Tregaron History
Tregaron history, archaeology and antiquities. Is a town in Ceredigion (formerly Cardiganshire), West Wales. The market town is situated between Llangeitho and Llanddewi Brefi.
Table of Contents
1. Local History
2. Cors Caron
3. Journal Index
4. Illustrations and Old Pictures
5. Schools and Education
6. Industry and Trades
7. Local Administration
8. Buildings and Infrastructure
9. Churches, Chapels and Religion
10. Location Map
11. References
12. Links
Talbot Hotel Tregaron, an early C18th, stone-built, 2-storey Inn 
The statue of Henry Richard is situated in the centre of Tregaron. Born in 1812, who became a non-conformist minster 
St Caron’s Church is situated in an elevated position in the centre of Tregaron 
Y Llew Coch, Tregaron, Possibly the meeting place of the Beehive Friendly Society, established or first registered 1828 
Tregaron Memorial Hall believed to have been rebuilt on the site of the former Town Hall. Opened on 04 January 1922 
Tregaron Buildings and former bank
Tregaron, Ceredigion, West Wales – a small historic village in the former county of Cardiganshire
| Tregaron History Pictures |
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 Cardiganshire Fonts |
| County: Ceredigion Community: Tregaron Traditional County: Cardiganshire Map Reference SN65NE Grid Reference SN6805859679 |
| Medieval Parish Cantref: Uwch Aeron Commote: Pennardd |
| Ecclesiastical Parish: Caron-Is-Clawdd Llanbadarn-Odwyn, Acres: 2616.616 Parish Hundred: Penarth |
| Electoral Ward: Tregaron |
| Listed Buildings: Tregaron Scheduled Monuments: Tregaron |
 Monuments to Cardiganshire Worthies – The Henry Richards Statue at Tregaron |
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 Tregaron.
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. Tregaron Local History
The dedication of the church to Caron, the presence of three early Christian monuments and a circular churchyard indicate an early foundation for Tregaron Church (Ludlow 1998).
The church may have encouraged the development of a small settlement in the pre Anglo-Norman period. In 1290, Edward I granted to Geoffrey Clement the privileges of holding a weekly market and two annual fairs at Tregaron (Soulsby, 1983, 255). The town developed from this.
A considerable boost was given to the town by the drovers’ trade; Soulsby (1983, 256) records the period 1820-40 as one of considerable growth.
Further growth was promoted by the opening of the Milford and Manchester Railway in 1866.
The town did not develop greatly outside the historic core until the late 20th century when new housing and light industrial/commercial buildings sprung up on the edge of the town.
Description and essential historic landscape components
The small town of Tregaron is the only substantial settlement within the Ceredigion upland landscape. The historic core is centred on a market square and the medieval St Caron’s Church, with secondary development found on the west bank of the Brennig towards the former railway station. It is not a planned settlement, and most buildings front directly onto narrow, winding streets.
Stone is the principal traditional building material with slate for roofs. A variety of wall treatments are used including stucco, painted stone and bare stone. Apart from the parish church and a couple of small cottages (one listed), almost all the older buildings in Tregaron date to the 19th century.
The Georgian Talbot Hotel and other, smaller commercial buildings are positioned on the market square. However, all these are relatively small and like the houses rarely rise above two storeys.
Single build terraces and earlier cottages have strong vernacular traits, but larger and later houses have more Georgian elements. However, few have any architectural detailing apart from a few late 19th century detached villas.
Some 19th century stone built farm outbuildings lend an agricultural feel to the centre of the town. The use of materials other than stone such as red- and yellow-brick for detailing and blue brick (in a terrace of houses) is evident on some late 19th and early 20th century houses.
A 20th century hospital and secondary school lie on the fringes of the town along with a few early to mid 20th century houses, and many late 20th and 21st century houses.
Apart from buildings and monuments the only other recorded archaeology in this area comprises finds of Bronze Age date.
The urban development of Tregaron is very well defined – there is very little over-spill into the surrounding agricultural historic landscape areas.
By Dyfed Archaeological Trust – Historic Landscape Characterisation of Tregaron
2. Cors Caron
In the Medieval Period the area of Cors Caron was divided between Strata Florida Abbey’s granges of Penardd, Blaenaeron and Mefenydd. The history of this area following the Dissolution is uncertain, but its unenclosed character probably ensured that the Crown claimed it.
In all periods Cors Caron has been a source of peat, and provided opportunities for wild-fowling, summer pasture and hay gathering. Peat cutting was concentrated where the bog runs close to Tregaron.
In the years following World War One mechanical peat cutting was carried out, but this was short-lived (Countryside Council for Wales 1995).
The Milford and Manchester Railway, opened in 1866 and closed in 1964, crosses the bog from south to north. The bog has never been enclosed. Its importance for the historic landscape lies in its record of vegetational history and climate change that is contained within the peat deposits (see Turner 1964). It is now designated a Nature Reserve.
Description and essential historic landscape components
Cors Caron is an area of open, raised bog covering over 1000 hectares at approximately 165m. The River Teifi runs down the centre of the area from north to south.
There are several open pools of water on the bog; some of which are artificially maintained. There is surface evidence for past peat cutting, particularly at the southern end close to Tregaron.
Some old boundaries are evident on the southern and northern boundaries of the bog, and there is some encroachment of woodland on the northeast side. Apart from these, the entire area is bog.
Recorded archaeology includes the post-Medieval bridge of Pont Einon (dated 1805 and now listed), a possible Medieval trackway and an Iron Age bog burial, the exact location of which is unknown.
Cors Caron is well defined on all boundaries, but particularly so on the western and eastern sides where the ground rises steeply onto improved pasture.
By Dyfed Archaeological Trust – Historic Landscape Characterisation of Cors Caron
Extract from ‘A Topographical Dictionary of Wales‘ by Samuel Lewis 1833
TRÊGARON (CARON, or TRÊV-GARON), a market-town and parish (formerly a borough), partly in the hundred of ILAR, but chiefly in the lower and upper divisions of the hundred of PENARTH, county of CARDIGAN, SOUTH WALES, 39 miles (E. by N.) from Cardigan, and 202 (W. by N.) from London, comprising the chapelry of Caron-Uwch-Clawdd, or Strata Florida, and containing 2282 inhabitants. This place is said to derive its name from being the burial-place of Caron, a Welsh king, who, from a low situation in life, raised himself, by his bravery and generous deportment, to the sovereignty, which he held for seven years : after his death, in the year 219, he was canonized, and became the tutelar saint of the church. The town, which is small and indifferently built, presenting only the appearance of a village, is situated on the high road from Lampeter to Rhaiadr, at the south-eastern extremity of the parish, and on the small river Berwyn, within a short distance of its conflux with the Teivy, which runs about half a mile to the west: a new bridge of stone is in progress of erection over the former, at an estimated expense of £ 120, to be defrayed partly by subscription, and partly from the county rate. In the vicinity are two small lakes, one called Berwyn, about a mile and a half in circumference, which contains abundance of trout, and the other called Maes Llyn,” the Lake of the Field,” where tradition reports the town to have once stood : the latter is situated about two miles to the east, is one mile in circumference, and produces trout and eels. Silver and lead ore are stated to exist in small quantities in Cwm y Graig Gôch but the mines have not been worked for many years. The market is on Tuesday, for the sale of provisions, stockings, flannel, &c. ; and one annual fair is held on March 15th ,16th, and 17th, and another on the first Tuesday in May, chiefly for the sale of pedlery, home-spun cloth, hose, horses, pigs, &c. Trêgaron was formerly incorporated, and its burgesses, in common with those of Aberystwith, Atpar, and Lampeter, had the privilege of voting in the election of a parliamentary representative for the county town; but, in consequence of some acts of corruption at an election, it was deprived of that right by a committee of the House of Commons, on the 7th of May, 1730; and the only electoral right now exercised by the inhabitants is that of the freeholders in the election of a county member, for which this town, by the recent act to amend the representation, is constituted a polling-place. It is under the jurisdiction of the county magistrates. A court leet is held twice a year by the lord of the manor, W. E. Powell, Esq.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Cardigan, and diocese of St.David’s, rated in the king’s books at £8, and in the patronage of the Bishop of St. David’s the prebend of Trêgaron an impropriation formerly attached to the college of Llandewy-Brevi, is rated at £13. 6. 8. The church, dedicated to St. Caron, is a neat structure, agreeably situated on a rocky elevation in the middle of the town, and consists of a nave, chancel, and an embattled tower sixty feet in height, in the later style of English architecture: the churchyard contains four ancient monumental stones, supposed to have been set up in the sixth century, two of which have inscriptions. There is a place of worship for Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. At the distance of three miles northward from the town there is a large encampment, called Castell Flemys, forming the greater segment of a circle, and defended on three sides by an impassable morass, supposed to have been constructed by a body of the Flemish invaders of South Wales; and there is another, called Castell Sunnyhill, from its proximity to a farm of that name. In this parish also are several sepulchral heaps of stones, denominated carneddau; a curious bank of earth, extending several miles in length, called Cwys Ychain Banawg or ” the furrow of the Bannog oxen,” supposed by Dr. Meyrick to be the remains of an ancient British road ; and an artificial mound, encompassed by a moat, called Tommen Llanio, but by whom or for what purpose erected is uncertain. Thomas Jones, a Welsh antiquary and poet, who flourished about the commencement of the seventeenth century, was born at a house called Porth Fynnon, a little to the east of Trêgaron ; in addition to his literary reputation, he enjoyed, according to tradition, a less enviable distinction, from his practice of plundering his neighbours, being represented, under the name of Twm Sion Catti, as an expert and dexterous robber: he acquired a considerable fortune by marrying the heiress of Ystrad-fin by an ingenious stratagem, and was subsequently appointed sheriff of the county. The average annual expenditure for the maintenance of the poor amounts to £235.19.
3. Journal Index
- Tregaron, x:126
- ancient borough, v:402,403,40540, 6-07,408, 409,412
- anghydffurfiaeth, iv:97,104,105,107
- argraffu, viii:204-09
- bibliography, iv:307
- blacksmiths, vi:100
- bog
- see Cors Caron
- bridge, viii:330,344
- Bwlchgwynt
- and the census of religious worship, iv:116,126
- church, plants sighted on, in the 18c, i:80
- emigration ·
- see Tregaron : ymfudo
- fair, iv:71,219; v:129
- labourers, x:41
- labourers’ diet,1837, x:42
- merched y gerddi, ix:291-2,293,294
- nonconformity
- see anghydffurfiaeth
- parish vestry, vi:8,12,30
- peat cutting, iv-.331
- population trend 16c-18c, vii:259
- printing
- see Tregaron : argraffu
- Red Lion, x-.362
- schools, ii:141,145,149;iv:58,363;
- adventure school, ii:142
- intermediate school, viii:54,56-63,66
- woollen mill, vi:111
- workhouse, viii:255-6,264,272,274
- ymfudo, ii:167,229
- Tregaron, lordship of, vi:140
- Tregaron Male Voice Choir, iii:261; x:9
- Tregaron Rural District Council, iv:280
- Tregaron Union, viii:246-51,259,1.63,270-2, 273,274
- Tregaron United District School Board, iii:210,211,214
4. Illustrations and Old Pictures
 Tregaron History Square Ceredigion |
- Cardiganshire Fonts – Tregaron
5. Schools and Education
- schools, ii:141,145,149;iv:58,363;
- adventure school, ii:142
- intermediate school, viii:54,56-63,66
6. Industry and Trades
- blacksmiths, vi:100
- bog
- see Cors Caron
- labourers, x:41
- labourers’ diet,1837, x:42
- peat cutting, iv-.331
- printing
- see Tregaron : ugraffu
- woollen mill, vi:111
7. Local Administration
- ancient borough, v:402,403,40540, 6-07,408, 409,412
- Tregaron, lordship of, vi:140
8. Buildings and Infrastructure
- bridge, viii:330,344
- Red Llon, x-.362
- workhouse, viii:255-6,264,272,274
9. Churches, Chapels and Religion
St Caron’s Church situated in the centre of Tregaron |
- nonconformity
- see anghydffurfiaeth
- parish vestry, vi:8,12,30
- and the census of religious worship, iv:116,126
- church, plants sighted on, in the 18c, i:80
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.
Cardiganshire Fonts
10. Location Map
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.
11. References
- Cardigan map (Header): Reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC-SA) licence with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
- View: Tregaron Historic Mapping
12. External links
- Coflein, discover the archaeology, historic buildings, monuments and history of Tregaron, Ceredigion
- Historic Place Names, learn about the field names and house names in the community of Tregaron
- A Pint of History, read about the history of Ceredigion pub’s, inn’s and local taverns of Tregaron
- People’s Collection Wales, share your stories, memories and photographs of Tregaron
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
(p109) “A FARM SERVANT NEAR TREGARON, WHO SPENT A YEAR AND A DAY WITH THE FAIRIES
The following story appeared in “Cymru” for May, 1893, a Welsh Magazine, edited by Owen M. Edwards, M.A. It was written in Welsh by the late eminent Folk-Lorist, Mr. D. Lledrod Davies, and I translate it:—
The farm-house called “Allt Ddu,” is situated about half-way between Pont Rhyd Fendigaid and Tregaron.
It is said that two servant men went out of the house one evening in search for the cattle, which had gone astray. One of the men proceeded in one direction and the other in another way, so as to be more sure of finding the animals.
But after wandering about for hours, one of the two servants came home, but whether he found the cattle or not it is not stated. However, he reached home safely; but the other man, his fellow-servant, came not, and after anxiously expecting him till a late hour of night, he began to feel very uneasy concerning his safety, fearing that the lad had accidentally fallen into some of the pits of the Gors Goch. Next morning came, but the servant came not home; and in vain did they long to hear the sound of his footsteps approaching the house as before.
Then inquiries were made about him, and people went to try and find him, but all in vain. Days past and even weeks without hearing anything about him, till at last his relations began to suspect that his fellow servant had murdered him during the night they were out looking for the cattle. So the servant was summoned before a Court of Justice, and accused of having murdered his fellow-servant on a certain night; but the young man, pleaded not guilty in a most decided manner, and as no witness could be found against him, the case was dismissed; but many people were still very suspicious of him, and the loss of his fellow servant continued [109]to be a black spot on his character. However, it was decided at last to go to the “dyn hysbys,” (a wise man, or a conjurer)—a man of great repute in former days,—to consult with him, and to set the case before him exactly as it had happened. After going and explaining everything to the conjurer concerning the lost servant, he informed them that the young man was still alive.
He then told them to go to a certain place at the same time of night, one year and a day from the time the man was lost, and that they should then and there see him. One year and a day at last passed away, and at that hour the family, and especially the servant, traced their steps to the particular spot pointed out by the conjuror, and there, to their great surprise, whom should they see within the Fairy Circle, dancing as merrily as any, but the lost servant. And now, according to the directions which had been given by the conjurer, the other servant took hold of the collar of the coat of the one who was dancing, and dragged him out of the circle, saying to him—“Where hast thou been lad?” But the lad’s first words were, “Did you find the cattle?” for he thought that he had been with the Fairies only for a few minutes.
Then he explained how he entered the Fairy Circle, and how he was seized by them, but found their company so delightful that he thought he had been with them only for a few minutes.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
(p140)
“A STORY OF PONT EINION (EINION BRIDGE) TREGARON.
Mr. John Jones, Pontrhydfendigaid, who is now about 95 years of age, related to me the following tale seven years ago:—
Long ago, when much of the land where now stand the farms of Ystrad-Caron, Penylan, and Penybont, was a Common, a gentleman named Einion, and his wife, came from Abergwaun (Fishguard) and settled in the neighbourhood of Tregaron. Einion inclosed much of the land on the banks of the river Teivy in that part, and built a fine mansion which he called Ystrad-Caron, and soon became a most influential man in the neighbourhood, especially as he was well-to-do, and had generously constructed at his own expense, a bridge over the river for the convenience of the poor people of Tregaron and the surrounding districts. He also loved above everything his wife, and his harp, and was considered one of the best players on that instrument in Wales; but, unfortunately, as time went on, he failed to derive any pleasure from his surroundings and soon became subject to “melancholia,” imagining that the place was haunted by some evil genius.
At last, he was persuaded by his medical adviser to seek a change of scenery by going to stay for a while in Pembrokeshire, his native place. Soon after his arrival at Fishguard, he took a short sea voyage from that port, but after some adventures, he and others of his fellow passengers were taken prisoners by a French Man of War.
After spending many years of his lifetime inside the strong walls of a French prison, he at last succeeded to escape, and soon found his way once more to the neighbourhood of Tregaron in Cardiganshire; but to his great astonishment, as he neared his own house, Ystrad-Caron, after so many years’ absence, he heard some music and dancing.
Clothed in rags he knocked at the back door, and pretended to be a tramp. One of the maid servants took compassion on the “poor old tramp,” and allowed him to come in and warm himself near the kitchen fire.
“We are very busy here to-day,” said she to him, “our mistress who has been a widow for many years is about to get married again, and the bride and bridegroom and a party of invited guests are now in the parlour, but, unfortunately, not one of those present is able to tune the harp, a fine old instrument which belonged to the lady’s first husband who went away from home and got drowned at sea many years ago.” “Please ask [140]them to allow me to tune the harp,” said Einion to the maid. The girl then went to inform her mistress that there was an old man in the kitchen who could tune the harp for them.
Einion now entered the parlour, and to the astonishment of the bride and bridegroom and the guests, soon tuned the harp; and as soon as he began to play an old favourite tune of his:
“Myfi bia’m ty, a’m telyn, a’m tân,”
(My house, and my harp, and my fire are mine).
The lady of the house recognised him at once as her husband.
Then turning to the young bridegroom to whom she was engaged to be married, addressed him thus:—“You may go now, as my husband has come home to me once more.”
A short time after my visit to Mr. J. Jones, Pontrhydfendigaid, I went to Tregaron, where I found out from Mr. Jenkin Lloyd (formerly of Pant), and others, that the story of Pont Einion (Einion Bridge) was well-known in the neighbourhood, but that Einion during the many years he was away from home, was not in prison but among the Fairies.
It seems probable that the above story is a modern local version of a tale which is to be found in the Iolo MSS. entitled:—“Einion Ap Gwalchmai and the Lady of the Greenwood.””
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.
(p243)
“A WITCH IN THE FORM OF AN HARE SHOT BY A FARM SERVANT.
The following tale was told me by a Mrs. Edwards, Ysbytty Ystwyth, in Cardiganshire:—
An old witch who lived at Tregaron, went to Trecefel, a large farm in the neighbourhood, to beg for the use of a small corner of a field to grow some potatoes for herself. The farmer himself was away from home at the time, but his wife was willing, as she was afraid of offending the witch. The head servant, however, refused her request, and sent her away, which naturally made her very angry, and in departing she used threatening words. One day, soon after this, the same servant was out in the field, and he noticed a hare in the hedge continually looking at him, and watching all his movements. It occurred to him at last that this creature was the old witch he had offended, appearing in the form of a hare, and somehow or other he had not the least doubt in his mind about it, so he procured a gun and fired, but the shot did not inflict any injury on the hare. In the evening, when he met some of his friends at a house in the village, the man servant told them everything about the hare and of his suspicion that she was the witch. One of his friends told him that ordinary shots or bullets were no good to shoot a witch with, but that it was necessary for him to load his gun with a bent four-penny silver coin. He tried this, and the next time he fired the hare rolled over screaming terribly. Soon after this, people called to see the old woman in her cottage, and found that she had such a wound in her leg that she could hardly move. Dr. Rowland was sent for, and when he came and examined her leg he found a fourpenny silver coin in two pieces in it. “You old witch,” said he, “I am not going to take any trouble with you again: death is good enough for your sort,” and die she did.
The possibility of injuring or marking the witch in her assumed form so deeply that the bruise remained a mark on her in her natural form was a common belief.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
WITCHES, WIZARDS, PROPHECIES, DIVINATION, DREAMS.
(p264)
“WIZARD MARKING THE CULPRITS.
It was believed in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, that Harries, Cwrtycadno, could mark out thieves, and also persons who had an “Evil Eye,” by causing a horn to grow out of their foreheads. A man in Tregaron had witched a woman, but the conjurer marked the mischievous person by putting a horn on his head.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
LAKES
(p307)
“TREGARON LAKE.
There is a small lake near Tregaron, between Lampeter and Aberystwyth; and there is a tradition in the neighbourhood that the village or town of Tregaron was once situated on the spot which is now occupied by the lake, but that it sunk, and some fancy they can see some ruins or remains now at the bottom of the lake.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
CAVES
(p313)
“TWM SHION CATTI’S CAVE.
“Mae llefain mawr a gwaeddi,
Yn Ystradffin eleni;
Mae’r ceryg nadd yn toddi’n blwm,
Rhag ofn twm Sion Catti.”
(In Ystradffin a doleful sound
Pervades the hollow hills around;
The very stones with terror melt,
Such tear of Twm Shion Catti’s felt.)
This cave, which is near Ystradffin, on the borders of Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire, was once, says tradition, the stronghold of Twm Shion Catti, or to give him his proper name Thomas Jones. This Thomas Jones, or Twm Shion Catti, lived at Tregaron in the time of Queen Elizabeth. It seems that he had been in his younger days a freebooter, but reformed and became a celebrated bard, antiquary and a genealogist. The legends which have gathered round the name of this eminent man, are still retained in the memory of the people in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, and the late Mr. T. J. L. Prichard, of Llandovery, made him the hero of a most popular romance, into whose book the stories have been introduced, and embellished.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
LOCAL TRADITIONS, Etc.
(p320)
“TREGARON.
At a distance of about three miles from Tregaron there is a ridge running east and west separating Upper and Lower Tregaron. It is called “Cwys yr Ychain Bannog,” the Furrow of the large-horned Oxen. Tradition has it that the “Furrow” was made by two Bannog Oxen dragging along the ground the carcass of a huge reptile which had been killed by the people of the neighbourhood in ancient time.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).