MERTHYR-MAWR, a parish, in the union of BRIDGEND-AND-COWBRIDGE, hundred of OGMORE, county of GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, (W.
S. W.) from Bridgend; containing 147 inhabitants. It is situated on the right bank of the Ogmore, near its mouth, forming
the only portion of the hun-. dyed lying on that side of the river, and a little south of the turnpike-road between
Cardiff and Swansea. A part of the parish to the south is occupied by low barren sand-hills, but it probably takes its
name from a lofty and extensive elevation composing the greater part of it, and at the eastern foot of which, near the
bank of the river, stands its small and pleasant vil- lage, with the church. The manor, together with the castle and
lordship of Talavan, was given by Robert Fitz-Hamon, on dividing the ancient kingdom of Glamorgan among the Norman knights
and others who assisted him in its subjugation, to Sir Richard Syward. Leland says " Martyr Maur, a fair manor place of
stone, stondith on this west ripe, a mile above Ogor mouth:" in his time it belonged to the Near the church is an elegant
modern mansion, surrounded by a. thriving plantation, the seat of the late Sir John Nicholl, Knt., Dean of the Arches, by
whom it was erected. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £800 royal bounty;
present net income, £69; patron, Sir John Nichol'; appropriator, Archdeacon of Llandaf. The church is dedicated to St.
Teilaw. The children of the parish attend a National school in an adjoining one. Mr& Elizabeth Jenkins, previously to
1769, left £5 to the poor,. the interest to be distributed on Christmas-day, but.since 1771, when interest -was paid out.
of the parish rates on a moiety received from the minis. ter, no trace of the charity can be discovered. The river.Ogmore
discharges itself into the Bristol Channel on the southern side of the parish; on its eastern bank are the remains of
Ogmore Castle, an amount of which is inserted in the article on Ewenny. Slight vestiges of an old chapel, commonly styled
Cappel St. Roque, are discernible: