LLANGASTY-TALYLLN (LLANGASTY-TAL-Y-LLIN), a parish, in the hundred of PENCELLY, union of BRECKNOCK and county of
BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, 5 miles (E. S. E.) from Brecknock; containing 163 inhabitants. The name of this parish is derived
from the dedication of its church to St. Gasty, or Gastayn, an eminent British saint, who flourished in the fifth century,
and is said to have been preceptor to Cynog, son of Brychan, who was murdered on the Van mountain, in the parish of
Merthyr-Cynog; and its distinguishing adjunct is descriptive of its situation in front of the beautiful lake called
Savaddan,. on the banks of which the church is agreeably placed. The manor was granted by Bernard Newmarch to Reginald
Walbeoffe, and, after successively passing to the several families of Williams, Parry, and Davies, was, with the exception
of the advowson of the living, sold by the last to Philip Champion Crespigny,., from whom it passed to his descendant,
Charles Fox Champion Crespigny, Esq., and has recently been purchased by the present proprietor, Major James Price Gwynne
Holford, of Buckland. The surface of the parish, which comprises by computation about one thousand five hundred and forty
acres, is partly hilly, and partly flat: the only river is the small stream of the Llynvi, but within the parish is
included a considerable portion of Llyn Savaddan. From the summit of a long dorsal eminence, called Gallt yr Esgair,
partly in this parish, and partly in that of Llansantfraid, and which, from the imperfect remains of fortifications still
visible, appears to have been occupied as a military post, is obtained a most magnificent prospect, which though less
extensive than that from the Beacons, is infinitely more pleas-. ing, and combines a richer variety of beautiful features.
On the south it embraces the picturesque Vale of Usk, with the frequent windings of the river, of which the banks are
richly clothed with verdure; on the west the town of Brecknock, with the adjacent country, skirted in the distance by
Bwlch Aberbriln; on the north the mansions and grounds of Pont-y-Wall and Trephilip, and the country about Tillgarth, with
the Radnorshire hills in the back ground; and at the foot of the eminence is the beautiful lake of Savaddan, or Llangorse
Mere, on the banks of which arethe church and village of Llangorse, the church of Cathedine, the church of Llangasty-
Titlyqn, and the picturesque ruins of Blaenllyvni Castle, and at the distance of rather more than half a mile from the
western extremity of the lake is the beautiful village of Llanvihangel-Tdly11j-n. The soil is generally light and
gravelly, except near the margin of the lake, where it is rather wet and heavy. The high road from London to Brecknock,
through Crickhowel, passes close by the southwestern extremity of the parish; the rateable annual value of which has been
teturned at £1611. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £1. 18. 9.; patron, Rev. Richard
Davies: the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £260, and there is a glebe of six acres. The church is a dark,
ancient, and decayed edifice, with a tower of more modern erection, containing four bells, beautifully situated on the
margin of the lake; the interior is particularly well pew ed, and the steps leading to the old rood-loft are still
remaining. A day school of 25, and a Sunday school of 30, children of both sexes, commenced in l830, are supported by the
rector.