Welsh Journals

Only mounds of ruins remain to-day. The Castle appears to have been built in place of Cymaron Castle, for we hear nothing further about the latter. In the meantime Prince Llewelyn rose in power and in 1262, when the country was in a turmoil, the men of Maelienydd took Roger Mortimer's Castle of Cefnilys on November 29th. Then Roger sent his men to repair it, but Llewelyn again swooped upon them, and as they were only a few masons and soldiers, he allowed them a free passage across the border. Then Llewelyn immediately reduced the Castles of Bleddfa, Knucklas, Knighton, Norton and Presteign, and added all this district to his kingdom but 15 years later in 1277, he lost all he had gained. However a year later he consoled himself by marrying Eleanor Montfort at Worcester but he was killed near Builth in 1282. His wife had died in child-birth the previous June. His only daughter Gwenllian was brought up as a nun at Sempringham, Lincolnshire. Kings Edward I. and Edward III. pro- vided for her and her cousin Gladaus, daughter of David. Roger Mortimer, Llewellyn's opponent died in 1282. Roger's widow, Maud, seems to have deserted Knucklas and built a new Castle, Dinbaud, near Llananno. She died in 1301. How far this Castle was restored we do not know, but a hundred years later, during Owen Glyndwr's time, Knucklas Castle was taken into the possession of the Crown. The Patent Rolls of the year 1406 state Knucklas Castle with those of Knighton and Cefnllys have been so burned and wasted by the Welsh rebels that no profit could issue to the King, without their better custody." Mr. W. Hatfield said some people regarded Knucklas as a centre of a series of camps. Traces of old fire places were supposed to have been found on Knucklas Castle up to about sixty years ago. The name bloody meadow on the top of the site also pointed to a great battle having been fought on the spot. Canon Griffith Thomas, Mr. Roger Williams and Mr. T. P. Davies gave interesting suggestions as to the meaning of Knucklas. The party then moved to Bryndraenog, a 17th century house, with an interesting rectangular hall, a gallery on three sides and a staircase of oak, with the date 1636, carved on the gallery. Here we were welcomed by Councillor and Mrs. Price, who mentioned that their family had lived in the neighbourhood for nearly 200 years, and Mr. Price's great uncle lived at Bryndraenog from 1810 to 1820. The house was built by one of the Vaughan's, who lived in the parish of Beguildy. three of them holding the office of High Sheriff. Mrs. Price pointed out that at Bryndraenog there was supposed to be an under- ground tunnel and a secret room, but no one had ever found them. On the motion of Col. Sir C. Venables-Llewelyn cordial thanks were extended to Councillor and Mrs. Price for allowing the company to inspect this picturesque and historical old mansion.