Llangwyryfon History
Llangwyryfon history, archaeology and antiquities. Is a small village in Ceredigion, West Wales. Situated between Llanrhystud and Lledrod.
| Llangwyryfon History Pictures |
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 Site plan of Caer Argoed 1 mile East of Llangwyryfon |
Since 1909 the Ceredigion Historical Society has published articles written about the archaeology, antiquities and history of Ceredigion, many of these articles printed within the Ceredigion Journal, are about the history of Llangwyryfon.
The society has also produced three county volumes, under the name of the Cardiganshire County History series, these knowledgeable, learned, comprehensive and scholary publications record the history of prehistoric, early and modern Cardiganshire.
Researching the history of Ceredigion? Institutions within Ceredigion include the Ceredigion Museum, Ceredigion Archives, The National Library of Wales and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales all of which can be found at Aberystwyth.
You can discover Ceredigion’s rich history through the use of archives, libraries and museums all of which are free to explore!
Some of the resources and items which can be found:
- Ceredigion archives catalogue
- Ceredigion antiques
- Ceredigion boundary map
- Ceredigion interactive map
- Ceredigion tithe maps
- Ceredigion newspapers online
- Ceredigion images
- Ceredigion old photos
- Ceredigion placenames
- Ceredigion monuments
- Ceredigion old houses
- Ceredigion cottages
- Ceredigion churches
- Ceredigion capels
Many of the heritage organisation above have Ceredigion events which are open to the public and share local history and Ceredigion news with the general public, through a series of lectures, talks, open days and field trips.
1. History
Scheduled Monuments in Llangwyryfon, Ceredigion.
Scheduled monuments (also known as scheduled ancient monuments, or SAMs) are sites of archaeological importance with specific legal protection against damage or development.
- Caer Argoed
- Enclosure on Banc Pwlldrainllwyn
- Hafod Ithel Cairn Cemetery
- Hafod Ithel Deserted Rural Settlement
- Moated Site at Trefenter
- Two Cairns on Mynydd Bach
Extract from ‘A Topographical Dictionary of Wales‘ by Samuel Lewis 1833
“LLANGWYRYVON, or LLANGRWYDDON, (LLAN Y GWYRYDDON), a parish in the lower division of the hundred of ILAR, county of CARDIGAN, SOUTH WALES, 8 miles (S. by E.) from Aberystwith, containing 533 inhabitants. The name of this place signifies “the church of the Virgins”, and is derived from the dedication of its church to St. Ursula, and the eleven thousand virgins. The parish is situated on the southern bank of the Wyrai river, and comprises a considerable tract of enclosed and well-cultivated land, with a large portion of open and elevated common. The soil is generally fertile, and in some places argillaceous: turbaries are found in various places. Some of the higher grounds are abundantly productive of corn and hay. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Cardigan, and diocese of St.David’s, endowed with £800 royal bounty, and £1200 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Chichester family, as impropriators of the tithes. The church, situated on an eminence, is a small ancient edifice, consisting only of a nave and chancel, formerly divided by a curiously carved screen. In the churchyard is an ancient monumental stone, highly ornamented, and having the figure of a cross sculptured upon it, but without any inscription; it is now used as a gate-post. Owing to the elevated situation of the church, the cemetery commands a fine view of the river and the surrounding country. There are places of worship for Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists. A Sunday school, for the gratuitous instruction of poor children, is superintended by a few of the parishioners ; and a school-house, in which the children are to be educated on the National system, is about to be erected by subscription among the landed proprietors of the parish. Within the limits of the parish are the remains of an ancient intrenchment, of a curvilinear form; but nothing is known either of its origin or history. The average annual expenditure for a the support of the poor amounts to £88.13.”
2. Map
View Larger Map of Llangwyryfon
Some ideas to share your Stories below!
Have a memory and your not sure what to write? We have made it easy with some prompts and ideas, just think about this place and the importance its had in your life and ask yourself:
- What are my personal memories of living here?
- How has it developed and shops changed over the years?
- Do you have a story about the beach, community, its people and history?
- Tell us how it feels, seeing photographs and images of this place again?
- Tell us your favourite memories about this place?
The aim of the Ceredigion Historical Society is to preserve, record and promote the study of the archaeology, antiquities and history of Ceredigion. That objective has remained the same since the foundation of the Society in 1909, though its name was changed from Ceredigion Antiquarian Society to the Ceredigion Historical Society in 2002.
2. External links
- Coflein, discover the archaeology, historic buildings, monuments and history of Llangwyryfon, Ceredigion
- Historic Place Names, learn about the field names and house names in the community of Llangwyryfon
- A Pint of History, read about the history of Ceredigion pub’s, inn’s and local taverns of Llangwyryfon
- People’s Collection Wales, share your stories, memories and photographs of Llangwyryfon
WITCHES, WIZARDS, PROPHECIES, DIVINATION, DREAMS.
The popular belief in witchcraft, is often alluded to by Shakespeare. In times gone by witches held dreaded sway over the affairs of men, perhaps more or less in almost every country; for they were suspected to have entered into a league with Satan, in order to obtain power to do evil, and it was thought that they possessed some uncanny knowledge which was used by them to injure people, especially those whom they hated. It was also believed that they could cause thunder and lightning, could travel on broomsticks through the air, and even transform themselves and others into animals, especially into hares. A good many other imaginary things were also placed to the credit of witches.
(p234)
“ANOTHER CARDIGANSHIRE WOMAN WITCHED.
An old man living in the parish of Llangwyryfon, seven miles from Aberystwyth, named Jenkin Williams, told me the following story six years ago when he was 89 years of age, and vouched for the truth of the account:—A certain woman who lived in that parish was supposed to be a witch, and it was said she had a brother a wizard: Her husband was a shoemaker. Another woman who used to go back and fore to the town of Aberystwyth, with a donkey-cart, refused on one occasion to bring some leather to the supposed witch and her husband. Soon after this, the woman was taken ill, and the shoemaker’s wife was suspected of having witched her. The son of the sick woman went to Cwrt-y-Cadno in Carmarthenshire to consult the “Dyn Hysbys.” The conjurer told the young man to go home as soon as possible, and that he should see the person who caused his mother’s indisposition coming to the house on his return home. When the son reached home who should enter the house but the supposed witch, and as soon as she came in she spoke in Welsh to his mother something as follows:—“Mae’n ddrwg genyf eich bod mor wael, ond chwi wellwch eto, Betti fach.” (I am sorry you are so unwell, but you will get well again, Betty dear). The sick woman recovered immediately!”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
WITCHES, WIZARDS, PROPHECIES, DIVINATION, DREAMS.
(p238)
“ANOTHER CARDIGANSHIRE STORY OF MILK THAT WOULD NOT TURN TO BUTTER.
The following account was given me by Mr. Jenkin Williams, Llangwyryfon:—
There was a man and his family living at a cottage called Penlon, a small place just enough to keep one cow. The name of the man was John Jones; and on one occasion when he and his wife were trying to churn they failed to do so, or in other words the milk would not turn into butter. At last J. Jones went to Cwrt-y-Cadno, in Carmarthenshire to consult the “Dyn Hysbys.” The wizard as he often did, gave the man a bit of paper with some mystic words on it, and told him not to show it to anybody, as the charm could not work after showing the paper to others. As he was passing on his way home through a place called Cwm Twrch, he met with a woman who accosted him and asked him where he had been to. The man was rather shy, but at last he admitted that he had been to Cwrt-y-Cadno to consult the conjurer, and he told the woman everything. “I well knew,” said the woman, “You had been to Cwrt-y-Cadno, for only those who go to the conjurer pass this way; show me the paper which he gave to you, for I am a cousin of the conjurer.” And the man showed it to her. “The paper is alright,” said she, “Take it home with you as soon as you can.” He went home with great joy, but unfortunately the churning still proved a failure. Instead of undertaking another journey himself again, J. Jones went to his neighbour Jenkin Williams, and begged him to go to the conjurer to obtain another paper for him, and at last J. Williams went. The conjurer, however, was not willing to give another paper without £1 cash for it; but he gave it at last for a more moderate price, when my informant pleaded the poverty of his friend. When Williams asked the wise man what was the reason that the milk would not churn, the reply was that an enemy had cursed it by wishing evil to his neighbour. When this second paper was taken home (which was not shown to anybody on the road), the milk was churned most successfully, and splendid butter was obtained.
In some places a hot smoothing iron thrown into the churn was effective against the witch’s doings.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
WITCHES, WIZARDS, PROPHECIES, DIVINATION, DREAMS.
(p264)
“WIZARD MARKING THE CULPRITS.
A farmer from the parish of Llangwyryfon, in Cardiganshire, whose cattle had been witched by a neighbour who had an evil eye, went to Llangurig in Montgomeryshire, to consult, a well-known conjurer who only died a few years ago. The Wizard for the payment of 10s. showed a picture of the offender in a magic mirror, and offered to cause him to die of a strange disease. The farmer begged the conjurer not to do that; that he did not desire to kill his enemy, only to punish him, and he was punished. My informant was a farmer who lives near Talybont, Cardiganshire.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
LOCAL TRADITIONS, Etc.
(p329)
“LLANGWYRYFON (CHURCH OF THE VIRGINS).
Tradition says that this parish received is name from eleven thousand Welsh virgins, who were massacred by barbarians on the coast of Germany. The virgins were on their way to Brittany.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).