Welsh Journals

Search over 450 titles and 1.2 million pages

LLOYD OF CILCIFFETH Major Francis Jones, C.V.O., T.D., D.L., M.A., F.S.A. Wales Herald of Arms Extraordinary In this essay I shall discuss families that lived in the remote area of the Gwaun valley in north Pembrokeshire, whose history illustrates the survival of medieval families of the blood of the uchelwyr, and their emergence as country gentry during Tudor times. Unlike the old English ruling families, uprooted by Norman conquerors who clamped an alien aristocracy on the fair face of England, there was no break in the continuity of their Welsh counterparts who survived in remarkable degree. They were stay-at-home families, living on the freeholds which they largely administered themselves, farming on a considerable scale, and participating in local and county concerns. Since such families were virtually "governors" of Wales until County Councils were established towards the end of the nineteenth century, they occupy a position of especial significance in the history of our nation. Throughout its eight-mile corridor, the valley of the Gwaun, I am happy to say, remains a completely unspoilt sylvan delight. The narrow valley floor is protected, indeed largely hidden, by steep mountain slopes heavily blanketed with age-old timber, the haunt of wild life is comparatively secure within its leafy embrace. The course of the river from which the valley derives its name was described around the year 1600 by George Owen, the antiquary of Henllys, in these words: the ryver Gwayn whose springe is out of Perseley hill in the northe side of Wyndiett now Bwlchgwynt, & taketh her course westerlie hasteneth downe the hill to Pencelly vor, and there falling hedlonge to the valley which she christeneth of her owne name called Diffryn Gwayne; a valley well wooded of each side thoughe narowe presently turneth sowth-west & first receaveth in the Logen runninge from the south-east, and at Llanmerchan it receaveth in a rill from the north-west called Nantmerchan, & a little lower receaveth in the Kead cominge from the southe-east and risinge at Com Kead and then tuminge more westerlie runeth under Pont vaen wher a litle beneth it receaveth into it a rill called Y Wala which riseth out of Gwern Wala & so runinge by Llanychloydocke & Llannerchaeth receavinge by the way divers rills from the north & so to Pont Newidd, neere which it receaveth from the south a rill cominge from Cronlloyn & there turning more northerly it receaveth a rill that riseth neere Kynhleidre now Cefnydre and so runinge northely under ffishgard bridge falleth into the sea makinge a faier havon & good harborowe for barckes & shippes of smale burthen much haunted for store of hearinges taken there yerely".