LLANGYNIDER (LLAN-GYNIDR), a parish, composed of the hamlets of Dyfryn and Vro, in the union and hundred of CRICKHOWEL, county of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, 4 miles (N. W.) from Crickhowel; containing 2775 inhabitants, of which number 2233 are in the hamlet of Dyfryn. This place derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Cynyd, or Cynydr, who lived in religious seclusion in Glamorgan, in the sixth century, and in commemoration of whom a festival was annually celebrated here, on the 1st of August. In ancient records it is frequently called 44 Llan-Gynyd- Eglwys-Yail," from the Yail, a small stream that passed near the church; and " Llan-Gynyd-EglwysVesey," from an old chapel, of which the ruins were formerly visible on the bank of the Crawnon, about two miles from the village. The parish, which extends from the southern bank of the Usk to the confines of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, is bounded on the north by that river, which separates it from the parish of Llanvihangel-Cwm-D5; on the southwest by the river Romney, which divides it from the parish of Gellygaer, in the county. of Glamorgan; on the south by the parish of Bedwelty, in the shire of Monmouth; and on the west by the parish of Llanthetty: and comprises 13,992 acres by recent adineasurement, of which about 8000 are mountain land affording pasturage to large flocks of sheep, and the remainder inclosed arable and pasture, with some wood. The adjacent country is finely varied, and in many parts beautifully picturesque; and the view of the mountains by which the parish is surrounded is strikingly beautiful: among these, the lofty conical mountain called the Sugar Loaf, on the border and within the county of Monmouth, and the Irvol, or Hirvoel, commonly called Durvoel, in the adjoining parish of Llanthetty, partly clothed with larch trees of stately growth, are prominent and interesting feetures. The soil is light and inclining in some parts to gravel, and in others well adapted for wheat and barley, the latter of which is of superior quality: of the rateable annual value of the whole parish, the return made amounts to £2888, of which the por. tion for the hamlet of Dyfryn is £1446, and for that of Vro, £1442. The parish abounds with iron-ore, coal, and limestone; and on the river Romney are some iron-works, which are conducted by the Bute Iron Company, and give employment to between 300 and 400 men; but the ore is supposed to be nearly expended. In the mountain district bordering on the counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan, and from six to nine miles distant from the parish church, a vast increase of population has taken place, occasioned by the residence of miners and colliers belonging to the works situated in the adjoining parishes. The Brecknock and Abergavenny canal, extending from Pontymoel, near Pontypool, in Monmouthshire, to Brecknock, traverses the parish, and on its banks a wharf has been constructed for lime and coal; and the tram-road, commonly called the Trivel Road, communicating with the canal at Tilybont, in the parish of Llanthetty, passes along the Trivel mountain in this parish, which is also traversed by the turnpike-road leading from Llangattock to Brecknock. Fairs are annually held in the village, by prescriptive right, on April 20th, October 7th, December 1st, and the Wednesday before Christmas day. The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £13. 14. 7.; present net income, £418; patron, Duke of Beaufort. The church, a plain small efli. Tice, situated in the hamlet of Vro, consists of a small nave and chancel, and Contains about 240'sittings, bf which a considerable number is free: the parsonage-house was erected at the expense of the Rev. William Davies, incumbent. There areplaces of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. About 115 children of both sexes are instructed in four day schools at the expense of their parents; a Sunday school is attached to the church; and a small working school for girls, under the superintendence of the clergyman's lady, is supported by voluntary contributions: there are also five Sunday schools appertaining to the dissenters, and affording gratuitous instruction to nearly 120 males and females. Mrs. Frances Griffiths, in 1761, left £10 in money, the interest of which is annually, on Easter-eve, divided among the poor not receiving parochial relief; and Miss Sarah Prytherch, in 1787, bequeathed £8 per annual, payable out of a farm in the parish, to be distributed on the first of January, by the minister and churchwardens. It is believed that a Roman 'lanai road from Caerphilly to Bedwelty, and thence over Bedwelty common, upon which are manifest and unequivocal traces of a causeway, leading through the mines of Bryn Oer to Llanvrynach, in the Vale of Usk, passed along the high ridge of the Trivel Ddil mountain, in the parish. On this mountain, some years ago, was found a celt, which was in the possession of the late Archdeacon Payne. Near the source of the river Romney is a ford called Rhd- y-Milwyr, or "the soldiers' ford," but from what circumstance it ob. tained that appellation is altogether unknown. On the Trivel Gins mountain is a large natural cavern, termed Stab! Vawr, or " the great stable," above which is a large heap of stones, most probably raised as a beacon, as, upon examination, no sepulchral deposits was found beneath it, denoting it a cairn. Tradition points out the site of an ancient castle near the high road from this place to Brecknock; but nothing of its history is recorded, and probably it was only a lodge for the residence of a forester under the lords of Tre 'r Twr castle.