NEATH-GENOL, or MIDDLE, or GANOL (NEDDGENOL), a township, in the parish of CADOXTON, union and hundred of NEATH, county of
GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, 10 miles (N. n.) from Neath;  con taining 262 inhabitants. This township is finely situated in the
richly fertile and highly picturesque Vale of Neath; the surrounding scenery is beautifully diversified, and from the
higher grounds are some interesting views. The Neath canal terminates within its limits, and a short rail-road proceeds
thence to the coal-pits in the neighbourhood: the roads from Brecknock and Merthyr-Tydvil to Neath unite here, the line
then proceeding along the vale between the canal and the right bank of the river. Aberpergwm, the ancient seat of the
family of Williams, is a fine old mansion, situated in grounds tastefully disposed, and comprehending much pleasing
scenery. Oliver Cromwell, who was in some degree related to the ancestor of the present proprietor, is said to have halted
at this place on his way to Milford Haven (where he was going to embark for Ireland), and to have despatched messengers to
acquaint the family with his arrival, and to demand their, good offices in forwarding his expedition, informing them at
the same time of the degree of affinity which subsisted between them; but receiving no encouragement from the family, who
were zealously attached to the royal cause, he fired a few shots over the mansion by way of intimidation, and departed
without offering any further violence. This account, which has hitherto been supported by tradition only, derives
corroborative testimony from the discovery of some cannon balls, on turning up the ground near the house, in the year
1831. In the grounds of the mansion stands a chapel of ease to the parochial church; and there is a day school, containing
about 35 children, which is partly supported 6y payments from the children, but principally by W. Williams, Esq. On a hill
above the house are traces of the Via Julia Montana, or Roman road leading from Brecknock to Nidum (Neath). Near the side
of this road was a stone with a Roman inscription, which Mr. Llwyd, in his communications for Bishop Gibson's edition of
Camden, reads Marci Caritins filii Berid: it has been removed, and is now placed in a grotto within the grounds of Gnoll
Castle. On the same eminence, and near the site of the above stone, are two barrows surrounded by circular intrenchments.
In the township is also the seat of John Edwards Vaughan, Esq., a splendid mansion, situated in a beautifully picturesque
portion of the vale, of which it commands an interesting view, and surrounded with thriving and luxuriant plantations.
Among the various features of natural beauty by which the scenery of the vale is distinguished, are the frequent cascades
formed by the collected waters after excessive rains upon the mountains, which are precipitated thence into the valley.