LLANGORSE (LLAN-GORS), a parish, partly in the hundred of PENCELLY, but chiefly in the hundred of TILGARTH, union of
BRECKNOCK and county of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, 6 miles (S. S. E.) from Brecknock containing, with the hamlet of
Llanywern, 897 inhabitants. The name of this parish, signify.. ing literally "the church of the marsh,  or bog," appears
to have been derived from its situation en the low banks of an extensive pool, or lake, from which circumstance this place
is also 'designated, in ancient charters " Mara," and St. nullities on the Meer. This fine sheet of water, catled Ll#n
Savaddan, or, more generally, Llangorse Pool or Mere, is about two miles in length, and one across in the broadest part,
which lies between the churches of LlangastyTilyfikri and Llangorse. Its mean depth is from nine to twelve feet, though in
some places it varies considerably: the deepest part is near the junction of this parish with that of Cathedine, where its
depth is from thirty-five to forty-five feet: the depth of 'the lake diminishes very gradually from the centre towards the
banks, so that flat-bottomed boats only can be used. It receives several tributary streams, whereof the thief is that of
Llynvi, rising about a mile distant, near the ruins of the ancient castle Blaenllynvey, and near the source of which the
lake forms a curve; and this river, of which the name signifies literally having left the lake," takes its course from the
mere in a straight direction to the Wye at Glisbary, *boat eight miles distant, into which it empties itself. An island,
much visited by pleasure parties, is situated in this beautiful piece of water, and wild-fowl frequent its banks,
especially in severe winters, when wild swans else are often seen. It contains pike, perch, roach, and eels, which last
are frequently of enormous size; the pike are sometimes found of thirty or forty lbs. weight, and are considered of
superior flavour; the perch are generally small, five or six together weighing not more than a lb., though some are
occasionally caught weighing three lbs. each, and, when of that size, are esteemed a great delicacy. The contributory
streams have been sometimes so crowded with fish that the inhabitants have taken them out with baskets and sieves, and the
lake is said to be described in old records as consisting of two-thirds water and one-third fish, but the fish having
become comparatively scaroe the six or seven men formerly obtaining a livelihoei here have been reduced to two or three:
leeches, which also were taken in great numbers, have nearly disappeared. The parish, which is separated from those of
Llenvihangel - Tillylln and Llandevai4- Tre'rGraig by the river Llynvi, is intersected by the turnpike-road leading front
Crickhowel through Bwleh to Talgarth; and the tram-road from Brocknock to Hay passes through a part of it. The surrounding
scenery is interestingly diversified, embraeing on the west the majestic elevations, called the " Brecon beacons," and on
the east the lofty range of the black mountains of Tillgarth, which In contrast invest the lake and the adjacent level
grounds with a beautifully picturesque appearance. The lands are nearly equally divided between arable and pasture, and
are in tolerable cultivation; the soil in 47 some parts is gravelly and in others stiff and clayey, and takes its
character chiefly from the decomposition of the red sandstone which is the principal geological formation of the -
neighbourhood: the rateable annual value is £1710, of which X641 is returned 'for the Upper, and £1069 for the Lower,
division of the parish. The only mansion is the His, which appears to have formerly been a place of some importance from
the suitterraneous passages, and she .extensive range of buildings, now demolished. The village is pleasantly situated on
the banks of one of the tributary streams of the lake, and about half a mile eastward of the turnpike-road from Brecknock
to Tillgarth. The living is a eicarar, rated in the kings hooks at £5. 10.; present net income, £170, with a glebe-house:
the tithes were anciently appropriated to the priory of St. John the Evangelist, in Brecknock, upon the dissolution of
which -establishment they were granted by the Crown, together with the avower's' of the living, to the Dean and Canons of
Windsor, under whom they are heidon lease. The church, dedicated to St. Nauss, is an ancient structure, with a tower at
the western end, surmounted by turrets, and containing six musical bells, die floe tone of which has been attributed to
the effect of the large body of water contained in the neighbouring lake; the nave is separated from the aisles by a
series of obtusely pointed arches, supported on octangular columns. There are places of worship for Baptists and
Calvinistic Methodists: about 30 children of both sexes are instructed in a day school at the expense cif their parents;
and there are two Sunday schools, appertaining to the dissenters, in each of which about 80 males and females are taught
gratuitously. Mrs. Elinor Williams, of the Gaer, in 1698, bequeathed the rental of a tenement in Battle, which, in 1745,
was let on lease for ninety-nine years to Morgan Powel, Esq., at a yearly rent of £2. 12., to be appropriated to the
apprenticing of four children, born in or near Llangorse; and this property, which contains above 12 acres, will produce
£14 per annum on the termination of the lease. John Dilwyn, of the parish, in 1484, left £20, directing the interest to he
distributed among the poor; and Walter Lewis, of Liengasty-Tillyin, in 1680, charged the tenements of Caepella and
Worglodd Cil-y-111, in the parish of Cathedine, with the annual payment of twenty shillings; but neither of these legacies
is now paid. Mrs. Williams, of the Geer, in 1745, bequeathed £40, secured on the Brecknock turnpike trust, and now
producing £2 per annum, which, together with the interest of £80 invested in the funds, is given to the poor. An ancient
tenement in the parish, called Cwrt-yPrior, was the occasional residence of the priors of the monastery of St. John the
Evangelist, in Brecknook. The monks of Llantoriy appear also to have held lands in the parish; for, according to an early
document, it appears that, in 1324, Hugh de Turberville granted them the tenements called 64 Cevn" and " Celliau," "at the
town of the mere or lake of Breconium, situate on the side between the land of the Lord of the mere, and the lands of
Roger the Fisherman, and on the other side next to the road or highway leading to Breconium, in pure and perpetual alms."
After the dissolution, the tithes of these tenements were some time paid to the appropriators and vicar of the parish; but
one of the Earls of Oxford having claimed an exemption under the grant of Hubert de Turberville, and the Dean and Canons
of Windsor not thinking it proper to bring the question to issue, the tenements have ever since continued to be tithe-
free.