Swyddffynnon History
Swyddffynnon history, archaeology and antiquities. Is a historic village in Ceredigion, formerly Cardiganshire, West Wales. Situated between Tyncelyn and Ystrad Meurig.
| Swyddffynnon History Pictures |
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 Swyddffynnon.
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.
1. History
In the Medieval Period this area lay within Strata Florida Abbey’s Mefenydd Grange. A water mill is recorded here (Williams 1990, 57). The place-name Swyddffynnon may indicate the residence of a grange official.
At the Dissolution all Strata Florida’s holdings were granted to the Earl of Essex. Soon after, the land around Swyddffynnon appears to have been purchased by the Lloyds of Ffosybleiddiaid and later acquired by the Vaughans of Crosswood.
Historic maps including the tithe map of 1844 (Lledrod Tithe Map and Apportionment) and late 18th century estate maps (NLW Crosswood Vol 1, 62; NLW Crosswood Vol 2, 18) show the area very much as it is today – scattered farms and small enclosures – with no indication of the processes involved in its evolution, though it is likely that most of the farms date to the later Medieval Period, if not earlier.
However, aerial photographs taken in 1999 for this project seem to indicate strip divisions in some fields, suggesting a former sub-divided or common field system. The origin of the hamlet of Swyddffynnon is uncertain although its population was sufficient in 1743 for a chapel to be built (Percival 1998, 523).
Description and essential historic landscape components
This area consists of undulating ground ranging from 160m to 205m on the northeast side of Cors Caron centred on the hamlet of Swyddffynnon. Apart from this settlement, the landscape is one of scattered farms and small enclosures with small stands of deciduous woodland and coniferous plantation.
Boundaries are of earth banks or stone and earth banks topped with hedges. Hedges are in fair to good condition; some have been replaced or are supported by wire fences. Improved pasture predominates, though some patches of rougher grazing are evident.
Stone, which is cement rendered, left bare or painted, is the traditional building material, with slate for roofs. The loosely clustered settlement of Swyddffynnon is 19th century in character with a school, chapel and chapel house, and a few terraced, detached and semi-detached houses in the typical late 19th century regional Georgian vernacular style.
There are also a few modern houses in the hamlet. The dispersed farms are relatively small, with farmhouses of two storeys in the typical Georgian vernacular style – gable end chimneys, central front door, and two windows either side of the door and one above.
Strong vernacular traits such as low eaves, small windows and one chimney larger than the other are present on most houses, rather than more formal Georgian elements. Stone-built outbuildings are generally confined to one or two small ranges, with some attached and in-line to the house. Working farms have medium- to large-ranges of modern steel and concrete agricultural buildings.
The recorded archaeology of this area consists mostly of post-Medieval sites. These are, however, varied and, as well as including domestic and ecclesiastic standing structures, comprise a mill, woollen factory, a gin, metal mine and smithy. Time depth to the landscape is provided by place-names indicating the site of a Medieval holy well and a Bronze Age round barrow.
This area is very well defined to the south and east where it runs down to Cors Caron. To the north it fades into an area of larger enclosures. To the west lies enclosed land and rough grazing.
By Dyfed Archaeological Trust – Historic Landscape Characterisation of Pontrhydfendigaid
2. Map
View Larger Map of Swyddffynnon
3. External links
- Coflein, discover the archaeology, historic buildings, monuments and history of Swyddffynnon, Ceredigion
- Historic Place Names, learn about the field names and house names in the community of Swyddffynnon
- A Pint of History, read about the history of Ceredigion pub’s, inn’s and local taverns of Swyddffynnon
- People’s Collection Wales, share your stories, memories and photographs of Swyddffynnon
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.
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
(p135)
“FAIRY MOTHERS AND HUMAN MIDWIVES.
The following story is to be found in Welsh in an interesting little book entitled “Ystraeon y Gwyll,” by the late Mr. D. Lledrod Davies; and in English by Sir John Rhys in his great work “Celtic Folk-Lore”:—The locality of the tale is Swyddffynon, near Ystrad Meurig, in Cardiganshire.
“It used to be related by an old woman who died some thirty years ago at the advanced age of about 100. She was Pali, mother of old Rachel Evans, who died seven or eight years ago, when she was about eighty. The latter was a curious character, who sometimes sang “Maswedd,” or rhymes of doubtful propriety, and used to take the children of the village to see fairy rings. She also used to see the “Tylwyth” (Fairies), and had many tales to tell of them. But her mother, Pali, had actually been called to attend at the confinement of one of them. The beginning of the tale is not very explicit; but, anyhow, Pali one evening found herself face to face with the Fairy lady she was to attend upon. She appeared to be the wife of one of the princes of the country. She was held in great esteem, and lived in a very grand palace. Everything there had been arranged in the most beautiful and charming fashion. The wife was in her bed with nothing about her but white, and she fared sumptuously. In due time, when the baby had been born, the midwife had all the care connected with dressing it and serving its mother. Pali could see or hear nobody in the whole place, but the mother and the baby. She had no idea who attended on them, or who prepared all the things they required, for it was all done noiselessly and secretly. The mother was a charming person, of an excellent temper and easy to manage. Morning and evening, as she finished washing the baby, Pali had a certain ointment given her to rub the baby with. She was charged not to touch it, but with her hand, and especially not to put any near her eyes. This was carried out for some time, but one day, as she was dressing the baby, her eyes happened to itch, and she rubbed them with her hand. Then at once she saw a great many wonders she had not before perceived; and the whole place assumed a new aspect to her. She said nothing, and in the course of the day she saw a great deal more. Among other things, she observed small men and small women going in and out following a variety of occupations. But their movements were as light as the morning breezes. To move about was no trouble to them, and they brought things into the room with the greatest quickness. They prepared dainty food for the confined lady with the utmost order and skill, and the air of kindness and affection with which they served her was truly remarkable. In the evening, as she was dressing the baby, the midwife said to the lady, “You have had a great many visitors to-day.” To this she replied, “How do you know that? Have you been putting this ointment to your eyes?” Thereupon she jumped out of bed, and blew into her eyes, saying, “Now you will see no more.” She never afterwards could see the fairies, however much she tried, nor was the ointment entrusted to her after that day.”
There is a version of this story located in the neighbourhood of Llanuwchllyn, Merionethshire, and indeed in several other parts of Wales.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
GHOST STORIES
The belief in the existence of Fairies in Wales has almost died out, but we still find many people who are more or less superstitious with regard to ghosts, spirits, etc., and the belief in death omens is rather popular, even among educated people.
(p163)
“TALE OF A DOCTOR.
The following tale appeared in “Welsh Folk-Lore,” page 296 by the late Rev. Elias Owen, F.S.A., who had obtained the story from the Rev. Philip Edwards:—
“At Swyddffynnon, in Cardiganshire, there lived a Mrs. Evans, who had a strange vision. Mr. Edwards’s father called one evening upon Mrs. Evans, and found her sitting by the fire in company with a few female friends, greatly depressed. On enquiring as to the cause of her distress, she stated that she had had a strange sight that very evening.
“She saw, she said, in the unoccupied chamber at the further end of the house, a light, and, whilst she was wondering what light it was, she observed a tall, dark, stranger gentleman, who had a long, full beard, enter the house and go straight to the room where the light was, but before going in he took off his hat and placed it on the table; then he took off his gloves and threw them into the hat, and without uttering a single word he entered the lit-up room.
“Shortly afterwards, she saw the stranger emerge from the room and leave the house, and on looking again towards the room she saw that the light had disappeared. It was, she said, this apparition that had disconcerted her.
“Some time after this vision, Mrs. Evans was in a critical state, and as she lived far away from a doctor, my informant’s father was requested to ride to Aberystwyth for one. He found, however, that the two doctors who then resided in that town were from home. But he was informed at the inn that there was a London doctor staying at Hafod. He determined, whether he could or could not, induce this gentleman to accompany him to Swyddffynnon, to go there. This gentleman, on hearing the urgency of the case, consented to visit the sick woman.
“Mr. Edwards and the doctor rode rapidly to their destination, and Mr. Edwards was surprised to find that the doctor did everything exactly as it had been stated by Mrs. Evans. There was also a light in the chamber, for there the neighbour had placed the still-born child, and it was the providential help of the London doctor that saved Mrs. Evans’s life.
“I may add that the personal appearance of this gentleman corresponded with the description given of him by Mrs. Evans.””
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
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.
(p238)
“DRAWING BLOOD FROM A WITCH.
Drawing blood from a witch by anyone incapacitated the old hag, from working out her evil designs upon the person who spilt her blood. Many years ago a farmer from the neighbourhood of Swyddffynon, in Cardiganshire, was coming home late one night from Tregaron, on horseback. As he was crossing a bridge called Pont Einon (once noted for its witches), a witch somehow or other managed to get up behind him on the horse’s back; but he took out his pocket-knife with which he drew blood from the witch’s arm, and he got rid of the old hag. After this, she was unable to witch people. My informant was Mr. John Jones, of Pontrhydfendigaid.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).