TALGARTH, a parish, partly in the union of CRICKHOWEL, but chiefly in the union of HAY, partly in the hundred of Talgarth,
in which it comprises the decayed borough of Talgarth and the townships Grwyne Vawr and Grwyne Vechan, and partly in the
hundred of Pencelly, county of BRECKNOCK, NORTH WALES, 9 miles (E. N. E.) from Brecknock; containing 1388 inhabitants, of
whom 673 are in the borough. This place derives its same from its situation in front of the chain of lofty hills called
the Black Mountains, which ere partly included within the limits of the parish. It once comprised three inferior lordships
marcher, called respectively English Talgarth, Welsh Talgarth, and Dinas; the village was anciently a borough and
market-town, and had numerous privileged fairs, which last are all that remain of its former distinctions. The parish is
very extensive, comprising, according to a survey made in 1801, which is quoted by Mr. Jones in his history of
Brecknockshire, not less than ninety thousand one hundred and forty-five acres. The surface is mountainous, and the soil
extremely various, being in some parts fertile and productive, and in others affording only scanty herbage for sheep and
young cattle; and of the annual value of the rateable property, the return amounts to £6557, of which £2295 is for the
borough. The scenery is much varied, but it is characterised more by features of rugged boldness than of picturesque
beauty, even in some parts bordering upon the romantic. Though no longer a market-town, nor retaining any of its municipal
privileges, Tilgarth is, notwithstanding, a large and well-built place, occupying an eminence rising gently from the river
Ening, which is here crossed by a neat stone bridge of one arch, and, after precipitating itself over several successive
ledges of rock, falls into the river Llynvi. There were formerly in the parish many ancient seats, the residences of
genteel families, which, having in course of time been abandoned by their proprietors, have fallen into neglect, and are
now become comparatively insignificant. Among these is Forthaml, noticed by Leland, who derives its name from the
hospitality and affluence of the proprietors, the Vaughans, of whom Sir William Vaughan was first high sheriff of
Brecknockshire; it is now the property of the Earl of Ashburnham, by the marriage of one of his ancestors with the heiress
of that family; part of the embattled wall of the old mansion, and one of the towers, are at present remaining. Tregunter,
an old seat of the Gunters, from whom it derives its name, was originally bestowed by Bernard Newmarch upon Sir Peter
Gunter, in reward for his services, and continued in that family for many years; the estate was subsequently purchased by
the late Thomas Harris, Esq., who erected the present handsome mansion, surrounded by fine grounds, and commanding a
pleasing view of the adjacent country, which is richly wooded, of the lofty bill called Troed, near Tillgarth, and of part
of the range of the Black Mountains. Tredustan, a commodious mansion, was for many years the seat of Selina, Countess of
Huntingdon, and, after her death, was converted into an academy for young men intended for the ministry among her
ladyship's connexion. The seat named the Hermitage is beautifully situated in a retired spot. The village lies within a
mile of the turnpike-road leading from London to Brecknock, through Hay; and the Brecknock and Hay tram-road, in its
course through the parish, passes close to it, from which a new turnpike-road through Tdlgarth forest to Crickhowel and
Abergavenny hasjust been completed, diminishing by three miles the distance between Tilgarth and those two places. The
various bridges in the parish are kept in repair by the inhabitants, with the exception only of Pont-y-T4T, or "the Tower
bridge," over the river Llynvi, in the village, which is repaired by the county: this bridge takes its name from a square
tower, forming at present part of a small farm-house, noticed by Leland, who supposes it to have been the ancient borough
gaol. Fairs, which are numerously attended by dealers from all parts of the country, and at which great numbers of horses
and cattle are sold, are held on February 2nd, March 12th, May 31st, July Oth, September 23rd, November 2nd, and December
3rd. The LIVING is a vicarage, not in charge; - net income, £250; patrons, Dean and Canons of Windsor, to whom, after the
dissolution of the priory of St. John, at Brecknock, the advowson and tithes, which had previously belonged to that
establishment, were granted by Henry VIII. The tithes of the parish have been commuted for £895, which sum is thus
apportioned: out of the hamlets of Trevecca, PwIlywrach, and Forest, £40 are received by the Bishop of Gloucester and
Bristol; out of the same hamlets, those of Grwyne Vawr and Vechan, and the borough of Tilgarth, £590 are derived by the
Dean and Canons, who have also a glebe of 22 acres, valued at £22 per annum, and called Tir-y-Prior, or " the Prior's
land," from having been possessed by the priory; and the vicar receives from the borough, and the hamlets of Grwyne Vawr
and Vechan, £285, subject to rates, averaging £2, with a glebe of 22 acres, valued at £22 per annum. The church, which
stands in the higher part of the village, and from all parts of the surrounding country presents a very respectable
appearance, is dedicated to St. Gwendeline, or Gwenvrewi, and is a spacious and ancient structure, with a handsome square
embattled tower surmounted with turrets: the interior consists of a nave and south aisle, separated by a series of five
obtusely pointed arches, springing from octagonal columns, with plain capitals;  the windows at the east end are in the
later Englishstyle. From the churchyard, which is ornamented with numerous yew-trees, is a delightful prospect over a
richly cultivated tract of country, embracing a great portion of the counties of Hereford and Radnor. The Independents and
Calvinistic Methodists have each two places of worship: one belonging to the former, at Tredustan, has a small endowment,
arising from the sum of £170, raised, as is supposed, by subscription, and secured on a bond of the late Lewis Williams,
of Pentwyn, in the parish of Gwenddwr, bearing interest 4f per cent., and dated January 1st, 1797. TREVECCA HOUSE, in the
hamlet of Trevecca, in this parish, was built by Howel Harris, the friend and disciple of the Rev. George Whitfield, whose
tenets he adopted; and it became the seat of a religious community founded by this gentleman, to whose zeal may be
ascribed the prevalence of Calvinistic doctrines among:, the Protestant dissenters ill Wales. He was born at this place in
1714, and entered as a student at St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, in 1735; but, continuing there only one term, he quited the
university, became immediately an itinerant preacher, and after experiencing considerable persecution, settled in his
native place, where he was 'highly respected, and laid the foundation of a community, similar in some respects to those of
the - Moravian. For this purpose he built the house of Trevecca, and inclosed a sufficient quantity of garden ground and
land, for the accommodation of a large number of inhabitants, whom he invited to invest their property in one general
fund, for the equal benefit of all. A portion of the day was spent in religious exercises at the chapel, in which service
was performed three times in the day, and, during the intervals, the members were employed in cultivating the land
belonging to the institution, the produce of which, after supplying the wants of the immediate locality, was sent to
market, and the money added to the common fund. A woollen manufacture was also carried on by the members, who thus
supplied the adjacent country, and even distant places, with some of the finest flannel made in the principality. The
society flourished greatly, and at one time consisted of a hundred and fifty efficient members, exclusively of children;
but after the death of Mr. Harris, who was both chaplain and treasurer, the number declined considerably, and the
establishment is now rapidly hastening to decay. Mr. Harris, a short time prior to his death, settled the house and
grounds, together with several leasehold farms, in trust for the use of the community, of whom at present only three of
the original members, now more than eighty-eight years of age, survive, and, together with four members admitted after the
death of Mr. Harris, two of whom, both advanced in years, are the only surviving trustees, now constitute the entire
establishment. There have been few applications for admission within the last fifty years, and it is considered that
should the present members become incapable of labour, the trustees have the power to dispose of the property for their
support. The leasehold property has long since fallen in, and there now remams only the house, with about seven acres of
ground. The building is of singular appearance, combining the Grecian, early English, castellated, and Elizabethan styles
of architecture; and being much too large for its proper inmates, it is let in tenements to different families: the chapel
is opened regularly every alternate Sunday for public worship. There are three day schools, in which about 80 children are
taught at the expense of their parents; and four Sunday schools are carried on, one of which contains about 80 males and
females, who attend the Established Church; and in the other three, appertaining to dissenters, are about 440. Walter
Williams, of Neuadd-Viich, bequeathed £10, the interest of which he appropriated to the instruction of one poor boy; and
the parish is also entitled to share in the benefit of the Boughrood charity at St. David's, Brecon, for apprenticing
children, under the liberal endowment of Rice Powell; about three or four being annually so put out from this place. Near
the church are four almshouses, with a garden to each, erected at the expense of John Gunter, Esq., who died in 1689, for
the use of poor persons; they have no endowment, and are kept in repair by the parish. Thomas Harris, Esq., of Tregunter,
bequeathed, in 1782, the interest of £200, for clothing ten men yearly, which is accordingly carried into effect under the
superintendence of Mrs. Madocks, of Tregunter. Thomas Bennet, of Pen-yr-Wrlodd, in 1727, left a house and garden, called
T1, Bach, in this parish, the rent to be distributed among the poor of the district of Trevecca  the house was pulled down
many years since, and the ground pays 10s. per annum, which is divided among widows of the hamlet. Mrs. Sybil Williams, of
Trevithel, bequeathed £20 in money, now secured on Capel-y-Fin, in Llanigon; and Thomas Wathin Probert, .Esq., by deed, in
1663, gave to the poor £10 per annum, charged on estates in Illgarth and Llangorse: both which sums are distributed on
Good Friday. On the Black Mountains are some imperfect Druidical remains, and vestiges of military works of ancient
British origin. On a farm called Pendre, about half a mile from the village, is a very perfect earthwork, forming the
segment of a circle, and extending for about two hundred yards; it appears to have been thrown up to cover the retreat of
the natives to the mountains, or may probably have been an outpost of the fortified station of Dinas, which lies directly
in its rear, at the distance of two miles. This last fortress, once a place of great strength, occupies the summit of a
conical hill, commanding the mountain pass to Crickhowel, and the eastern parts of the Vale of Usk; it was formerly of
great importance, and constituted the head of a lordship marcher, conferring upon its possessor the dignity of a axon of
parliament. It is said by most writers to have been built by one of the lords marcher; but Camden is of opinion that it
had been previously occupied by the Britons, and identifies it with the fortress of Brecenanmere, which was attacked by
Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, and Countess of Mercia, who, after defeating Hwgan, Prince of Brecknodt, here
took his wife with thirty of her attendants prisoners, and sent them into England. According to Leland, in whose time it
was in ruins, Dinas was destroyed by the inhabitants of this part of the principality, during the reign of Henry IV., to
prevent it falling into the hands of Owain Glyndwr. Near the place is a sulphureoue spring, called Dinas Well. Thomas
Harris, who purchased the estate of Tregunter, and was an elder brother of Howel, above noticed, was born in the ,parish;
in early life he 'settled in Laudon, *heave he .riealisedan ample fortune, with which he Retired to .his native plasm. The
eldest of the brothers, jescph, aanierding to a tablet in the ,chutch, -distinguished himself iaty his scientific
seseatohos; the ,held a noepectable situation In the Mint, and was ,the author of se renal astronomical mad mathematical
treatises, .wlAch mere highly appreciated.