TREVGARN (GREAT), a parish, in the union of HAVERFORDWEST, hundred of RHOS, county of PEMBROKE, SOUTH WALES, 5 miles (N.)
from Haverfordwest; containing 100 inhabitants. The parish is bounded on the east by Spittal and part of St. Dogmael's,
south and west by Camrhos, and north by Ha castle; and is intersected by a stream designated Nant-y-Coy, and from north to
south by the Western Cleddy river, up the valley of which, and through the village, passes the turnpike-road from
Haverfordwest to Fishguard. It is computed to contain 1200 acres, including that part of it termed Little Trevgarn, lying
east of the Cleddy; 700 acres are arable, 400 pasture, and 100 woodland, chiefly oak; and the rateable annual value is
£290. 10. The surface is generally hilly, with a southern inclination, so as to command extensive views over the south-
western part of Pembrokeshire, embracing St. Bride's Bay and Milford Haven. Of the cultivated portion, consisting of a
very good soil, the principal produce is oats, barley, and wheat; but the north-western part is composed chiefly of the
Trevgarn and Leweston mountains, which form an elevated, heathy, and barren tract, unfit for tillage. Trevgarn Hall,
situated a little to the west of the village, is a modern seat, erected in 1824 by the late proprietor, Dr. Evans, and
commanding a fine and extensive view over the district of Rhos. The most remarkable natural feature of the surface, is
that from which the name of the parish is derived, signifying " the town of the rock," and which consists of three
separate piles of rocks, of striking aspect, rising perpendicularly and abruptly to a considerable height from the ride of
the moor, and presenting the appearance of ruined castles, an idea that seems confirmed to the eye by their being situated
so as to command the narrow pass of the mountain through which the Western Cleddy here flows, and which, on the opposite
eastern side, exhibits a fine grove, feathering down to the water's edge. They are of the transition formation,
containing, it is said, valuable veins, and are situated about 500 yards from each other, the whole chain running west and
east, and continued on the eastern side of the river Cleddy, in Little Trevgarn. The western or most elevated, called "
Polegarn," viewed from the south-east, assumes the appearance of a huge dismantled tower, and is visible from the most
distant parts of the count; and on a nearer approach is found to consist of disrupted masses, covered with lichens of the
most varied and vivid colours. The second pile, termed " Picket-Barn," exhibits the most irregular and grotesque forms,
displaying from the south the aspect of a vast dilapidated castle, while from the east it presents among its outlines the
figures of two huge lions couchant. On the northern side of this stupendous group, and detached from the great mass, is a
very large equilateral and triangular stone, twenty-one feet long and five deep, supported by a few points of its base on
a cubical block of about seven feet six inches square, the whole suggesting some artificial means for its erection. The
third group rises in fearful grandeur from the brink of the Cleddy, and is intersected by the new Fishguard road, offering
to artists from its colour, form, and composition, studies for striking and effective display; it has been surrounded by
a ditch and rampart, a part of which is still remaining. Doubts are entertained whether these are of Roman or British
structure. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £1. 13. 9.; present net income, BO, with a
glebe-house adjacent to the church, of ample and convenient form, built in 1832 by the incumbent; patron, John Evans,
Esq., who is lord of the manor, and proprietor of the whole parish. The church, a plain but neat edifice, measures,
including the chancel, about sixty feet in length, and eighteen in breadth; all the sittings are free. The old road to
Fishguard passed over the hill, through the village of Trevgarn, where a tradition prevails that it was was once the seat
of Cambrian royalty;	receives which re some countenance from the circumstance, that in 1798, on pulling down some
buildings, used as a barn and out offices, the massive walls were found to be built upon circular arches almost buried in
the earth, and these were supported on some rude stone columns: on digging up the floor of the subterrapeons pile, a
quantity of coins and silver and gold trinkets were discovered and secreted by the persons employed. Some old encampments
were formerly traceable in different parts, but their defences have been levelled.