Welsh Journals

Cann Office: Its History and Archaeology. By B. H. ST. J. O'NEIL. Cann Office Hotel, renowned amongst anglers, is situated on the main road leading from Shrewsbury through Welshpool to the Cambrian Coast, at between twelve and thirteen miles from Dinas Mawddwy. Cann Office is the name of the Hotel only, the village and parish in which it lies being Llangadfan, but whereas the original Llangadfan (the church and township) lies south of the river Banwy, the present village is on the main road north of the river within the township of Blowty. History.. The valley of the Banwy and its lateral glens form the Cantref of Caereinion, which was subdivided into two commots (a) above and (b) below the forest (Coed-talog). The upper commot comprised the three mountain parishes: Llanerfyl, Llangadfan and Garthbeibio. Both commots were until early in the 14th century fiefs of the Princes of Powys. Later incidents in the history of Cann Office and its neigh- bourhood,-the Battle of Caereinion in 1294 between Welsh and English, the passing visit of Henry Tudor in 1485 on his way to Bosworth, the quarrels of the first Herberts of nearby Llyssyn with the Vaughans of Llwydiarth aud the celebrated interview between Richard Davies, the Quaker, and Edward, Lord Herbert of Chirbury in the latter half of the 17th century have all been related by Mr. Robert Owen in his manuscript history of Cann Office at the hotel and in his published works The Red Book of Caereillion" and In the Heart of Powysland" and need not be repeated here. Mention may, however, be made of a mid 17th century lease of the property. Therein Ty'n y Domen which is plainly identifiable as Cann Office is leased by Lord Herbert to Daniel (ap) David for a term of 21 years at a ground rent of £ 4 per annum and the customary due Throughout this portion of the article the author has drawn upon the researches of Mr. Robert Owen. F. R. Hist. S., who has most kindly placed them at his disposal.