PARTRISHOW, a parish, in the union and hundred of CRICKHOWEL, county of BRECKNOCK, SOUTH WALES, 6 miles (N. E. by E.) from
Crickhowel; containing 71 inhabitants. The present name of this parish is by some supposed to be a corruption of its
original appellation, Parthau yr Ishow, signifying "the parcel or territory of Ishow," the patron saint to whom its church
is dedicated. The late Archdeacon Payne conceived the original name to have been more correctly MerthyrIshow, or ct Ishow
the Martyr," to whom, according to the ancient register of Llandaf, a church was coot' crated here, in the eleventh
century, by BishoR Herewald, under the name of "Methur Yssui The parish is situated in a mountainous district, and is
bounded on the south and east by the river GrwyneVawr, which separates it from the isolated hamlet of Fawyddog, in the
county of Hereford, anti from part of Monmouthshire; on the south and west by the parish of Llanbedr; and on the north
by the hamlet of Grwyne-Vawr, in the parish of Tilgarth. It is in a very retired situation, remote from any public road,
and possessing no facility of intercourse with the places in its vicinity: the surrounding country presents some fine
mountain scenery; the rateable annual value of the parish being returned at .C564. The living is consolidated with the
rectory of Llanbedr: the rectorial tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £57. 10. The church, which is in the
later style of English architecture, and appears to have been rebuilt upon the site of the ancient structure consecrated
by Bishop Herewald, consists of a nave and chancel only; the vaulted roof was of open timber frame-work; but for the
comfort of the congregation has been lately ceiled; the font, which is of great antiquity, is very large, though formed
out of a single block of stone; around the edge is the inscription " In tempore Gynillyn, Meilir me fecit." Cynhyllyn,
son of Hils G6ch, was lord of Ystradwy, now the hundred of Crickhowel, in the reign of Henry I., at the time when the
ancient church was erected. The rood-loft, which is beautifully carved in Irish oak, and traditionally said to be the work
of an Italian artist, is still remaining: it is evidently of the time of Henry VII., and was probably the gift of the
Herbert family, who had property in the parish: at the west end of the nave is a small chapel, with the altar still
remaining, and a small cinquefoiled niche, probably intended for the image of the saint. This chapel has been converted
into a school-room and vestry-room. Mrs. Herbert, widow of the Rev. John Herbert, rector of Llanbedr in 1728, bequeathed
several plots of ground, consisting of about 37 acres of clear land and 12 of wood, partly for the education of girls, and
partly for the relief of poor persons not receiving parochial assistance; two-thirds of the rents to be appropriated to
Llanbedr, and the remaining third to this parish: the estate is now let for £24 per annum, of which £10 are paid for the
instruction of twelve girls in reading, writing, and sewing, and the residue is distributed among deserving housekeepers.
At the bottom of the hill on which the church stands there is a stream called Nant Mair, or " Mary's brook;" and near its
margin is the well of St. Ishow, open in front, but inclosed on three sides by walls, in which were recesses, most
probably intended to receive the offerings presented by the votaries of the saint.