Welsh Journals

History and Traditions of The J^eigbbourbood of Higb")^ad. HE father of the Lord Lieutenant of our County, the late Delme Seymour Davies, Esq., of Penlan, Carmarthenshire, was a grandson of Lord Robert Seymour, M.P., who was maternally descended from Edward III. On his mother's side Colonel Davies-Evans is descended from Cadifor Ap Dinawal, and from Ednowain Ap Bradwen, founder of the 15th of the Noble Tribes of N. Wales, the remains of whose palace were discovered in Merionethshire by Thomas Pennant. As to Mrs. Davies-Evans's family, her father, the late David Jones, Esq., of Pantglas, near Llandilo, represented Carmarthenshire in Parliament for 30 years. On her mother's side, Mrs. Davies-Evans is a grand-daughter of Sir George Campbell, of Edenwood, a brother of Lord Chancellor Campbell, who also became Lord Chief Justice and distantly related to Sir Walter Scott, the poet. The present mansion of Highmead, which has such a commanding view of the Vale of Teivy, was first built in 1777. Though this house is modern, the spot has been celebrated even in ancient times for its palaces. Before this mansion was built there stood quite close to this spot an older seat, known as Dolau Bach, or Lowmead. There are many people in the present day who call Highmead Dolau Bach but this is a mistake, for as a matter of fact it is Dolau Mawr." Dolau Bach or Lowmead was the name of a former mansion which stood near this spot before this mansion was built. At the bottom of the Park of Highmead, on the banks of the river Teivy once stood, according to ancient traditions, the palace of Pryderi, son of Pwyll, who lived in the first century. It is stated in the Mabinogion that Pryderi was a King who ruled over Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and other parts of South Wales, and that he had a palace at Rhuddlan Teivy in Ceredigiawn, a spot which is somewhere on the river side, within the Park of Highmead. Col. Davies-Evans has informed me that Sir John Rhys has been trying to discover traces of Pryderi's Palace. Pryderi at first seems to have ruled Pembrokeshire only, and had a palace at Narberth, and he probably came to live at Rhuddlan Teivy after coming into possession of Cardiganshire. Arawn, King of Annwn, had presented Pryderi with some pigs, but a wizard named Gwydion, who came from Carnarvonshire, took away the pigs to the King of North Wales, deceiving Pryderi by magic and enchantment.