Welsh Journals

The site of this old church makes it a typical promontory church. To the west of it a mound out of which grow some fine oak trees. This mound is surrounded by a low earthwork, probably for seating accom- modation of the chiefs who would assemble to discuss the affairs of state as is done up to the present day in the Isle of Man on the mound to the west of the Church of St. John the Baptist. It is worthy of note that a large number of these early religious sites have each an assembly mound on its western side. To the south of Llandrindod Church is the holy well to which runs a hazel-bordered road. Beyond the well the roughly-cobbled road divides, one branch running along the lower part of the hill to the lead mines, to the three wells and thence to Caer-ddu, at Howey. The upper road climbs to the top of the hill close to two prominences surrounded by an interesting earthwork. On either side of this road is a large number of thorn trees growing out of small cairns, the whole forming, in my opinion, an early Celtic cemetery. The thorn tree, especially in Ireland, is closely associated with the Earth Goddess and into her trees planted on the graves enters the spirit of the dead Celts. From the old Church a road runs directly down to the stepping- stones in the river Ithon and then on to Caer Cerrig Groes, i.e., the Fort of the Stepping Stones. Between Caerddu and Caer Cerrig Croes a straight line would cross a prominence known as Holly Bank," close to which ran the old Roman road from Disserth to Castell Collen. To the north-west of Castell Collen is Caer Vagu, and to the north- east is Caer Swydd, while more to the east is Cefn Llys. All these castles may be said to guard the entrances of all the routes into the basin in which Castell Collen is situated. There are many routes connecting Castell Collen with other parts of Wales of which the most important are 1. Via Hollybank, Disserth, Llechryd, Llanlleonfel to Carmarthen. 2. Via Caer Cerrig Croes, Newbridge, Llanfihangel Bryn Pabuan and over the Elenydd to Ystrad Meurig, or continuing on through Llanafan. and Abergwessin to Tregaron. 3. From Abergwessin there is a route via Vanog to Ystradffin, thence on to the gold mines at Dolaucothi. 4. Instead of turning as in 3 to Abergwessin, number 2 would be continued through Llanwrtyd to Cynghordy and then on via Cilcwm to Dolaucothi.