Welsh Journals

2.1 ABERRHUDDNANT, in this orthography not evidenced, is Aber- rhudd-nant OSM, Aber-rhudd-nant 1830 OS, Aberhyddnant Brych IX, 110, and likewise in most 19cent records. Aber W, n.f., earlier n.m., 'confluence, mouth' (GM) + RhuddNant, r.n., v. 2.98, this dwelling and farm being a short distance from the junction of this river with another un-named stream. 2.2 ABERTREWEREN is so named Brych XIII, 70, 1911 HPD 70, in most 19cent records and cl7cent HB IV, 253; but Aber-treweren OSM, Aberdreweren 1779 DP. This dwelling is almost a mile from the junction, v. aber (supra), of Cwm Treweren, v. 2.41, with Afon Senni. According to Brych, ibid, this was an early gentry house although the site evidence shows little sign of such and, in this respect, it could have been confused with adjacent Treweren. It was until 1984 a separate farm holding when it was sold as several parcels, some of which went to adjoining holdings. 2.3 AELWYD, so named PO, is a modern post-war bungalow, at SN 883231, which uses the popular W,n.m. 'home, hearth' (GM). 2.4 AFON CRAI (OSM), so named REL, is Crai/Cray 1830 OS, Cray River 1829 QSR, 1819 GFB Map, Cray R 1805 HB Map, River Cray 1744 EHE, (river called) Kray 1627 DA, Cray flu 1579 Saxton, (river called) Krey 1594, 1507 DP, (brook called) Craie 1543 DP, river Crey 1531 DP. Afon W, n.f., 'river' (GPC) + crai, being problematical as the diphthong is one that lends itself to many changes resulting from the local dial. and incorrect written forms, eg. ai>au>ay>ey>ei>eu, as evidenced above, in 2.0, 12, 31 and 50 and in other p.n.els., c/2.120. This makes possible several interpretations, some of which can be verified from the topography of the river today. (i) The modern authoritative versions (ibid) favour crai with the anglicised cray and earlier crei/krei, 13-15cent (GPC) and, if this is the correct form, most sources (HPD 7, Brych IX, 114, BPN 162, DEPN) agree that it has a meaning 'fresh, bright, crystal', being descriptive of the river, as opposed to 'new, fresh, raw' (GM). (ii) Others (HPD 7, PNWN, ELC) suggest crau W, n.m., 'socket, eye' (GM) which applied to a geographical feature could mean 'narrow or deep', again aptly describing this river and valley. (iii) However, R. J. Thomas in EANC 135 and Ifor Williams in EL 57, whilst not referring directly to his r.n., point out that crau/creu/crei is a common el. in W p.ns. such as Creini, Creuddyn, Creunant which, in most cases, could mean 'sty, hovel, pigsty (GPC) and has numerous parallels in Brec p.ns. such as .f