Yspytty-Ystrad-Meuric - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
YSPYTTY-YSTRAD-MEURIC, a parochial chapelry, in the parish of Yspytty-Ystwith, union of Tr�garon, Upper division of the hundred of Ilar, county of Cardigan, South Wales, 14 miles (S. E.) from Aberystwith; containing 152 inhabitants. This place belonged to the Knights Hospitallers, and an hospitium or cell was situated here: from this circumstance, probably, and from its position near the river Meuric, is derived its name. It is of very limited extent; but is much distinguished in history for its ancient castle. Of the original foundation of the structure, nothing satisfactory is known; the first notice of it occurs in the history of the siege of Aberystwith Castle by Grufydd ab Rhŷs, when the governor of that fortress sent to Ystrad-Meuric by night, and received before morning a reinforcement, which enabled him to defend himself against the attacks of the Welsh prince. It was partly destroyed by Owain Gwynedd, in 1136, when that chieftain, aided by his brother Cadwaladr, destroyed several other castles in Wales, held by the AngloNorman invaders; in 1150, however, it was repaired by Rhŷs, Prince of South Wales, who, and his brother Meredydd, sons of Grufydd ab Rhŷs, took it from Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd, and fortified it for themselves. In 1158 it was besieged and taken by Roger, Earl of Clare, but in 1189 was retaken by Maelgwyn ab Rhŷs, who in 1194 gave it to Anarawd, his brother, as a ransom for the liberation of his two brothers Hywel and Madoc, whom that chieftain had made prisoners. It did not remain long in the possession of Anarawd, for Maelgwyn again retook it in 1198, and kept it till the year 1207, when, despairing of being able to defend the fortress against Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, Prince of North Wales, from whom he expected a hostile attack, he razed it to the ground. From that time it does not appear that it was ever rebuilt.
The chapelry is surrounded by the parishes of Llanvihangel-Lledrod, Llanwnws, and the remainder of Yspytty-Ystwith, being bounded on the east by the river Meuric, and on the south, west, and north by the brooks Nant-y-Castell, Sychnant, and Marchnant-V�ch. It contains 930 acres, of which 500 are common or waste land. The surface consists of elevated and sterile hills; the rocks are clay slate; the soil of the arable land is sandy, and the chief agricultural produce is barley, oats, and extensive potato crops. The turnpike-road from Aberystwith to Tr�garon passes through the place. A fair is held on the 2nd of July for pigs, for wool, and pedlery. The tithes are impropriate, and have been commuted for a rent-charge of �36. 7. The chapel, which has no separate endowment, is served by the incumbent of Yspytty-Ystwith, or his curate; it is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and is a small plain building, consisting only of a nave.
A free grammar school was founded in 1757, by Edward Richard, who endowed it in that and subsequent years with lands and houses, now producing at least �86. 10. per annum, for thirty-two boys from any part of the country, preference being given to those of this place and neighbourhood; and the grammar-school of Llanvihangel-Lledrod, adjoining, of which Mr. Richard was master, and which was endowed with rents now amounting to about �150, for forty boys of the Upper division of that parish, was, after his decease, merged in the school here, which was long eminently distinguished as one of the best classical academies in the principality. A very handsome school-house was erected by subscription, previously to 1812, in the chapelyard, in the later style of English architecture; to which is attached an excellent library, comprising books in various languages, principally the gift of the founder. About 60 boys receive instruction in the classics, mathematics, and arithmetic; the institution is conducted by a head master and his assistant, and there is an exhibition to St. John's College, Cambridge, belonging to the school, for the best Greek scholar. Though the two schools are united, and the endowments are paid to one master, there are still two different trusts: the Bishop of St. David's is visiter. Among the persons who have been successively masters may be noticed Mr. Edward Richard; the Rev. John Williams, who conducted it for forty years; and the Rev. D. Williams, late fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, an eminent divine and critic, who distinguished himself as an impartial magistrate, an elegant scholar, and a polished gentleman. A Sunday school is held, in connexion with the Established Church.
Upon the summit of a gravelly hill near the village are some remains of the ancient castle of YstradMeuric, which, though inconsiderable, denote it to have been originally a place of great strength and importance. On one of the lofty hills in the chapelry, called Friwllwyd, are vestiges of a Roman intrenchment, occupying a commanding site to the north of the chapel; and on another hill, designated Tommen Vilwyn, is a cairn of tolerable size. An ancient house, styled Mynachtŷ, is supposed to have been the hospitium from which the chapelry most probably derived its name.
Edward Richard, founder of the grammar school, and a native of the place, was distinguished as a profound scholar and critic, an antiquary, and a Welsh poet, and was the author of some pastorals, which, for elegance of composition and purity of style, are unrivalled by any writings in the Welsh language. He is thought to have been born in the year 1714, but his name does not appear among the baptisms in the register. |
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