Welsh Journals

The probable route of the monks of Strata Florida Abbey to their fishery at Y Goredydd, Aberarth. THE name L6n Lacs was quite familiar to the people of Mid-Cardiganshire in the last century but only a few of this generation have heard of it. It refers to the second portion of the route taken by the monks from Strata Florida Abbey to their fishery at Aberarth. There has been a suggestion that in the early part of their journey they crossed Cors Goch Garon (Tregaron Bog) but the evidence for this is quite unconvincing and is strongly disputed by those who are familiar with this large tract of highly- treacherous, swampy bog-land which was probably quite impassable four or five centuries ago. It appears almost certain that to reach Tregaron and Llanio the monks would follow the course of the present road as far as Trecefel, below Tregaron, where there was a wooden bridge across the Teify, replaced later by a stone bridge which collapsed before the advent of the railway in the middle of the last century, when a railway bridge and a new stone road bridge were built. From the old Trecefel bridge Lon Lacs comes into the picture, for this bridge had a toll-house and gate to uphold the king's royal rights in the district, which had not been surrendered at the time of the Dissolution. Indeed there is still a King's (or Queen's) Royal Keeper' in being, an office which was held until a few years ago by Mr. D. D. Evans, J.P., Llanio, now the only survivor of the four persons who originated the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, and to whom I am indebted for the substance of this note. His duty was to report any infringement of the 'rights', such as illegal encroachments, etc. He had also some special privileges of his own, one of which was the shooting rights over the large area covered by the Crown's 'rights', where he could carry and use his gun without paying for a licence From the vicinity of Llanio (Loventium) L6n Lacs leads towards the sea. It is a narrow track, often merely a bridle path, which can still be traced at a few points. Crossing Cefn Llanio it is seen behind the shop at Rhattal, where it looks more like a ditch, being often covered with water. Again at Coedmawrisaf it is seen on the left- hand side, below the present road, as a narrow path leading towards Allt Hugh Shon and crossing the Aeron at Dolau Aeron for Nantcwnlle, where the path leading from the vicarage to the church is a part of L6n Lacs. Although the six-inch map does not give many names, some remain which may show monkish influences, such as Bwlch-y-llan, Llwynygroes, Ty'r Abad, Rhydy- groes, etc. For its course from Nantcwnlle and Cilcennin to the sea the reader is referred to the authoritative and interesting article by Dr. T. I. Davies, H.M.I., elsewhere in this issue. Aberystwyth. J. R. DAVIES.