have not
been altered by the late Boundary Act, is twenty-six, of which seventeen are in Lower Kenvig, seven in Higher Kenvig, and
two in Trissient: the portreeve of Swansea is the returning officer. The only indisputable claim to the freedom of the
borough, under its ancient municipal regulation, is by birth for all the sons of a freeman, born after his admission. The
town-hall, of which the lower part has been converted into a public-house, was built, about the commencement of the
present century, at an expense of £400. Two fairs were formerly held here annually; the first commenced on Whit-Tuesday,
and the second on the eve of St. James the Apostle, and each continued eight days. The living is a discharged vicarage,
with that of Pyle consolidated, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaf, rated in the king's books at £4. 8. 114.,
endowed with £800 royal bounty, and 800 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the King, as Prince of Wales. The
ancient church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, was, about the commencement of the thirteenth century, confirmed and
granted, with its appurtenances, to the abbey of Margam, by Henry, Bishop of Llandaf, on the petition of Walter, abbot of
Tewkesbury. Of the castle, there are no other remains than part of one of the towers, rising to the height of about twelve
feet above the sand, beneath which the remainder is buried, and some vestiges of the moat which surrounded it. About three
hundred yards to the south of it were the ancient church and cemetery, where human bones are frequently exposed to the
view by the drifting of the sands. The Roman Via Julia Manama is supposed to have taken its course by this place, between
which and the village of Margam there is an inscribed stone, about five feet in height and one in diameter, on which are
the words Pompeius Carantorius. On the south-east side of this parish is a large extra-parochial farm, called Skeir, the
boundary line between which and Kenvig, having been covered with sand by the storm above-noticed, a commission was held
for ascertaining it, pursuant to an act obtained in 1554, relating to the destruction caused by the sea sand in
Glamorganshire. The average annual expenditure for the maintenance of the poor is £96. 10.