Gc
942.98019
K46J
1378330
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 00718 7930
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
. HISTORT
• ... OF
KWfFELLr
PLATE I.
hi ec,
■J S
I- o
in ■«
■< a-
U e
>■ 5
History of Kidwelly
REV. D. DAVEN JONES, B.A.
Vicar of Kidwelly.
With Illustrations.
Nor rough, nor barren, are the winding ways
Of hoar antiquity, but strewn with flowers.'
Thomas War ton (1687 — 1745)-
CARMARTHEN:
PRINTED BY W. SPURRELL AND SON.
1908.
if-3^
137S330
TO JOHN
LORD BISHOP OF ST, DAVIDS
THIS BOOK
IS, BY PERMISSION, DEDICATED
BY
HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT
THE AUTHOR
PREFACE.
— .^^.^—
Kidwelly deserves a written history of its own.
A Tragedy, in five acts, entitled, ' Gwenllian, or The
Siege of Kidwelly,' by E. Andrews, published in 1841 ;
a few facts embodied in an 'Appeal ' on behalf of the
restoration of the parish church, by Hugh Williams,
published in 1847 ; a Paper prepared by George T.
Clark for the Cambrian Archaeological Association in
1850, entitled, 'A Description and History of Kidwelly
Castle,' published in ' ArchcBologia Cambrensis,' and
twice reprinted in pamphlet form ; and some spas-
modic and disjointed notices, mostly unauthentic, pub-
lished in local newspapers, constitute the literature
which appears to have been hitherto printed relative
to the history of the ancient town and commote of
Kidwelly, whose stirring annals extend back to the
dim vista of the ages.
The historical interest that clusters round the subject,
and the perfunctory treatment it has hitherto received,
must be my apology for presuming to present the facts
which appear in the following pages, trusting, at the
same time, that they may be of interest to my readers,
and that my effort, however imperfect, may serve as
a chronicle of achievements and events which should
not be consigned to oblivion.
I gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to Arch-
deacon W. Iv. Bevan for several valuable suggestions
which he has kindly given me.
D. DAVEN JONES.
The Vicarage, Kidwelly,
December 13, 1907.
CONTENTS
The Topographicai. Situation of Kidwelly . . . . i
The Etymology of the Name . . . . . . 3
Its Ancient History . . . . . . . , 6
The Vicissitudes of its Castile . . . . . . 19
The Manor . . . . . . . . . . 26
LocAi, Military Levies . . . . . . . . 30
Its Casti,e . . . . . . . . . . • • 32
Its eari,y Christian Churches . . . . . . 41
Its Priory . . . . . . . . • • 47
The Situation of the Priory . . . . . . 50
The Consecration of an ancient Cemetery . . 56
The Vicariate . . . . . . . . . . 58
Chantries . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Parish Church . . . . . . . . 64
The Municipai< Borough . . . . . . ■ ■ 77
Domestic Euildings and noted Famiues . . 82
LOCAI, Cei<ebrities . . . . . . . . . . 87
Local Public Men . . . . . . . . 93
Local Nonconformist Chapels . . . . . . 98
Local Industries . . . . . . . . 100
CONTENTS.
APPENDIX.
A. PUNDAMENTAL DEED CONCERNING THE PRIORY .. Ill
B. Charter of Fitzwilliam .. .. ., 113
C. Charter of Maurice de Londres .. ..113
D. Petition concerning the Tithes op Kidweixy i 14
E. Sequestration of the Profits of the Church and
Priory . . . . . . . . ..115
F. Draft Lease regarding the Sai,e of the Tempor-
alities of the Priory . . . . . . 116
G. The Diversion of the Resources of the Chantry 119
H. Charter of Henry, Duke of Lancaster, a.d. 1357 121
I. Charter of Henry VI., a.d. 1444 . . . . 126
J. An Exemplification of the original Charter 130
K. An Exemplification of the original Charter,
4 Edward VI. .. .. .. ..130
L. Charter of James I., a.d. 1619 .. .. 131
M. Charter of Queen Victoria, a.d. 1885 .. •• i57
N. An Order in Council constituting St. Mary Kid-
welly Within and St. Mary Without a United
School District under Section 40 of the Ele-
mentary Education Act, 1870 .. .. 165
CONTENTS.
II,I.USTRATIONS.
Pi,ATE I. KiDWELi^Y Castle, after J. M. W. Turner.
Pi:,ATE II- Kidwelly Parish Church, Woodcut.
Plate ill. Kidwelly Castle : General View.
Plate IV.* The same : Bird's-eye View.
Plate v.* The same : General Survey.
Plate VI.* The same : Plan.
Plate VII.* The same : Sections.
Plate VIII.* The same : Details.
Plate IX.* The same : the Chapel.
Plate X. The Vicarage House.
Plate XI. Kidwelly Parish Church, from the North.
Plate XII. i J The same : shewing Roof damaged by Fall
OF Tower.
Plate XIII. The same : the Nave.
Plate XIV. The same : Chancel Windows.
Plate XV. The same : Figure of Madonna and en-
trance TO Mural Staircase.
Plate XVI. The same : the Communion Plate.
Plate XVII. The same : Sepulchral Recess.
Plate XVIII. The same : the Sedilia and Piscina.
Plate XIX. ^ The Seal of the Corporation.
Plate XX.* Old Houses in Kidwelly.
* By permission of the proprietors of 'Archaeologia Cambrensis.'
ERRATA.
Page 23, third line from foot — For Maude read Blanche.
Page 25, tenth line — For Carberry read Carbery.
Page 38, seventeenth Une — For The readlAn.
ADDENDUM.
Page 44, eleventh line, after ' near by,' read ' csimilar to that
which still remains on Colman Farm.'
ABBREVIATION.
P.i?.0.— Public Record Office.
PLATE II.
KIDWELLY.
ITS TOPOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.
pDWElvLY is a town, a municipal borough,
and a parish in the hundred and lordship
of Kidwelly, and county of Carmarthen.
The town itself is situate on the northern
and southern banks of the lower course of
Gwendraeth Fach (L,esser Gwendraeth) river, and nine
miles to the south of Carmarthen. Iceland, in his Itiner-
ary, gives it this quaint description — ' Ther is a litle
Toune, now but newly made, between Vendraith Vaure
and Guendraeth Vehan rivers, but hard upon Vendraith
Vehan. Vendraith Vaur is half a mile of. Ther is
betwixt new Kidwelly and the old, but a Bridge over
I^itle Wendraith. The old Toun is pretily waullid, and
hath hard by the waul, a Castel ; the old Toun is near
al desolated, but the Castel is meately wel kept up. It
longgid to the Duke of Lancastre The Castel
is very fair, and double waullid. I saw there iii gates,
and over one of them was the Ruine of a Fair Toune
Haul, and under, a Prison. A peace of the new Toun
was lateli burnid. The new Toune is three times as
bigge as the old.'
[A]
2 HISTORY OF KIDWEr,I,Y.
This description has reference to the condition of the
town at about the middle of the i6th century, when
Iceland wrote, and although it is a sad picture of de-
cadence, it nevertheless proves that Kidwelly had been
a place of considerable size and importance at an earlier
period.
The little town alluded to was that which grew up
under the shadow and protection of the Norman Castle,
and was on the left bank of Gwendraeth Fach river.
This seems to have been originally built for the accom-
modation of foreign settlers, consisting of French,
English, and Flemings, introduced in consequence of
the Norman occupation of the district (see Appendix A).
On the other hand, the old town represented as having
fallen into decay, was on the right bank of the river,
and was probably the capital of the commote of Kid-
welly, which, together with the commotes of Gwyr
(Gower) and Carnwyllion, formed, at one time, what
was known to the Kymry as Cantref Eginog, a con-
stituent part of the third division of the ancient king-
dom or principality of Dynevor, or Deheubarth (South
Wales).*
* ' Description of Cambria,' by Sir John Price, xix.
HISTORY OF KIDWELI^Y. 3
THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE NAME.
ENNIUS, a monk of Bangor in North Wales,
who is supposed to have written his ' Eulogium
BritannicB ' in the 9th century, cites the name
as Cetgueli* This form of the name appears also in
' Liber Landavensis ' (p. 552), a compilation in the main
of the former part of the 12th century. In ancient
documents, such as the Patent Rolls, Charter Rolls,
Close Rolls, and Inquisitions Post Mortem, the name is
variously written, the variations being less instructive
than grotesque. The distortions are, indeed, in some
instances almost unrecognisable. These are examples —
Kedewelli, Cadewely, Kadewely, Keddewelly, Kadd-
welye, Kedwelli, Kydewelly, Keldwelby, Kedewelby,
Kedewalli, Kydewely, Kedewely, Kedewelle, Kidewell.
Iceland's etymology of Kidwelly may reasonably be
rebelled against as being atrocious when he says, as he
does in his Itinerary, that ' this place was called Cath-
welli, that is Cattilectus, because Cattas once used there
to make his bed in an oak.'
In ' The Description of Pembrokeshire,' by George
Owen, of Henllys, edited by Dr. Henry Owen, the editor
states (p. 200) that Kidwelly was in Welsh called Cedweli,
or Cadweli, and that the name is a tribal one ordinarily
formed from the personal name Cadwal. This authority
maintains that the town of Kidwelly borrowed its name
from the castle, in whose surroundings it sprang up
and that the castle took its name from the district in
* Nennius and Gildas — San Marte's Ed., p. ^6.
4 HISTORY OF KIDWElvIvY.
which it was erected. Similar instances are given in
which old Welsh district-names became attached to a
town in the vicinity, such as Arnvystli, which is derived
from Arwystl ; Builth from Buellt, or Biiallt ; Cardigan
from Ceredigion ; Pembroke from Penhrog ; Brecknock
from Brycheiniog ; Maesyfed from Maeshyfaidd ; and
Laugharne from Talacharn. The objections to this
theory are (i) that Cadwal is left unidentified, and
seems to be unknown to history ; (2) that the last
syllable in the word Cydweli is unaccounted for.
The popular theory as to the etymology of the name
Kidwelly is based on the import of the modern Welsh
form Cydweli, which is represented to be a compound
word consisting of the prefix cyd (con) wy=gwy (water),
and li=lii (a stream). The meaning of the name accord-
ing to this theory would therefore be, the conflue^ice of
streams. And this derivation is supported by the physi-
cal features of the locality, as the larger portion of the
town, which is called ' the new town,' lies between the
greater and lesser Gwendraeth rivers, which mingle their
waters in an estuary about a mile from the town.
Plausible though this theory may be, it does not
sufficiently account for the earliest form of the name
Cetgueli, as given by Nennius.
It will have been observed that the name of both the
local rivers is Gwendraeth (White-beach). This does not
sound like a river name : it seems to refer to the traeth,
or sandy level, across which the united rivers find their
way to the sea, and which probably has been transferred
from the plain to the rivers themselves, whose union
forms the characteristic feature of the locality. If this
HISTORY OF KIDWEI.LY. 5
be SO, it is reasonable to suppose that the rivers had, at
an early period, a name of their own, and this name
possibly supplies an explanation of the two syllables
welly, for the original form, as written by Nennius,
Cetgueli, would be gueli, and this approximates closely
to the well-known Gwili, of Abergwili. The first syllable
cet, or as now kid, may be a form of cyd, signifying
jimction, in which case Kidwelly would refer to that
which is the special feature of the neighbourhood — the
junction of the Gwelis.
In his explanatory notes on the ' Siege of Kidwelly, '
by E. Andrews, the author states (p. 54) that the Gwen-
draeth originally bore the name of Gwely. The early
inhabitants of these parts seem to have been animated
by a conservative spirit in naming the rivers, for the
names afford little variation, and in some instances no
variation at all, as, for instance, Teify, Towy, Tawy,
and Taf. So, again, Cleddau is, as in the case of the
Kidwelly rivers, shared by two streams, whose junction
gave its Welsh name A herdaugleddau to Milf ord.
It may, however, be objected that in the last-mentioned
theory the ' g ' has been dropped out of Nennius's gueli,
such not being demanded by the rule of initial mutation,
inasmuch as cyd does not affect the radical form ; but
the loss may have occurred from the practice of by-gone
days. If therefore allowance be made for changes pro-
duced by time and usage, it is quite possible that the
name Kidwelly means the junction of the Gwelis as
appropriate to the commote in the first instance, and
subsequently to its capital.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
ITS ANCIENT HISTORY.
'HE remotest antiquity of Kidwelly is suggested
by some place-names which have been handed
down through the ages to the present time.
Among these are Y Maenllwyd Mawr (the great
hoary stone) and Allt Cunedda (the hill of Cunedda).
These names are so distinctive of two different epochs
in the annals of ancient Britain as to justify the assump-
tion that Kidwelly played a prominent part in each of
them.
y Maenllwyd Mawr is the name by which is still
generally known a large enclosure on an eminence about
half a mile from the town on the old road leading east-
ward. Here there is what appears to be a Celtic barrow,
or tumulus, intact, and of extraordinary size — 135 yards
long, 6 yards wide, and 4 or 5 feet high — which has
remained scientifically unexplored to the present time.
This may originally have been a place of Goidelic in-
terment, in which case it is not improbable that it
became also a Druidic oratory, for the tomb then not
unfrequently became the shrine ; but this double use
of the position may also have been continued by the
Brythons after they had embraced the Christian religion.
Indeed, many of our Christian Churches have originated
in this manner, and it is a most obvious transition from
the tomb to the temple. The worship of the spirits of
the dead at the one time would naturally grow into the
worship of the Great Unknown in the other.* It is
* Fergusson's ' Rude Stone Monuments.'
HISTORY OF KIDWEl^IvY. 7
probable that this transition took place here, for the
very position became the site (as will be seen later on)
of a Christian Church. The swampy condition of the
lowlands at the remote period of the Celtic settle-
ment in this island would naturally incline the
settlers to select hillocks and mountainous districts
for their abode. For this reason they are said to have
assembled in the western parts of Britain, where the
undulating nature of the country would appeal to them
as most suited for their habitation and the rites of their
religion. Relics of the Druidic worship and burial might
therefore be expected to be found in elevated places,
such as the position which Y Maenllwyd Mawr occupies.
Druidism itself, in fact, was generally known as Y Maen
(the stone).* There remains however, as might have
been expected in a site under cultivation, no trace of
the hoary stone, probably a megalithic monument
commonly called a Cromlech, after which the enclosure
is named.
Allt Cimedda is the name given to the hill on the
north-east of the town, which is supposed once to have
been the site of a stronghold erected either by the chief-
tain himself, whose name it bears, or by his sons, of
whom Meirion and Ceredig, the grandfather of St. David,
the Patron Saint of Wales, are the most familiar. It
may be observed that in the Ordnance Map of 1842 the
position in question is marked ' Ancient Fortress,' and
excavations rendered expedient by agricultural pro-
cesses bear indubitable testimony to the probability of
* Morgan's ' British Kymry,' p. 58.
8 HISTORY OF KIDWELI.Y.
the existence at one time of a somewhat extensive
fortification in this place. Now Cimedda, or Cuneddag,
a prince of Strathclyde, and his sons are said by Nennius
to have come into Wales from a district on the southern
side of the Frith of Forth,* which the Picts eventually
snatched from the Roman power, and which they made
one of their most important settlements.! Nennius
also statesj that Cunedda and his sons arrived in
Wales 146 years before the reign of Maelgwn, one
of the most astute princes of Cunedda's descendants,
who died of the yellow plague a.d. 547. Hence it
would appear that their advent followed closely upon
the evacuation of Britain by the Roman legions.
Cunedda became the Gwledig, or over-king of the
Kymry, an office which was a revival and perpetua-
tion of the Dux Briianniarum during the Roman
occupation, and he is said to have wielded this power
as far as the Severn Sea, a view of the extension of which
Allt Cunedda commands.
The general unrest among European nations in the
5th and 6th centuries, which occasioned the withdrawal
of the Roman legions from Britain, seems to have dis-
turbed the peace in the south-western part of the island,
where the Goidels and Brythons — two branches of the
Celtic race — had already settled among the non-Aryan
aborigines. The Goidels were probably the first Celtic
settlers, and they became in course of time inoculated
with the Druidic religion, which had previously belonged
* Rhys's 'Celtic Britain,' p. 118.
I Newell's 'Welsh Church,' p. loi.
% Nennius and Gildas,' p. 72.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 9
to the pre-Celtic inhabitants, while the Brythons were
driven hither at a later period, and seem neither to
have been welcomed by the Goidels nor to have adopted
their religious creed, as they are supposed to have re-
mained polytheists, such as they were, when Julius
Caesar (' De Bello Gallico ') first made their acquaint-
ance. It would appear that the Brythonic intruders
settled in this part in a strip of country which lay on
the eastern bank of the river Towy extending south-
wards to the sea,* and they are said by Nennius to
have been coimtenanced by the northern conquerors,
by whom the Goidels were driven out. It is also
stated by Camden that this territory was for a long
time possessed by the sons of Keianus, the Scot, and
that they were expelled by Cunedda.f
At the time when this onslaught was made by Cunedda
and his sons on the Goidels, the district was known as
Gwyr (Gower) and Y Tri Chwmmwd (the Three Com-
motes), by which latter were meant Kidwelly, Carnwyll-
ion, and Is-cennen.J This grouping formed the Swydd
Gy dwell, a misprint for Gy dwell. ^ At another period,
however, Kidwelly, Carnwyllion, and Gower seem to
have been the three commotes belonging to the cantref
of Ystrad Tywy or Eginog.|| Urien, the son of Cyn-
varch, or Urien Rheged as he is otherwise called, is also
associated by Welsh tradition with this, or a similar ex-
ploit, for it is asserted that King Arthur sent this prince
* Rhys's ' Celtic Britain,' p. 254.
t Camden's 'Britannia,' translated by Gough, p. 504.
% lolo MSS., p. 392.
§ Myv. Arch. II., 623. || Powell's 'History of Cambria,' xix.
10 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
of the Round Table with ten thousand men to recover
the above-mentioned Three Commotes which Gihtiore
Rechdyr, king of Ireland, had usurped in the time of
Constantine the Blessed, the first British sovereign after
the Roman evacuation, a.d. 406. Urien is credited
with having conquered the Irish and put them to flight,
and to have subsequently received the kingdom of the
country which was called Rheged — supposed to be derived
from anrheg, a gift. This comprised the district between
the rivers Tawy and Towy, including Gower, Kidwelly,
Carnwyllion, Iscennen, and Cantref Bychan, and is said
to have been a free gift bestowed unanimously upon
Urien by its ancient British inhabitants. *
Rheged is represented in the lolo MSS. (p. 457) to
have been included in the kingdom of Glamorgan.
Subsequent, however, to the time of Hywel Dda,
during whose magnificent reign the ancient British sub-
divisions of Wales underwent a considerable modifica-
tion, there arose incessant disputes between Morganwg
(Glamorgan) and Deheubarth (South Wales), touching
the limits of the rival dominions. The district known
as Gower and the Three Commotes, including Kidwelly,
constituted one of the debatable territories. Towards
the latter part of the loth century ' Liher Landavensis '
(p. 502) presents the district between the mouth of the
Wye and the mouth of the Towy as comprising the
kingdom of Morgan Hen, king of Glamorgan. The
Principality of lestyn ap Gwrgan, who succeeded to the
throne of Glamorgan about the middle of the nth
* lolo MSS., 457—467.
HISTORY OP KIDWELLY. II
century, is stated in the lolo MSS. (p. 391) to have
embraced the district between Tawy and Towy. In
either case Kidwelly would then be included in the
kingdom or lordship of Glamorgan.
Down to the year 11 33 the diocese of Irlandaff seems
to have been co-extensive with the kingdom of Mor-
ganwg, or with the Principality of Glamorgan, and there-
fore the district above mentioned would also be within
the see of lylandaff. This fact is attested even as late
as the year 1130 by the following BuU of Innocent II.,
addressed to the ' Inhabitants of Gower, Kidwelly,
&c.'
' Innocent, Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to tiis sons,
the clergy and people resident throughout the parishes of Gower,
Kidwelly, Cantref-Bychan, Ystradyw, and Urgyng, health and
apostohcal benediction. As our predecessor of happy memory.
Pope Honorius, has by his writings ordered you to obey our
venerable brother Urban, Bishop of Llandaff, so also we com-
mand that you humbly render to him, as to your father and
Bishop, obedience and reverence.
' Given at the Palatine the 25th day of Feb., 1130.'
The district in question became also a source of friction
which eventually developed into litigation between the
rival sees of Llandaff and St. Davids. The dispute,
although repeatedly laid before the Pope, was not settled
at Rome, nor until the death of Urban, bishop of lylandaff,
which occurred when he was on a journey to Rome in
the prosecution of the business in 11 33. The contest
was then given up by the bishop of I^landaff, and
Bernard, bishop of St. Davids, retained possession of
the district, which has ever since been incorporated in
the see of St. Davids.
12 HISTORY OF KIDWEIXY.
A local function (the consecration of an ancient
cemetety), reference to which is made later on, induces
the belief that the district in dispute had virtually ex-
changed hands as regards diocesan limits between 1096
and 1112.
Rhys ap Tewdwr, who succeeded his father Tewdwr
the Great as Prince of South Wales in 1077, had already,
for the purpose of civil government, detached the district
from Glamorgan, and had it annexed to his own domin-
ion, and this probably was one of the chief causes of
the imbroglio that ensued between Glamorgan and
Deheubarth, and which resulted in the Norman conquest
of Glamorgan and the Norman invasions and occupa-
tion of Kidwelly.
INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE.
lestyn, lord of Glamorgan, was at enmity with Prince
Rhys (an enmity probably arising out of this disputed
territory) at the time when Eineon, son of Cadivor, son
ofj[Collw\m, lord of Dyfed (Pembrokeshire), who had
been implicated in a rebellion against Rhys, the reigning
Prince, fled to Glamorgan for refuge. This Bineon had
served as an officer in the English Army in foreign wars.
In order to insinuate himself into the favour of lestyn,
he volunteered, under certain stipulations (among which
was a promise of lestyn 's daughter in marriage, with the
lordship of Miskin for her dowry), to make a personal
application to the King of England (William Rufus),
with whom he professed to be in favour,* for military
* lolo MSS., p. 393.
HISTORY OF KIDWEI.LY. I3
assistance to lestyn against Rhys ap Tewdwr. This
negotiation resulted in the willing sympathy and active
support of Robert Fitzhamon, a kinsman of William
the Conqueror and Knight of the Privy Chamber to
King William Rufus,* and twelve other Norman knights.
These levied in England a formidable army, consisting
of twenty-four squires and three thousand men,t which,
having joined that of lestyn in the year 1090, marched
together into the territories of the Prince of South Wales.
Rhys ap Tewdwr, although then about 98 years of age,
hastily raised an army and met the combined invaders
near Brecon, where a sanguinary battle ensued with
great slaughter on each side. The aged but still valiant
prince was slain in the engagement, and history relates
that with him disappeared the glory of the Principality
of South Wales. { The object for which their aid had
been requisitioned having been attained, the Norman
knights, after being sufficiently indemnified by lestyn,
made preparations for their withdrawal to England. At
this juncture, however, Eineon, who had perceived that
lestyn was disinclined to fulfil his engagement to him,
hurried to Robert Fitzhamon and his lieutenants, and
having reported to them this breach of faith, invited
them in his desire for revenge, to return and dispossess
lestyn of his lordship, advancing his unpopularity with
his subjects as a plea.§ The mercenaries eagerly seized
the opportunity of becoming combatants on their own
account. lestyn, with the demoralised remnant of his
* Powell, xxxii. f lolo Mss., p. 378.
J Rhys's ' Celtic Britain,' p. 142.
§ lolo MSS., pp. m, 380.
14 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.LY.
army, was attacked on Mynydd Bychan, or Cardiff
Heath,* was hopelessly defeated, and had no alternative
but to flee the country.
' What evils has the want of love produced,
My country can declare ; the want of this —
Oh ! sad the thought ! spoiled lestyn of his all ;
Fixed the Normans in Morgan wg's land ;
Robb'd Cymry of their much lov'd soil ;
Made fathers wilfully imbrue their hands
Even in their children's blood ! '
Siege of Kidwelly.
Having gained an easy victory, the Normans now
proceeded to divide the spoil. The royal lordship of
Glamorgan was appropriated by Robert Fitzhamon, and
the fertile parts were distributed among his knights,
while the perfidious Eineon was left only the worthless
soil and hilly districts for his trouble. Of the knights
among whom Glamorgan was partitioned was William
de lyondres, whose family played a prominent part in
the history of Kidwelly. His share was the Castle and
Manor of Ogmore. Having secured this point of van-
tage, the Norman knights lost little time in pushing
forward their arms to the Principality of South Wales,
now enfeebled by the fall of Rhys ap Tewdwr ; for the
conquest of Wales, unlike that of England, was effected
by private enterprise.
NORMAN INVASIONS.
Hardly indeed had the Normans been settled in
Glamorgan before they made a descent, in the year
* lolo MSS., p. 380.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
15
1093, on Gwyr, Kidwelly, and Ystrad Towy, devastating
all the country before them.* Whether William de
Londres, lord of Ogmore, took an active part in
this particular expedition does not appear, but he
is said to have won from the Welsh, at some time,
the lordship of Kidwelly and Carnwyllion,-}- and to have
built a castle at Kidwelly. J Doubt is, however, cast
on these assertions by the late R. W. Banks in his article
on Early Charters in South Wales in ' ArchcBologia Cam-
brensis ' (Series IV., vol. ix., p. 82), where it is contended
that Henry I. was in possession of Kidwelly, Gower, and
the Vale of Towy when he came to the throne in iioo.
But if a fortress was erected at Kidwelly by this knight,
its resisting strength could not have been great, as in
the 3'ear 1094, when the garrison of Rhydygors, which
for some time had overawed the Welsh, was scattered,
the men of Gwyr (Gower) and these parts were en-
couraged to make an effort to regain their liberty. The
effort proved successful, for the Normans were put to
the sword or driven out of the country. § Consequent
on this rising a temporary deviation was made in the
method of conquering Wales, for King William Rufus,
on his return from Normandy in 1095, conducted a
series of expeditions with the royal army, amid much
ostentation into the marches of Wales. But, partly
because his soldiers were miserably accoutred, and
partly because of the strategical methods adopted by
the Welsh, the royal army was repeatedly forced to
* Powell, p. 117. t Ibid., xxxiv. J Ibid., p. 374.
§ Powell, p. 118.
l6 HISTORY OF KIDWElvI^Y,
retire without having gained any advantage. The con-
quest of Wales was again delegated to private enterprise,
the chief feature of which was the erection of Norman
Castles. By this means Wales became practically colon-
ized by the military, so that each isolated movement
of revolt on the part of the Welsh was immediately
met by a local force. It will be seen that while the
Saxon invasion hardly disturbed the equilibrium of this
part of Britain, the history of Kidwelly in the middle
ages is bound up with the Norman Conquest and its
consequent exactitude and elaboration in the re-adjust-
ment of things, both civil and religious.
About the year iioi, or two years after the death of
King William Rufus, Ystrad Tywy, Kidwelly, and
Gower were bestowed by Henry I. on Howel ap Gronow.*
From this fact it would appear either that William de
Londres was merely in possession of the town of Kidwelly
and its immediate vicinity, or that he was deprived by
his new royal master of more extensive local property
which might once have belonged to him. Howel ap
Gronow was, however, killed in 1103 by the soldiers of
the Norman garrison which had been re-established at
Rhydygors Castle, f
Probably at this time the Norman invasion of Gower,
Carnwyllion, and Kidwelly, already referred to above,
took place. It would appear that the Normans
had left a garrison at Kidwelly, and had probably other-
wise kept themselves in touch with this district since
the invasion of 1093, although conflicting interests in
* Powell, p. 124. t Ibid, p. 126.
HISTORY OF KIDWElvLY. I7
the interval amply show that the inhabitants were stiU
in revolt against Norman domination. Another coup
d'etat was therefore necessary in order to bring the
Three Commotes (Carnwyllion, Kidwelly, and Iscennen)
into definite subjection. It will be seen further on
that Roger, bishop of Salisbury, Chief Justiciary
and Treasurer to Henry I., was associated with this
expedition. It is certain that this powerful minister
was in possession of considerable property at KidweUy
in the earlier part of the 12th century, and he is made
to appear as lord of the Manor of Kidwelly in a docu-
ment, which, although undated, must have been exe-
cuted prior to the year 11 12, as Wilfrid (or ' Griff ri '
as he was known to the Welsh), bishop of St. Davids,
who died in that year, is therein referred to as having
given his consent to the consecration of a local cemetery
provided for by the document (see Appendix A.). It
is also equally certain that there was a castle in
existence at Kidwelly at that time, for the document
in question was drawn up at, and issued by Roger, from
— ' the house of the Castle of Kedweli.' It is not
indeed improbable that the castle which then stood was
erected by Roger, bishop of Salisbury, for he became
known to history as a great castle builder. He certainly
built castles at Devizes, Sherborne, and Mahnesbury,
which not only excited the jealousy of the barons, but
were the admiration of Europe.* This, of course, could
not have been the castle, the noble ruins of which still
stand, as the style of architecture adopted in its con-
* Hunt's 'Norman Britain,' p. 203.
[B]
l8 HISTORY OF KIDWEI^LY.
struction was unknown at the beginning of the 12th
century. It may therefore safely be assumed that this
early castle, if it was built by Roger, was of a substantial
character, and may have been the foundation on which
the present castle was afterwards reared. Whether Wil-
liam de lyondres voluntarily relinquished or was deprived
of his interest in Kidwelly at this time, there seems
little doubt that Roger was lord of the Manor and actual
owner of its property in the first decade of the 12th
century. Roger's sojourn at Kidwelly seems to have
been brief, for William de lyondres was again in posses-
sion of the manorial property in the year 11 13.
HISTORY OF KIDWELI.Y.
19
THE VICISSITUDES OF THE CASTLE.
fRYFFlTH ap Rhys ap Tewdwr, the rightful
prince of South Wales, who, from fear of King
Henry I., had been from his infancy brought
up in Ireland, made his appearance in Wales in
the year mo. The rumour of his arrival was spread
in 1 1 12, and it was at length reported to the king that
a son of Rhys ap Tewdwr laid claim to the Principality
of South Wales. A price was put on his head by the
king, who offered a tempting bribe to Gr5rffith ap Cynan,
prince of North Wales, at whose court Gryffith ap Rhys
was staying, for his betrayal. Gryffith ap Cynan was
captivated by the king's overtures, and consented to
grant his demand. The young Prince of South Wales
fled to Aberdarron Church for sanctuary, and when the
royal messengers came to apprehend him, the clergy
refused to give him up ; whereupon he was conveyed
by his friends to Ystrad Tywy. Here he declared open
defiance to the King of England, and at length raised
forces wherewith to attack the Normans and Flemings.*
His primary attacks were made on I^landovery Castle,
which belonged to Richard de Pwns, and Swansea
Castle, which was built by Henry Beaumont, Earl of
Warwick, but each proved unsuccessful. On his return
from Swansea to Ystrad Tywy, he burned and destroyed
all the country before him. He afterwards destroyed
the town of Carmarthen and laid siege to its castle,
which was not surrendered, although the governor,
* Powell, pp. 142 — 144.
20 HISTORY OP KIDWEI.I.Y.
Owen ap Caradoc, was killed. Gryffith's forces having
by this time gained considerable strength, he marched
next on Gower, and William de lyondres and his soldiers,
through whose territory the Welsh warrior had to pass,
became so alarmed at his approach that they hastily
forsook the Castle of Kidwelly. When Gryffith there-
fore arrived here, he found the place deserted, and a
large number of cattle without owners. He forthwith
burnt down the castle, and made off with the booty.*
About this time Gryffith ap Rhys was married to Gwen-
llian, daughter of Gryffith ap Cynan, prince of North
Wales.
Maurice de I^ondres, as legal heir to the property,
became lord of the manor of Kidwelly (see page 23),
and at the death of Henry I. (1135) he owned a vast
amount of property both here and elsewhere, and was,
moreover, a powerful personage. He was the founder
of Ewenny Priory, and between 1147 and 1176, during
the episcopate of David, bishop of St. Davids, ' he gave
and granted to God, and Saint Mary of Kedweli, and
the monks of Schyrborne twelve acres of land around
the Church of St. Cadoc, which adjoin the land of the
aforesaid church of St. Mary ' (see Appendix C).
As Gryffith ap Rhys had been a thorn in the side of
the head of his family, so was Maurice de Londres
destined to be harassed by the same prince ; for Giraldus
Cambrensis records the fact (I. p. 168) that while Gryffith
ap Rhys was absent in North Wales, whither he had
gone to seek reinforcements from Gryffith ap Cynan, his
* Powell, p. 146.
HISTORY OF KIDWELI.Y. 21
father-in-law, in support of his revolt against the Nor-
mans in South Wales, his wife Gwenllian put herself
at the head of an army, and marched on Kidwelly :
' Gwenllian too,
Who lov'd not self, but others ; who ever
Shew'd herself the friend, the parent of her
People.'
The Siege of Kidwelly.
' In I/ondres' tent the clarion sounds,
With rapid clangour hurried far.
Each hill and dale the note rebounds,
And echoes with the shout of war.'
After a hot engagement with Maurice de lyondres's
Norman forces, which took up their position on the
slope of a hill about a mile and a half north of Kidwelly
on the west bank of Gwendraeth Fach river, which
to this day is called the King's Wood, the Welsh, under
Gwenllian 's command, were defeated, and GwenlHan
herself, together with her son Morgan, was put to death
The battlefield is still called Maes Gwenllian (the field
of Gwenllian), and is situate on the eastern bank of
Gwendraeth Fach river, opposite King's Wood.
' GwenUian was, — is not ! A day
Of gloom, of darkness shrouds my mountain-land,
Now that its sun is set ! — The life-blood of
The patriot-queen, this field, — that stream received !
Bewidowed of its feathered tribes, that fled
Aghast from villainy so great, that wood
In holy stillness mourns th' illustrious dead !
Less callous they than man !
Siege of Kidwelly.
The date assigned to this battle by Dr. John Jones in
his ' History of Wales ' (p. 321) is 1130. It certainly
22 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
must have been fought prior to 1136, as Gryffith ap
Rhys is said to have died in that year.*
A gHmpse is given into the private hfe of Maurice de
I/Ondres by Giraldus Cambrensis (Vol. I. Chap. 9), where
it is stated that he had a forest in the neighbourhood of
Kidwelly, which was well stocked with animals and
especially deer, to which he was partial, being very
fond of venison. An episode is related by Giraldus in
connection with Maurice's partiality to the deer, and
that of his wife to the sheep, which, for its quaintness,
is here given in literal translation : — ' His [Maurice]
wife (for women are often very expert in deceiving men)
made use of this curious stratagem. Her husband pos-
sessed on the side of the wood next the sea, some exten-
sive pastures and large flocks of sheep. Having made
all the shepherds and chief people in her house accom-
plices and favourers of her design, and taking advantage
of the simple courtesy of her husband, she thus addressed
him — " It is wonderful that being lord over beasts, you
have ceased to exercise dominion over them ; and by
not keeping your deer in order, do not now rule over
but are subservient to them ; and behold how great an
abuse arises from too much patience, for they attack
our sheep with such an unheard-of rage, and unusual
voracity, that from many they are become few, from
being innumerable, only numerous." To make her story
more probable she caused some wool to be inserted
between the intestines of two stags which had been
emboweUed ; and her husband thus artfully deceived,
sacrificed his deer to the rapacity of his dogs.'
* Powell, p. 158.
HISTORY OF KIDWEI.LY.
23
After Maurice's death, the lordship of Kidwelly and
the ownership of the castle seem to have passed to his
brother, Thomas de I^ondres, and to have been trans-
mitted down in that branch of the family until they
were merged in the crown of England at the accession
of Henry IV., as shown in the following genealogical
table.
THE GENEALOGY OF THE BRANCH OF THE DE
LONDRES FAMIIvY AFFECTING THE LORDSHIP OP
KIDWELLY.
William de Londres
I
Simon
I
William
Maurice de Londres,
temp. Henry I.
I I
Thomas de Londres, Henry de Londres
temp. John Archbp. of
lord of Ogmore, Dublin
Kidwelly, and East Garston
Hawise {d. 2 Edw. I. Fine Rolls,
A.D. 1244), m. Patrick de Cadurcis
(under age 23 Henry III.), d. 1257
Payne de Cadurcis,
or Chaworth
aged 13 in 1257: d.
1278: in ward to his
mother. Accom-
panied Prince Ed-
ward to the Holy
^' Land. Of age
ff2 Edw. I. Com-
manded West Wales
5 Edw. I. (no issue)
Patrick [d. 1282)
m. Isabel, dght. of
William Beauchamp
(Earl of Warwick)
I I I
Hervey Eva Anne
Maud de Cadurcis (under age, 1294) m.
Henry, afterwards Earl of Lancaster. She
held Ogmore and Kidwelly (Pat. Rolls,
22, 23 I).
I
Henry, Duke of Lancaster
I
Maude Plantagenet,
m. John of Gaunt
Henry IV., King of England.
24 HISTORY OF KIDWEI^I^Y.
The castle is said to have been demohshed again by
Cadwgan ap Blethyn,* and to have been rebuilt in 1190
by Lord Rhys, son of Grj^ihth ap Rhys ap Tewdwr by
GwenUian his wife.f Unlike his father, who lived under
the ban of the English monarch, I^ord Rhys was in
favour with King Henry II., and enjoyed the peaceable
possession of vast properties in Wales, which included
the Dynevor demesne. He was, moreover, powerful
by reason of his astuteness. The high esteem in which
he was held by his countrymen is manifested in the
following Funeral Verses to him, which are chronicled
in ' The Remains concerning Ancient Britain ' by Camden
(p. 400) : —
' Nobile Cambrensis cecidit diadema decoris,
Hoc est, Rhesus obiit ; Cambria tota gemit.
Subtrahitur, sed non moritur, quia semper habetur
Ipsius egregium nomen in orbe novum.
Hie tegitur, sed detegitur, quia fama perennis
Non finit illustrem voce latere ducem :
Excessit probitate modum, sensu probitatem,
Eloquio sensum, moribus eloquium.'
Translation.
' All Cambria mourns her noble Prince's fall ; for well
She knows that with him fell her glory's diadem.
Departed hence, he smiles beneath his native earth ;
And yet departed never, he whose glorious name
Shall Uve for aye, afresh upon the Mps of men ;
Beneath the earth, and yet no earth can cover him.
That noble prince, whom everlasting fame forbids
To die. The greatness of his soul no one can tell.
Whom nature with her gifts so bounteously endowed,
That modesty with uprightness, with excellence
* Dr. John Jones's 'History of Wales,' p. 321.
t ' Giraldus Cambrensis,' Vol. I., p. 9 ; and PoweU, p. 209.
PLATE in.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 25
Of mind, with eloquence of tongue, with purity
Of soul, in rivalry contended each with each,
And none surpassed.' — W. J. G.
The castle was again destroyed by Lord Rhys's grand-
son, Rhys ap Gryffith, and it shortly afterwards fell
into the hands of the Crown.*
It was granted by Henrs' VII. to Sir Rhys ap Thomas,
and after being forfeited by his grandson, Rhj's ap
Gryffith, it became the property of Richard Vaughan,
Earl of Carberr}', and President of Wales, f from whom
it has descended to Earl Cawdor, who now owns it, as
well as the lordship of the manor of Kidwelly.
* Dr. John Jones's 'History of Wales,' p. 321.
t Ibid.
26 HISTORY OP KIDWElvIvY.
THE MANOR.
"HE manorial property was managed by a reeve,
or receiver, appointed by the lord of the manor.
The translated extracts given below throw
some light on the nature and extent of the manorial
estate.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER.— MINISTER'S ACCOUNTS.
BUNDLE 584. NO. 9236.— P.R.O.
Account of Roger Aylward, Receiver of Kedwellye, Cam
[wylUon], Iskennyn, and Oggemour, from i Octr. 43 Edward
III. to 9 Septr. next following, by his commission dated the
said ist Octbr. (1369 — 70).
Reeveship 0/ Kidwelly. — 'The reeve answers for 112* ej-"*,
received from Richard Box, late reeve, for the arrears of the
year 43 Edward III., and ^^19 received from John ap Holdon,
reeve, for the issues of this year by one tally.'
Sale of Wine. — '£11 received for 2 doUums of Gascon red
wine remaining in the castle by the purchase of T. Hervey
sold to the Receiver and John Oweyn.'
Wages, Fees, and Annuities. ' ^^13 6 8 for the fee of WiUiam
Banastre and John Lassels for the office of Steward of Kedwelley
and Cam [wylhon] for the whole of this year. 100* paid to
Richard de Burley for fee of the Constable of the Castle of
Kedwelley as for the half of the year 44 Edw. III. 38"" 4'* paid
to the same Richard for wages of the janitor of the Castle afore-
said in part payment of 50* 8'' yearly. ^^15 paid to the same
Richard for an annuity of £^0, granted to him for hfe, payable
at Easter and Michaelmas. 6* 8'' paid to John Nykell, carpenter
assigned by G. Foljamb and the whole Council, surveyor of the
works within the lordship of Kedwelly and Iskennyn, as part
payment of 13* 4'' yearly.'
Purchase of Millstones, &■€-. — ' Twelve new millstones bought
from John I,assels, two of them were dehvered for Caddoc-
mulne, two for the mill beneath the castle, and two for Morleis-
mulne, two for Conmulne, one for Melyncoyd, and three remain
at les bakes. 5 3* 4'' paid by him for the expenses and stipends
of various men of law of Wales (diversorum hominum de lege
HISTORY OP KIDWELLY. 27
Wallens) for the reversion of a certain judgment where he is
responsible to the lord for £6 13 4 in the Welsh court this year.
22*, the expenses of the Receiver and John Jordan for going to
Haverford, le Dale, le Nangle, Swynsey, and several other ports
to stay ships for the passage of the lord to Gascony, by letters
of the king, and letters of the said lord Duke (Lancaster). 22*
paid to John Jordan sent from Ked welly to London to the
council of the lord to certify the council of the death of William
Banastre, and other affairs, and returning, namely 22 days at
I' per day. And 5* paid to Thomas Frankeleyn for going from
KedweUy to Plymmouth for business of the lord with letters
of the steward and auditors.'
DUCHY OP LANCASTER.— MINISTER'S ACCOUNTS.
BUNDI^E 573- NO. 9063. — P.R.O.
The reeve accounts for the following items : —
Rent of Assize. — ' 6* 8'' for 20 days' work at ploughing in
Penbrey at the lord's board, price of the ploughing 4"*. 5* i r|^<*
for 71^ days' work carrying hay, price of work i"*. 3/6 for 84
days' hoeing corn at \'^. 34* 2^'' for 205 days' work reaping
com, price of work beyond reprises 2''. 104+ days' cartage of
corn, price of the work beyond reprises 2''. 41 days for carriage
of rods to the weir of Towy at +''. 84 days for repairing weir.
The rent (4'') of a cottage and 12 acres of land which Thomas
Hervy took, before the council of the Lord Henry, late Duke
of Lancaster, by rent and custom, to hold to him and his heirs
as appears in the account for 34 Edw. iij.'
Issues of the Manor. — ' 9* for the meadow called Selkemede.
6* for the crop of the meadow called Anevellmede, with the
pasture by the ox-house let to John Oweyn. 8^* for the pasture
beneath the castle — nothing this year because it is in the hands
of John Oweyn, farmer of the mill within his farm by writing
of the lord John, late Duke of Lancaster. 4* for issues of the
herbage of the ' exterior garden " let to Richard Bitterley for
a term of 5 years. 3* for the issues of the herbage and fruit of
the " inner garden " near the castle sold to the abovesaid Richard
this year. 4* 5+'^ for the farm of Dovecot at 6' 8' yearly. 1 1" 4''
for farming a certain weir called Sully weir let to Thomas Hopkyn
for a term of 12 years. 13' 4' for the farm of the Pulhng MiU.
12' for the pasture of Bourgh heuedes. 13' 4'' for the farm of
the rabbit warren of Caldecote let to Meredith Don and Hoell
28 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
ap David Lloyd. 13*4'' for the farm of the Fulling Mil called
Bordeculle. 26' for the farm of 6} acres at Puttecroftes let to
Thomas Fogour ; and 3" for the pasture between the groves,
sold to WiUiam Moritz. Also £17 15 7 for the farm of 2 water
mills, called " IMiddlemuUe " and " Caddokesmulle " let to John
Oweyn this year by the Steward and Receiver, and the said
John will repair the mills, with the ponds at his own costs,
except the great timber, the millstones, the brass, and the iron,
which the lord shall find, as appears in the last account for the
year next preceding. 66' 8' for the farm of 2 water mills called
" Morlesmulle " and " Cowemiille " let to levan Vaughan, and
Rees ap Moritz, for a term of 5 years.'
The rents of Assize include such items as these in lieu of rent —
' 3 lbs. of pepper at i' i' ; and 4 fbs of cummin at 4" ; and 12
horse shoes with nails at i'.'
Kidwelly Fach. — The manor of Kidwelly, as will be
seen from the following reference, pushed its possessions
to the very gates of Carmarthen, a circumstance which
may account for the fact that the district on the right
bank of the river Towy at Carmarthen is still known
as * Kidwelly Fach.'
' To Gilbert Talebot, justice of South Wales. Order not to
intermeddle further with 50 acres of meadow and 80 acres of
marsh in the lordship of KedeweUi, but so that the King shall
re-enter the premises if anything be found to estabhsh his right
thereto, as lately, at the suit of Henry de Lancastr, earl of
Derby, showing that Patrick de Chaworth was seised at his
death, in his demesne as a fee, of 100 arces of meadow, and 100
acres of marsh in that lordship, as parcel of his manor of Ked-
ewelM near the town of Kermerdyn, and the premises were taken
into the hand of Edward I. at Patrick's death by reason of the
minority of Matilda, Patrick's daughter and heir ; the Earl's
mother, whose heir he is, the King's ministers asserting that
they were parcel of the King's demesne of Kermerdyn, and the
Earl beseeching the King to order them to be restored to him,
the King ordered the justice to take an inquisition on the matter,
by which it is found that the meadow and marsh near Kaer-
merdyn are 80 acres of meadow and 80 acres of marsh, and
HISTORY OF KIDWElvLY. 29
they are in the lordship of Kedewelli as parcel of the manor of
Kedewelli, and are not parcel of the lordship nf Kaermerdyn, and
that Patrick died seised of the said meadow and marsh, in his
demesne as of fee, as of parcel of the said manor ; and that the
meadow and marsh were taken into the hand of Edward I. as
aforesaid, and that they are the right of the Earl, and are held
of the king by homage as parcel of the said manor ; and that
Matilda was Patrick's next heir, and the Earl has besought the
King by his petition before him and his Council in Parhament,
to cause his hand to be amoved from the meadow and marsh ;
and the writ, inquisition, and petition being exhibited and read
in Parhament before the great Council, it is agreed by that
Council that the King's hand shall be amoved.' — Close Rolls,
14 Edw. III., April 8, 1340.
30 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
LOCAL MILITARY LEVIES.
HE following extracts show the contributions
demanded of Kidwelly from time to time to
the royal army.
' Esegarston [East Garston, Berks]. The manor [extent
given] with the advowson of the church, held of the king in chief
by serjeanty, as member of Kaddwelye, viz. : — with the garrison
of Kaddwelye to lead the vanguard of the king's army, when-
ever he shall go into West Wales with his army, and the
rearguard in returning.' — Inquisitions — Writ 23 Sept. 2 Edward
I., 1274.—P.R.O.
' Esegarston [East Garston]. The manor, including ' 'scepes-
cot " and " cherichscot,' with the advowson of the church,
held of the king in chief by serjeanty of finding one armed horse-
man with his horse barbed with iron, during the whole time the
king shall remain with the army in the land of Kedwelly. — Maud
his daughter, aged i at the Feast of the Purification last is his
next heir.' — Inquisitions, Berks, Saturday after St. James the
Apostle, ii. Edward I., 1283. — P.R.O.
' Commission to Walter de Beysyn to array 1500 Welsh foot,
to wit, in the parts of Brecon 400 : in the parts of Castle Maud
300 : in the parts of Buelt and Hir very ton 500 : and Trecastle
(de partibus trium castrorum), KedwelU and Monmouth 300.
And to Master de Clune, king's clerk, to pay their wages until
they come to the king.' — Patent Rolls, 26 Edward I., April 8,
129S.— P.R.O.
' Request to Henry de Lanc[aster] for 100 footmen in his
lands of Kedewelby [sic] and Kadewalthan [Carnwyllion] . ' —
Close Rolls, ii. Edward II., July 28, 1317. — P.R.O.
' Commission to WiUiam le Blound and Robert de Hunteleye
to raise 400 footmen from the lands of Kedewelly and Kayrwath-
lan [CamwyUion] ; with like mandate to Henry de Lancastre,
or his bailiff. ' — Patent Rolls. Membrane 28. 15 Edward II.,
Feb. 14, 1^22.— P.R.O.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 3I
'A mandate, issued to all persons of commotes, lands, and
cantreds, to come properly armed to the king's assistance in
the Scotch expedition, as their laudable assistance lately given
when the king was pursuing the rebels in the Marches of Wales,
makes the king confident they will be ready to do so. A claim
is hereby made on the Cantred of Kedwelly, and the commote
of Kamegwelhaun [CarnwyUion].' — Patent Rolls, 15 Edward II.,
June 10, 1322. — P.R.O.
The lordship of Kidwelly entailed the conduct of the
king's army — ' with its banners and aU its train through
the middle of the country of Neth to lyOghor, whenever
the king or his chief justice came into these parts of
Kidwelly.'*
* Camden's ' Britannia,' p. 504.
32 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
THE CASTLE.
^^L ID WELLY justifiably rejoices in the possession
jKL^ of a Norman Castle which in point of gigantic
and symmetrical proportions, and present good
state of preservation, may be considered as unrivalled
in this part of South Wales. It occupies a com-
manding position on the right bank of the Gwendraeth
Fach river, and nearly opposite the parish church and
the site of the priory.
The age of the present Castle. — It has been observed
that there was a castle in existence at Kidwelly in the
early part of the 12th century (see page 17). This must
have been of the Norman style of architecture, but as
this style cannot be traced in the present building, even
the oldest portions of the structure which now stands
must have been built in a subsequent period. The inner
ward, together with its drum towers, and the west wall
of the chapel, are generally supposed to be earlier than
the rest of the castle. The hall, which the inner curtain
embraces, was, however, a later addition, as the flat-
tened surface of the south-east tower, which was a pro-
vision for its gable, indicates. The earliest date assigned
to the inner ward is the second decade of the 13th century.
Although the imsubstantial character of the entrances
to the inner ward suggests that the outer fortification
was contemplated in the original design, the mural
towers, and the uniting walls of the outer ward were
probably of a later date. The great gate-house is of a
still later date. Its architecture is that of the early
PLATE IV.
PLATE V.
\ ~ N.
. o o
% o o
O
,•„. / '^
'i:., ■ ' /f
■A
Kidwelly Castle.
PLATE VI.
PLATE VII.
•i-
4.^'T
•te^ --
-Q^t5T-:in
,??"■:"-'
PLATE VTTI.
KIDWELLY CASTLE.
PLATE IX.
KIDWELLY CASTLE: THE CHAPEL.
<^:
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 33
perpendicular, and therefore it could not have been built
before the end of the 14th century.
Its general arrangement. — Professor A. E. Freeman, in
a paper read by him at Cardiff,* thus describes the
castle : — ' The general outline of Kidwelly Castle is
much more than merely grand and striking ; it ap-
proaches very nearly to the nature of an architectural
composition. Four massive round towers surround the
keep ; two others flank the great gate-way ; a design
sufficiently regular to be caught and understood by a
person not acquainted with castellated technicalities,
while the shiftings and different groupings of so many
towers produce an endless variety of picturesque effects.'
As may be seen from the plan of the castle, the forma-
tion of the building is practically semi-circular, the
curve being flanked with a moat, and its chord supplied
by nature with a cliff and the Gwendraeth Fach river.
A survey of the castle was made by Mr. George T. Clark
for the purpose of a paper which he prepared for the
Cambrian Archaeological Association in 1850.! Accord-
ing to this survey, which principally forms the basis of
the description here given, the castle measures 440 by
90 to 130 yards, and stands on about three acres of
ground.
The Inner Ward. — The principal entrance to this
ward, which has a portcullis groove, is in the south
curtain. A quadrangle 80 yards square is formed by
the four curtains, together with the drum towers, which
form caps to the angles. The north-east and south-east
[c]
* 'Arch. Camb.', New Series, Vol. I., p. 57.
f 'Arch, Camb.'
34 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.LY.
towers are joined to the outer wall which is built on the
precipitous edge of a cliff. The latter tower is also
attached to the chapel, and has an outlet to the curtain
of the outer ward which leads to the great gate-house.
Three of the inner curtains are six feet thick and i8 feet
high, and they have a rampart walk with parapets
pierced at intervals with loops. The eastern curtain
is, however, narrow and low, the cliff having evidently
been considered to be a good defence on this side. In
addition to the reception hall and the chapel, the inner
ward contains the kitchen and a spacious refectory.
The towers are 30 feet in diameter and 44 feet in height
with battlements. Their walls are 9 feet thick, and
each has a well-staircase and three lofts with loopholes
and doors opening on the ramparts of the curtains.
Three of the towers had wooden floors, while the north-
west one is vaulted. This latter tower is directly acces-
sible from the kitchen and from the porter's lodge along
a rampart on the wall, whence it is called the ' Porter's
Prison,' and incisions in the stucco of the chambers of
this tower, such as may be seen in the Tower of lyondon
and many other places of mediaeval confinement, to-
gether with the fact that its chambers are vaulted
throughout, would suggest that it was used as a prison.
The Hall and the Retiring-room, which were in a line
with each other, occupied the whole of the space on the
east side of the inner ward. The south end of the hall
rested against the south-east tower. The height and
pitch of the roof may still be traced. The west wall of
the chapel formed a portion of the east side of the hall,
and a projection in the east curtain looks as if there
HISTORY OF KIDWElvI^Y. 35
had been a small chamber attached to the hall. The
west wall of the hall has disappeared. The length of
the hall is 60 ft., and the width 25 ft. The retiring-
room, which adjoins the hall and north-east tower, is
30 ft, long, and the same width as the hall. Here in
the east wall is a loop, and near it the carved remains
of the base of a chimney. 1378330
The Kitchen and Refectory are opposite the hall and
retiring-room respectively. The kitchen is 30 ft, long
by 17 ft. wide. It has a large fire-place at each end,
and a window which opens on the outer ward. A third
small fire-place may also be seen in the south end.
The doorway in the east wall has been made narrower
than it was originally, an arrangement which may have
been devised to obviate opening a door of unnecessary
width in serving hot dishes. The refectory probably
occupied the square space, 45 ft., to the north of the
kitchen and bounded on two sides by the north and
west curtains.
The Chapel. — In the paper already alluded to
Professor E. A. Freeman gives this description of
the chapel : —
' The Castle chapel is a triumph of art ; a building amply-
satisfactory, both in an ecclesiastical and architectural point of
view, has room found for it in a structure purely miHtary, with-
out in the least interfering with the genmne character of the
latter. The chapel forms the upper story of three in a building
projecting from the main hne of the Castle towards the east,
and as this building terminates in a semi-hexagon, an apex is
at once provided for the chapel. It is lighted by single trefoil
lancets, whose small size and deUcate execution at once call
attention to this portion of the building as something distinct
from the rest, without forcing it on the view in an inharmonious
36 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
prominence. Just the same is the effect of the admirably
selected form and position. And the effect is heightened by the
addition of a square projection to the south, whose upper story
forms a vaulted chamber, which has clearly been the sacristy.
Within, the whole architecture, perfectly plain, yet exquisitely
finished, is precisely what that of a mihtary chapel should be.'
It measures 26 ft. long by 18 ft. wide. Its height from
the base of the outer projection is 56 ft., and from the
inner surface 25 ft. In the north-east corner is a spiral
staircase connecting the different floors. The ground
floor of the chapel tower is below the surface of the
interior of the castle, and is in communication with the
adjoining hall by means of a staircase. The second
floor was on a level with the hall, with which it also
communicates. In the apex on the south side is a
piscina, and near it a sedilia. In the south wall a door
opens into the sacristy, and to the v/est of the door is
a recess with a stopped loop. In the north wall there
are also a door and loop, both of which are blocked.
The age of the Chapel, although a disputed point, may
approximately be decided by the style of architecture
adopted in its construction. While some authorities
claim that the style is early English, and others that it
is early Decorated, all seem to agree that it was erected
between a.d. 1290 and 1310.
The outer ward contains the two gate-houses which
are opposite each other, and are connected by an outer
curved curtain in which at intervals there are mural
towers 30 ft. high and 22ft. in diameter. This curtain
is 330 ft. long, 6 ft. thick, and 20 ft. high, and has a
rampart walk. The great gate-house is a massive pile
80 ft. by 50 ft., and 62 ft. high. The gateway is 11 ft
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 37
by 8 ft., and the moat at the threshold is 12 ft. deep.
On either side of the main entrance is a conical
tower 24 ft. in diameter at the base, and 20 ft. at
the top, and over the entrance are three flat arches
built into the wall to relieve the mass of masonry.
The portal is roughly vaulted and has a portcullis
groove at each end, as well as three apertures for
gratings. The square tower, called Pigin, on the north-
west angle of the block, is a later addition. This
is 93 ft. high and was probably used as a watch tower.
On each side of the portal are dungeons and guard-
chambers, the latter having loopholes overlooking the
main entrance. Another room on the right has a coni-
cal fountain beneath the surface, two recesses, and a
sewer room. The first floor of the great gate-house is
reached by a staircase from the outer court, over the
porter's lodge, as well as by a spiral staircase in the
square tower, and has four rooms, to one of which are
large windows opening into the outer court. This has
also a fire-place, as well as that which adjoins it. The
third room was used for working the portcullis, and the
fourth is a kitchen with a large oven. Unlike the other
rooms on the first floor which had wooden floors, this
room is vaulted, and has an outlet to the east rampart
leading to the south-east tower. The second floor, also
reached by spiral staircases, contains a large room with
windows opening into the outer court, and several
smaller apartments which, judging from the stuccoed
walls and sculptured ornamentation, were used as state
bedrooms.
The garrison seems to have been provided for by two
38 HISTORY OF KIDWELI.Y.
detached buildings in the outer ward, one to the west
of the inner ward, measuring 65 ft. by 30 ft., and the
other to the north of the inner ward, against the east
curtain, and near the northern gate-house, measuring
60 ft. by 35 ft.
There is also a bakehouse against the curved curtain
to the west of the lesser gate-house, with a large oven
intact. Ivike the mural towers, the lesser or northern
gate-house is rudely built, and bears the marks of rough
handling.
The Barbican stood on an elevated position immedi-
ately opposite the main entrance to the castle, with the
moat and drawbridge between. The foundations show
that it was a semi-circular construction.
The outer Gate-house still retains its principal features.
This also seems to have had its drawbridge and ditch.
The illustration of this gate-house is among Grose's col-
lection.
Royal Visitors. — The Castle of Kidwelly has from time
to time been graced by visits from reigning monarchs.
The first royal visit seems to have been made by King
John, to which the following reference is made in the
' History of Margam,' by Dr. Walter de Gray Birch : —
' Eang John visited Margam Abbey on two occasions in the
year 12 10, prior and subsequent to his expedition into Ireland.
Setting out from Westminster, 8th May, and passing through
Odiham, Winchester, Marlborough, and Bristol, the king was
at Neath on Friday, 21st May, Cardiff, Tuesday 25th May,
Margam and Swansea 28th May, and Haverford on the last
day of the month. The return journey was commenced at
Dubhn, Tuesday, 24th August ; the king reached Fishguard
Thursday, 26th August ; Haverford and Kidwelly on the follow-
ing day.'
HISTORY OF KIDWELIvY. 39
King Edward I. paid a visit to Kidwelly in the year
1285, as will appear from an Inspeximus, 9 Richard II.,
Feb. 18, 1386 — ' Confirmation, in favour of the burges-
ses of Kardigan, of a charter dated at Kidwelly 9 Decem-
ber, 13 Edward I., being a grant and confirmation to
them of the lands and customs hitherto enjoyed by the
burgesses of Kermerdyn, and divers liberties.'*
King Richard II. visited the town in the year 1394,
whence he issued the Charter of which the following is
an abstract — ' Grant for life to Richard Mareys of the
office of porter of the Castle of Bristol, at the supplica-
tion of the present holder John Dawe.'|
The same king paid a visit to Kidwelly in 1398 — 9,
for in the Minister's Account of the manor of Kidwelly
which appears below, it will be seen that ' the late king
Richard II.' spent a night in the castle.
' Duchy of Lancaster — IVIinister's Accounts. Bundle 573,
No. 9063. — P.R.O. A memorandum dated 3 Feb. 22 Richard
II. [1398 — 9]. John Wilkyns, Reeve, answers for "one pipe
of wine r jmaining in the castle after the departure of the late King
Richard, and sold by Walter Castell for 20' and more, it is said.'
When John of Gaunt, Duke of I^ancaster, died. King
Richard seized the duchy estates ; then the new Duke
(afterwards Henry IV.) came over from abroad, and
raised a rebellion in England ; and King Richard, then
in Ireland, came hurriedly over to England, landing at
Milford Haven. It is probable that this was the occa-
sion when he took a night's shelter, en route, at the
castle.
* 'Charter Rolls,' 13 Edward I., No. 147, P.R.O.
t Patent Rolls, 18 Richard II., (Kidwelly Castle), Sep. 13, 1394-
40 HISTORY OF KIDWELIvY.
The following translated abstract from the same Min-
ister's Account may be of interest, as it gives some
details connected with the preparations for the king's
visit : —
' Nails bought for mending the Castle bridge 3''. The wages
of six labourers hired to mend the said bridge for one day and a
half, taking per day 4'' =3. Cleaning the chambers of the Castle
this year by various hired men, 8'. Nails called ' bordenails '
bought for the wine cellar 3'. Wages of a man for cleaning the
Castle ditch (fossam), 4''. For stable racks within the Castle,
2'. Carriage of rods for making the said racks from Wennalth,
8\ A bucket for the fountain within the Castle, 2'. Two men
hired for one day to clean the kitchen of the lord, 8'. Straw
and htter bought for the beds of the officers of the lord, and
rushes to spread in the rooms, 12'. Removing Ume from the
gate, 8'. Nails called " spikynnes " for the racks in the stable,
3'. Removing the great gates of the Castle, 5''. Finding fuel
to one man for this year, 8 '. Carrying the old gates of the Castle
into the Castle, 4'. Making several new locks in the Castle, 2\
and in fuel bought this year for Richard, late King of England,
passing the night in the Castle, 4. Carriage of the said fuel
from Wennalth into the Castle, 8". Carrying that fuel into the
house, 6'. Carrying the fuel out of the house for the purpose
of cleaning the house, 4'. Rushes bought to spread in the rooms
for the said Richard, late king, 12'. Roofing the stable by several
men hired for that purpose, 16'. Straw bought for the stable
and the beds for the coming of the Receiver and carriage of the
same, 16'. Cleaning the rooms for the same, 8'. Rushes bought
to spread in the rooms, 3'. Seventeen yards three-quartei'S
cloth of white flax for one towel containing 8 yards, one towel
containing 6 yards 3 quarters, and one towel containing 3 yards —
price per yard, 2\ And for 8 yards of other cloth of flax for
two " bordecloths " for the officials, price per yard, 6'. For
serving the ministers of the lord within the Castle, and for the
stock of the said Castle, 8' 11'. Sum, 39' 8'.'
HISTORY OF KIDWELI^Y. 41
THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
^UNEDDA Wledig, who was of Cymric race, was,
moreover, a Christian, and the ancient British
Church which was evolved from its predeces-
sor, the Romano-British Church, owes its estabHsh-
ment, in a large measure, to this worthy chieftain, and
his noble family.* St. David, the founder, and first
Bishop of the see which bears his name, was the great-
grandson, on his father's side, of Cunedda. St. Cadoc,
whose genealogy is somewhat enveloped in mystery, is,
however, stated to have been the son of Cuneglasos or
Cynlas, lord of Glamorgan, who was grandson of Cun-
edda's son Einion.f St. Teilo is also said to have been
a descendant of Ceredig, another son of Cimedda.f so
that this celebrated saint too belonged to the same
illustrious family, being a great nephew of St. David. §
History relates the intimate association of St. Teilo with
St. David, both in his studies under Paulinus in his
monastery at Ty-gwyn-ar-Daf (Whitland), and in the
development of the British Church. ||
Churches were dedicated to St. Teilo and St. Cadoc
in the parish of Kidwelly, the crude walls of one of
which still remain, and are known as Capel Teilo
(Teilo's Chapel), and the site of the other is preserved
by the name whereby a farm and district are still called
Llangadog (The Church of Cadoc) and Waungadog (Cadoc's
* 'lolo MSS.', p. 909.
t Ibid., p. 171. I Newell, p. jj.
§ Archdeacon Bevan's 'History of St. David's,' p. 5.
II 'Liber Landavensis,' pp. 334, 335.
42 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
meadow). By a charter, preserved in the Pubhc Record
Office, a grant was made by Maurice de Londres of
twelve acres of land around the Church of St. Cadoc,
and adjoining the lands of St. Mary for the salvation of
his own soul, and those of all his ancestors, in the hearing
of his son William de L,ondres, and in the presence of
specified witnesses.* This charter is undated, but as it
is addressed to David, bishop of St. Davids, the tran-
saction must have occurred between a.d. 1147 and 1176,
as this could have been the only period within the life-
time of the donor when a David (Fitzgerald) was bishop
of St. Davids.
Probably most of the ancient churches in Wales were
called after the names of their actual founders, f and
were not dedicated as modern churches are to departed
saints. The dimensions of the local ruin of the church
known as St. Teilo's, show that it was a small church, or
oratory, and such as might only be expected to have
been a mere out-post, like its sister church lylangadog,
of the monasteries of St. Davids and Llandaff. This
being so, Kidwelly would seem to have afforded accom-
modation for Christian worship as early as the seventh,
if not the sixth century, when the above Welsh saints
flourished. It may, however, be contended that Chris-
tian Churches of that age were constructed of wattle
and mud, with hides for roofing, and not with stone,
but as far as the ruined Church of St. Teilo is concerned,
the writer cannot acquiesce in the belief in the backward
stage of civilisation in which the contention would place
* See Appendix C. f Newell, p. 146.
HISTORY OF KIDWELI.Y. 43
the local Brythons at this time. It must be remembered
that the church in question lay, not only on one of the
great inter-tribal roads between Caerleon and St. Davids,
which the later inhabitants of early Britain formed, but
that it was also on the main Roman line of communica-
tion which led westwards from Gloucester through Caer-
went, Caerleon, Cardiff, Neath, and L,oughor to Carmar-
then, and about midway between the two latter places,
at each of which there had been a Roman station. It
is therefore improbable, in view of the facilities for inter-
course with the highly civiHzed Romans which their
very geographical position would afford them, that the
Brythons of the district would have remained ignorant
of the art of stone building at that period. However,
if these local churches had originally been erected with
less enduring materials than stone, either from insuffi-
cient knowledge of the art of stone building, or from
sentiment, there is no doubt that in the case of the one
called after St. Teilo, the original was replaced by a
stone structure whose ruins are still existent. Subse-
quent to the beginning of the eight century, when foun-
dations of Welsh saints closed, the Mihangel or Michael
dedications began, and the numerous Llanfihangels
regularly distributed over Wales show that this dedica-
tion not only became popular, but that it also became
a Welsh dedication. Tradition states that on the site
of Maenllwyd-mawr already referred to, there stood a
church called Llanfihangel , and the farmer on whose
land the site is, testifies that he has come upon stone
foundations of a substantial nature there, and that a
large stone slab, with a chamfered edge, measuring 7 ft.
44 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
by 15 in., and 7 inches thick, was carted from the site
to the precincts of his own house, where it now serves
as a bridge across a brook at the entrance to the farm-
yard. Its size and appearance would suggest that it
was a large window-sill. It could not have been a
Druidical relic, as by Druidic principles no monolith
was allowed to be touched by any iron or metal instru-
ment.* There is, moreover, in close proximity to Maen-
llwyd-mawr a well, which still goes by the name of
Ffynon Mihangel (Michael's Well). There was also
until recently a columbarium or pigeon house near by.
The well is on the sea side of the road which intersects
it from Maenllw>'d-mawr, and the columbarium was
between the latter and Waungadog.
All Saints' Church. — In all probability the site of the
present parish church was previously occupied by an
earlier church. The Welsh of by-gone ages sometimes
dedicated their churches to numerous saints without
specifying the names of their patrons, such as Llansaint,
Llandeusant, Llantrisant , and Llanpumpsaint. A refer-
ence made by Dugdalef gives credence to the pro-
bability of a pre-existing church here, for it is stated
that ' Richard Fitzwilliam gave to Sherborne Mon-
astery the Churches of St. Ismael, and Penalt, of All
Saints' at Kidwelly, and St. Hlthut at Penbray ; all in
the diocese of St. Davids, with all that appertain to
them ' (see Appendix B.). The Church of Penallt
is denoted by that description ; and the ancient churches
belonging to Kidwelly are located either by the ruins
* Morgan, p. 57.
•j- 'Mon. Angl.', Vol. IV., p. 65, No. ii.
HISTORY OF KIDWELI.Y. 45
that still remain, by tradition, or by place-names which
have been handed down. Besides, All Saints' Church
is cited as the church of the territory of Kidwelly, by which
appellation it may be concluded to have been the Mother
Church of the district. There is no evidence, either
traditional or otherwise, to establish the location of this
particular church, as there is in the case of the other
two churches above mentioned. It may therefore be
assumed to have been a predecessor of the existing parish
church on the same spot. It may, however, be con-
tended that the reference to All Saints' Church points
to lylansaint, in the parish of St. Ishmael ; but Llansaint
does not seem to appear in any ancient documents which
have reference to Kidwelly. Besides, as St. Ismael, and
even Penalt and Penhray are named as contributaries,
the area which the churches of Kidwelly served appears
to have been at that time almost co-extensive with the
present ecclesiastical parish of Kidwelly ; or, as the
jurisdiction of the Incumbent came to be called ' Kid-
welly within, and without the Borough.' The assump-
tion of a pre-existent church accords also with the age
of the church which now stands, whose style of archi-
tecture forbids an earlier period than the latter part of
the 13th century to be assigned to it. It is also probable
that the former church was the one which is said to have
been burnt down, together with the town and the
religious houses, by Prince lylewelyn, a.d. 1222, when
he surmised that the Magistrates of Kidwelly intended
to betray him to William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke.*
* Powell, p. 248.
46 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
Documentary references are made to ' the Church of St.
Mary, Kidwelly,' in a period which was anterior to that
which the architectural style of the present church in-
dicates. It may therefore be assumed that the former
church was, under Norman sway, re-dedicated to St.
Mary, which probably would have been done after a
temporary restoration.
At the time when the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV.
was made, in the year 1291, or thereabouts, the church
of Kidwelly seems to have been an ecclesiastical Rectory
merged in the Priory, and was at that time taxed, or
valued as being of the yearly value of twenty marks
(£13 6s. 8d.).
The Deanery of Kidwelly. — The following account from
the Taxation of Pope Nicholas (p. 273) shows the extent
of the deanery of Kidwelly, together with the value of
its component churches, at the end of the 13th century —
Taxatio Archidiacoiiatus de Kermyrdyn.
Bcclesia de Kedewely
■ £13 6
8
,, Lanetly
10
,, Penbrey
. 6 13
4
„ St. Ismaele
. 6 13
4
,, Landevaylok
. 13 6
8
At this period lylanelly included the parishes of Dafen
and Felinfoel, and the parish of I^langendeirne was in-
claded in that of lylandefeilog.
M
HISTORY OF KIDWElvI-Y. 47
THE PRIORY OF KIDWELLY.
PRIORY of the Benedictine order was founded
at Kidwelly by Roger, bishop of Salisbury, in
the year 1130, for a Prior and two monks.
This was annexed as a cell to the monastery of
Sherborne Abbey, in Dorset.* As the founder figured
rather prominently in the concerns of Kidwelly at this
time, it may be interesting to dwell, very brieflj^ on his
personality. This noted ecclesiastic, whom Henry I.
appears to have met during his sojourn in Normandy, f
was a priest of a church in Caen, and was destined to
become a notable factor in the history of England
during that reign, for he was appointed the Chief Justici-
ary and Treasurer, and was soon made bishop of Salis-
bury. The affairs of State were practically in his hands,
and the confidence reposed in him was not misplaced,
for his elevation was fully justified by his capable ad-
ministration. In his zeal for the spread of his royal
master's dominion, he is supposed to have crossed over
to Gower, with some other adventurers, and to have
proceeded along the coast through CarnwyUion to Kid-
welly, districts whose inhabitants, in spite of previous
invasions, still remained unsubjugated, and resentful of
Norman intrusion. Kidwelly seems to have had special
attraction for him, and he evidently secured from his
sovereign a grant of the district for himself. { It is
certain that he had possessions at Kidwelly in the former
* 'Notitia Monastica.' f William Malmesbury, p. 441.
% 'Arch. Camb.', Series IV., Vol. ix., p. 82.
48 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
part of the 12th century, as it is stated by Dugdale*
that by an Imprimatur of David, bishop of St. Davids,
a carucate of land (probably the site of the future Priory)
at Kidwelly, with the land called Mount Solomon (a
corruption possibly of Mynydd Sulen), extending to the
sea, was given, free of all consuetudinary payments, to
the Abbey of Sherborne, in the reign of King Henry I.,
by Roger, bishop of Salisbury ; Turstan, or Thurstan,
being at that time Prior (sic) (see Appendix A.).
This dignitary was consecrated Abbot of Sherborne in
the year 11 22. In the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV.,
A.D. 1291 (p. 276), it is stated —
' Prior de Kedwelly habet apud Kedwelly unam carucatam
terrae cum redditu et perquisitis £2 10/-. Exitus animalium,
Prior habet quinque vaccas. — exitus 5/-. Summa £2 15/-.'
That is — ' The Prior of Kidwelly has at Kedwelly one carucate
of land with rent and perquisites £2 10/-. Issues of the animals.
The Prior has five cows. — Issues 5/-. Total £2 15/-.
The temporalities belonging to the Priory in the 26th
year of King Henry VIII. are stated in ' Valor Eccles-
iasticus ' (vol. IV., 412) to have been as follows : —
Translation.
' Cell of the Priory of Kydwylly. — John Godmester, Prior
there, has in temporal tenements, with demesne lands there
£6 13 4 by the year. And it is worth in churches there, with
the chapels annexed, ^^31 6 8. Sum of the total, ^38. There-
from, for the tallage of the lord the King yearly, payable at the
exchequer of Kedwelly 10/-. Also in yearly pension payable
to the Abbot of Shirbome, 40/-. And in the ordinary visita-
tion there, 40/-. And in fee of the Steward there yearly, 40/-.
In the fee of the bailiff and receiver there yearly, 40/-.
* 'Mon. Angl.', pp. 64, 65.
HISTORY OF KIDWElvIvY. 49
Sum of the deductions . . . . £16 o o*
And so there remains clear . . . . 29 10 o
The tenth thereof . . . . . . 2190
A document preserved in the Public Record Office
relates a protracted ecclesiastical proceeding, dated in
1428, wherein the prior and convent of Kidwelly claimed
of certain persons two parts of the tithes, real and per-
sonal, and particularly of wool, milk, cheese, and lambs,
arising on certain lands within the bounds and limits of
the parish of St. Mary of Kidwelly, as rectors of the
same ; and by this suit the said tithes were awarded
to the prior and convent as rectors. The basis of the
judgment on which the prior's petition was laid is given
by Dugdalef (see Appendix D).
* This is evidently a misprint, and should have been £S 10 o.
I 'Mon. Angl.,' Vol. IV., p. 66, Num. V.
50 HISTORY OF KIDWELIvY.
THE SITUATION OF THE PRIORY.
JT has been persistently asserted that the ancient
ruins at Penallt, between Kidwelly and the mouth
of the river Towy, and about a mile from the
former, are those of the Priory of Kidwelly. But
this must be regarded as a mere conjecture, as there
appears to be no evidence whatever in its favour. Docu-
ments frequently refer to the ' Church of Penallt,' but
never to the Priory of Penallt. Moreover, the ' Church
of Penallt ' is made to appear as distinct from the Priory
of Kidwelly and its dependent churches, as those of St.
Ishmael and Pembrey. The situation of Kidwelly Priory
must therefore be sought for elsewhere. Happily there
is abundant evidence, documentary and otherwise, in
favour of associating the site of the priory with the ruins
which may still be seen on the left bank of the Lesser
Gwendraeth, and hard by the east boundary wall of
the present parish churchyard. It is said that ' beggars
are no choosers.' On this principle the monks had to
be content with what land was granted to them for
monastic purposes by Norman landowners, which, as a
rule, was a tract of waste and unfertile soil. And it
was no inconsiderable item in the regime of the monks
to bring the land given them to the highest pitch of
cultivation. The monks of the religious house of Kid-
welly, however, do not seem to have been dealt with in
a niggardly spirit, and this may be accounted for by the
fact that the donor of the land which they possessed
was, as has been stated, himself an ecclesiastic, viz.,
HISTORY OF KIDWElvI^Y. 5I
Roger, bishop of vSalisbury ; who in apportioning his
grant appears to have carefully considered the require-
ments of the institution ; such as its contiguity to the
existing church (which generally was the centre around
which all monastic establishments clustered, and also
to a stream (see Appendix A), for its convenience.
It has been already observed that the real property
enjo5^ed by this religious community, consisted of a
canicate of land — a term which the Normans introduced,
and which meant a plough-land [caruca) that might
be ploughed with one team of oxen in a year. The land
now covered by the gardens attached to the tenements
in Ivady vStreet was, within living memory, known as
' the priory fields.' Ample evidence is also supplied by
the proceedings at the Prior's Court held at Kidwelly,
that the land now occupied by I^ady Street, or St. Mary
Street, belonged to the prior. The following extracts
from the ' Court Rolls,' in the Public Record Office,
together with their bearing on the subject, may not be
uninteresting as showing the condition of social life, the
tenure of property, and the adjustment of differences,
in those days. It may also be inferred from the proper
names how the Welsh — who, at the dedication of a local
cemetery at the beginning of the 12th century, had
evidently become sullen, and who, either from choice
or compulsion, had kept aloof from the foreign colony,
which consisted of French, English, and Flemings (see
Appendix A) — began to intermingle with the foreign
settlers.
52 HISTORY OF KIDWEI^IvY.
COURT ROtL, PORTFOLIO 21 5. NO. 39. — P.R.O.
' At the Court of the Prior of Kedwelly, held on Thursday
next before the Feast of St. Margaret the Virgin — a.d. 1311.
' Thomas Cas offers himself against WilUam Portereve in a
plea of a convention, and demands from him half a cow. They
are given a day, Sunday before the Feast of St. Margaret, the
Virgin.
' William Portereve has the entry to the tenement which was
that of WilUam Bronygt, and pays for entry 10/-. Pledges
John Portereve and Bernard Coqus, and has in payment two
calves, and the residue at the Feast of All Saints.
'At the Court of the Prior of Cadwelly held on the morrow of
the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Mary, the Virgin —
A.D. 131 1.
' Walter Bernard is summoned to answer the Prior concerning
a tenement which he has deprived him of, and because nothing
can be found whereon to distrain him, therefore it is determined
that it shall be seized into the hands of the Prior.
* J ohn Owen and Lucy Weron have tomorrow to come to some
agreement, and unless they can agree the aforesaid Lucy must
be attached to the suit of the aforesaid party.
' John Howen brings a complaint against Lucy Weron, and
because he does not prosecute his suit, he is amerced, and Lucy
Weron goes quit.
'At the Court of the Prior of Kadwelly held on Wednesday
next after the Feast of S. Barnabas, the Apostle — a.d. 13 12.
'Agnes Sekeryn widow of Maurice Sekeryn brings a plea of
trespass against Thomas Gower ; is amerced six pence. — Pledge
Elias Kiste.
'At a Court held on Saturday next before the Feast of St.
Margaret the Virgin, 35 Edw. III.
' John Pitifier, Thomas Brounyng, WilHam Portrese, and
Adam Crompe are convicted at the suit of the lord (the Prior)
for trespass made by their beasts at Gabcrofte in the lord's
com, therefore they are amerced twelve pence.
'At the Court of Robert Fyfhyde, Prior of Kedwelly held on
Monday next after the Feast of St. Peter, 1 1 Richard II.
' To this Court came Agnes ap Owen widow and surrendered
into the hands of the Prior her tenement which is situated in
a street called Sentemarestret [St. Mary, or our Lady Street]
next to the tenement of a certain Herr ap Mad : on the one part,
and the tenement of John Malier on the other part, and upon
HISTORY OF KIDWEl^IvY. 53
this levan ap Res Wyt appeared, and gave to the said Prior a
fine of 20/- to have entry into the said tenement for the term of
his life, and Welthian his wife ; and after their decease to remain
to their daughter Margaret for the term of her hfe, paying there-
for yearly to the Prior, and his successors 2/- at two of the three
principal terms, namely Piaster, and S. Michael, by equal portions,
and doing one day's harvest and another at hay-making, and
rendering therefor the rents and services due and customary.
' To this Court came James Richard and Johan Dayo his wife,
and surrendered into the hands of the Prior their tenement
which is situated in a street called Syntemarystret between the
tenement of levan ap Yanto on the east and the tenement of
a certain Herr ap Mad on the west, and upon this came Walter
Weysy, and gave to the said Prior a fine of 16/- to have the entry
into the said tenement for the term of his Ufe ; and Isabell his
wife, and after their death to remain to their son Jolin for his
life ; paying therefor yearlj' unto the Prior and his successors
2/- at Easter and St. Michael, by equal portions and doing one
day's harvest, and one day haymaking, and service therefor
due and customary.
' To this Court came Elena Bik, and gave the Prior for a fine
forty shilhngs for a tenement which is situated by that of levan
ap Owen on the south and that of John Canan on the east.
' To this Court came John Pretefer and Elan his wife and
gave to the Prior for a fine forty shilhngs to have the right of
entry into the tenement of Mabely Schynner for the term of
their lives, which tenement is situated in Seyntmarestrete by
the tenement of levan ap Yanto on the east, and that of John
Stoke on the west for the term of their Hves.'
The proceedings at the last court prove that the land
in the immediate neighbourhood of the parish church
belonged to the prior, as St. Mary Street (now called
lyady Street), which runs parallel with the church, is
specified as being within his ownership. The ruins
already referred to are also in the vicinity of the same
church, and therefore it is unnecessary to identify with
the priory any other situation than this. And lycland,
in his Itinerary, says — ' In the new Toune is only a
54
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
Chirche of our lyadi ; and by this is the Celle of Blake
monkes of Shirburne. Ther the Prior is Patron of our
lyadi Church.' The foregoing judicial transactions also
show that although some of the priory land still
remained under cultivation, a considerable portion of it
was let out for tenements. This, of course, would
enhance the value of the property ; and generally, as
monastic property increased in value, and the frugality
of the monks enabled them to store up their material
resources, their chief pride, whether of the Benedictine
or Cistercian Order, consisted in the erection of magni-
ficent churches to the glory of God. The production
of the present Parish Church is therefore not improbably
due to their noble and self-denying zeal.
A list of the Priors of Kidwelly. — A diligent search
among the original documents at the Public Record
Office has yielded, as a result, the names of eight priors,
which are here given, together with the years in which
they respectively filled that capacity.
A.D.
Galfridus de Coker . . . . 1301
Robert Dunsterr . . . . 1346
John Flode . . . . . . 1361
Robert Fyfhyde . . . . 1428
John Shirborn . . . . 1482
John Henstryge . . . . 1490
John Whitchurch . . . . 1520
John Godmyster . . . . 1537
This list appears to give the names of the priors, in
consecutive order, for 236 years, but it would appear,
judging from the date of the foundation of the priory
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 55
(a.d. 1130) that Prior Galfridus de Coker was preceded
in the office by others whose names and years of office it
has proved too difficult to ascertain. There is no doubt
that John Godmyster was the last prior, as he held the
office at the Dissolution.*
The Dissolution of the Priory. — When the Priory of
Kidwelly was suppressed, the Rectory, in which it was
merged, fell into the hands of the Crown, and the mon-
astic temporalities were disposed of by lease in the year
35 Henry VIII. (a.d. 1544) to certain persons of the
name of George Ashe and Robert Meyrick, yeomen, and
purveyors of wine to the king, for twenty-one years.
This lease, a copy of which is given in Appendix
F, is in the Public Record Office, and gives a
minute description of the tithes thereby demised, to-
gether with the places whence they arose. Among the
leased possessions, the following details are specified : —
the site of the priory, all buildings, edifices, curtilages,
granaries, cemeteries, pleasure-ground, orchards, gar-
dens, and fish-ponds ; and the reserved rent for the
whole of the property involved is stated to have been
£30 6s. 4d- Among the exceptions, however, is one of
a yearly pension of £8 to the vicar, f
* Dugdale ' Mon. Angl.', Vol. IV., p. 66.
t Iceland's 'Itin.', Vol. V., p. 23.
56 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
CONSECRATION OF AN ANCIENT
CEMETERY.
"HREE days after the date of the deed whereby
certain lands were given by Roger, bishop of
SaHsbury, to Sherborne Abbey , the same
donor set apart and consecrated a cemetery at Kid-
welly, ' with the license and consent of Wilfrid, bishop
of St. Davids ' (see Appendix A). The document in
question is undated, but the citation of the name of
the bishop who then held the see of St. Davids helps to
assign an approximate date both for the grant of land
and consecration of the cemetery. Wilfrid was the last
Welsh bishop of St. Davids before the Norman rule, and
he appears in the official list of bishops of St. Davids
under his Welsh name of Griff ri.*' He was also known
as Jeffrey as well as Gryffyth.'\ He died in 1112, and
was only succeeded two years afterwards by Bernard,
the first Norman bishop of St. Davids. { The date of
the document referred to, and therefore of the consecra-
tion of the cemetery, must have been prior to 11 12.
And as Wilfrid held the see from 1096 to iii2,§ the con-
secration must have taken place between those dates.
Henry I. did not come to the throne till 11 00, and as
Roger only came into prominence during his reign, these
local transactions must have occurred between the years
* 'St. Davids Diocesan Directory.'
t Newell's 'History of the Welsh Church,' p. 167.
% Archdeacon Sevan's ' History of St. Davids,' pp. 59, 61.
§ Ihid., p. 249.
HISTORY OF KIDWElvLY. 57
1 1 00 and 1112. This cemetery probably occupied the
property which is numbered 760 in the Ordnance Map
of 1880, and 62 in that of 1907, and which adjoins the
lylansaint road about 300 yards from the castle where
the deed was executed. This enclosure is, moreover,
stiU generally known as Mynwent Domos — St. Thomas's
cemetery.
It is not improbable that there was an oratory pro-
vided for this place of interment, a circumstance which
would account for the tradition which claims that there
was an ancient chapel on the site.
58 HISTORY OF KIDWElvIvY.
THE VICARIATE OF KIDWELLY.
'HB provision of a yearly pension of £8 to the
Vicar (see p. 55) shows that there was a Vicari-
ate at Kidwelly when the priory was dissolved ;
and in the ecclesiastical suit, already referred to, there is
a strong presumption in favour of the previous exis-
tence of a vicariate, as it may be assumed that the
third portion of the tithes which was not laid claim to by
the prior and convent, belonged then to the vicar.
There seems, however, little doubt that the vicariate
of Kidwelly existed at the beginning of the 14th century,
for in a Court Roll (portfolio 215, No. 39, P.R.O.)
appears this entry : — 'At the Court of the Prior of Ked-
welly, held on the day of S. Kalixtus, Pope and Martyr,
A.D. 1310 — Nicholas Kyngman excuses himself against
Thomas Cas on plea of debt by Thomas, the Vicar.'
(i) As vicarages are generally supposed to have been estab-
lished in the eighth year of Henry II. (a.d. 1162), ' Alwyn ' may
not have been vicar according to the general acceptation of the
term, but he is specifically denominated as ' the Priest of the
town ' in the deed whereby a grant of land was made by Roger,
bishop of Salisbury, to Sherborne Abbey, probably wathin the
first decade of the 12th century (see Appendix A).
(2) The appointment of John Grifiith was made subject to
the condition that ' an annual pension of 26s. 8d. be reserved to
the previous Incumbent (John Chayny) till he be appointed to
a cure.' — Bishop's Register.
(3) Roger Prichard was Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford.
Vicarage House. — This residence was built in 1895,
in accordance with plans prepared by Mr. Thomas
Arnold, architect, lylanelly. The total cost of the
building was ;^i8o4.
PLATE X.
=:^
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 59
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60 HISTORY OF KIDWEI^LY.
CHANTRIES.
"HERE was a chantry at Kidwelly which is
known to have been dedicated to St. Nicholas,
and there would seem to have been more than
one. It is explicitly stated in the Minister's Accounts
of the Duchy of lyancaster, kept at the Public Record
Office, that there was a chantry ' within the walls of
the Castle of Kidwellj',' as the following translated
abstracts prove : —
BUNDLE 584. NO. 9236.
'Account of Roger Aylward, Receiver of Kedwelly, Carn :
Iskennyn, and Oggemour ; from i Octob. 43 Edward iii. to
9 Septr. next following, by his commission dated the said ist
Oct. (1367—70).
' Item, 74' 4'^ paid to Thomas Davy, Chaplain of the Chantry
•within the Castle of Kedwelly for this year, for his salary, and
for finding bread and wine, and candles, as well for himself, as
for a certain monk to celebrate within the Chantry of the said
Castle for the same time.'
BUJJDivE 573. NO. 9066.
' Item, allowed to the accountant for bread and mne and
candles, to be provided daily throughout the year for i mass
in the Chantry within the Castle to be celebrated by the Prior
and monks of the Priory of Kedwelly, 6' 8'.'
The dedication of this chantry is not given, but it is
improbable that in a purely military establishment,
such as the castle was, the chantry would have been
dedicated to St. Nicholas ; for this saint — presumably
the Bishop of Myra — is the patron of scholars and mar-
iners.* Sea-faring, with its important branch of ship-
* Owen's ' Saiictoyale Catholicum.'
HISTORY OF KIDWEl.r.Y. 6l
building, which is known at a later period to have
become, in no small measure, a means of livelihood to
the local community, had probably been the develop-
ment of centuries, and the association between the nature
of the people's employment and St. Nicholas might well
have commended itself to the consideration of the
founder in his selection of a patron for his chantry at
Kidwelly. It would therefore be more natural to seek
the location of this chantry within the precincts of the
parish church rather than in the castle, which would
necessarily have been prohibited to civilians. There
is also a further and more palpable reason against
assigning this chantry to the castle, for by an Act of
Parliament passed in the first year of Edward VI., cap.
14, all foundations of chantries, chapels, and guilds
which had not been in the actual possession of King
Henry VIII., were given to the king. At the dissolu-
tion of the chantries, the property belonging to the
chantry of St. Nicholas was seized by the Crown, and
disposed of under a lease dated 12th March, 3 Edward
VI., to a certain John Goodale, for a term of 21 years,
from Easter, 1548, upon payment of a total rent of
45/- (see Appendix G). This lease would hardly
have been necessary if the castle chantry had been
that of St. Nicholas, as it would already have been
Crown property, the castle and lordship of Kidwelly,
which had been held by the De I^ondres family, having
passed into the Duchy of I^ancaster when Maud de
Cadurcis, who held Ogmore and Kidwelly, was married
to Henry, Earl of L,ancaster. Maud's property
accordingly was annexed to the Crown, through the
62 HISTORY OF KIDWElvIyY.
Duke of lyancaster, and Blanche, who was married
to John of Gaunt, when Henry IV. succeeded to the
throne of England (see the genealogy of the de lyondres
family, p. 23). The fact also that the priests of the
castle chantry were, as has been seen, paid direct by
the local receiver of the Duchy, is itself an acknowledg-
ment that it was an institution which belonged to the
Duchy of lyancaster, now merged in the Crown, and
for which the Crown held itself responsible.
It may, moreover, be said that chantries were most
frequently formed within existing churches, such as the
ends of aisles, as is the case in St. John's Church, Brecon,
and many other ancient churches which may be cited ;
or in cruciform churches, such as the Parish Church
of Kidwelly, in the transept. It is beyond doubt that
the south transept of the latter church is a distinct
appendage to the main building. In fact, it is called
the Mansel Chapel to this day. Whether the Mansel
family (of Muddlescwm) within the parish originally
erected it does not appear ; but a mural tablet, which
may still be seen there, records the fact that it was, at
any rate, restored by one of that name. The inscription
is as follows : — ' Near this place lieth the body of the
Reverend Mr. John Mansel of this town, M.A., and late
Vicar of Pembrey, who departed this life the fifth day
of December, 1766 : aged 73 years This Chappel
was rebuilded in the year 1767 at the expense of the above
John Mansel.'
In this transept chapel, near the south-east angle of
the inner wall, there is a good specimen, well preserved,
of a piscina, and there are two tombs formed, and arched
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 63
in the south wall. Archaeologists have frequently
pointed out the shortness of the transepts as being
one of the peculiar features of the church, inasmuch as
they are not symmetrical with the other proportions
of the original dimensions of the present church. This,
therefore, as well as the fact that the end centre of one
is about three feet out of line with that of the other,
supports the theory of their being mere annexations.
Chantries, when formed within parish churches, were
screened off with traceried wood-work from the main
building, but no trace of this can be discovered in the
arch which divides this chapel from the church. In
the shafts of the arch which separates the north tran-
sept from the nave, however, regular sockets, which
have been stopped, may still be seen on both sides.
Besides this, while making excavations in the year 1903,
preparatory to laying down a heating apparatus, a sar-
cophagus was discovered beneath the surface in this tran-
sept. As the chantry, or chantry chapel, became the
tomb of the founder, it is not improbable that this was
the receptacle of the mortal remains of the founder for
whom masses were said in this particular chantry. The
prima facie evidence, therefore, afforded by these dis-
coveries, favours the theory that the north transept
was once used as a chantry, and the foregoing considera-
tions have likewise an equal tendency to prove that
this was the position of the ' chantry of St. Nicholas.'
64 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
THE PARISH CHURCH.
tT would seem, as has been already observed (see p.
44), that the present parish church was erected on
the foundation of a previous edifice which probably-
had been a temporary restoration of the church
which is said to have been burnt down, together with
the town, by Prince I^lewelyn in the year 1222.* It
was one of the comparatively few monastic churches
which were preserved at the suppression of the mon-
asteries, and permitted to remain as the church of the
parish ; the priory churches of Brecon and Monkton
being similar exceptions in the diocese of St. Davids.
It is dedicated, as might have been expected under the
circumstances, to St. Mary ; for the Marian dedication
became popular under Norman influence, and the Marian
churches, as they are called, were generally found in
towns, and under the shadow of the Norman castles,
as well as in secluded places in connection with Cister-
cian Monasteries. In his ' History of the Diocese of St.
Davids,' the Venerable Archdeacon Bevan, who at all
times is a most trustworthy authority on any subject
he has written upon, whether historical, archaeological,
or otherwise, thus describes the church — ' Kidwelly
Church may be cited as the best example, among paro-
chial churches, of the Decorated Style in this diocese, its
distinctive features being the large span of its nave, its
spacious chancel, short transepts, and lofty tower sur-
mounted by a graceful spire.' Among the papers
* Powell, p. 248.
PLATE XI.
KlDWELL ,- i'Aix'.'^H CHI
M THL NORTH^
From a Photograph by Mr James Henry Davies, Kidwelly
PLATE XII.
KIDWELLY Parish Church.
Roof damaged by fall of tower, i884.
PLATE Xni.
D, e
PLATE XIV.
S "^
D, ~i
HISTORY OF KIDWElvIvY. 6$
handed down to the present incumbent is a somewhat
exhaustive report made by Sir George Gilbert Scott,
after a careful personal survey of the church in the year
1854, in view of a projected restoration of the edifice
at that time. It is as follows : —
' The church is one of the most remarkable in South Wales,
and though retaining many of the features characteristic of the
district, it would appear, as far as its details are concerned, to
be the work of an architect from some other neighbourhood.
It consists of a nave of the extraordinary span of 33 feet in the
clear, without aisles, small north and south transepts, and an
ample chancel, forming altogether a simple and uniform cross.
The tower stands at the north-western angle of the nave, form-
ing a north porch, opposite which is an ordinary porch on the
south side. There is also an ample sacristy, or vestry, on the
north side of the chancel.
' The plan is, however, not precisely of its original form, as the
nave has been very considerably shortened, so that the tower
and the porch, instead of being, as at present, at the western
angles, were formerly about midway between those angles and
the transepts.
' Though the tower would appear at first sight of earher date,
I am inchned to beheve that the whole church (excepting, of
course, alterations and mutilations of comparative modern
periods) is of one age, and that it was erected, on one uniform
design, about the end of the reign of Kdward II., or early in
that of Edward III.
' The chancel and the tower are the only parts which now
show very distinctly the original character of the church. They
appear at first sight to differ greatly in style, the chancel having
rich flowing tracery in its windows, while those of the tower are
of a severe lancet form. On close examination, however, I am
led to the conclusion that this is not the result of any difference
in their dates, but merely of a desire for the one feature to be
as rich, and the other as simple, as their means on the one hand,
and the style of the period on the other, would permit. I draw
this conclusion from the following evidence : — There is so strong
a resemblance between the mouldings of the doorways (includ-
ing both of those in the tower) and the arches into the chancel
and transepts, as to prove them all to be of one age. As, there-
66 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
fore, the window tracery of the nave is gone, it might be objected
that the nave, with the transept and chancel arches, may be
all of earher date than the chancel itself. I find, however, a
loophole on the south side of the nave, distinctly agreeing with
the style and age of the chancel ; and, on further examination,
I find another in the staircase of the tower, with an ogee arch,
pointing at the same age. These indications, taken in connec-
tion with the perfect unity of the general plan, convince me
that the whole is of one date, and that the lancet windows of
the tower are merely the result of economy.
' The tower, however, though so severely simple, is a very
noble structure ; it is of great size, and is surmounted by a good
spire, perfectly plain and unperforated. It unites, externally,
the usual type of its period with that more distinctly character-
istic of the district, particularly in retaining the liigh battering
basement so constant in Welsh towers, though the angles are
flanked with two buttresses. The lower story of the tower,
internally, is vaulted ; it is faced with rough stone, and has a
singularly picturesque character. The nave is perfectly simple
in its character, both within and without. The windows have
been reduced to mere arched openings by the destruction of
the mullions and tracery, excepting only the west window,
which, dating only from the shortening of the nave, is a late
perpendicular window of rude character. The only remaining
internal features of the nave are the three great arches, which
are of a very bold and good character, and the doorways, which
are simple, but good. The transepts are in much the same
condition with the nave ; that on the south side, however, has
one window retaining its mulHon, but apparently not of the
original date. This transept has several arched recesses for tombs,
and several sepulchral slabs have been found in both transepts.
' The chancel is the portion which not only was, from the
first, the most highly finished, but which retains most of its
original beauty. The east window was of five hghts, but un-
happily, its mulHons and tracery have been removed, and I
fear its design will, with difficulty, be recovered from the frag-
ments scattered in diiferent parts of the borough. On the south
side, however, two windows retain the whole of their tracery,
and the other a portion of it ; all are of excellent character.
On the north side the windows are blocked, but one seems
nearly perfect. The sediha and piscina are perfect, and of very
good design.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 67
' The vestry has been in a great measure re-bnilt on the old
foundation. It has formerly been of two stories. The stairs
to the upper story remain, with a very perfect traceried loop-
hole opening into the chancel. On the other side of the vestry
door are well moulded octagonal brackets for hghts.
' The chancel arch is segmental, and very low, not extending
above the height of the side walls of the nave. There is a rood-
stair, the entrance of which is blocked up, but it would appear
as if it must have opened over the chancel arch, over which
the rood-loft may probably have extended, an arrangement
which would account for the lowness of the arch.
' The roofs are throughout of late date. That to the chancel
is the best, but appears to be about the time of James I. ; that
to the nave is probably of the last century (i8th), but is in many
parts decayed, and hardly safe.
' The walls are of massive thickness, and are generally in a
sound state.
' The parapet of the tower is nearly all gone, and the upper
part of the spire has been re-built so badly as to destroy its
symmetry.
Consequent upon the catastrophe which befel the
parish church in the year 1884, when the spire was
struck by Hghtning, and the top masonry was hurled
through the roof of the nave, the defective and dilapi-
dated work alluded to in the above report has been well
and substantially restored under the direction of Messrs.
Middleton and Prothero, Architects. The spire, which
had been but indifferently rebuilt after a similar catas-
trophe in the 17th century, to which the registers bear
witness, has now been restored to its original and
symmetrical proportions, and at a renovation in 1904
it was also pierced. The west window, complained
of as ' being of a rude character,' has been replaced by
a perpendicular window of good style and workmanship.
The other windows of the nave have also received new
mullions, though not the original tracery ; and the roof of
68 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
the nave, which could only have been placed on massive
walls, cannot but appeal to the admiration of all who
observe it, as well as reflect much credit on the designers.
It will have been noticed that the period assigned by
Sir Gilbert Scott to the building was ' about the end of
the reign of Bdward II., or early in that of Edward III.'
This would mean the former part of the 14th century.
This contention, however, has not remained unchal-
lenged, for Dr. Freeman, the once celebrated antiquary,
who accompanied the members of the Cambrian Archaeo-
logical Association in their visit to Kidwelly in August,
1875, maintained that the church had a 14th century
nave added to a 13th centurj^ tower.* Mr. Edward
Laws, F.S.A., of Tenby, at a visit of the same associa-
tion in August, 1906, also held that certain portions of
the chancel, such as the rich moulding of the piscina
and the tracery of the small circular loophole in the
opposite waU, point distinctly to the early English
style of architecture.
Sir Gilbert Scott, even, had some hesitation in arriv-
ing at the conclusion that the whoe church belonged
to one age, on account of a seeming difference between
the architectural style adopted in the tower and in other
parts of the building. His eventual decision was, in
fact, the result of a more minute scrutiny of the various
portions than was primarily instituted by him ; and it
was based on the testimony borne by the resemblance,
in the first place, between the mouldings of the tower
doorways and those of the chancel and transept arches ;
* ^Carmarthen Journal,' August 37, 1875.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 69
and secondly, between the loophole in the staircase of
the south wall of the nave, and another in the stair-case
of the tower, which have similar arches, and are therefore
claimed to be contemporaneous. The transition from
the Early English to the Decorated style seems to have
been so gradual that it is said to be impossible to draw
a sharp line of demarcation between them. So imper-
ceptible is the transition in its various stages, that each
style may be sub-divided into early, middle, and late,
the early being often mixed with the previous style, and
the later dragging on to the subsequent one.* There
seems, therefore, to be no reason, in the case of this
church, which by a consensus of opinion, belongs to the
incipient stage of the Decorated period, viz., the latter
part of the 13th or the former part of the 14th century,
why the Early English Style should not yet have lingered
in the transition to the Early Decorated.
lis Architectural Features. — These are —
(i) The numerous stair-cases in the walls.
(2) The peculiar lowness of the chancel arch.
(3) The segmental character of the main arches.
■ (4) The great breadth of the nave, and absence of
aisles.
(5) The abrupt terminations of the transepts.
(6) The number of its sepulchral recesses.
There are four stair-cases within the walls of the build-
ing. The one in the south wall of the nave possibly
constituted an approach to a rostrum whence the Epistle
was read, and the one, the entrance to which is gained
* Parker's 'Introduction to Gothic Architecture,' p. 161.
70 HISTORY OF KIDWEr,I.Y.
from the north transept, probably led to a similar
rostrum whence the Gospel was read. The stair-case
near the angle formed by the pillars of the chancel and
south transept arches is a spiral one, and led to the
rood-loft above. To the right of the entrance to this
stair-case is a stoup which probably was used for ablution
before any ascent to the rood-loft was made. The other
stair-case is in the main wall of the sacristy, or vestry.
This starts from what originally was the first floor, and
the traceried loophole already referred to, opens into
it, thus serving as a window, and possibly also as a
squint, for it is not improbable that the first floor of
the sacristy was used as an anchoret cell, where a recluse
found his or her permanent home. The tracery of the
circular loophole represents a wheel, and is indicative
of the flight of time.
Anchorages were frequently attached to a church, and
were occupied by anchorites that belonged to a religious
order, and bound, of their own free will, by a vow of
seclusion. Female recluses often made their abode in
such cells, partly for protection, and also for the sake
of religious advantages which such a location would
naturally afford. The doors of the cell were either locked
or blocked up with masonry under the authority of the
head of the order to which the inmates belonged, either
for a period of years or for life. The cell generally had
three shuttered windows, one opening into a chamber
for the anchorite's attendant, another through which
any necessary communication with the outside world
could be made, while the third looked, as the loophole
in this instance does, into the sanctuary of the church.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 7I
The peculiar lowness of the chancel arch may be ac-
counted for by the presumption, which is borne out by
the height of the spiral stair-case, that the rood-loft,
extended above the arch. The segmental formation of
this, and the other main arches, effect an angle with
the pillar abruptly, and have no continuous imposts
nor capitals to the shafts. The corbels on which rested
the canopy over the loft are still preserved in the wall.
The change of mouldings also at the junction is con-
sidered by Dr. Freeman to be rare in England, and is
reminiscent of later French work.*
The extraordinary breadth of the nave, without
aisles, is also thought by the same authority to belong
to some south Gaulish church.
The transepts start direct from the nave, and not
from a central tower, as is usually the case in monastic
churches, and their unsymmetrical abruptness, supports
the contention which has already been made, that they
are mere annexations to the main building.
There are, altogether, six arched sepulchral tombs.
Two of these are in the chancel, two in the south chapel,
and two in the nave. Those in the chancel and nave
have no monumental slabs, but one of those in the
south chapel is occupied by a recumbent effigy of one
who might have been a local domina, with an illegible
inscription, and the other by a slab bearing an incised
cross supposed to belong to the 15th century, but which
has been appropriated by a comparatively modern alder-
man of the borough. It is probable that the sepulchral
* 'Arch. Camb.', Series IV., Vol. vi., p. 412.
72 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
arch in the north wall of the sacrarium was used as a
recess for entombing the rood, or the Crucifix in the
rood-loft during the interval between Good Friday and
the morning of Easter Day. There is also a monument,
now placed in an erect position in the south chapel, of
a civilian, clad in the tunica talaris, which is said to belong
to the 14th century.*
Figure of the Madonna and the Infant Saviour. — The
church rejoices in the possession of a imique figure of
the Virgin, crowned, bearing the infant Saviour, and a
bird, in pure white alabaster, a good specimen of 15th
century art. The sculpture is, however, considerably
mutilated, both by reason of exposure to the elements
in Puritanical times, and rough handling. The head of
the child is gone, as well as the left arm of the Virgin.
One of the birds and a section of the lower part are also
wanting. Still, sufficient is left to give a fairly accurate
idea of its pristine beauty. It was once lodged in the
niche above the door of the south porch, where, within
living memory, women curtsied to it on entering and
leaving the church. From this position, however, it
was taken down in the year 1875, seemingly to the
chagrin of many of the parishioners, and was cursorily
buried in the churchyard, whence it was, on remon-
strance, again unearthed and placed in the tower. It
is now in the sacristy awaiting restoration. Its original
position would seem to have been the niche in the wall
on the south side of the east end of the nave, where it
proudly stood beneath the rood-loft, and above the
approach to the spiral rood-stairs.
* ^Arch. Camb.', Series IV., Vol. vii., p. 412.
PLATES XV.
b t,
PLATES XVI.
PLATE XVII.
2^.
PLATE XVIIl.
SQ
"t S
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 75
The Church Plate. — The inventory of goods pertain-
ing to the church which was returned by the Commis-
sioners appointed for that purpose at the beginning of
the reign of Edward VI. (1552), included the following : —
2 chalices of silver, partly gilt.
A small cross of silver, partly gilt.
A censer of silver.
A pyx of silver.
4 bells, great and small.
One chalice, in the hands of Morys ap Rhys, Gent.
Nothing is now known of these accessories. The
oldest existing vessels are a silver chalice and paten,
both dating from the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The
chalice bears the following inscription in I^atin :
' Poculum * Eclesie * de * Kyd welly * 15 * 74/ and is
pronounced by connoisseurs to be one of the best speci-
mens of Elizabethan ecclesiastical plate in the diocese
of St. Davids.
The Registers. — The parochial records extend back to
the year 1626, and there are what appear to be extracts
from a previous register. These latter date from the
year 1586. All the entries down to a.d. 1733 are in
I^atin, and are in bold and legible caligraphy.
The systematic registration of baptisms, marriages,
and burials was only established at the end of the reign
of Henry VIII. A royal injunction was issued by
Thomas Cromwell, Vicar-General, Sept. 29, 1538, de-
manding the incumbent of every parish to ' keep one
book or register, which book he shaU, every Sunday,
take forth, and in the presence of the churchwardens,
or one of them, write and record in the same all the
74 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
weddings, christenings, and burials made the whole
week before.' The first register books seem to have
been of paper, but in 1597 i^ was enacted that every
parish provide itself with a parchment book, into which
the entries in the paper registers were to be transcribed.
This enactment will therefore account for the entries
which appear at the beginning of the earliest parchment
register of Kidwelly, for they are probably copies made
from a previous record book.
One of the records in the local registers is specially
interesting, not only as a chronicle of an imtoward
event, but also as conveying an antiquated atmospheric
idea. It is as follows : —
' Upon the 29th day of October 148 1, the steeple of Kidwelly
fell downe by lightning and a clap of thunder between one and
two o'clock in the afternoon. — From lightning and tempest ;
from battle and murder, and from sudden death, Good I/ord,
deliver us.'
Church Restoration. — Consequent on the lightning dis-
aster of 1884, the measure of church restoration adopted
and carried out was comprehensive, and involved an
outlay of £1813 8s. id.
Church Bells. — For many years the belfry of the
parish church has contained a peal of bells. It used to
be a common saying that ' Kidwelly bells were heard
at Swansea,' and this is accounted for by a local tradition
which states that the bells which had been originally
intended for Kidwelly were taken by sea to Swansea.
However, if the tradition in reference to a confusion in
the consignment of the local bells be founded on fact,
Kidwelly has now received ample compensation in the
HISTORY OP KIDWEI.I.Y. 75
splendid pipe organ which was purchased at a reasonable
price in 1907 from the vicar and churchwardens of St.
Mary's Church, Swansea. The following extract from
The New Monthly Magazine for March i, 1820. may be
of interest, inasmuch as it shows that the bells were
formerly swung, and that some were re- cast about the
time when the notice appeared in the above periodical.
' The inhabitants of Kidwelly were highly entertained
on the 24th ult. by the revival of church bell-ringing,
having for many years been destitute of that gratifying
melodious music, in consequence of four bells out of the
original peal being broken, which deficiency was sup-
pHed by John Kingston, bell-founder, of Bridgewater
by four new ones.'
The present peal consists of six bells, and are fixed
for chiming only, it being thought that this method
would conduce to the safety of the tower masonry.
They were re-cast by Charles Carr, lytd.. Bell-founders,
Smethwick, in 1902, at the cost of fi^o, and were dedi-
cated, together with a new altar and reredos, by the
Lord Bishop of St. Davids on May 3rd of the same
year.
The Town Clock. — This is also in the church steeple.
When the tower was struck b^' lightning in the year
1884, the interior workings were badly damaged, and
the clock was stopped for several years. In 1902, how-
ever, it was restored, and the dials were raised to a
higher elevation at the expense of the municipal cor-
poration, in commemoration of the Coronation of King
Kdward VII.
76 HISTORY OF KIDWEI,I,Y.
ST. TEIIvO'S MISSION CHURCH.
This was erected in 1892 to supply the spiritual needs
of residents of Mynydd-y-Garreg. The site, which
originally was a leasehold, was converted into freehold
property in the year 1902.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 'J'J
THE MUNICIPAL BOROUGH
CHARTERS.
'ONSlDERABIvE facilities were given in the reign
of Henry I. towards the attainment of munici-
pal privileges in England, and also in those
parts of Wales which had been colonised, as Kidwelly
was, by Norman settlers. The feudal system was intro-
duced into the government of towns after the Conquest,
and the English rights of sac and soc were understood
to imply a manorial estate.
The first charter to Kidwelly was granted by Henry
I. to Roger, bishop of Salisbury, and lord of the manor,
between 1103 und 1112. Practically, it was a provision
for the freedom of the lord, and the immunity of the
men of his demesne, from tolls and consuetudinary dues.
This charter appears to have been confirmed by Henry
II. to William de London, and his son William secured
its confirmation from King John in 1205, and again
from Henry III. in 1228.*
Sometimes the example of the king was followed by
the lords who granted charters to their towns, and they
often obtained permission from the Crown to grant
greater privileges than in their own right they could do.
. The charter which Henry, Duke of Lancaster, and
lord of the manor of Kidwelly, granted to the town in
1357!, is a local instance of this beneficence. This may
* 'Arch. Camb.,' Series IV., Vol. ix, p. 82.
f 30 Edward III.
78 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
more strictly be regarded as a grant of certain rights
and privileges of quite secondary importance, and ex-
emption from certain tolls, than a regular charter.
Reference to its provisions is made in the Appendix.
Down to this time no charter had been given which
contained a hint of corporate existence.
In 1444, however, a charter was granted by Henry
VI. which definitely provided for incorporation, and
which, in this sense, may be regarded as the original
Charter of Kidwelly (see Appendix).
In 1541, on the application of the mayor of Kidwelly,
the previous charter was confirmed by Patent of Henry
VIII., dated February 20, in the 32nd year of his reign.
In 1551, the same charter was again confirmed by
Patent of Edward VI., dated May 20, in the 4th year
of his reign.
In 1619, a new and elaborate charter was granted to
the borough by James I., dated July 16, in the i6th
year of his reign.* This is the charter by which the
borough was governed in the 17th, i8th, and 19th cen-
turies, until it was replaced by the last charter. The
full text of the charter of James I. is given in the Ap-
pendix.
In 1885 the latest charter was granted, a copy of which
is also given in the Appendix.
It is sad to relate that the originals of all the early
charters are lost !
Although efforts have been made to recover that of
James I., as an old minute book of the corporation
* 'Arch. Camb.', Series III., Vol. iii., p. i.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 79
testifies, all attempts to regain possession of it have so
far been futile. This document can hardly be of any
use or value to any private individual, while to the mayor
and corporation, its rightful custodians, it would be a
priceless possession. In the hope, therefore, that this
book may help in the quest, an appeal is made to any of
its readers who may have some knowledge about its
whereabouts to acquaint the municipal authorities with
the fact. It need hardly be said that anyone who would
vouchsafe such information as might lead to its recovery,
would confer an inestimable boon on the ancient borough.
Publicity is hereby given to a clue provided by a repre-
sentation which is placed on record at the foot of the
minutes of the Hall Day held at the Guildhall of the
borough on Friday, July 18, 1783 : —
' Whereas one of the Charters of this borough was delivered
to Mr. Pember, an Attorney at Gloucester, to be given in evidence
in a cause there depending, wherein he was concerned, and Mr.
Pember having in answer to a letter sent him by the Town
Clerk, informed us that he delivered the said Charter to Mr.
Leonard Bilson Gwyn, in order to be returned to this corpora-
tion, and that he has his receipt for the same ; and several
apphcations having been made to the said Mr. Leonard Bilson
Gwyn to dehver up the said Charter, he hath given for answer
that he had delivered the same to the late Mr. Lewis Rogers
in his hfetime. And whereas, on inspecting the Town Chest,
the said charter is not to be found therein, and if the fact (sic)
be true, that the same charter was dehvered to Mr. Lewis Rogers,
it probably must have remained (not being found in the chest)
among his papers, which papers are in the custody or power of
Mr. Gwyn, but it appears to us that Mr. Gwyn has, since the
death of Mr. Rogers, confessed the said charter was in his custody.
It is therefore ordered that appUcation be made to the Court of
King's Bench in the next Michaelmas term for a mandamus to
be directed to the said Mr. Leonard BUson Gwyn, to shew cause
why he should not deliver up the said charter to the corporation.
80 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
And that it be referred to the Mayor, Recorder, and Justice,
-with the assistance of the Town Clerk, to consider and prepare
the necessary means for such apphcation. And they are to lay
the same before the Council at a future meeting thereof. And
it is further ordered that the Town Clerk do cause a copy of this
Order to be dehvered to the said Mr. Gwyn, that he may prevent
the necessity of the apphcation to the Court of King's Bench,
if he thinks proper.'
Unhappily, Gwyn's expulsion from the aldermanic
chair by the unanimous vote of the council, on the plea
of non-residence, is recorded in the same document.
This seems to have aggravated a difference which had
arisen between him and the corporation in 1780 by
reason of the refusal, on the part of the latter, to renew
to him a lease of the tin mills, a refusal which afterwards
was made subject to a lawsuit. I^eonard Bilson Gwyn
was mayor in 1779. He seems to have resided latterly
at Swansea ; and in a document, reference to which is
made in the minutes of the Hall Day held July 23,
1787, Eliza Maria Wigley is represented to have been
his daughter. In 1788 the corporation renewed the
lease formerly granted to Gwyn in the name of Gabriel
Powell, of Gellihir, Glamorganshire.
The Seal and Arms of the Borough. — It will be seen
from the illustration that this is a somewhat inelegant
heraldry, and its conception appears to be due to a mis-
apprehension of Iceland's extraordinary etymology of
the name Kidwelly (see page 3), for Iceland's mythical
Cattas seems to have been taken for a cat !
Markets and Fairs. — Two markets and one fair were
established by charter as far back as the latter part of
the 13th century, as testified by the following extract : —
PLATE XIX.
^^'vrjT^^
^^^^Sr^^'
SEAL OF THE BOROUGH.
From a Photograph by Mr James Henry Davies, Kidwelly
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 8 1
' Grant to Payn de Chaworth, and his heirs, of two weekly-
markets at Keddewelly, in the March of Wales ; one on Tuesday,
and the other on Saturday ; and of a yearly Fair there on the
[vigil] of the Feast, and the morrow, of St. Mary Magdalen,
and the five days following.' — Charter Rolls, 52 Henry III.,
Oct. 22, 126S.—P.R.O.
The markets and fairs were leased to the bailiff of
the town 22 Richard II., Feb. 3, 1398, for 30s. yearly.*
The markets have now been discontinued on account
of the proximity of Carmarthen and lylanelly, and the
travelling facilities between Kidwelly and those towns ;
but fairs are still held on the following dates : — St.
Luke's fair, Oct. 29 (hiring and pleasure). Gwenllian
fair, first Monday in December (cattle and pigs). Aug-
ust fair, August 3rd and 4th (cattle first day, pigs second
day). May fair, first Tuesday after the 20th of May
(horses, cattle, and pigs). The last named was estab-
lished in the year of the Coronation of King Edward
VII.
* ' Duchy of Lancaster — Minister's Accounts.' Bundle 573,
No. 9063.— P.R.O.
82 HISTORY OP KIDWELI^y.
DOMESTIC BUILDINGS, AND NOTED
FAMILIES.
OTH Celts and Saxons were content with the
crudest architecture, and an advance of this art
amongst them came through foreign influence.
It remained, therefore, for the Normans, and Flemings
who followed in their wake, to hand down to posterity
what still remains at Kidwelly of mediaeval archi-
tecture, domestic as well as ecclesiastical. Among the
domestic remains may be mentioned two mansions,
lylechdwnny and Muddlescwm.
Llechdwnny (Donne's Refuge). — Ivlechdwnny is one of
the few mansions marked in Speed's map of Carmar-
thenshire in 1610. The ruins of this mansion are on an
eminence which overlooks Kidwelly, and about two
miles to the north-east of the town. The walls that
still remain show that it was an oblong building, the
length extending from south to north. It is 55 yards
long by 36 yards wide, and is now occupied by an
orchard. At the north-east angle a round tower may
still be traced, and there is a corresponding projection
at the south-east angle, where probably another round
tower stood. Adjoining the mansion on the east is a
fruit garden which covers 2 acres, and which is inclosed
by a wall 9 ft. high and 2 ft. thick. It is lined through-
out with 4 in. red brick-work. On the east side there
is a terrace extending from the north to the south wall,
and at each end of the terrace there was a round tower
corresponding to those at the north-west and south-
west angles of the mansion proper. The garden towers
HISTORY OF KIDWELI^Y. 83
would command a magnificent view of the Vale of Towy
on one side, and of Kidwelly and the sea on the other.
Muddlescwm (Middlescombe) . — Beyond the ruined
walls which rise only a few feet from the ground, but
which stiU give an accurate idea of the proportions of
the mansion, nothing remains except the granary, some
outhouses, and the farmhouse, still known as Muddles-
cwm, which formerly was the attendant's haU of the
mansion, and which remains intact. The area covered
by the mansion is 33 yards by 25 yards. The thickness
of the walls is 2 ft. 2 in. The principal entrance is at
the south-west angle, which is now blocked by an out-
building. There is another entrance at the north-east
angle which seems to have been surmounted by a turret.
The foundations of the ground chambers are still trace-
able. Adjoining the north wall of the mansion is the
fruit garden, measuring 28 yards square, and surrounded
by a wall built of red brick throughout on a stone founda-
tion. The thickness of the wall is 21 ins., and the height
9 ft. The granary is to the south of the principal
entrance of the mansion, and the precincts stiU preserve
the pebble pavement. The approach is also pitched, as
well as a way opposite the mouth of the outer entrance,
which leads through the middle of the field to the sup-
posed site of lylanfihangel Chapel.
These two mansions have been rendered historic by
reason of the celebrated families that resided in them.
The pedigrees of these families, between which there
was much inter-marrying, are given by Mr. George T.
Clark in his ' Genealogies of Morgan [Margam] and
Glamorgan,' thus :
84 HISTORY OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
' Harry of Bryncoch, married ist Margaret, daughter of Wil-
liam Thomas, of Oldcastle ; 2nd EUzabeth, daughter of Morgan
Dun of Kidwelly (p. 103).
' Morgan Gwyn, m. Mary dr. of Howel Jenkin-ychan of Kid-
welly, and had i David, 2 John, 3 Owen Gwyn, of the Old Bailey
had (a) Elizabeth, {b) Ann : 4 Maude, who married WilUam David
Meredith of Kidwelly (p. 207).
' Morgan ap levan Gwyn m. Margaret dr. of Howel ap Jenkin
Vychan of Kidwelly, and had i Owen Gwyn, 2 David, 3 Maud
m. William ap David ap Meredith of Kidwelly (p. 208).
' Maud (daughter of Sir Robert Vaughan of Tretower) m.
Henry Dunn of Kidwelly (p. 239).
' Sir Thomas Morgan of Langstone and Pencoyd in Llan-
martin, 1482 — Issue i Sir William, 2 John, whence Morgan of
Caerleon, 3 Henry, 4 PhiUp, whence —
Morgan of Kidwelly (p. 320).
' Philip Morgan of Klidwelly, fourth son of Sir Thomas of
Pencoyd, married a daughter of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, and had
1 WilMam Morgan, who had 2 Henry Morgan, father of 3 Walter
Morgan (p. 325).
' Morgan of Muddlescombe. — Treherne Morgan of Muddles-
combe, High Steward of the Commote of Kidwelly and of Pem-
broke : he built the house of Llandilo-Abercowyn ; m. Jenet
dr. and co-h. of Harry Dwn of Picton. Issue — i Harry, 2 Owen,
3 Anthony (whence a branch), 4 EHzabeth, 5 Sysly, 6 Ann, 7
Catherine.
' Harry Morgan of Muddlescombe m. Margaret dr. of Henry
Wogan. Issue — i WilUam, 2 John, 3 Treherne, 4 Thomas, 5
Ellen, 6 Catherine, 7 Ann.
' WilUam Morgan of Muddlescombe m. Catherine dr. of WilUam
Thomas of Llangathen. Issue — i Henry, 2 Thomas (1596), 3
Mary, 4 Liws, 5 Blanche.
' Henry Morgan m. EUzabeth dr. of Morris Rhys ap Morris
ap Owain ap Gryflfith ap Nicholas of Llechdonni. Issue — i
Mary co-h. m. Anthony son of Sir Edward Mansel of Margam.
2 Catherine (1596) m. Francis, son of Sir Edward Mansel, and
had (a) Walter, (b) Anthony, (c) Francis, [d) Richard, [e) John,
(/) Mary, {g) Jenet.'
Anterior to the beginning of the 15 th century Ivlech-
dwnny belonged to a family of the name of Gwyn-
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 85
I^loide. At this time the last named family was sum-
marily deprived of the patrimony through outlawry,
and the property was bestowed on the Donne family,
as the extract given below will show —
' Grant for life to the king's esquire John Donne, of all lands,
late of Griffin ap Walter ap levan in the commots of Kedewelly
and Carnewalthan [CarnwylUon] , and a mansion with all enclosed
demesnes round it, late of Wilham Gwyn ap Rees Lloide in the
commot of Kidewelly, forfeited to the king on account of their
rebelHon, to the value of 20 marks yearly, so that he answer
for any surplus and stay in person armed with one archer in his
company during the rebelhon in South Wales on the safe-custody
of the Castle of KedeweUy, and the country adjacent, without
wages or reward.' — Patent Rolls, 5 Henry IV., Dec. i, 1403.
The Donne family, said to have descended from
Meurig, prince of Dyfed, seems to have inter-married
also with the family of Rees of Kilymaenllwyd, whose
original residence is said to have been Llechdwnny.
At one period the last-named family bore the name of
Bowen, or ab Bowen, and is supposed to have descended
from Owen, the second son of Gryffith ap Nicholas of
Dynevor, who was uncle to Sir Rhys ap Thomas, the
celebrated Captain of South Wales.*
The following genealogical table, communicated by
Mr. G. R. Brigstocke, Ryde, gives a later succession
of the lylechdwnny family : —
' Rees Bowen, of Llechdwnny, married Catherine, daughter
of John, son of Henry Morgan, of Muddlescwm.
'Morris Bowen, do. 161 5, m. Maud, dr. of Sir John Wgan,
of Bwlston, Pembs.
' Mary, dr. of Morris Bowen, do., m. John Brigstocke, who
purchased I^lechdwnny from his father-in-law.
* ' Burke's Visitation of Seats and Arms, 1852,' Vol. II.
86 HISTORY OF KIDWEI<I.Y.
' Owen Brigstocke, do. 1657, m. Jane, dr. of Sir Wm. Vaughan,
Torycoed, Llangendeime.
'William Brigstocke, do. 1713, m. Winifred, dr. of Robert
Byrt, Llwyndyris, Cardiganshire.
' Owen Brigstocke, do. 1746, m. Anne, dr. of Dr. Edward
Browne, NortMeet.
' William Brigstocke, do. 1751, m. Mary, dr. of Francis Lloyd,
Glyn, Llangendeirne.
' Owen Brigstocke, do. 1778, m. Anne, dr. of John Williams,
Bwlchygwynt, Mydrim.
' William Owen Brigstocke, do. 183 1, m. Anne, dr. of Edward
Probyn, Newland, Gloucester.
' WilUam Owen Brigstocke, do. 1861, s.p.
' Rev. John Brigstocke, do. 1858, m. Catherine Mary, dr. of
Sir William Champion de Crespigny, Bart.'
It will have been observed that the original name of
the Muddlescwm family was Morgan, its patronymic
being exchanged by marriage at the end of the i6th
century for that of Mansel (see page 84). A record
kept in the parish register states that Francis Mansel
was created baronet on the 14th day of January, 1621.
Domestic Flemish Architecture. — Several good speci-
mens of this quaint architecture are preserved in some
of the dwelling houses in the town. Its chief features
are the semi-detached chimney shafts which are built
against the side of the house, and the outside stair-case.
Illustrations of two of these are siven.
PLATE XX.
OLD HOUSES IN KIDWELLY.
8^
HISTORY OF KIDWELI.Y. 87
LOCAL CELEBRITIES.
IDWKlylyY may well be proud of the production
of a goodly number of men who from time to
time have distinguished themselves in court
circles, diplomacy, literature, and administrative capa-
city. Among these may be mentioned the following : —
Master Walter Hogas of Kidwelly, parson of the Church
of Rostyen, was nominated attorney for one year, for
the purpose of going beyond the seas with the king.*
William Wrench of Kidwelly was appointed by Letters
Patent deputy, during pleasure, to the office of chief
butler in the port of Southampton.!
Geoffrey Kydwelly was appointed, during pleasure,
surveyor of all the king's castles, lordships, manors, and
lands, and the subsidy, ulnage, and forfeiture of cloth,
in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall,
and receiver of the same ; rendering his account yearly
at the exchequer, with authority to enquire into the
value of the premises, and certify thereon to the king
and council. J
Maurice Kydwelly was appointed to a similar office
in the counties of Hereford, Gloucester, Worcester, Wilts,
Oxford, and Berks, and the town of Bristol. §
Philip Morgan, Kydwelly, received an appointment
for life as the king's attorney-general in all the king's
* 'Patent Rolls,' 3 Edward III., May 20, 1329.
t ' Patent Rolls,' 5 Edward III., Feb. 23, 133 1.
X 'Patent Rolls,' 12 Edward IV., Aug. 4, 1472,
§ Ibid.
88 HISTORY OF KIDWElvI^Y.
courts of record in England and Wales, receiving the
accustomed fees, with power of appointing clerks and
officers under him. * He was also appointed in the suc-
ceeding reign, deputy of the king's kinsman Francis,
lyord lyovell, chief butler of England, in the port of
Pole, and ports and places adjacent, receiving the ac-
customed fees.t Tradition also associates this local
worthy with the early stages of the plot originated in
an interview, at Brecon, during the progress of the Wars
of the Roses between John Morton, bishop of Ely, and
Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, which had for
its object the reconciliation of the Houses of York and
Lancaster, by inviting Henry, earl of Richmond — the
future Henry VII. — to accept the Crown of England, on
condition that he marry Elizabeth of York ; and it is
stated that Philip Morgan was one of the messengers
sent in 1483 to Henry, then in honourable custody in
Brittany, with the details of the plot.
In a life of Henry VII. submitted for review to the
late Mr. James Routledge, an author and man of letters,
who was by marriage closely connected with Kidwelly,
occurs this passage : — ' Henry determined to land in
this district. He had received messages from one Morgan
of Kidwelly, a lawyer, that Rhys ap Thomas, a valiant
captain of South Wales, and another named Sir John
Savage, were ready to take his part ; and he had every
reason to believe that his uncle Jasper Tudor, on his
re-appearance in that country, would be at once greeted
as Earl of Pembroke, notwithstanding his attainder.'
* ' Patent Rolls,' Edward V., May 28, 1483.
t Ibid., I Richard III., March 5, 1484.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 89
This information is communicated by the late reviewer's
widow. The authorship of the history alluded to is
not given, but the statement is probably correct, seeing
that Philip Morgan was not only important and in-
fluential in affairs pertaining to the accession of Henry
VII., but was also married to a daughter of Sir Rhys ap
Thomas (see page 84).
Morgan's connection with the plot at this stage is,
moreover, corroborated by the following abstract from
' Hall's Chronicle,' edit. 1809, p. 410 : —
' But in the meane season there came to the Earle (Richmond)
a more joyfuUer message from Morgan Kydwelly learned in the
temporall lawe whiche declared that Ryce ap Thomas, a man
of no less valyauntnes than actyuitee, and John Savage, an
approved captayne woulde, with all their power be partakers
of his quarell.'
This is also repeated verbatim by ' Holinshed Chronicle,'
Vol. III., p. 434. (Edit. 1808) sub anno 1485.
Sir Harry [Morgan'] of Kidwelly, a celebrated litter-
ateur who flourished between 1400 and 1430 : probably
Harry Morgan of Muddlescombe (see p. 84).
leuan Detilwyn, a Welsh bard of remarkable genius,
was a native of Kidwelly, resident at Pendeulwyn within
the parish. The name Dillwyn is supposed to have
derived from him.* He flourished between 1450 and
1490. Although generally distinguished by his poetical
effusions and attainments, he was a man of many parts,
and of a highly cultured mind. By virtue of a commis-
sion of Edward IV., Aug. 12, 1460, he was one of the
the ' foure cheyffest men of skyll within the provynce
* lolo MSS., p. 332, Note 2.
90 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
of Sowth Wallys,' who were cited to Pembroke Castle
to decide ' the progenie and descent of the honourable
name of the Herberts/ Earls of Pembroke. Having
scrutinized, among other ' auncyent wrytyngs ' the docu-
ments of Margam Abbey and Ystrad Fflur [Strata
Florida], and many soche other Bookys and Warrantes
of Awthoryty,' the commissioners made their return to
the king in four languages — Latin, Welsh, French, and
English.* The other commissioners were — Howell, the
son of David, the son of levan, the son of Rhys ; Howell
Surdwall ; levan Brechfa.t leuan Deulwyn was a bard
of the chair of Glamorgan. In 1470 he was a disciple
of Meredydd ap Rhosser in that chair, and in 1480 he was
himself the president of the chair, and lorwerth Fyng-
Iwyd, lyCwys Morgan wg, and Harri Hir, his disciples. J
Seven of Deulwyn 's poems are published in ' Gorch-
estion Beirdd Cymnc,' pp. 127 — 142. ' Marwnad Syr
Rhisiart Herbert, a las yn y maes ym Mambri ' — ' An
Elegy to Sir Richard Herbert, who fell on the field of
Banbury ' — is one of the published poems, selections
from which are here given in the original —
' Y warr gronn orau o gred,
Herbert hir, byrr y torred ;
Mae'r oes oil, yn marw os art,
Mis yw'r oes, am Syr Risiart.
O brau Duw a wnaeth ynn brad ni
Mwya unbrad, fu' Mambri :
Mai o Grist, ymmil y Grog,
Y mae f'oerchwedl, am Farchog.
* ' Hanes Llenyddiaeth Gymreig, 1300 — 1650,' by R. J. Prys
(Gweirydd ap Rhys), p. 249.
•j- ' Fenton's Historical Tour through Pembrokeshire,' p. 340.
% ' Dr. John Jones's History of Wales,' pp. 225.
HISTORY OF KIDWElvIvY, 9I
Maddau un, ym oedd anodd,
Na bai yn fyw, neb un fodd ;
Ni byddent, Ddwywent, yn ddig
Bettai obaith, bod tebyg.'
Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru, p. 135.
leuan Deulwyn is included by Tudur Aled in the same
category with Nanmor and Dafydd ap Edmwnt, thus : —
' Bwrw Dafydd, gelfydd dann gor,
Bwrw ddoe'n un Meistr, Bardd Nanmor ;
Bwrw Deulwyn y bardd olaf
Blodeu Cerdd, ba wlad y caf ?
Tair awen, oedd i'r Triwyr,
A fai les i fil a wyr.'
Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru, p. 249.
Sir John Yarford, lyord Mayor of lyOndon in the civic
year 15 19 — 1520, is represented in 'Mund's Chronicle'
(1611) to have been a mercer, and a son of William
Yarford of Kidwelly.
leuan Tew leuanc. Another eminent bard of Kidwelly
who flourished from 1560 to 1590. He wrote a poem
in 1590 to Dr. WiUiam Morgan, bishop of St. Asaph,
who translated the Bible into the Welsh language.*
This is a specimen of leuan Tew leuanc's verse and
sentiments —
' A gair Duw yn egored aeth,
Yn deg o'i enedigaeth ;
Duw a enynodd dawn unwaith
Doctor anhepcor o'n hiaith,
Yn deg o niwl a'n dug ni,
Ac i Ian y goleuni ;
* ' Hughes's Life and Times of Bishop William Morgan,' pp.
150, 151.
92 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
Mae Doctor a rhagoriaeth,
Morgan wych, mab Mair, a'i gwnaeth ;
Blaenor, gynghor y gangell,
Bugail yw heb ei well.'
■ Piau helpu o'r pulpud,
Llyna faeth lie ni fethodd,
I/lygad Llanrhaead llawn rhodd ;
Ffrwythder ieithoedd ffraeth draethai
Ffynon heb na thro na thrai.'
Doctor i gael rhagor rodd
Yw y gwr a'i hagorodd ;
Esgob a fydd ddydd a ddaw.'
John Davies of Kidwelly translated 'A History of the
Caribby Islands,' 2 vols., in 1666. In 1671 he also trans-
lated from the French 'A Treatise on Ceremonies of the
vacant see, or a True Relation of what passes at Rome
upon the Pope's death ; with the Proceedings in the
Conclave, for the election of a new Pope ; according to
the Constitutions and Ceremonials. As also the Corona-
tion and Cavalcade.'
John Griffith, B.D., was born at Kidwelly on Jan. 9,
1772. He was the son of a Welsh yeoman, educated
at the Grammar School, Carmarthen. From here he
proceeded to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he
obtained a scholarship and several college prizes in each
year of his residence. He graduated B.A. in 1795 First
Senior Optime ; M.A. in 1798 ; B.D. in 1805, having
been elected Fellow of his College. On reference to the
Tripos Ivist it will be seen that John Griffith is the only
Honour man of the College in his year, Kmmanuel being
HISTORY OP KIDWELLY. 93
an easy-going fashionable College, where undergraduates
were an idle set of well-to-do young gentlemen. He
was appointed minor canon of Ely in 1890, became
later epistler and auditor, and also bishop's surrogate
for wills, as well as marriage licenses. He was preferred
to the benefice of St. Mary's, Ely, which he held until
1827, when he accepted the perpetual curacy of Stunt-
ney, which he held until his decease. He was also
chaplain of the Bishop's Gaol, and sinecure rector of
Fulbourne. He had sprung, as has been seen, from a
comparatively humble origin, and he made the best of
his opportunities. He knew the value of money, and
his responsibility as trustee thereof. He dowered many
connections, unknown to him, who had to be sought
out from the fastnesses of the Welsh mountains and the
antipodes. In his will he left £1000 to found a charity
' for two widows, or two spinsters, or a widow and a
spinster, born in the borough or parish of Kidwelly ;
females of irreproachable character, with a preference
always in their choice of such as may have seen better
days, and shall have been reduced in their circumstances
through unavoidable misfortune.' The trustees ap-
pointed under the will are the vicars for the time being
of Kidwelly, St. Ishmael, and lylandefeilog.
Kidwelly has also given birth to the following public
men : —
Thomas Job, a Calvinistic Methodist minister of Conwil,
was born at Rogerlay, Kidwelly, in 1825. He was
educated at a school at Carmarthen kept by a David
94 HISTORY OF KIDWKlvLY.
Aaron, and afterwards became a pupil of Archdeacon
Williams's school in the same town. In 1847 he went
to Trevecca College, and was ordained at Carmarthen
in 1855. He became Ysgrifenydd y Cyfarfod Misol in
1869, an office to which he was re-appointed in 1871.
In 1873 he was elected Llywydd Cymanfa Ddirwestol
Gwent a Morganwg. In 1897 he accepted the title of
D.D. from Gale University, U.S.A.
William Rees, sometime curate of Ystradgynlais, re-
ceived his rudimentary training at the National School,
Kidwelly. From here he went to Carmarthen Grammar
School, and then to I^ampeter Grammar School. He
graduated B.A. at St. David's College, I^ampeter, in
1 87 1, and was ordained deacon in the same year.
John Rees, vicar of Tylorstown, Glamorgan, educated
at the National School, Kidwelly, and Carmarthen and
Cirencester Grammar Schools. He took his certificate
in Divinity at Queen's College, Birmingham, in 1871.
Ordained deacon 1872, priest 1877, curate of Gelligaer
1872-8, curate of Ystradyfodwg 1879 — 86.
Richard Richard, Great Western Railway agent at
Glasgow, received his early training at the National
School, Kidwelly. He was appointed in succession
G.W.R. station master at I^ydney, Bridgend, and Cardiff,
at which latter place he also became superintendent of
the goods department.
John Rees, chief accountant of the Salvation Army,
was born at Colman Farm, and was a pupil of the Castle
School, Kidwelly.
John Williams, medical practitioner at Ferndale, Gla-
morgan, received his primary education at the National
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 95
School, Kidwelly, of which he became a pupil teacher,
and his secondary education at the Grammar School,
Carmarthen. He entered St. David's College, lyampeter,
in 1884, where he gained first class (ordinary) at respon-
sions, and first class (honours) in science at moderations.
He migrated to the University of Edinburgh in 1886,
where in due course he obtained the diplomas M.B.,
CM.
David Thomas Griffiths, vicar of Irlantrisant, was edu-
cated at the Grammar School, Carmarthen, and Uni-
versity College, Aberystwyth. In 1888 he was elected
to an exhibition of ;^ioo per annum, tenable for 3 years
at Jesus College, Oxford. He took first class at modera-
tions in i8go in the Honour School of Mathematics,
being the first student of Jesus College who had taken
this first class for ten years, only six others in the whole
University having done so in this year. He graduated
B.A. first class Mathematical Honours in 1892, and took
his M.A. in 1895. He became curate of St. Peter's,
Carmarthen, in 1893 ; senior Mathematical Master of
Denstone College, 1897 ; rector of Bagendon, Glos.,
1899 ; rector of lylandow, and vicar of Colwinstone,
Glam., 1900.
John Howell Knight Griffiths, medical practitioner at
Fulham, I^ondon. Educated at the Grammar School,
Carmarthen, and University College, Aberystwyth,
whence he proceeded to Edinburgh University. Here
he took his M.B., CM., in 1895, and M.D. in 1897. He
also underwent a course of training at Charing Cross
Hospital.
Thomas Roberts Griffiths, medical practitioner at Kid-
96 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
welly, was educated at I^landovery School, 1886 — 9,
whence he proceeded to University College, I,ondon,
where he qualified in 1900 M.R.C.S., ly.R.C.P.
William Griffiths Williams, rector of Peterston-super-
Kly. Educated at the Castle School, Kidwelly (of
which he became pupil teacher), and privately. He
entered St. David's College, lyampeter, in 1893. Gradu-
ated B.A. (2nd class) in 1896. He has also kept his
terms at Oxford. Ordained deacon 1896, priest 1897.
Curate of Aberavon 1896 — 1900 ; St. Mary's, Reading,
1900 ; Headington, Oxon., 1901 ; and Buckhurst Hill,
Essex, 1901 — 3.
Thomas Charles Evans, curate of Cwmllynfell, Gla-
morgan. Educated at the Castle School, Kidwelly,
Park-y-Velvet Academy, 1884, Presbyterian College,
Carmarthen, 1886. Having served two English pastor-
ates in the Presb3rterian connexion, he joined the com-
munion of the Church of England. Ordained deacon
1900, priest 1 90 1, by the bishop of lylandaff. He was
Crawley's prizeman at his priest's examination.
William James Gravell, chaplain of St. Michael's Col-
lege, lylandaff. He received his early training at the
National School, Kidwelly. His education was con-
tinued at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Carmar-
then, in 1891, and Oswestry Grammar School, 1892 — 6.
He entered St. David's College, lyampeter, 1896. Here
he took first class (Classical Honours) at moderations,
and again first class (Classical Honours) at his finals,
becoming senior scholar of his College, 1898 — 9. He
was appointed assistant master of Edgbaston Prepar-
atory School in 1899 — 01. Classical master of St. David's
HISTORY OF KIDWEI,I.Y. 97
College School, Lampeter, in 1901 — 5. He received
deacon's orders in 1903, and was ordained priest in 1904.
Chaplain of St. David's College, lyampeter, 1903 — 4.
Chaplain of St. Michael's College, Aberdare, 1906.
Henry John Thomas, a solicitor practising in Cardiff,
received his early education at the National School,
Kidwelly.
George Rogers Davies, minister of Bryn Seion Baptist
Chapel, Upper Cwmtwrch, Glamorgan, Educated at the
Castle School, Kidwelly, whence he proceeded to the
Old College School, Carmarthen, and University College,
Cardiff. He was ordained in 1903.
John Beynon, minister of Hermon CM. chapel, Skewen.
After receiving his primary education at the National
School and Mountain School, Kidwelly, he continued
his education at the Old College School, Carmarthen,
and Collegiate School, Pontypridd. He entered Cardiff
University College in 1901 ; Trevecca College in 1903.
He was ordained in 1907.
IG]
gS
HISTORY OF KIDWElvIvY.
LOCAL NONCONFORMIST CHAPELS.
'A PEL Sul (Independent, originally Presbyterian)
was erected in 1785 on a site granted by a certain
David Jones, of Pistyllgwyn, under a lease for
a term of 999 years, at the nominal rent of one shilling
a year. The interior was renovated in 1873, and again
in 1905.
WST OF MINISTERS.
David Davies
John Abel
David Jones
William Castellan Jenkins
1794
1824
1867
Morfa Chapel (Calvinistic Methodist) was built in
1830 on a site granted by the Municipal Corporation
of Kidwelly under a lease for a term of 999 years, at
the annual rent of 5/-. The present chapel took the
place of a previous building where the Calvinistic Meth-
odists had worshipped since the year 1786. Morfa
Chapel was re-built and enlarged in 1907.
I.IST OF MINISTERS.
David Bowen
David Griffiths . .
John Evans
Thomas Lloyd
David Geler Owen
Wilham Peregrine Jones
Wilham Whitlocke Lewis
1832—52
1857
i860
1869
1871
1889
1906
Bethesda Chapel (Welsh Wesleyan) was built in 1816
on land granted by Karl Cawdor and the Municipal
Corporation of Kidwelly under concurrent leases for a
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. 99
term of 999 years, at the annual rents of 2/6. It was
re-built in 1832 and renovated in 1895.
LIST OF MINISTERS.
(No return.)
Siloam Chapel (Baptist) was erected in 1821. It was
rebuilt in 1892.
LIST OF MINISTERS.
John Reynolds
George Reynolds
John Reynolds
Hugh Robert Jones
1834
i860
i86r
1902
I" Joint
Horeh Chapel (Calvinistic Methodist) was built in
1843 on land granted by the Municipal Corporation of
Kidwelly under a lease for a term of 999 years, at the
nominal rent of one shilling a year. It was enlarged
in 1873, when interior fittings were added.
LIST OF MINISTERS.
Thomas Lloyd
David Geler Owen
1871
English Wesleyan Chapel. This was built and pre-
sented to the Wesleyan Conference by the late Mr.
Jacob Chivers in 1866.
LIST OF RESIDENT MINISTERS.
Joseph Wigham
. . 1866
Nehemiah Smith
.. 1867—8
Jabez Chambers
.. 1869 — 71
Joseph Shrimpton
.. 1872—4
Samuel W. Beard
.. 1875
100 HISTORY OP KIDWELLY.
INDUSTRIES OF KIDWELLY.
'LOTH Manufacture. — There seems little doubt
that in the 14th century cloth-making and full-
ing was a considerable industry at Kidwelly.
Among the issues of the manor accounted for by the
Receiver of the Duchy of I^ancaster in the year 1369 — 70
(see page 28), 13/4 wa? received for ' the farm of the
Fulling Mill,' and a similar amount is also accounted
for as rent for ' the fulling Mill called BordecuUe.'
In the 1 2th century it is known that the population of
the town and district of Kidwelly consisted of the
French [Norman'^], English, and Flemings (see Appen-
dix A), seemingly to the exclusion of the Welsh.
The Flemish settlers in this country are accredited
with having introduced the manufacture of worsted
and woollen fabrics and the art of dyeing.* While,
therefore, the Norman-French and English would con-
stitute themselves the guardians of the district, it is
probable that the industrial occupation among the com-
munity devolved on the Flemings, and that they selected
the industry for which they had the greatest aptitude.
Marine Commerce. — Reference has already been made
to the shipping industry of the town (see pp. 60, 61,),
That Kidwelly was, at an early period, of some import-
ance as a sea-faring town there is little doubt, as the
following records testify ■ —
In 1229 permission to trade with Gascony was given
* 'Hewlett's Post Norman Britain,' p. 15.
HISTORY OF KIDWELLY. lOI
by patent of Henry III. ' to Robertus de Cadewely,
magister navis ' — Robert of Kidwelly, ship-master.*
The commodities which appear chiefly to have con-
stituted the early marine commerce of the town were
corn and general provisions for the victualling of the
garrison as shown by this record —
' Safe-conduct until Michaelmas for Eudo-la-Zusche, con-
veying by water, corn and other victuals by his own sailors
from Bridgewater, Totnes and Dartmouth, to Pembroke, Kaer-
merdyn, Kedewelly, and Sweyneseye, for the support of those
persons who are there on the king's expedition against LlewelUn
son of Griffin, and his accompUces in rebelHon, the said sailors
to bring with them in going and returning, letters patent of
the said Eudo as to the said victuals, and the persons to whom
they are to be conveyed, and also those persons to whom they
have been deHvered or sold : and the said com and victuals
by no means to be converted to the support of the said rebels.' —
'Pat. Rolls,' 5 Edward I., Feb., 1277.
The nature of the cargoes is stated in the following
record : —
' I,icense for John Benet and Thomas Davy, burgesses of
Llanstephan, to buy 100 quarters of wheat, 100 quarters of
barley and salt, 100 quarters of beans and peas, 100 quarters
of malt and rye, 60 quarters of oat flour, 60 tuns of wine, ale,
honey, and cider, and fish, and herrings, in England ; to take
the same to Kedewely and Llanstephan for the victualHng and
garnishing of those towns, and the king's lieges there, so that
they send into chancery from time to time letters testimonial
of the delivery of the same under the common seal or seals of
the good men of those towns.' — 'Pat. Rolls,' 6 Henry IV., Jan.
23, 1405.
The extent of the shipping industry here at the
beginning of the 15th century may be gathered from
this reference : — ' Protection for one year for the bur-
* ' Pat. Rolls,' Henry III., 1229.
102 HISTORY OF KIDWELI^Y.
gesses, merchants, and mariners of Kedewelly, going
to England, Aquitaine, and Ireland to trade, and for
their men, ships, goods, and merchandise.'*
At the time, however, when Camden published his
' Britannia ' (1586), the harbour is stated to have been
almost choked up with sand-banks, f
In more modern times the local shipping was again
materially developed by Thomas Kymer, a gentleman
who appears to have come here from Pembroke about
the year 1766. This capitalist built small docks at
Kidwelly, and constructed a short canal to the Gwen-
draeth Valley. The old minute book of the corporation
already referred to, as well as the registers of the parish
church, bear testimony to a revival of local shipping
in the i8th century. The former records the admission
to the Burgess Roll of a large proportion of mariners,
while the latter contain entries of the burial of many
sailors. There were at least three quays here where
ships were laden and unladen. Of these one only still
exists ; the other two, of which there is hardly a trace
left, were called the ' I^adies ' (Kymer) quay,' which
was adjacent to the 15th century bridge that spans
Gwendraeth Fach, and ' Coney quay ' on the right
bank of Gwendraeth Fawr, above the Commissioner's
bridge, which was built at a later date (1842). Among
the minutes of the Hall Day, held in the Guildhall of
the borough June 9, 1794, appears the following order
in reference to the construction of the latter quay : —
* ' Pat. Polls ' 4 Henry IV. [Carmarthen], Sep. 28, 1404.
t ' Camden's Britannia,' p. 504.
HISTORY OP KIDWElvIvY. IO3
' Upon the petition of John Bishton of Thilsall in the
county of Salop, Esqr., Samuel Botham of Tong, in
the same county, and Charles Phillips of the town of
lylanelly, gentlemen, for a grant of a spot of ground
for constructing a Quay and other buildings upon. It
is ordered that the said John Bishton, Samuel Botham,
and Charles Phillips have a grant of a certain spot of
ground under Coney Hill in the parish of St. Mary,
Kidwelly, in the tenure and occupation of John Hall,
yeoman, from the river Gwendraeth Vawr 177 ft. in
breadth up to the lodge of Herbert Ball, Esqr., leaving
a passage of 8 ft. wide for cattle to pass and re-pass
from one common to the other, for the term of 42 years :
paying yearly to the corporation the sum of {2 2 o.'
Ship-building also was carried on at Kidwelly in the
same period, for the records of the corporation at the
end of the i8th century show that ship-wrighis and
carpenters were included among the qualified burgesses
of the borough. Moreover, a ship-building yard is
known to have stood on the site now occupied by the
English Wesleyan Chapel. It is said that the last ship
built here, named ' The Sarah Jane,' 100 ton, was a
brig which belonged to a Capt. Thomas, and that when
the vessel was launched, a cannon which was fired
lurched and killed one man. During the French re-
volution a number of small traders, several of whom
were from Kidwelly, sailed under convoy to different
foreign ports, and were captured, together with their
vessels, by the French. The above-mentioned Capt.
Thomas and his son are said to have been detained as
prisoners in French territory for 7 or 8 years. The
104 HISTORY OF KIDWElvI^Y.
following minute of the Hall Day held Aug. 3, 1781^
also provides an instance of the capture by the French
of a Kidwelly mariner at this time of general unrest : —
' John Britton of Northam, in the county of Devon,
Mariner, having been admitted a burgess of this borough
(Kidwelly) and sworn in on the 20th day of July, 1772,
and he having this day personally appeared in this
court, informed the council that he lost his certificate
of being a burgess, on being lately taken hy the French.
It is therefore ordered that the Town Clerk do make
out a new certificate for the said John Britton.'
The canal constructed by Thomas Kymer was in-
tended to convey coal from the anthracite pits in Gwen-
draeth Valley to Kidwelly harbour. The canal is now
disused, but a mineral railway, parallel with its bed,
extends from the Gwendraeth Valley coal pits to the
harbour, as well as along the canal extension to Burry
Port. A large number of miners employed in these
pits reside at Kidwelly, and are daily conveyed by the
railway back and fore to their employment. The quan-
tity of coal exported from Kidwelly now is insignifi-
cant, as most of it is taken to Burry Port and vSwansea
for shipment.
Tin-plate Manufacture. — This industry was estab-
lished at Kidwelly prior to 178 1, for in that year the
Municipal Corporation of Kidwelly granted a renewal
of the lease of the Tinmills, as appears from the follow-
ing minute of the proceedings of the corporation at a
Hall Day held on the ninth day of May, 1781 : — 'Exe-
cuted a renewed Lease to I^eonard Bilston Gwyn,
Esq., of the Tinmills, at which time he paid the sum
HISTORY OF KIDWElvIvY. IO5
of five guineas into the hands of Mr. John Stephens,
the Chamberlain, for such renewal.' A tablet still
preserved in the wall at the end of the office of the pre-
sent Tinworks bears this inscription : — ' These tin-
works, the oldest in the kingdom were re-built by
Haselwood, Hathaway and Perkins, Anno Dom. 1801.'
In one particular, however, the accuracy of this state-
ment is called in question, as Pontypool is acknowledged
to have actually been first in the field in the manufac-
ture of tin-plates. Originally the smelting was done at
the Old Forge already referred to, but the mills appear
to have always stood on the site which has continuously
been occupied by the concerns of successive tin-plate
companies down to the present time. The above firm
relinquished the proprietorship in favour of a Mr.
Vaughan, who was succeeded by a Mr. Hay. The works
was purchased by Henry Reed Downman, who having
worked it for some years, failed, and retired to Carmar-
then about the year 1845. After a period of idleness,
Messrs. Ricketts and James repaired the two water-
wheels with a view of re-starting the works, but their
good intentions do not appear to have proceeded beyond
repairing the machinery. One mill was again put into
operation, and a Puddling and Balling Forge was erected
by Hugh Downman, a brother of the above-mentioned
Henry Reed Downman. This gentleman, in order to
avoid failure, called in a partner of the name of Briggs.
The old forge had now fallen into disuse. Under this
firm, known as Messrs Downman and Briggs, one water-
mill was kept working for several years. This company
also in their turn shared the unhappy experiences of
I06 HISTORY OF KIDWELLY.
their predecessors, and went into liquidation. The works
at this time was taken over by Mr. Crawshay Bailey
(with whom Downman was connected by marriage),
and was kept idle for several years. Mr. Jacob Chivers,
who was interested in a tin-works in Spain, at length
appeared on the scene, and in 1858 bought the works
from Mr. Crawshay Bailey. Down to this time the
machinery had been propelled by water power. Mr.
Jacob Chivers was joined by Mr. Thomas Bright as a
working partner, and it was under the auspices of this
firm that the first steam engine was put up at Kidwelly.
The old Puddling and Balling Furnaces were now aug-
mented with a charcoal forge, with hollow fires and a
helve hammer, and two mills were added to the exist-
ing one. With a view of extending the building, Mr.
Jacob Chivers purchased the reversion of the lease of
the property on which the works stood from the Munici-
pal Corporation of Kidwelly. The firm now became
known as that of ' Messrs. Chivers and Son.' A coke
forge, with a steam hammer, was substituted for that
of charcoal, and two mills were added, so that there
were now altogether five mills. Mr. Jacob Chivers
withdrew, and the management devolved on Mr. Thomas
Chivers, his son, who constructed six new mills. In
1888 the works was purchased by the ' Gwendraeth
Tin-plate Co., lytd.' It exchanged hands again in 1899,
when it was bought by the ' Kidwelly Iron, Sheet, and
Tin-plate Co., Ltd.' In 1900 the old works, comprising
five mills, was demolished, and the company went into
voluntary liquidation in 190 1. In 1904 the new works
became the property of the ' Kidwelly Tin-plate Co.,
HISTORY OF KIDWElvI^Y. IO7
Ltd.' There are, at the present time, seven excellent
mills in constant operation, which, together with the
dependent departments, possess the most modern ap-
pliances. With Col. Wright as chairman, and Mr.
John Thomas as managing director, it is generally-
agreed that the works has never been so flourishing.
It affords emplo3ntnent to 350 hands.
Lime-kilns. — Minutes of the Corporation bear record
to the establishment of lime-burning on Mynyddy-
garreg in the latter part of the i8th century. At a Hall
Day, Sept. 19, 1785, the following order was made: —
' That a lease be granted to Walter Mansell and Edward
King, of a certain part of Mynyddygarreg, for erecting
a I^ime-kiln, for the term of three lives, at the yearly
rent of one shilling, to be paid the Chamberlain for the
time being, yearly — the parties not to sell any lime.'
At another Hall Day, May 31, 1790, there is also
this reference — 'A lycase is granted to Herbert I^loyd,
his heirs and assigns, for the term of three lives, of a
portion of Mynyddygarreg, whereon to erect a I^ime-
kiln.' At later dates more extensive lime-kilns were
constructed by Mr. Owen Bowen, of London, and the
late Mr. Alexander Young. All the kilns have now
been closed.
Silica-brick Manufacture. — The mineral wealth of
Mynyddygarreg has attracted several capitalists, who,
from time to time have been engaged in converting its
silica stones into fire-bricks and sand. The credit of
being the pioneer in this industry is given to William
Edwards, of Swansea, who is said to have constructed
the first local brick-works in the year 1858, He was
I08 HISTORY OP KIDWEI.I.Y.
followed by Messrs. Frederick and Jenner, who con-
tinued his business. In 1865 Messrs. Redford and
Harris built a second brick-works, and were succeeded
by Messrs. H. and H. E. Smart. A third was built
by the late Alderman Stephens, while a fourth was
erected by the late Mr. Alexander Young. The last
three are stiU at work, and turn out a considerable
quantity of bricks and prepared sand, which are con-
signed to large industrial centres at home and abroad.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX A. Ill
APPENDIX A.
Dugdai^e's Monasticon Anglicanum. Vol,. IV.,
pp. 64, 65. Num. I.
Translation.
' To all sons of holy mother, the church, who see or hear these
present letters : David, by Divine permission Bishop of St.
Davids, and the Chapter of the same place, greeting. Know ye
that we have inspected, and diUgently examined divers muni-
ments and writings, and also confirmations touching the Abbey
of Shyreburne, and the priory of Cadwelle, not cancelled, not
abohshed, not in any part thereof corrupted, from word to word,
in form following : —
' In the name of the Lord, Amen., in the one thousand three
hundred and first year of the same on the fifteenth day of the
month of October in the fifteenth indiction, in the eighth year
of the Pontificate of the Most Holy Father and Lord, the Lord
Boniface, by Divine Providence, Pope, in presence of my notary
within written, and of the witnesses underwritten for this spe-
cially called ; the rehgious man Sir Geoffrey de Coker, Prior of
Cadweli, in the diocese of St. Davids, in the Church of St. Paul,
London, put in, in writing, and read a certain gift and grant
made by the lord Roger, by the grace of God at one time Bishop
of Sahsbury, to the Church of the Blessed Mary of Shereburne,
and to Turstan, Prior of the said church, and to his successors
regularly succeeding him, according to the form and tenor con-
tained in the text of the foundation of the Church of the Blessed
Mary of Shyreburn, of which gift such is the tenor.
' In the name of the Holy and undivided Trinity ; I, Roger,
by the grace of God, Bishop of Sahsbury, for the health and
safety of my lord Henry the King, and Matilda the Queen, and
of their sons, with their consent, and for the health of my soul,
and of my parents, and of my ancestors, Do give to the Holy
Church of Shyrborn, and to Turstan the Prior (sic) and to his
successors regularly succeeding him. One Carucate of land at
Cadweli, as I have surveyed the same, that is to say : from the
new ditch of the new mill by the stream which thither flows down
in winter as far as the house formerly of Balba, and thence to
112 APPENDIX A.
the stream, running by the middle grove as far as the road, and
from the road, as the said stream runs in to the sea. And the
whole hill, which is called Mount Solomon as far as the open
sea on the other side, as a certain pool stretches as far as the afore-
said road : Paid and qmt, and free from impediment of servants,
and secular exaction, and service, and all tithes, in oats, in
calves, in pigs, in lambs, in cheese, and in fish, and in pannage
of swine. And, I grant that they may have their own swine
quit from pannage, and wood in my forest, and have pasture of
their animals with my demesnes, many clerks and laymen
seeing and hearing, whose names here are underwritten : Ralph,
the chaplain ; Roger, the sub-deacon ; Humphrey, the bishop's
brother ; Osmund, the steward (dapifer). Aylric de Halver,
Richard Latimer, Hyldebrand, Comaldus, the butler, William
de Limd, Roger de Reigni, Richard FoHot, Robert the old
steward, and Robert his son, WilHam the Constable, WiUiam
Esturmyt, Ralph son of Warin, Robert de Sagio, Robert de
Meyer, and Walter his brother ; Picot, Geoffrey Rufus, Robert
Niger, PhiUp de Beaufo, Osmund son of Everard, Roger Foliot,
Henry son of Walter de Poterna, Alberic de Felgeriis, Edmund
who then kept the Castle of Cadweli, Alwyn, the priest of the
town.
' This gift was made on the 14th kalends of August in the
house of the Castle of Kadweh by the witness of these, and of
many others whose names I know not. —
' After the third day, the lord Roger, the Bishop, with the
license and consent of Wilfrid Bishop of St. Davids, dedicated
the cemetery in the said place, and in the same dedication by the
authority and consent of the said bishop, all the burgesses, both
French, English, and Flemings, gave their tithes of Penbray and
of Pennalth by the witness of all those [persons] above mentioned.
' These were put in, and read on the day and at the place
above said ; there being present Thomas de Beverlace, Walter
de Chigam, clerks ; Richard Dunaing, and John Welewe, spe-
cially called and questioned as to this matter, and being wit-
nesses.'
APPENDICES B AND C. II3
APPENDIX B.
Dugdale's Monasticon Angucanum. Vol. IV.,
p. 65. Num. II.
CHARTER OF RICHARD, SON OF WILLIAM—
FITZWILI.IAM.
Translation.
' To Bernard, by the grace of God, Bishop of St. Davids,
and to all sons of holy church, Richard son of Wilham, Greet-
ing. Know ye all that I, for the good of my soul and
[the souls] of my ancestors and successors, and for the love
of Henry my son, monk of the Church of Schyrborn have
given and granted to the aforesaid Church of Schyrborn, the
abbot and convent of the same place, in alms, my churches
which are in your diocese. To wit, the Church of Saint Ismael
at Pennalt, and the Church of All Saints in the territory of Cadweli,
and the Church of Saint Elthute at Penbray with the chapels,
lands, tithes, and all their adjuncts to possess by perpetual right,
and lest (which God forbid), I or any of my heirs should claim
any right or lordship except advowson in these churches or
their appurtenances, and to the end that our beloved brethren
of the aforesaid church of Scherborn may freely and quietly
for ever possess them, we confirm this our gift by the attestation
of our charter and by the affixing of our seal.'
APPENDIX C.
Dugd ale's Monasticon Anglicanum. Vol. IV.,
p. 65. Num. III.
CHARTER OF MAURICE DE LONDRES.
Translation.
' To David, by the grace of God, Bishop of St. Davids, as lord
and spiritual father and to all the pastors of holy church.
Maurice de Londres his obedient in all places, greeting and
Lh]
114 APPENDIX D.
exhibition of sincere affection. Be it known to you and all
worshippers of God that I have given and granted to God and
Saint Mary of Kedweli and to the monks of Schyrborne twelves
acres around the Church of St. Cadoc which adjoin the land of
the aforesaid church of St. Mary. Moreover this gift is made
for the health of my soul, and of all my ancestors, WilUam de
I^ondres my son hearing and granting and giving with me. These
being witnesses, Owan, the knight, and EUas and Robert de
Pennard and Walter de Reigni, and Paen and WilHam de Man-
ner, and Nicholas de Almaro. Runciaus and Osmund rectors,
and Geoffrey Long and Randulph the clerk and many others.
May your sublimity flourish with you.'
APPENDIX D.
DuGD ale's Monasticon Anglicanum. Vol. IV.,
p. 66. Num. V.
PETITION CONCERNING THE TITHES OF KIDWELLY.
Translation.
' In the name of God, Amen. Before you Master John Car-
marthen, Ucentiate in laws and Commissary of the most reverend
in Christ, the father and lord John by the grace of God Bishop
of St. Davids in this behalf specially deputed, brother Robert
Fyfhyde of the order of St. Benedict, Prior of the Priory of
Kedwelly, in the diocese of St. Davids, both say and in law
declare against Sir John Sandon calhng himself chaplain and
pretended procurator of the dean and chapter of the new College
of Leicester, in the diocese of Lincoln, and also against Thomas
Jenkyn, Phihp Davy and John David, laymen of the aforesaid
diocese of St. Davids, and against whomsoever suing for them
in lawful judgment, that whereas he, the aforesaid brother
Robert the Prior, his precedors and predecessors were in pos-
session, or as if of right of receiving, two parts of all the tithes
peacefully, qxoietly, for a time and for times to which the memory
of man is not to the contrary, as well real as personal what-
soever arising, and chiefly of milk, wool, and of lambs, in respect
of a certain small piece of land commonly called Coldicot, and
within the bounds and limits of the parish church of the Blessed
Mary of Kedwelly manifestly situated, of which church, the
APPENDIX E. 115
aforenamed Prior, his precedors and predecessors, is and were
Rector or Rectors. Nevertheless, the aforesaid Sir John Sandon,
Thomas, PhiHp and John have spoiled or caused to be despoiled,
the aforesaid brother Robert the prior aforesaid of ten lambs
(price y 4'') five pounds weight of wool (price 15') and three
stone of cheese (price y), and held such spoil ratified and Hke-
wise accepted by name of their deed to the great peril of their
souls, and to the no small prejudice and damage of the aforesaid
brother Robert, Prior of the Priory beforesaid and of his Priory.
Wherefore the said Prior prays that the things to be proved in
that behalf being proved in his own name and of his priory or
of his church beforenamed, the same Sir John Sandon, Thomas
ap Jankyn, Philip Davy and John Davy be by you the lyord
Judge aforesaid sententially and definitely condemned in ten
lambs (price 3" 4') five pounds weight of wool (price 15') and
three stone of cheese (price 3 ), if they exist, otherwise in twenty
four shilhngs of good and usual money, and also in the damages
and costs and interest, and to be restored to the said prior and
his church really with effect the aforesaid two parts of all the
tithes, and to be reduced and reinstated to their former state,
and perpetual silence to be imposed on the beforesaid Sir John,
Thomas, Phihp, and John and the same to be compelled to
desist from molestation perturbation, and disquieting, and
further to be done and estabUshed what justice shall require
always saving the benefit of the law in all things.'
APPENDIX E.
DUGD aide's MoNASTICON AnGIvICANUM. Vol.. IV.,
p. 66. Num. VI.
SEQUESTRATION OP THE PROFITS OP THE CHURCH
AND PRIORY OF KIDWEI/I.Y.
Translation.
' Richard, by divine permission bishop of St. Davids, to our
beloved in Christ Sir John Griffith perpetual Vicar of Kydwelly,
and Robert Fraunce a layman of the said parish, grace and bless-
ing. Whereas we elsewhere lawfully proceeding, have been
led to sequestrate all and singular the fruits, tithes, oblations,
profits, and emoluments whatsoever to the parish church of
Il6 APPENDIX F.
the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Kydwelly, and to the priory of
the same town belonging, or in whatsoever manner appertaining,
as well because the said priory is much bound in debt, as also
"because the aforesaid church is suffering from great and manifest
decay, as by the tenor of these presents we do sequestrate, justice
demanding and advising the same, therefore to pubhsh such
our seqxiestration in the parish church aforesaid, and also in
other neighbouring parish churches during the solemnities of
masses and other divine celebrations whilst the greater number
of the people congregate therein, and also to demand, levy,
collect, and receive all and singular the aforesaid fruits, tithes,
oblations, revenues and emoluments whatsoever, and the same
levied, collected, and received to distribute and expend in the
reparation of the house of the priory and chancel of the church
of the Blessed Mary the Virgin before written, until they shall
be, and may be sufficiently repaired to you in whose fidehty and
circumspection and industry very greatly in the Lord we have
confidence, we do commit to you by these presents our
functions and full power in the Lord, and do appoint you
such our sequestrator and depute as our keepers. So that you
be careful to shew a full faithful and entire account to us, and
to our oflficers of all and singular, the emoluments received by
you. In witness whereof the seal is appended to these presents,
vsrhich at present we use for causes, to endure only during our
good pleasure.
' Dated 20th day of the month of April in the year of our
Lord one thousand five hundred and twenty four, and in the
first year of our consecration. '
APPENDIX F.
DRAFT LEASE, PRESERVED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE UNDER WHICH THE TEMPORALITIES OP
THE PRIORY OF KIDWELLY WERE SOLD.
Tfanslation.
' This Indenture made between the most excellent Prince and
lord, the lord Henry the Eighth by the grace of God of England
&c. of the one part, and George Aysshe and Robert Myryk,
yeomen. Purveyors of wines of the lord the King of the other
part. Witnesseth that the said lord the King by the advice of
APPENDIX F. 117
his Council of the Court of the Augmentation of the revenues
of his crown has deHvered granted and to farm let to the afore-
said George and Robert the house and site of the late Priory
or cell of Kydwelly in the county of Carmarthen and all the
houses, edifices, curtilages, barns, cemeteries, orchards, apple-
orchards, gardens, ponds, fishponds, land and soil whatsoever
being within the site and precincts of the same late priory or
cell, and all those lands and pastures called Oldehall containing
by estimation 4 acres, and the land called Fraunces Parke con-
taining by estimation i acre, and the land called Mill Parke
containing by estimation 4 acres, and the lands called Verne
Parke containing by estimation 4 acres, and the lands called
Long Parke containing by estimation i acre, and the lands
called Skynner's Parke containing by estimation i virgate, and
the land called Brodelande Parke containing by estimation 4
acres, and the land and pasture called Wenwell Parke contain-
ing by estimation 3 acres, and one Httle grove called Therne
containing by estimation 4 acres, with all their appurtenances
in Kydwelly in the said county of Carmarthen to the said late
Priory or cell at one time belonging and appertaining, and also
the whole Rectory of Kydwelly in the said county of Carmar-
then to the said late Priory at one time belonging and apper-
taining, and also all and all manner of tithes of sheaves and
corn and grain and tithes of wool and of lambs and other tithes
and oblations whatsoever in Estbayly, Moone parisshe, Lleghwen,
Welchienfeld, Penwarne, the Holway, Horsestonefelde, the
Croftes, Westhill, Westayly, and Middel Bayly, in the said
county of Carmarthen and all the tithes of 2 mills in Kydwelly
in the said county of Carmarthen, and the whole yearly pension
issuing from the Rectory of Penbray to the said late Priory or
cell of Kydwelly at one time belonging and appertaining and
being parcel of the possessions thereof : which same priory or
cell of Kydwelly belonged and appertained to the late monastery
of Shirborne in the county of Dorset now dissolved. Except
however always and to the said lord the Iving, his heirs, and
successors altogether reserved all gross trees and woods of in
and upon the premises growing and being, and the advowson
of the Vicarage of the parish church of Kydwelly aforesaid. To
have and to hold the aforesaid site of the said late Priory and
the aforesaid Rectory lands, meadows, feedings, pastures, tithes
and other the premises with the appurtenances except before
excepted to the aforesaid George Aysshe and Robert Myryk
Il8 APPENDIX F.
and their assigns from the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel
last past until the end of a term and by a term of 21 years thence
next following and fully to be completed, rendering therefor
yearly to the said lord the King his heirs and successors Thirty
Pounds Six shillings and Four Pence of lawful money of England
at the Feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and St. Michael the Archangel or within one month after either
feast at the Court aforesaid by equal portions to be paid during
the term aforesaid. And the aforesaid lord the King wills, and
by these presents doth grant that he his heirs and successors
from time to time will discharge acquit and defend the said
George and Robert and their assigns from all rents fees annui-
ties and sums of money whatsoever issuing from the premises
or to be paid or thereupon charged or to be charged, except
from the rent above by these presents reserved and except from
a certain yearly pensioyi of eight pounds issuing from the Rectory
aforesaid and to the Vicar of the parish church of Kydwelly afore-
said yearly to be paid, and except nine shilhngs and nine pence
for synodals and procurations of the said church yearly to be
paid to the Archdeacon of St. Davids for the time being, against
what persons soever, and cause all houses and edifices of the
premises in timber only from time to time as often as and when-
soever it shall be necessary and convenient to be well and suffi-
ciently repaired sustained and maintained, and will sustain and
support the whole repair of the chancel of the parish church
of Kydwelly aforesaid from time to time. And the aforesaid
George Aysshe and Robert Myryk do grant by these presents
that they and their assigns wiU support and sustain all neces-
sary repairs of the premises, except in the timber aforesaid and
except the repairs of the chancel aforesaid from time to time,
and will pay the said yearly pension of eight pounds payable
to the Vicar of the said church of Kydwelly and the said nine
shilhngs and nine pence yearly payable to the Archdeacon of
St. Davids for the time being from time to time, and will discharge
the said lord the King his heirs and his successors therefrom
during the term aforesaid. And the aforesaid lord the King
further willeth and by these presents doth grant that it shall
well be lawful to the aforesaid George Aysshe and Robert Myryk
and their assigns from time to time to take receive and have
of in and upon the premises by assignment and supervision
of the surveyors and other officers of the lord the King there
for the time being competent and sufficient hedgebote, fyerbote,
APPENDIX G. 1 19
ploughbote, and cartbote there and not elsewhere, yearly to
be expended and used during the term aforesaid. Provided,
nevertheless, always that should the aforesaid rent happen to
be in arrear not paid in part or in all by the space of one month
after any day of the payment thereof above limited if in due
manner demanded, that then and thenceforth this present lease
shall be void and had for nought, any clause or article in the
same contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. In
witness whereof to one part &c. to the other part &c. Dated
at Westminster the twenty eighth day of January, in the thirty
fifth year of the reign of the said lord the King.'
APPENDIX G.
DUCHY OP LANCASTER.
Reference — Draft Lease £^.
[This lease is preserved in the Pubhc Record Office, and is
that under which the property which once belonged to the
Chantry of St. Nicholas at Kidwelly was disposed of at its
dissolution.]
Translation,
' This Indenture made between the most excellent prince and
lord, the lord Edward the Sixth by the grace of God of England
France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and on earth
of the Enghsh and Irish church supreme head, of the one part,
and John Goodale of the other part. Witnesseth that the
aforesaid lord the King by the advice and assent of his Council
of his Duchy of Lancaster has granted dehvered and to farm
let to the aforesaid John all that the late Chantry of St. Nicholas
in Kydwelly in the county of Carmarthen now dissolved, and
all the lands tenements and hereditaments to the said late
Chantry belonging or appertaining and hereafter recited, that
is to say : One tenement and 4^ acres of arable land and i^
acre of meadow in Pengwern lately demised to Thomas John
Yghne. And also i park containing 5 acres in Melyonfelde
lately demised to Robert John ap HoU. And 9 acres of arable
land in Basslake now or lately in the tenure or occupation of
John Gower. And also i tenement in Westhill and 3 acres of
arable land now or lately in the tenure or occupation of John
120 APPENDIX G.
GruflPyth. And i burgage and i tenement and i acre of land
near Saynt Sondaye's Well now or lately in the tenure or occupa-
tion of John Perotte. And also 2 acres of arable land l5dng
near Cadocke's Mill in the tenure of John Rowe. And 3 acres
of arable land lately demised to Nicholas Fraunce. And also
10 acres of arable land in Bronnehill in the tenure of Maurice
Dyer. And 1^ acre of land l5ring in Almanne Redinge in the
tenure of William John Richarde. And also 3 acres of land
called Ringes landes in the tenure of William Robert. And i
close containing 5 acres lying in Stockewill lately demised to
Thomas Johnes. And also i^ acre of land lying in Hustede in
the tenure of Grufi&n John Dd. Thomas. And 2 acres of arable
land there in the tenure of Maurice Perott. And also i^ acre
of arable land Ij^ng near Somer Wey in the tenure of Robert
J hones. And i messuage in Kydwellye in the tenure
of Nicholas Robert. And also another messuage there in the
tenure of John Walter. And i^ acre of arable land lying in
Westhill in the tenure of Thomas Hallesbume. And also r
parcel of land in Aries in the tenure of Jeyn Dd. ap Dd. And
also 3 parcels of land called Ridgies-in-le-Shill in the tenure of
Dd. Thomas. Which same Chantry lands, tenements, heredita-
ments, and other the premises to the said Chantry belonging were
lately given and granted to the said lord the King and his heirs
by authority of a certain Act, of Chantries to fall into the hand
of the said lord the King, lately enacted and provided. To
have and to hold the Chantries aforesaid and other all
and singular the premises above expressed and specified
with the appurtenances to the aforesaid John Goodale and
his assigns from the Feast of Easter last past before the date
of these presents until the end of a term of twenty one years
thence next following and fully to be completed. Rendering
therefor yearly to the aforesaid lord the King and his heirs
Forty five Shillings of lawful money of England in form follow-
ing :—
Tenement.
Tenant.
Quantity.
Re
s
:nt.
d
Pengwern
Thomas John Y
ghne
6 acres
6
Melyonfelde
Robert John ap
HoU.
5 „
5
Basslake
John Gower
9 „
3
2
Westhill
John Gruffyth
3 »
6
4
Saynt Sondayes
Jeyne Perotte
I »
2
Cadocke's Mill
John Rowe
2 „
2
APPENDIX H.
121
Tenement.
Tenant.
Quantity.
Rent.
S ^
Arable land
Nicholas Fraunce
3 „
2
4
Bronnehill
Maurice Dyer
lO ,,
3
4
Almanne Redinge
William John Richard
li „
I
o
Ringes landes
WilUam Robert
3 »
3
4
Stockewill
Thomas J hones
5 „
5
o
Hustede
Gruffin Jhon Dd. Thomas
li „
I
o
Arable land
Maurice Perott
2 „
lO
Somer Wey
Robert J hones
li „
I
o
Messuage
Nicholas Robert
John Walter
I
2
lO
Westhill
Thomas Hallesbume
I* „
4
Aries
Jeyne Dd. ap Dd.
I parcel
2
Ridgies-in-le-Shill
David Thomas
3 parcels
2
45 o
' Given at Westminster, on the 12 th day of March 3 Edward
VI.
Examined by the Court.
Examined by George Haydon.'
APPENDIX H.
A.D. 1357.
12 p. Annunciation 30 Edward III.
Attested Copy of a Copy of one of the Kedwelli Charters.
' To all those to whom this writing shall come or may concern
Henry Duke of Lancaster Earl of Derby of Nicole & of Leicester
& Seneschall of England Greeting in God know ye that we
having seen the Charter of our most dear ffather Henry Earl
of Lancaster & our most dear Mother Maud his wife whom God
preserve in these words To All those to whom this writing shall
come or may concern Henry of Lancaster Lord Mordume of
Kedwelly & of Carn Wathlan & Maud our dear wife Greeting
in the Lord know ye the Burgesses of
our Borough of Kedwelly ....&.... freely to have ....
from time whereof memory is not to the contrary all the ffran-
chises & free Customs under written ffirstly that all the Bur-
122 APPENDIX H.
gesses of our sd Borough & their heirs & their assigns having
paid every year to us & our heirs for each Burgage in the sd
Borough twelve pence stirUng at the two terms in the year that
is to say at the feast of St Michael Six pence and at the feast
of Easter six pence except all that rent of which we are seized
And that all the afsd Burgesses & their heirs & assigns who shall
dwell in our said Borough accdg to each mans proportion shall
account to our hundred of KedwelU once in every fifteen days
for the sum justly due before the setting of the sun before those
who have lawfully possessed ov:r hundreds which have been
granted by our Letters patent and not before any others whom-
soever unless they be by us or by our Seneschall of KedwelU
appointed for that purpose And that none of the afsd Burgesses
nor of their heirs nor of their assigns shall be fined for any tres-
pass more than twelve pence in any case relating to us or our
heirs for our Disheritance or our mainprize or the mainprize of
our heirs or for fforestall homsoken felony, Pountbruche, Dis-
seisin raising Hue & Cry & spilling of blood, of which things
if any of the said Burgesses their heirs or their assigns shall
be attained by the award and Judgment of four persons whom-
soever they be they shall be fined according to the nature of
the trespass & all these fines shall be rated in our sd Hundred
Forsprys Lastyns & Disseisins by force & arms & recovery shall
be adjudged by fines before ourselves or before our heirs & not
before any body else whomsoever unless it be by our special
order & command And that their of each of the afsd
Burgesses of their heirs & of their assigns of what age soever
he may be at such seizin & of other the tenements of which his
ancestor died seized & possed without giving any thing to us
or our heirs for such seizure other than as afsd And
that if the sd heir be dispossessed or fined by any other
except those that have a right And that the afsd Burgesses
their heirs & ass" shall peaceably at all times have common
of Pasture as much as in us he for all their beasts as well for
their pigs and goats as for all others without pannage & without
any other customs in all those our Lordships of KedwelU &
Carn Wathllan within the forest & without the borders of our
forest of Pencoyd of Kevengorarth & Kothlyndysagh & our
premises in Dalkynadan & in Wenhold our pasture in Glyn
each at the feast of the assumption of our Lady as well as at
the feast of Saint Andrew And to tiU and depasture in our
Demesnes of KedwelU of Carn Wathlan of St Ishmael & of
APPENDIX H. 123
Coldcote & the rents thereof as usual to be paid to us And that
we & our heirs shall be at Hberty to make our profits of our
said land except the land enclosed within all the parks round
our sd Borough And saving to the sd Burgesses their heirs &
ass' sufiicient pasture & free entry & free seizin to the same
pasture for all their Cattle afsd at their pleasure in the manner
following as far as they chuse in going to & returning from or
depasturing their said Cattle from sun rise to sun set except
in the places afsd And that the afsd burgesses their heirs & ass"
shall at all times have houseboot & shipboot in all those our
woods of KedwelH & of Carn Wathlan by raising and taking
the same from our forests & lands afsd And that they shall
have fireboot & hayboot in our wood of Glynusen the decayed
Wood there as well as the decayed Wood in any other place
whatsr and besides the other woods there they shall
pay houseboot & shipboot in the same wood as they shall so
raise & take from our Foresters & not otherwise
notwithstanding any thing that shall be herein found to the
contrary & Shipboot in in coming to our
said Lordship of Kidwelli to serve our sd Borough
& that they shall not sell nor remove any part thereof out of
our said Borough by fraud to the damage of us or of our heirs
And that they shall have for houseboot & Turbary
both within & without our said forest the lands of
Kidwelli & Camwathlan or Scontol & the Turbary which shall
be found in the places hereinafter mentioned And that they
shall have in time of Harvest their swine free of pannage in all
our woods of KidwelU & Carnwathlan save our forests & woods
underwritten And that they shall have free hberty to fish in
all our of Kedwelh and Carnwathan in such places
wherein they have been accustomed to fish and to take the
same as of right except in our particular ponds and fisheries
And if the afsd Burgesses or their heirs or their assigns or any
of their servants shall commit any trespass either v/ithin or
without the said forest or our Lands afsd that they shall make
amends at the porch of our Castle at Kidwelli by the Inquest
of six freeholders or of six Burgesses of our said Borough or
upon the testimony of our foresters there and that the trespass
shall be accounted for according to the nature of the sd trespass
And that none of the afsd Burgesses nor of their heirs nor of
their assigns shall be detained within the porch of our said
Castle at Kidwelh for any trespass that he may have commit-
124 APPENDIX H,
ted if he shall be able to procure sufficient mainprize for the
same but if the same cannot be done then & in such case he
shall not be replevysable And that the afsd Burgesses their
heirs & ass' shall elect the provost of our said Borough in the
next Hundred after the feast of St Michael for whom they shall
be answerable in so doing the office belonging to
which provost shall serve us in our said borough to execute
and return the Attachments and to receive the tolls & rents
and fines there and to execute our orders as far as shall belong
to his office within our said Borough without being charged
to any other office And if the servant of any of the afsd Bur-
gesses or of their heirs or ass' shall have these effects his master
shall proceed as in cases of felony for the same
proper shall be forfeited & that his Master his effect
for forfeitures if he the sd ser-
vant or any other may be enabled to take the said
effects so seized & that if they are challanged within a year
& a day & that he can make it appear that the same felony
was not done by the order nor by the aid or privity of him And
that if any of the afsd Burgesses their heirs or ass' shall die
without making a will his known son & heir shall have the
substance of his father so dying without disturbance or chal-
lange of us of our heirs And that if any of the afsd Burgesses
or of their heirs or their ass' shall have purchased in open day
before his neighbours of Kidwelh manner of mer-
chandize & the same merchandize shall be challanged as dis-
honestly purchased that they shall sustain no loss by the
merchandize there purchased so that they can prove that they
did not know that the same were fraudulently obtained And
that the afsd Burgesses their heirs & their ass' shall attend
us & our heirs if occasion shall be in going through all the Inner
Precint of Gales and that they shall give unto us & to our heirs
reasonable surety on the first of August after their departure
from our said Borough if they do not remain within the same
Borough And that they shall attend our Seneschall of Kedwelli
when we or our heirs shall come to our said Borough if needs
may be thro' the interior part of the whole of the afsd Precinct
of Gales at our reasonable expences in the form aforesaid And
that they shall attend our Seneschall thro' all the inner part
of our Lordship of Kedwelli & Carn Wathllan when need shall
be in time of war And that if the said Seneschall shall go beyond
the Bounds of our sd Lordship in such perambulation he shall
APPENDIX H, 125
then return to the sd Lordship on the first of August & not
before & if he does not perform this wilUngly or that he acts
contrary to us or to our heirs & to our reasonable direction
in the form underwritten that then the Seneschall & all
the sd Burgesses of our said Borough shall chuse people of the
same Borough who shall be more sufl&cient according to the
form afsd & not in nor any others who shall not be
to do this there at all times that our sd Borough
may be sufft hundred of Kedwelli in
the form underwritten & if we or our heirs or any of
shall take or cause to be taken any of the aforesaid
their heirs or ass' of their Goods or of their chattels & that
this shall be of such things as shaU be to be sold & not of any
others. And if this cannot be done of their good Will & that
whensoever it shall be taken it shall be paid within four days
& if that cannot be immediately paid within
our the time which we shall neither take nor cause
to be taken any thing else except that which shall be taken
there so far as that the same shall plainly appear to us to be
their assetts For which cause we the aforesaid Henry and Maud
all the afsd Franchizes & free customs there found by the afsd
Inquest do grant & confirm for us & for our heirs to the afsd
Burgesses of our said Borough of Kedwehi & to their heirs &
to their ass" for ever in the form underwritten And do hereby
grant unto them for us & for our heirs all the advantages & free
customs that they have or were accustomed to have as the same
have been heretofore granted In Witness whereof we have
hereunto set our seal Witness Sir Thomas De Blound Sir Wm
De Cantelou Richard De Ryvers our Seneschall of KidweUi
Phihp de Skenfryth, Richd de Penres John de Botyler, Giffeo
Dun Cadugan ap Griffith Dani Malefaunt & others Given at our
Castle of Kidwelh the 12th day next after the feast of the as-
sumption of our Lady in the year of Iving Edward Son of King
Edwd the 2nd Which franchises gifts grants places usages &
customs afsd according to the Charter of our most honored
father & mother we the afsd Henry Duke of Lancaster do give
grant confirm ratify & approve for us & for our heirs to the
afsd burgesses of our Borough of KedwelU & to their heirs &
to their ass" from henceforth for ever in manner afsd And if
the sd Burgesses have not enjoyed the franchises
afsd We will & grant for us & for our heirs that the afsd Bur-
gesses their heirs & their ass" shall be at Hberty to enjoy them
126 APPENDIX I.
or And we the afsd Henry & our heirs
the afsd Franchises grants usages and customs afsd to the afsd
Burgesses & their heirs and their ass" do grant & confirm for
ever In Witness whereof we have put our seal to this our writing
Given at our Castle of lycycester the 12 day next after the An-
nunciation of our Lady in the 30 year of the reign of King Edward
the 3d after the Conquest.
Attested as a true Copy of a Copy
of this Charter, this 4 day of
April 1792, by us,
Amos Clarke, 1 Clerks to Mr. Foulkes,
a
John Browne, ) Hart St, Bloomsbury."
APPENDIX I.
A.D. 1444.
' Henry by the grace of God King of England and France
and Lord of Ireland To all to whom these presents shall come
greeting Know ye that we considering in what manner the Bur-
gesses of our Borough and Town of Kidwelly in South Wales
within our Dutchy of Lancaster have manifoldly suffered no
small losses and burnings of their houses and divers oppres-
sions which the Welchmen of their mahce heretofore have often
brought upon them & that therefore the sd Town which is an
ancient Borough of our said Dutchy is now in a manner waste
and desolate for the want of Burgesses there dweUing, and wil-
ling therefore as well for the assistance and rehef of the sd Town
and Borough of Kidwelly as of our County more amply to
provide for the convenience peace & quiet of the sd Burgesses
have granted and by these presents Do grant to the sd Bur-
gesses and resiants within the sd Town and Borough of Kidwelly
to their heirs and successors that they shall have a Commonalty
amongst themselves and that the said Burgesses on the morrow
of the Epiphany of our Lord next ensuing may chuse from
among themselves one Mayor and two Baihffs who after they
shall have been elected shall take their Corporal Oaths in the
Exchequer of Kidwelly before the Receiver or Auditor there
then being for the due performance and execution of the Offices
of Mayor and BaiUffs from the sd Morrow of the Epiphany to
the next Sunday after the feast of St Michael the Archangel
APPENDIX I.
127
then next ensuing and the said Mayor and BaiUffs thus elected
the sd Offices of Mayor and Baihffs for the sd time shall perform
and execute and that the said Burgesses their heirs and Suc-
cessors from thenceforth may elect from among themselves a
Mayor and 2 Baihffs once every year that is on the next Sunday
after the feast of St Michael the Archangel who immediately
after they shall have been thus elected and sworn to the due
performance of their sd Offices in the sd Church before the
Receiver or Auditor there for the time being the Offices of Mayor
and Baihffs there duly may perform exercise and execute And
if it happens that any Mayor or Baihff should die within a year
after such election that then the sd Burgesses their heirs and
successors may chuse from among themselves one other Mayor
or other Baihff or Baihffs in the place of him or them so dying
who have taken the oath as aforesd may do & execute the Office
of Mayor or of Baihff or BaiUffs for all the remaining part of that
year And that 2 Officers to be chosen by the Mayor of the sd
Town for the time being may have and carry each of them
one Mace with our arms of our said Dutchy engraved on it
And that the sd Mayor and Baihffs thus elected and officers
and commonalty of the sd town and Borough be one incorporate
body and fully capable and fit to purchase lands and tenements
and other possessions for themselves and their successors by
the names of Mayor Baihffs and Commonalty of the Town and
Borough of Kidwelly and that by the sd names they may plead
and be impleaded answer and be answered and have perpetual
succession. We have also granted to the sd Burgesses their
heirs and successors for ever our Town and Borough aforesaid
with the market and fairs of the sd Town and Borough Stallage
pickage tolls and all other customs profits and commodities
thereunto belonging also tolls of the country and rent of Assize
and all lands escheated in the Town and Borough aforesaid
We have also granted to the sd Burgesses their heirs and succes-
sors that they shall have a Court or Hundred of Kidwelly and
all fines issues and amerciaments in the sd Court or Hundred
forfeitures and other perquisites and advantages thence pro-
ceeding or to the sd Hundred or Court in any way appertaining
or belonging And that the Mayor of the sd Town then being
may hold before him all Pleas real personal and mixed to the
sd Hundred belonging or any wise appertaining as well concern-
ing lands & tenements situate in the sd Town and Borough as
other lands and tenements without the sd town and Borough
128 APPENDIX I.
-which are of Burgage tenure as of debts trespasses reckonings
agreements and other contracts and causes whatsoever within
the said Town and Borough and their precincts arising as also
pleas of piepowder and fairs at the suit of any person whatso-
ever prosecuting or desirous to prosecute before them by writ
or without writ as fully and perfectly as our Stewards or the
Stewards of our Ancestors there being were accustomed to hold
pleas so that neither Steward Bailiff nor other Officer of us or
of our heirs shall on any account intermeddle with the sd Hun-
dred or with the holding of any pleas to the sd Hundred be-
longing or which ought of old to belong And that the Mayor
BaiUffs and Commonalty of the said Town their heirs and Suc-
cessors by the Bailiffs of the sd Town for the time being shall
have Returns of all writs and precepts of us and our heirs Jus-
tices escheators and others our Judges or those of our heirs
whomsoever and executions of the said writs and precepts in
all pleas real personal and mixed and all causes within the said
town and Borough and the hmits and precincts of the same
as well in the Borough as in the Forensia within the four ancient
crosses that compass the said Town so that neither escheator
Steward or other Bailiff or Minister of us and our heirs within
the said town and Borough nor in any other place within the
said hmits and precincts thereof shall enter to make any execu-
tion or on any other account interfere And that the Mayor
and BaiHffs of the said town for the time being be Justices
for preserving of the Peace for us and our heirs within the said
Town and Borough and precinct thereof as well in the Borough
as in the foreland within the sd four Crosses and that they shall
have full power to hear and determine all things belonging to
the Office of Justice of the Peace to be executed within the Town
and precincts aforesd so that no Justice Steward Constable or
other Officer of us or of our heirs shall enter the sd Town and
Borough or precincts of the same to do & execute there any
thing that belongs to the office of Justice of the Peace We have
also granted to the sd Burgesses their heirs and successors that
they shall have or may chuse from among themselves every
year on the day aforesd One Coroner who having taken the
usual oath may do and execute all that belongs to the Office
of Coroner in the sd Borough and precincts thereof And further
of our more abundant grace We have granted for us and our
heirs that the sd Burgesses their heirs and successors their
Servants and also the tenants of the sd Burgesses their heirs
APPENDIX I. 129
and Successors residing within the Town and Borough afsd
shall not in future be impleaded or forced to answer before
any Judges or other Oflficer of us or our heirs on any indictment
accusation or Appeal of Treason or for trespasses rectis injiiriis
misprisons or other crimes or offences whatsoever or in any
actions or pleas real personal and mixed at the suit of us and
our heirs or of any other person whatsoever in any Court within
the Lordships of Kidwelly CarnwilUon and Iskennen except in
the sd Hundred or before the Justices in eyre of us and our heirs
when they shall come into those parts and shall not nor shall
any of them be convicted or tried within the said Lordships
by any foreigners but by entire Enghshmen of the sd Borough
and not by any Welshmen for ever We have also granted to
the sd Burgesses their heirs and successors that no fair or market
be kept in the vicinity of the sd Borough within the distance
of 5 miles of the same and that no wares merchandizes or victuals
be exposed to Sale in any Pubhck Place within the sd 5 miles
but in the Borough itself except Bread and Beer bought in
the said Borough which afterwards may lawfully be sold with-
out the Borough by such as have bought within the Borough
except flesh and fish cut up in Uke manner first bought within
the sd Borough and except milk cheese eggs Poultry and such
like small victuals which may be lawfully bought and sold in
the houses of those to whom such small Victuals belong so than
they shall not be exposed to Sale in any pubhck place withit
the said Borough And that the market of the said Town be kept
within the walls of the sd Town in the usual and accustomed
place on Wednesday and Sunday in every week and not other-
wise as it used to be done And that they may have before the
sd Mayor and Baihffs in the Hundred of the said Town cog-
nizance and punishment of all and singular the offenders in
regrating and forestalling of all wares and victuals of such as
are desirous of frequenting the market of the said Town for the
provision and supply of our Castle there and the sd Town and
to impose fines on them according to their deserts which fines
are to be levied at the option of the said Burgesses their heirs and
successors And that they may have cognizance and punishment
of breach of assize of Bread and Beer and of other broken victuals
in the sd Town and Borough and Assize of weights measures
and balances within the sd Town and Borough so that no Steward
or Marshal of our Household or of our heirs or Clerk of the
market Justice or any other whatsoever shall enter or interfere
130 APPENDICES J AND K.
in any wise with the Assize of those measures weights and
bjilances or any other thing which belongs to the office of Clerk
of the Market to be done and executed within the sd Town and
Borough And that it shall be lawful for any Burgess of the sd
Borough his heirs and successors to hold what he has purchased
in the sd Borough as his Chattels and by his last Will bequeath
them accordingly to whomsoever he shall chuse And that neither
the sd Burgesses their heirs and successors within the said
Borough during their residence there shaU contribute to any
payments concerning any customs grants aids tallage or fines
whatsoever granted or to be granted through the whole realm
to us and our heirs unless in the sd Borough with the Burgesses
where they are conversant as they were used to pay and that
none of the said Burgesses their heirs and successors their tenants
or Vassals within our land and power shall be distrained or
attached for the debt or trespass of any of his neighbours unless
he be a principal Debtor or Surety & whosoever shall be the
Surety of another shall not be compelled to pay so long as the
principal debtor has wherewith to pay and that the Court of
Welshmen and foreigners and Sessions which were wont to be
held within the sd Town and Borough of Kidwelly may hence-
forth be held there for ever according to usual custom rendering
therefore yearly to us and our heirs by the hands of our Receiver
of Kidwelly for the time being ^^26 1 3' 4' at the feasts of Easter
and St Michael the Archangel by equal portions for aU Services
customs and demands In witness whereof we have caused these
our Letters to be made patent Given under our Seal of our
said Dutchy at our Castle at Windsor the 8th day of December
in the 22nd year of our reign by BUI signed by the Kings hand
and sealed with the signet of the Eagle.'
APPENDIX J.
' An exempHfication of the original Charter, at the instance
of Philhp Morgan, Mayor of Kidwelly, by Patent of Henry the
Eighth, 20th February, 32nd year of his reign.'
APPENDIX K.
' An exemplification of the original Charter, by Patent of
Edward the Sixth, 20th May, 4th year of his reign.'
APPENDIX I,. 131
APPENDIX L.
A.D. 1619.
' James by the Grace of God of England Scotland France
and Ireland King Defender of the faith &c. To our beloved
and right trusty Sir Humphrey May Knt Chancellor of our
Duchy of Lancaster Greeting We command you that under the
seal of our said Duchy of Lancaster you cause our letters to be
made patent in form following — The King to aU to whom &c.
Greeting Whereas our Borough of KidweUie in our County of
Carmarthen is a very ancient and populous Borough & the
Mayor Baihffs & commonalty of the sd Borough by divers sevl
names have had used and enjoyed divers Hberties franchises
immunities customes preheminences and heredits as well by
divers charters and letters patent of divers our Predecessors
& Ancestors late Kings of England Dukes of Lancaster & others
as by reason of divers prescriptions usuages & customs in the
same Boro of old time used had and accustomed And whereas
our beloved subjects the now Mayor BaiUffs and Burgesses of
the Borough afd have humbly entreated us that as far as in us
lies we would for the better rule & improvement of the said
Boro' graciously extend our royal Grace and munificence to them
the sd Mayor Baihffs and Burgesses of the Borough afd in this
behalf And that we would vouchsafe to reduce constitute or
create anew the sd Mayor Baihffs and Commonalty of the sd
Borough by which name or names they have soever they have
been heretofore incorporated into one body corporate & pohtic
by the name of the Mayor Aldermen & Baihffs & Burgesses
of the Boro of Kidwelly in the County of Carmarthen with
the addition of certain Hberties privileges immunities & franchises
as shall to us seem most expedient We therefore willing that
for ever hereafter one certain & undoubted method be had in
the same Boro the hberties & precincts of the same of in & upon
the keeping of our peace & the rule & Government of the same
Boro & our people there dweUing and others thereto resorting
And that the same Boro be hereafter perpetual & remain a Boro'
of peace & quietness to the fear & terror of evil doers & to the
encouragement of the good and that our peace & other acts
of Justice & good government may be the better there kept &
done And hoping that if the Mayor Baihffs & Commonalty of
132 APPENDIX h.
the Boro afsd do of our Grant enjoy greater & more ample
liberties dignities & priviledges they will then think themselves
more especially & cogently bound to do to us our heirs & succes-
sors what services they are able of our special Grace certain
knowledge & mere mocon Have willed ordained constituted &
granted & Do by these presents for us our heirs and successors
wiU ordain constitute grant and declare That our afsd Boro
of Kidwelh in our coy of Carmn be and remain at all times
for ever hereafter a free Boro of itself And that the Mayor Bail-
iffs & commonalty of the Boro of Kidy as afsd their successors
& also the Burgesses & inhabitants of the same Boro by what-
soever name or names they were theretofore incorporated &
whether they have been incorporated or not from henceforth
for ever be & by virtue of these presents shall be one body
corporate & pohtic in Deed fact & name by the name of the
Mayor Alderman Baihffs and Burgesses of the Boro of Kidwelly
in the Coy of Carmarthen & these & their successors by the
name of Mayor Alderman Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro of
Kidy in the County of Carmarthen We do by these presents
for us our heirs & successors really & fully erect make ordain
constitute confirm declare & create one Body corporate &
politic in deed fact & name & that by the sd name they have
perpetual succession And that they & their successors be & at
all times hereafter shall be by the name of Mayor Aldermen
Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro of Kidwelly in the County of
Carmarthen persons fit & capable in Law to have purchase
receive and possess lands tenements meadows feedings pastures
liberties priviledges franchises Jurisdictions and Heredits to
them & their successors in fee & perpetuity or for the term of
life or fives or of years or any otherwise howsoever & also goods
& chattels & all other things whatsr of what kind nature sort
or quafity soever. And to give grant demise & assign the same
lands tenements heredits goods chattels & to do & execute all
other acts and things by the name afsd And that by the name
of Mayor Alderman Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro of Kid-
welfie in the County of Carmarthen they may plead be impleaded
answer & be answered defend & be defended in whastr courts
& places & before whatsr Judges & Justices & other persons
& ofl&cers of us our heirs & successors in aU & singr Actions
Pleas Suits Causes Matters & demands whatsr or what kind
nature or sort soever they may or shall be in the same manner
& form as^any other our liege subjects within this our Kingdom
APPENDIX L,. 133
of England being persons fit & capable in Law or any body Cor-
porate within this our kingdom of England may & can have
purchase receive possess give grant & plead & be impleaded
answer & be answered defend & be defended And that the
afsd Mayor Alderman Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd &
their successors may have for ever a common seal to be kept
for the doing of all Business whatsoever of them & their suc-
cessors And that it shall & may be lawful for them the said
Mayor Alderman Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their
successors for the time being to break change & make anew
the sd seal from time to time as shall to them seem most ex-
pedient And further we will & do by these presents for us our
heirs & successors grant to the afsd Mayor alderman Baihffs
& Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their successors that there shall
& may be from henceforth for ever in the Boro afsd one of the
Burgesses of the Boro afsd to be elected in manner & form
in these presents hereafter specified who shall be & be named
the Mayor of the Boro afsd And that there may & shall be in
like manner withen the Boro afsd two of the Burgesses of the
sd Boro to be elected in manner in these presents hereafter
mentd who shall be & be named & called the BaiUffs of the Boro
afsd And that there may & shall be within the Boro afsd twelve
of the better & more responsible burgesses & inhabitants of the
Boro afsd to be elected & appointed in manner in these pre-
sents hereafter mentd who shall be named & called Alderman
of the Boro afsd And that in Uke manner there may & shall
be within the sd Boro other twelve of the more responsible &
discreet burgesses of the Boro afsd to be elected in mmer in
these presents also hereafter mentd who may & shall be called
the principal Burgesses of the Boro afsd which sd princl Bur-
gesses & Baihffs to be so from time to time nominated & elected
may & shall be from time to time aiding & assisting to the
Mayor & Alderman of the sd Boro for the time being in all
causes Businesses & things in any wise touching or concerning
the Boro afsd And further we will & do by these presents for
us our heirs & successors grant to the afsd Mayor alderman
Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their successors that
the Mayor Alderman Baihffs & principal Burgesses of the Boro
afsd for the time being or the Mayor part of them (of whom
we will that the Mayor for the time being shall be one) shall
& may have full power & abiUty of founding constituting or-
daining making & estabhshing from time to time such Laws
134 APPENDIX L.
statutes rights ordinances & constitutions as to them or the
Major part of them (of whom we will that the Mayor for the
time being shall be one) shall accordg to their sound discretion
seem good wholesome profitable honest & necessary for the
good rule & Government of the Boro afsd & of all the Officers
Ministers Artificers Burgesses inhabitants & residents of the
sd Boro & for the declg in what manner & order they the sd
Mayor Aldern Bailiffs & princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd &
all & singr other the officers ministers artificers Burgesses &
Inhabitants of the sd Boro for the time being shall use carry
& demean themselves in their offices duties ministries & Busi-
nesses within the afsd Boro the hberties & precincts thereof
And also for the better preservation Government Disposition
letting & demising of the Lands tents possons & hereditaments
& of the Goods & chattels of the afsd Mayor Aldermen Baihffs
& Burgesses of the Boro afd & other matters & things whatsr
touching or in anywise concerning the Boro afd or the estate
right & intt thereof And that the Mayor Alderman Baihffs &
princl Burgesses of the Boro afd for the time being (of whom
we will that the Mayor for the time being shall be one) so often
as they shall found make & estabhsh such laws rights ordinances
& constitutions in form afsd may make ordain hmit & provide
such pains punishments & penalties by imprisonment of the
Body or by fines amerciaments or by either of them towards
& upon the offenders against such statutes laws rights ordin-
ances and constitutions or any or either of them as to them the
sd Mayor Aldermen Bailiffs & principal Burgesses of the Boro
afd for the time being or the major part of them (of whom
We will the Mayor shall be one) shall appear to be meet neces-
sary fitting & requisite for the observation of the sd laws statutes
ordinances & constitutions And shall & may levy take & have
the same fines & amerciaments without the hindrance of us
our heirs or successors or of any the officers & ministers of us
our heirs or successors whomsr All & singr which laws statutes
rights ordinances & customs so as afsd to be made We Will
shall be observed under the punishments to be therein contd
So nevertheless as that the afsd Laws rights ordinances statutes
constitutions pains punishments and imprisonments be reason-
able & not repugant nor contrary to the Laws statutes liberties
rights & customs of our Kingdom of England And for the better
exeon of our will & Grant in this behalf we have assigned nomin-
ated constituted & made & do by these presents for us our heirs
APPENDIX L,. 135
& successors assign nominate constitute & make our beloved
Thomas Babington Esqr one of the Burgesses of the Boro afsd
to be the first & now Mayor of the Boro afsd to continue in
the same office from the date of these presents until the Monday
next after the feast of St Michael the Archangel next ensuing
& from thence until one or of the Aldn of the Boro afsd shall
be in due mmer elected preferred & sworn to the office of Mayor
of the Boro afsd accdg to the ordinances & provisions hereafter
in these presents expressed & decld if he the sd Thos Babington
shall so long hve We have also assigned nominated constituted
& made & by these presents for us our heirs & successors assign
nominate & make our beloved J no Howel Maurice Dyer Henry
Fisher Master of Arts, Hugh Dyer, David Dyer Jno Aylwarde
Wm Gardner Griffithe Bowen, Jno Fisher Dd WilUams Griffith
Rowe David King Burgesses of the Boro afsd to be the first &
now aldermen of the Boro afsd to continue in the sd office of
Aldermen of the Boro afsd during their natural Uves unless
for misgovernment or for misbehaviour in that behalf or for any
other reasble cause they or any of them shall in the mean time
be amoved from that office We have also assigned nominated
constituted & made & do by these presents for us our heirs
& successors assign nominate constitute & make our beloved
Wm Gardner & Owen Bowen Gentn Burgesses of the Boro
afsd to be the first & now Bailiffs of the Boro afsd to continue
in that office from the date of these presents until the Monday
next after the feast of St Michael the Archangel now next en-
suing & from thence until two others to the office of BaiUfFs
of the Boro afsd shall in due mmer be elected preferred & sworn
accdg to the Ordinances & provisions in these presents expressed
& decld if they the sd Wm Gardner & Owen Bowen shall so
long Hve We have also assigned nominated constituted & made
& do by these presents for us our heirs & successors assign
nominate constitute & make our beloved Owen Bowen Jno
Dyer Daud Dyer Jno PhilHps Maurice Fisher David Mansell
Walter Rice Wm ColHn Heny John, Thos Walter David Merton
& Maurice Rice to be the first & now princl Burgesses of the
Boro afsd to continue in that office during their natural fives
unless for misgovernmt or for misbehaviour in that behalf
or for any or reasble cause they or any of them shall in the
mean time be amoved therefrom And further we will & do by
these presents for us our heirs & successors grant to the before
named Mayor aldermen Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd
136 APPENDIX L.
& their Successors that the Mayor Aldermen Bailiffs & princl
Burgesses of the Bore afsd for the time being or the Major part
of them (of whom we will that the mayor of the Boro afsd for
the time being shall be one) shall & may from time to time &
at all times hereafter have the power faculty & authy yrly for
ever in & upon the Monday next after the feast of St Michael
the Archgel of naming & electing & that they shall & may name
& elect one of tha Aldermen of the Boro afsd to be Mayor of the
same Boro for & during one whole year then next follg And
that he after he shall as afsd be nominated the Mayor of the
Boro afsd before he shall be admitted to execute that ofiSce
shall take his corporal oath in the Guild hall of Kidwelly before
the last mayor his predecessor well & faithfully to execute
that ofl&ce And that after he shall have so taken such oath he
shall & may execute the ofi&ce of Mayor of the Boro afsd until
Mondy next after the feast of St Michael the Archgl then next
follg & from thence until one or of the Aldn of the sd Boro
shall be in due mmer elected preferred & sworn into that office
accdg to the ordinances & provisions in these presents expd
& decld And moreover we will & do by these presents for us
our heirs & succrs grant to the afsd Mayor Aldermen BaiUfis
& Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that the Mayor
Aldn BaiUfFs & princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd for the time
being or the Major part of them (of whom we will that the
Mayor shall always be one) shall & may at all times hereafter
have power faculty & authority yearly for ever in & upon the
Mondy next after the feast of St Mchl the Archgl of electg &
nominatg & that they shall & may elect & nominate two of the
princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd to be the BaiUffs of the sd
Boro for & during one whole year then next follg And that they
after they shall be so as afsd elected & nominated the BaiHffs
of the Boro afsd befe they shall be admitted to execute that
office shall each of them take his Corpl Oath in the Guildhall
of Kidwelly afsd befe the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time
being well & faithlly to execute the sd Office of BaiUffs of the
Boro afsd And that after they shall have so taken such oath
they shall & may execute the office of Baihffs of the Boro afsd
until the Mondy next after the feast of St Michael the Archgl
then next follg & from thence until two others of the princl
Burgs of the Boro afsd shall in due mmer be elected preferred
& sworn into the office of BaiUffs of the Boro afsd accdg to
the ordinances & provisions in these presents expressed & deled
APPENDIX L,. 137
And moreover we will & do by these presents for us our heirs
& successors grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Burgss
of the Boro afsd & their succrs that if it shall happen that the
Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being shall at any time
die within one year after he shall be preferred & sworn into the
office of Mayor of the Boro afsd That then it may & shall be
lawful for the Aldn BaiUffs & princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd
for the time being or the major part of them to elect & prefer
one other of the Aldermen of the Boro afsd into the office of
Mayor of the Boro afsd And that he to be so as afsd from time
to time elected & preferred shall have & exercise that office
during the remr of the same yr havg first taken his Corpl oath
in the Guildhall of Kidwy afsd befe two or more of the Aldn
of the sd Boro for the time being well faithfully & rightfully
to execute the sd Office & so as often as the case shall happen
to which sd Aldn or any two or more of them for the time being
(as the case happens) we do by these presents for us our heirs
& successors give & grant full power & authority to administer
such seasble oath to the pson to be so nominated & elected
Mayor of the Boro afsd well & faithfully to exte the sd Office
& that witht any o' or fur writ want or grant to be from us
our heirs or succrs in this behf. procured and obtd And further
we will & do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant
to the afsd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd
& their succrs that if it shall happen that the BaiUffs of the Boro
afsd for the time being or eir of them shall at any time die within
one year after they shall be preferred & sworn into the Office
of Baihffs of the Boro afsd or be removed from that Office (which
sd Baihffs or any of them for misbehaviour in the sd office
or for any or reasble cause) by the Mayor Aldn & princl Burgs
of the Boro afsd for the time being or the major part of them
(of whom we will the Mayor shall always be one) we will shall
be removable that then & so often as it shall & may be Iful
for the Mayor Aldn & princl Burgs of the Boro afsd for the
time being or the major part of them (of whom we will the
Mayor shall be one) to elect & prefer one other or two others
of the princl Burgs of the Boro afsd into the office or offices
of Bailiff or Baihffs of the Boro afsd And that he or they so as
afsd elected & preferred may have & exercise the office of Baihff
or Bailiffs of the Boro afsd during the remr of the same year
havg iirst taken their Corpl Oaths in the Guildhall afsd before
the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being & so on as often
138 APPENDIX I,.
as the case shall so happen We also will & do by these presents
for us our heirs & successors grant to the afsd Mayor Aldermen
BaiUffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that so often
as it shall happen that any of the Aldermen of the Boro afsd
for the time being shall die or be amoved from their office wch
sd Alderman or any of them for misbehaviour in their office
or for any other reasble cause by the Mayor & the Major part
of the rest of the Aldermen Bailiffs & princl Burgesses of the
Boro afsd for the time being we will shall be answerable that
then & so often it shall & may be lawful for the Mayor Aldemen
BaiMffs & princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd or the major part
of them (of whom we will the Mayor shall be one) to elect &
nominate one or more other or ors of the Baihffs or princl Bur-
gesses of the Boro afsd for the time being within a convenient
time after such death or amoval in the place or places of him
or them the sd Alderman or Aldermen so happg to die or be
amoved And that he or they after he or they shall be so as afsd
elected & preferred into the office of Aldn or Alden of the Boro
afsd may have & exercise the sd office during his or their natural
life or hves unless he or they shall in the mean time be amoved
in form afsd for misbehaviour or any other reasble cause havg
first taken their Corporal oaths in the Guildhall of Kidwelly
afsd befe the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being well
& faithlly in & by all things to execute the sd office & so on
as often as the case shall so happen And if it shall happen that
any or either of the princl burgs of the Boro afsd for the time
being shall die or be amoved from that office (which sd princl
Burgesses and any of them for misbehaviour or any other
reasble cause by the Mayor & major part of the Aldn & Bailiffs
& the rest of the princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd for the time
being we will shall be amovable) that then & so often it shall
& may be Iful for the Mayor Aldn Baihffs & princl Burgesses
of the Boro afsd or the major part of them (of whom we will
the Mayor shall always be one) to nominate elect & prefer one
or more other or others of the Burgesses or inhabitants of the
Boro of Kidwelly afsd within a convenient time after such
death or amoval in the place or places of him or them the
sd princl Burgess or Burgesses so happg to die or be amoved
to continue in office during his or their natural hfe or hves
unless he or they shall in the mean time be amoved in form
afsd for misbehaviour or o" reasble cause havg first taken their
corpl oaths at the Guildhall afsd before the Mayor of the Boro
APPENDIX I,. 139
afsd for the time being well & faithfully to execute the sd office
& so on as often as the case shall so happen And further we will
that from henceforth there shall be for ever within the Boro
afsd one sufficient & discreet man of the Burgesses of the sd
Boro who shall be called the Chamberlain of the Boro of Kid-
welly afsd And for the better execution of our will in this behalf
we have assigned nominated constituted & made & by these
presents for us our heirs & successors assign nominate constitute
& make our beloved Robert JoUife to be the first & now Cham-
berlain of the Boro afsd to continue in the sd office during the
pleasure of the Mayor Aldn BaiUfFs & princl Burgesses of the
Boro afsd for the time being or the major part of them (of whom
we will the Mayor of the sd Boro shall always be one) first tak-
ing his Corporal Oath before the Mayor of the Boro afsd well
& faithlly to exte the sd office And if it shall at any time happen
that the Chamberlain of the Boro afsd for the time being shall
die or be amoved from the sd Office (which sd Chamberlain
we will shall be amovable for any reasble cause at the pleasure
of the Mayor & the major part of the Aldn Baihfi's & princl
Burgesses afsd for the time being) that then it shall & may be
lawful for the Mayor Aldn Baihffs & princl Burgesses of the
Boro afsd or the major part of them (of whom we will the Mayor
shall be one) to nominate elect & prefer one other of the Bur-
gesses or Inhabitants of the Boro afsd within a convenient
time after such death or amoval to be Chamberlain of the Boro
afsd to continue in the sd office during the pleasure of the Mayor
& major part of the Aldn Baihffs & principal Burgesses as afsd
first takg his corpl oath in form afsd in the Guildhall afsd And
so on as often as the case shall so happen But we will & do
by these presents for us our heirs & succrs ordain constitute
& declare that no person shall at any time hereafter be admitted
to the office of Mayor Aldn Baihfi^ Princl Burgess or Chamber-
lain of the Boro afsd unless he be an inhabitant & resident
within the Boro afsd the Hberties or precincts thof nor shall
execute any of those offices longer than he is inhabg & residing
within the same Boro the hberties or precincts thof any thing
in these presents contd to the conty notwithstg Also we will
& do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant to the
afsd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their
Successors And we do hkewise ordain constitute & declare
that all lands tents & hdts as well in the Boro afsd as in the
outparts within the four ancient crosses by the circuit of the
140 APPENDIX 1,.
same Boro be from henceforth for ever within the liberties
limits circuits precincts & bounds of the sd Boro And that the
sd Boro with such hberties Hmits circuit & precinct shall be
a free Boro of itself distinct & separate from any or Ldship
City Boro or Town in the afsd Coy of Carmarthen And fur
we will & do by these presents for us our heirs & successors
grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn BaiUfls & Burgesses of the Boro
afsd & their succrs that whensr & as often as any of the Bur-
gesses free men as Inhabitants of the Boro afsd shall be resply
elected & preferred in due manner & accdg to the true Interest
of these presents to the office or offices of Mayor Aldn Baihffs
principal Burgesses or Chambn of the sd Boro havg notice by
the Mayor of the sd Boro for the time being to him or them
respecty given to have & exercise the sd offices or any of them
to which he or they shall be so elected & preferred & shall deny
& refuse to take upon themselves the same that then & so often
it shall & may be lawful for them the sd Mayor Aldn & princl
Burgesses of the Boro afsd for the time being or the major
part of them (of whom we will that the Mayor shall be one)
to tax & impose upon all & singr such person & persons or as
afsd denying or refusing the offices afsd the sums foUg (i.e.)
Upon such persons denying or refusing to take upon himself
the office of Mayor of the Boro afsd to which he shall be so
elected & preferred as afsd the sum of £6 of Iful money of Eng-
land & upon every such person or persons denying or refusing
to take upon thselves the office of Aldn of the Boro afsd £4.
of lawful money of England & upon every person denying &
refusing to take upon himself the office of Baihff of the Boro
afsd £;} of lawful money of England & upon every person deny-
ing & refusing to take upon himself the office of Principal Bur-
gess of the Boro afsd £2 of hke moy & upon every person denying
& refusing to take upon himself the office of Chamberlain of
the Boro afsd £2 of lawful money of England and shall & may
levy have & rece the Fines so taxed & imposed from time to
time by distress of the Goods & chattels of such persons so
denying & refusing & of every of them or orwise by action
suit or plaint to the use of the afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Bur-
gesses & their succrs & the Comonalty of the Boro afsd witht
acct or any other thing to be therefore to us our heirs or succrs
in any wise rendered pd or done And further we will & do by
these presents for us our heirs and succrs grant to the afsd
Mayor Alderman Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their
APPENDIX I,. 141
succrs that the Mayor Aldn Baihffs & princl Burgesses of the
Boro afsd for the time being or the major part of them (of whom
we will the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being shall be
one) shall & may have power of nominating & electing & that
they shall & may from time to time for ever nominate & elect
one upright & discreet man to be chief steward of the Boro
afsd to continue in the said office during the pleasure of the
Mayor & the Major part of the Aldn Baihffs & princl Burgesses
of the Boro afsd for the time being first takg his Corpl Oath
before the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the faithful execn of the
said office Also we have assigned ordained made & constituted
& do by these presents for us our heirs & successors assign
make ordain & constitute our beloved Henery Fleetwood Esqre
to be the first & now recorder of the Boro afsd to have & exer-
cise the sd Office during his natural Life by himself or his suffi-
cient Deputy which sd Deputy of the afs Hy Fleetwood shall
take his corpl Oath before the Mayor for the time being well
& faithfully to execute his office And further we will & do by
these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant to the afsd Mayor
Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd for the time being
or the major part of them (of whom we will that the Mayor
shall be one) shall & may have power & authority of nominating
& electing & that they shall & may from time to time nominate
& elect one upright & discreet man learned in the Laws of Eng-
land who shall be & be called the Recorder of the Boro afsd
which sd Recorder so nominated & elected shall take his cor-
poral oath before the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being
to execute his sd office of recorder of the Boro afsd in all things
relating thereto And we do by these presents for us our heirs
& successors assign ordain make & constitute our beloved Henry
Fleetwood Esqre to be the first & now Recorder of the Boro
atd to have & exercise the sd office during his natural Ufe by
himself or by his sufficient Deputy the afsd Henry Fleetwood
first taking this Corpl Oath befe the Mayor for the time being
well & faithfully to execute the sd Office And that after such
Oath so taken he shall exercise & execute the sd Office by him-
self or by his sufficient Deputy learned in the laws of England
such Deputy havg taken the Hke oath in mmer afsd durg the
pleasure of the Mayor & the Major part of the Aldermen Bail-
iffs & princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd for the time being And
that the Recorder of the Boro afd or his sufft Depy to be from
time to time nominated & elected shall be from time to time
142 APPENDIX L.
aiding & assisting to the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time
being in all matters & things which in the Court of Record
of the Boro afsd shall be from time to time pleadable & deter-
minable & shall do & execute all things which to the office of
Recorder do belong or appertain in as ample manner & form
as any other recorder in any Boro or Town incorporate within
this Kingdom of England doth & may execute by virtue of the
office of Recorder We have granted moreover & by these presents
for us our heirs & successors grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn
BaiUfIs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that the
Mayor & Recorder of the Boro afsd the Depy of the sd Recorder
in his absence for the time being & also one of the Aldn of the
Boro afsd to be yearly & from time to time nominated & elected
by the Mayor Aldermen & Baihfifs & Princl Burgesses of the
Boro afsd for the time being or by the Major part of them may
& shall be & each of them may & shall be for ever hereafter
Justices of us our heirs & succrs to preserve & keep & shall
cause to be preserved and kept the peace of us our heirs & succrs
in the Boro afsd & the circuit & precincts thereof which sd Re-
corder & his depy & the afsd Alderman to be elected as afsd
& each of them shall take his Corpl Oath befe the Mayor for
the time being & two aldermen of the Boro afsd for the time
being well & faithfully to execute the Office of Justices of the
peace And that the sd Mayor & Recorder in his absence togr
with the afsd Alderman to be nominated & elected a Justice
of the peace as afsd or any two of them (of whom we will the
Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being shall ba one) shall
have full power & authority to enquire concg all trespasses
misprisons & other misdemeanors & inferior offences defaults
& articles whatsr done moved or committed or hereafter to
be had done or committed within the Boro afsd the Hberties
or precincts thereof which befe the Keepers & Justices of the
peace in any County of our Kingdom of England may & ought
to be enquired into So Nevertheless that they any or either
of them shall not in anywise hereafter proceed in the deter-
minon of any treason misprison of treason murder or felony
or of any other matter touching the loss of Ufe or Umb within
the Boro afsd the hberties & precincts thereof witht the special
mandate of us our heirs or succrs And that no Justice of the
peace of us our heirs or succrs shall in anywise enter to do
or execute any thing within the afsd Boro the hberties or pre-
cincts thereof which to the Office of Justice of the peace be-
APPENDIX r,. 143
longeth to be then done Also we will & do by these presents
ordain & appoint that the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time
being before he be admitted to execute the sd office of Justice
of the Boro afsd shall take his Corpl Oath rightfully & faith-
ftilly to execute the sd office & the oath in that behalf provided
& required to be taken by Justices of the peace by the laws
& statutes of this our Kingdom of England befe his predeces-
sor the last Mayor of the Boro afsd who shall be then hving
And that every person after he shall go out of the office of Mayor
of the Boro afsd by virtue of these our letters patent shall &
may have full power & authority of giving & administering
such oaths as afsd to the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time
being his succr without any o'^ warrant or commission to be
obtained or procured from us our heirs or succrs And that the
recorder & last predecessor of every Mayor of the Boro afsd
for the time being & each of them shall take his Corpl Oath
rightfully & faithfully to execute the office of Justice of the
Peace & the oath in that behf provided & reqxaired to be taken
by Justices of the peace by the Laws & statutes of this Kingdom
of England before the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time
being & that the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being
having first taken his oath in form afsd shall & may by virtue
of these presents have full power & authority of giving & ad-
ministering such oaths as afsd to such Justices of the peace
or any of them without any other warrant & commission to
be obtained or procured from us our heirs or succrs We have
also given & granted & do by these presents for us our heirs
& succrs give & grant to the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the
time being full power & authority of giving & administering
reasonable oaths as well to the Aldermen Bailiffs Princl Bur-
gesses Chief steward recorder & his Depy Chambn Town Clerk
Serjeants at Mace as to all others the officers appted or to be
appted by virtue of these presents for the true & faithful exeon
of their officies resply & that witht any o" writ or warrant to
be hereafter in any wise procured & obtained from us or our
succrs And further we will & do by these presents for us our
heirs & succrs grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn BaiUffs & Bur-
gesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that they & their succrs
from henceforth for ever shall have within the Boro afsd the
liberties & precincts thereof one prison or Goal for the detain-
ing in carcerating & safe custy of all & singr person or psons
attached or to be attached & to be adjudged in the sd Goal
144 APPENDIX I,.
or prison to be in anywise found within the Boro afsd the liber-
ties or precincts thof there to continue until they shall be thence
delivered by due course of law. And that the Baihffs of the
Boro afsd for the time being be & shall be Keepers of the same
Goal And further we will & do by these presents for us our heirs
& succrs grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn BaiUfi & Burgesses
of the Boro afsd & their succrs that the Mayor or recorder or
his Depy in his absence & the Aldn afsd being as is afsd Justices
of the peace within the Boro afsd or two of them (of whom we
will that the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being shall
be one) shall & may by their warrant in writg signed & sub-
scribed with their proper hands send such psons who shall be
hafter taken annested attached or found in the Borough afsd
the liberties or precincts thereof for treason murder felony
manslaughter or robbery done or to be done or for suspicion
of felony to the Common Goal of our Coy of Carmn there to
remain & to be tried & answer for their offences before the
Justices of us our heirs or succrs assigned or to be assigned
to hear & determine such misdemeanors committed in the sd
Coy or the Justices assd or to be assd to deliver the Goals of the
sd Coy of Carmn Wilhng & by these presents for us our heirs
& succrs commanding as well the sheriff of the Coy of Carmn as
the keeper of the Common Goal of the sd Coy for the time being
that they & each of them upon such warrant by the afsd J ustices
of the peace within the Boro of Kidwelly for the time being
or by any two of them (of which we will that the Mayor shall
be one) to be made & directed to them or either of them to
rece & safely keep all such pson & psons so as afsd by the afsd
Justices of the peace within the Boro afsd to be hereafter taken
arrested attached or found in the afd Boro of Kidwelh the
liberties or precincts thof for the afsd murder manslaughter
or C robbery or felony done or to be done or for suspicion of
felony & so as afsd sent to the afsd common Goal of the Coy
of Carmn afsd there to continue to be tried & answer before
the Justices of us our heirs & succrs for the time being assd or
to be assd to hear & determine such misdemeanor committed
in the sd Coy or the Justices for the time being assd or to be
assd to deUver the Goal afsd & these our letters patent or the
enrollment thof shall in this behalf be to the afsd Sheriff &
Keeper of the Common Goal of the County of Carmn for the
time being a sufficient warrt & discharge Also we will & do
by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant to the afsd
APPENDIX I,. 145
Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs
that it shall & may be Iful for the Mayor & Recorder of the Boro
afsd for the time being & the Deputy of the sd Recorder in his
absence & of the afsd Aldn elected & to be elected as afd a Jus-
tice of the Peace within the Boro afsd or any two of them (of
whom we will the Mayor for the time being shall be one) from
time to time for ever hereafter to have hold & keep in some
convenient place within the Boro afsd General Sessions of the
Peace & in the same sessions to do execute handle hear & deter-
mine all & singr acts matters Businesses causes & things whatsr
in as ample mmer & form as any other our Justices within
any County City Boro or Town Incorporate within this Kingdom
of England may & can do execute handle hear & determine
the same without any other warrt or grant to be from us our
heirs or succrs in any wise obtained prosecuted or sought. So
Nevertheless that they do not proceed to the determinon
of any treason misprison of treason murder or felony or of any
other matter touching the loss of Ufe or Umb witliin the Boro
afsd the liberties or precincts thereof. And further we will
& do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant to the
afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their
succrs that they & their succrs shall & may from henceforth
for ever have within the Boro afsd a discreet & fit person who
shall be & be called the Steward of the Boro afsd & for the better
execn of our will & grant in this behalf we have afsd nominated
constituted & made & do by these presents for us our heirs
& successors assign nominate make & constitute our beloved
John Howell to be the first & now steward of the Boro afsd
to continue in the sd office during the pleasure of the Mayor
Aldn BaiUffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd for the time being
or the major part of them (of whom we will the Mayor shall
be one) which sd J no Howell & every o' pson hereafter to be
elected & nominated to the office of Steward of the Boro afsd
befe he shall be admitted to execute the sd office shall take
his corpl oath before the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time
being well faithfidly & rightfully in & by all things to do &
execute all & singr those things which belong to the office of
Steward of the Boro afsd & that from time to time & at all times
after the death or amotion of the afsd J no Howell it shall & may
be Iful for the Mayor Aldn BaiUffs & Burgesses of the Boro
afsd for the time being or the Major part of them (of whom
we will the Mayor shall be one) to elect & prefer one other up-
146 APPENDIX L,.
right & discreet man to be steward of the Boro afsd to continue
in the sd office during pleasure as afd first takg his corpl Oath
in form afsd & so on as often as the case shall so happen And
that the afd Mayor Aldn Baihflts & Burgesses of the Boro afsd
& their succrs shall & may from henceforth for ever have in
the Boro afsd one upright & discreet man to be elected in manner
hafter mentd who shall be called the Town Clerk of the Boro
afsd And for the better exeon of our will & grant in this behalf
we have assigned nominated constituted & made & do by these
presents for us our heirs & succrs assign nominate constitute
& make our beloved Mchl Cubbydge to be the first and now
Town Clerk of the Boro afsd to continue in the sd ofiice during
the pleasure of the Mayor Aldermen Baihffs & Burgesses of
the Boro afsd for the time being or the major part of them
(of whom we will the Mayor of the Boro afsd shall be one) which
sd Michl Cubbydge & every C pson hafter to be nominated
& elected to the office of Town Clerk of the Boro afsd before he
shall be admitted to execute the sd office shall first take his
corpl oath before the Mayor afsd for the time being well &
faithfully to execute the sd office of Town Clerk of the Boro
afsd & that he shall & will do & execute all & singr those things
which belong to the office of Town Clerk of the Boro afsd And
that from time to time & at all times after the death or amotion
of the afsd Michl Cubbydge it shall & may be Iful for the Mayor
Aldn Bailiffs & princl Burgesses of the Boro afsd for the time
being or the Major part of them (of whom we will the Mayor
for the time being shall be one) to elect & prefer one other up-
right & discreet man learned in the laws of England to be Town
Clerk of the Boro afsd to continue in the sd office during the
pleasure of the Mayor Aldermen Bailiffs & Chief Burgesses of
the Boro afsd for the time being or the Major part of them
(of whom we will the Mayor shall be one) first takg his Corpl
oath in form afsd & so on as often as the case shall so happen
And further we will & do by these presents for us our heirs
& succrs grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn BaiUffs & Burgesses
& their succrs that there shall & may be from henceforth for
ever in the Boro afsd two Officers who shall be & be called
Serjeants at Mace which sd Serjeants at Mace shall be attend-
ing from time to time upon the Mayor of the Boro afsd for
the time being & shall be from time to time nominated & elected
by the Mayor of the sd Boro for the time being And that they
so elected & nominated to the offices of Serjts at Mace shall
APPENDIX L. 147
be in due manner sworn well & faithfully to execute the sd
office before the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being &
we do depute that they the sd Serjeants at Mace shall bear
& carry gilt or silver Maces engraven & wrought with our arms
in all places within the Boro afsd the liberties & precincts thereof
before the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being & that
the afsd Serjeants at Mace be Ministers at the Hundred Court
& of our Court of Record within the Boro afsd to execute the
processes distresses mandates & precepts of the sd Courts in
due mmer & accdg to the exigency of right & law & shall do
& execute all & singr other things wthin the Boro afsd the
liberties & precincts thereof which are customarily and lawfully
done & executed by Serjts at Mace in any other Boro or Town
incorporate within this Kingdom of England And further of
our more ample special grace certain knowledge & mere mocon
We will & do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant
to the afsd Mayor Mdn BaiUffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd
& their succrs that they may have the court or hundred of Kid-
welly & that they may have hold & keep the Hundred Court
of Kidwy from time to time once every Tuesday three weeks
yearly for ever to be holden before the Mayor & Steward of
the Boro afsd for the time being or one of them & that he and
and they shall & may in the same Court have hold handle hear
& determine all & singr such & the like plaints pleas suits actions
matters & things whatsoever as in the same court by any o""
pson or psons or before any o'' pson or psons htofore have been
had holden handled heard & determined by any Iful means
usuage or custom whatsr & by such & the like process & means
as within the sd Hundd of Kidwelly have been htofore used
as in any Iful mmer ought to be used & that witht the hindrance
molestation or disturbance of us our heirs or succrs whatsr
And further we will & do by these presents for us our heirs
& succrs grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn BaiUffs and Burgs of
the Boro afsd & their succrs that they & their succors shall &
may have hold within the Boro afsd a Court of Record before
the Mayor & recorder of the sd Boro for the time being or eir
of them or their sufft Depys in some convenient place within
the Boro afsd the hberties & precincts thereof on Monday in
every 15 days & so on from 15 days to 15 days for ever & that
they the sd Mayor & Recorder of the sd Boro for the time being
or one of them by themselves or by his or their sufift depy or
depys shall have full power & authy from time to time of hearg
148 APPENDIX I,.
& determing in the sd Court by Plaint in the same Court to be
levied on all & all manner of Debts accts covts contracts tres-
passes vie & armiss or orwise done or to be done in compt of
us our heir or succrs covts detainers contempts frauds & o'
actions & things real psonal & mixed wheresr within the sd Boro
of Kidwy & the Umits bounds & liberties thereof in any wise
arising or to arise happg or to happen provided such debts
accts contracts covts trespasses & o" actions & pleas do not
exceed the sum or value of ;^200 & that the sd Mayor & recorder
of the Boro afsd or eir of them or his or their depty for the time
being upon such contempts pleas plaints & actions shall & may
have power faculty & authority to implead the Defts agst whom
such plaints pleas or actions shall happen to be moved or levied
in the afsd Court by summons attacmt or distringas to be directed
to the Serjeants at Mace of the sd Boro for the time being &
for want of chattels & lands of such Defendts within the Boro
afsd or the liberties thereof where or by wch they cannot be
summoned attached or distrained to attach or take their bodies
accdg to the customs used in any or Boro or Town within this
Kingdom of England & separately to hear & determine all &
singr the actions pleas & plaints afsd & to bring into Court
& determine by the same processes judgments & exeons of
Jdgmts whby the Uke pleas are in the sd Boro or in any other
Boro or Town incorporate brought into Court & determined
& may hope & do exeons of the sd processes & Judgments by
the Serjeants at Mace afsd And further we will & firmly enjoin-
ing do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs order & commd
the Steward & under Steward of us our heirs & succrs of our
I/dship of Kidwy for the time being that they & each of them
do from time to time hold & keep & cause to be holden & kept
all & singr the Courts leet of the afsd Lordsp of Kidwy that
is to say of the Commotes of Iskennen Cornewallan & Kidwelly
& all the Courts called the Month courts of the Commote of
Kidwy within the Boro afsd & not elsewhere any statute act
usage custom or prescription or any o"^ matter cause or thing
to the conty thof notwithstg And Whereas the Lord Henry
the 6th late King of Engd by his letters patent sealed with
his seal of the Duchy of Lancaster bearing date
did grant that the burgesses of the Boro afsd their heirs & succrs
& their servants also the tents of the sd Burgesses their heirs
& succrs residing within the Boro afsd or any of them shod
not at any time thafter for ever be convicted or tryed within
APPENDIX L. 149
the Ldshps of Kidwy Cornwallan & Iskennen by any Foreign-
ers but by entire Englishmen of the sd Boro & not by Welshmen
as by the sd letters patent among other things more fully &
manifestly appears And Whereas we are informed that part
of the now Burgesses & inhabitants of the Boro afsd are Welsh-
men by reason whereof many strifes & inconveniences do arise
in the Boro afsd by means of the afsd Grant we therefore wilhng
that such strifes & inconveniences within the Boro afsd may
from henceforth be for ever taken away of our more abundant
special grace certain knowledge & mere mocon do will & by
these presents grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgs
of the Boro afsd & their succrs & their servants & also their
tenants within the Boro afsd residing shall not nor shall any
of them from henceforth be convicted or tried within the Ldships
of Kidwy Cornwallan & Iskennen but by the Burgesses of the
Boro afsd as well entire Welshmen as Englishmen the afsd
letters patent or any or matter cause or thing whatsr to the
conty thof in any wise notwithstg Also we have grtd & do by
these presents for us our heirs & succrs of our special grace cer-
tain knowledge & mere mocon grant to the afsd Mayor Alder-
men Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that
the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time being be and shall be
the Escheator Coroner & Clerk of the Market of us our heirs
& succrs within the Boro afsd the hberties & precincts thereof
& that the afsd Thos Babington the now Mayor of the Boro
afsd be the first & now Escheator Coroner & Clerk to the Market
of us our heirs & succrs within the Boro afsd the hberties &
precincts thereof to continue in the sd offices until he shall cease
to be Mayor of the Boro afsd And that the Mayor of the Boro
afsd for the time being shall & may have full power & authy
to do execute within the Boro afsd the limits & precincts thof
all & singr those things which to the offices of Coroner Escheator
& Clerk of the Market or any or either of them resply do belong
or ought to be done & exted by the laws stats & customs of
our Kingdom of Engd havg first taken the sevl oaths before
the last Mayor for the time being well & faithfully to exte the
sd sevl offices And that no other Coroner escheator or Clerk
of the Market of us our heirs or succrs shall presume to enter
or in anywise howsr to interfere to do any thing that to the
offices of Coroner Escheator & Clerk of the Market resply or
any or eir of them belongeth in the Boro afsd the hberties &
precincts thof unless for want of a Mayor of the Boro afsd or
150 APPENDIX I,.
his Deputy or Minister for the time being And further of our
more abundant special grace certain knowlge & mere mocon
we will & do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant
to the afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd
& their Succrs that they & their succrs from henceforth for
ever may have hold & enjoy all & all mmer of goods & chattels
waived & strayed & all & all mmer of goods & chattels of all
& singr felons fugitives felons of themselves & those put in
exigent & Deodands & all forfeitures of all & singr the tents
Burgesses inhabits & residents of the Boro afsd the hberties &
precincts thereof & all other Goods & chattels forfeited & to be
forfeited in the Boro afsd the hberties & precincts thof from
time to time happg Coming increasing or arising & that it shall
& may be Iful for them the sd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgss
of the Boro afsd & their succrs by themselves or their ministers
witht the hindrance of us our heirs or succrs or of any the ofi&cers
or ministers of our said heirs & succrs to be seized & possed
of the Goods & chattels of other the pmes afsd & to rece & retain
the same to the use of them the said Mayor Aldn Bailiffs &
Burgss of the Boro afsd & their succrs We have also given &
grtd & do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs give &
grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiff & Burgesses of the Boro
afsd & their succrs that they & their succrs may from hence-
forth for ever have all & all mmer of fines issues & amerciaments
for trespasses contempts defaults & o'' offences whatsr from
time to time happening coming or arising within the Boro
afsd the hberties and precincts thereof from the Exchr of us our
heirs & succrs within the Boro afsd the liberties & precincts
thof happg or arisg to be levied by the Baihffs of the Boro afsd
for the time being So that no Sheriff under Sheriff Bailiff or
any or Minister of us our heirs or succrs may enter into the Boro
afsd the hberties or precincts thof for anything to their of&ces
resply belonging to be in that behalf done unless for want of
Baihffs of the Boro afsd for the time being And further we will
& do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant to the afsd
Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs
that the Mayor Aldn Baihffs princl Burgesses & other the Bur-
gesses & free men of the Boro afsd the liberties or precincts
thof & their succrs or any or either of them shall not be put
or impanled to appear in any Juries of Assize recognizances or
Inquisitions whatsr befe ye Justices of us our heirs & succrs
assigned or to be assd to take the Assizes or writs of Nisi Prius
APPENDIX I,. 151
in the Coy of Carmn or befe any o' Justices of us our heirs or
succrs whomsr assigned or to be assigned to take the assizes
or writs of Nisi Prius in the Coy of Carmn or befe any other
Justices of us our heirs or succrs whomsr assigned or to be as-
signed to hear & determine treasons felonies & other misde-
meanors or before any Eschr Coroner or Clk of the Market of
us our heirs or succrs out of the Boro afsd the hberties or pre-
cincts thereof nor shall they or any of them in anywise forfeit
any issues or amerciaments on that acct to us our heirs or succrs
unless they or any of them have lands & tents out of the sd
Boro the hmits & precincts thereof for which he or they ought
to be chged & that the Mayor of the Boro afsd for the time
being & his succrs as long as they shall continue in the office
of Mayor & also the Aldn Baihffs & princl Burgesses of the sd
Boro for the time being so long as they shall continue in the
offices of Aldn Baihffs & princl Burgs of the sd Boro shall not
nor shall eir of them be put or empannelled to appear befe
us our heirs or succrs or any of the Judges or Justices of us our
heirs or succrs at Westminster in any Juries of Assize or In-
quisition whatsr nor shall they or any of them forfeit any Issues
or amerciaments on that acct to us our heirs or succrs in anywise
but they & every of them shall from time to time for ever be
thof quit & dischgd & also all fines & amerciaments for trespasses
defaults contempts & o'' Debts whatsr as well of all men as of
aU the Burgs & Inhabits of the afsd Boro the hmits hberties
or precincts thof as well before us our heirs & succrs & befe
any the Judges & Justices of us our heirs & succrs in any court
of us our heirs & succrs at Westmr as befe the Justices assd
& to be assd to take the Assizes & delr the Goal or the Justices
assd or to be assd to hear & determine trespasses & o" misdemrs
& o'' the Justices of us our heirs & succrs whomsr And that it
shall be Iful for them the sd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses
of the Boro afsd for the time being & their succrs by thselves
or their Ministers to levy perceive & have the sd fines issues
& amerciaments witht the obstruction or hindrance of us our
heirs or succrs whomsr And further of our more ample special
Grace certain knowledge & mere mocon we have given & grtd
& do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs give & grant
to the afsd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgs of the Boro afsd &
their succrs that they & their succrs from henceforth for ever
shall & may have the return of all writs precepts bills & war-
rants of us our heirs & succrs & the exeon thof & also of sum-
152 APPENDIX L.
monses estreats & precepts And further we will & do by these
pre.sents for us our heirs & succrs grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn
Bailiffs & Burgs of the Boro afsd & their succrs that no Stranger
or Foreigner (unless he be a freeman of the Boro afsd) shall
from henceforth for ever sell or expose to sale any Goods wares
or merchandizes within the Boro afsd the Liberties & Precincts
thof orwise than by wholesale & other than all necessaries for
the VictuaUing of the Borough afsd unless it be at the time of
fairs & market to be holden within the Boro afsd nor shall hold
any shop nor use any mystery occupon or manual act within
the Boro afsd the liberties or precincts thof without the special
licence of the Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd
or the major part of them (of whom we will the Mayor shall
be one) in writing under their seal upon pain of the displeasure
of us our heirs & succrs & under such o'" pains penalties & for-
feitures as by the Laws & statutes of our Kingdom of Engd
may be inflicted or imposed upon such offenders for their dis-
obedience & contempt in that behalf And further we will & do
by these presents for us our heirs & succrs give & grant to the
afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Burgesses of the Boro of Kidwy
afsd & their succrs the special Mcence & free & lawful power
faculty & authority of havg purchsg receivg & possessing to
them & their succrs for ever Manors Messes Lands tents Meadows
feedings & Pastures Woods rectories tithes rents revenues &
o"' hdts whatsr as well of us our heirs & succrs as of any o'' pson
or psons whomsr which are not held immedly of us our heirs or
succrs in Capite nor by Knights service nor of any o"' pson
or psons by Knights service provided such manors messes
lands tents & o" hdts do not exceed in the whole the clear yrly
value of ;£200 above all chges & reprises The statute of Mort-
main or any o'' stats act ordinance or proviso htofore had made
ordained or provided or any o' matter cause or thing whatsr
to the conty thof in any wise notwithstg We also give & do
by these presents for us our heirs & succrs grant to each &
every the subject & subjects whomsr of us our heirs & succrs
special hcence & Iful & free power faculty & authy that they
or any or eir of them may Ifully give grant sell demise or ahen
to the afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiff and Burgs of the Boro of Kidwy
afsd & their succrs any manors messes rectories tithes woods
lands tents or o"" Hdts whatsr which are not holden of us our
heirs & succrs immedly in capite nor by Knights service nor
any other pson or psons by Knights service not exceedg in the
APPENDIX L. 153
whole the clear yearly value of £20 above all taxes & reprises
The staf of Mortmain or any o' staf act ordinances or proviso
htfore had made PubUshed ordained or provided or other matter
cause or thing whatsr to the conty thof in any wise notwithstg
And Whereas we are informed that within the Boro afsd the
liberties & precincts thof 3 fairs are now holden & kept from
time to time whof the memy of man is not to the contry are
accustd to have been holden & kept yrly in divers sevl places
(i.e.) one within the walls of the sd Boro on the feast of St.
Magdalen another at Llangendeirne within 3 miles of the sd
Boro & within the circuits & Hberties thof upon the Feasts of
St James the Apostle & the 3rd within the walls of the sd Boro
upon the feast of St Luke the EvangeUst & the Mayor & Com-
monalty of the Boro afsd have been accustd to take & rece
& do now take & rece all profits commodities Stallage Piccage
tolls ToUage Customs & profits whatsr thence comg And that
many inconveniences do arise because the sd fair now accustomd
to be held at Llangendeirne afsd is not held & kept within the
Boro afsd We desiring that the afsd Boro may be bettered of
our special grace certain knowldge & mere mocon do will & by
these prests for us our heirs & succrs do grant to the afsd Mayor
Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that
they & their succrs may from henceforth for ever have hold
& keep within the Boro afsd as well the afs 3 fairsd yearly for
ever upon the same days & times on which the same have here-
tofore of old been accustd to be holden & kept as two other
fairs to be hafter yrly holden the ist of the sd fairs to begin on
the 13th day of May & to be kept & contd durg that whole day
& the 2nd fair to begin on the 14th day of Octr & to be kept
& continued durg that whole day togr with a court of Pie powder
to be there holden at the time of all the afsd fairs & with all
the liberties & free customs tolls stallage piccage fines amer-
ciaments & all o"^ profits commodities advantges & emoluments
whatsr to such fairs & court of Pie powder afsd belg appertgg
happg or arisg And further of our more abundant sped grace
certain knowlge & mere mocon we will & do by these presents
for us our heirs & succors grant to the afsd Maj'or Aldn Baihffs
& Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that they & their
succrs shall & may henceforth for ever have hold & keep within
the Boro afsd the hberties & precincts thof two markets in every
week yearly for ever one of them to be holden & kept on Friday
& the C on Tuesday within the Boro afsd for ever provided
154 APPENDIX L.
& upon Condon that the sevl markets now there holden & ac-
custd to be holden on Wedy & Satdy be h after altogr taken
away & discontinued & that at the time of the afsd Markets
to be holden on Tuesday and Friday all & singr psons comg
& resorting to the sd Markets may from henceforth for ever
buy sell & expose to sale as well all & singr Goods wares mer-
chandizes Grain & things whatsr as all & all manner of Cattle
Hogs Sheep horses mares geldings & poultry & all & all mmer
of o' animals & chattels whatsr hve or dead at their pleasure
accdg to the laws customs & stats of this cur Kingdm of Kngd
payg the toUs & customs thof due to them the sd Mayor aldn
Baihffs & Burgs of the Boro afs for the time being to the pper
use & behoof of them the sd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses
of the Boro afsd & their succrs for the relief of the poor inhabits
of the sd Boro & o'' charges & exps of the sd Boro togr with
the afsd Court of Piepowder to be there holden at the time
of the sd Markets & with all & all manner of hberties & free
customs tolls stallage Fines Amercts & all o" pfits commodities
advantges & emoluments whatsr to such Markets and Court
of Piepowder belg happg or arising Wherefore we wiU & firmly
injoining do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs order
& command that the afsd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgss of the
Boro afsd & their succrs may have hold & enjoy the sd fairs
& Markets by these presents above grtd with all their profits
accdg to the true intent of these presents %vitht the molestation
disturbance or Grievance of us our heirs or succrs or any of
the officers or Ministers of us our heirs or succrs whomsr So
nevthless that the afsd Fairs & Markets or any or eir of them
be not to the annoyance or prejudice of o"" fairs or markets
there near adjoining And further of our more ample special
grace & of our certain knowledge & mere mocon we have given
granted pardoned remised & reled & do by these presents for
us our heirs & succrs give grant pardon remise & rel to the afsd
Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgs of the Boro afsd & their succrs
All & singr rents issues revenues fee farms arrears rents & yearly
profits whatsr due arising coming pyble & to be paid to us or
any of our predecessors or ancestors Kings or Queens of England
or Dukes of I^ancaster & to us not yet pd for or in respect of
any lauds tents or hdts or any liberties or priviledges given or
grtd to them the sd Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgs of the Boro
afsd or any of their predecessors by whatsr name or names or
hy whatsr incorporation they have been heretofore called or
APPENDIX I,. 155
incorpe To hold to them the sd Mayor Aldn Bailiffs & Burges-
ses of the Boro afsd & their succrs for ever as of our Gift witht
acct or any or things to be thfore to us our heirs & succrs in any
■wise rendered pd or done And further we will & do by these
presents for iis our heirs & succrs grant & confirm unto the
afsd Mayor Aldn Baihl5s & Burgs of the Boro afsd & their succrs
all & all mmer of hberties Franchises Immunities exemptions
priviledges acquittances jurisdictions mills lands Tents meadows
feedings void ground commons free fishing free warren Buildgs
Rmnous places toll Country Rents & hdts whatsr by any letters
patent or deeds of any or eir our Predecessors or Ancestors
htofore grtd or confirmed which the Mayor Aldn BaiUffs &
Burgs of the Boro afsd now have hold use & enjoy or which
any of them or their predecessors by whatsr name or names or
by whatsr Incorporation or by pretence of any Incorpn whatsr
htofore have held used or enjoyed or ought to have use hold
or enjoy of Este of Inhance by reason or pretence of any charter
or letters patent by any of our predecessors or Ancestors late
Kings or Queens of Engd or dukes of Lancaster in any wise
htofore made grtd or confirmed or by any or Iful means Right
title custom usage or prescription htofore IfuUy used had or
accustd altho the same or any or eir of them have not been
htofore used or have been abused or discontinued & altho they
any or eir of them are or have been forfeited or lost To be had
holden & enjoyed by the afsd Mayor Aldn BaiHffs & Burgesses
of the Boro afsd & their succrs for ever Yielding thfore yearly
to us our heir & succrs by the hands of the recr of Kidwy for
the time being £1^. 14. o^. of Iful moy of Engd to be pd at the
feasts of E^aster & St Michael the Archg by equal portions in
lieu of all customs services & demands Wherefore we will &
firmly injoining do by these presents for us our heirs & succrs
order & commd that the afsd Mayor Aldn BaiUffs & Burgs
afsd & their succrs shall & may fully & wholly for ever have
use hold & enjoy all the hberties free customs priviledges author-
ities jurisdictions & acquittces accdg to the tenor & effect of
these our letters patent witht the obstruction or hindrance of
us our heirs & succrs whomsr Willg that they the sd Mayor
Aldn Baihffs & Burgs of the Boro afsd & their succrs or any
or eir of them by reason of the premises or any part thof be
not therein hindered molested vexed aggrieved or in any wise
disturbed by us our heirs or succrs the Justices Sheriffs Escheat-
ors or ors the Baihff or Ministers of us our heirs & succrs whomsr
156 APPENDIX L.
Willing & by these presents ordering & commdg as well the
treasurer Chancellor & Barons of the Exchr at Westmr as ors
the Justices & officers of us our heirs & succrs as also our Atty
Genl for the time being & every of them & all or our Officers
& Ministers whomsr that neir they nor any or eir of them do
prosecute or continue or make or cause to be prosecuted or
contd any writ or summons whereupon a warrant or any other
our writ or writs or process whatsr do issue agst the afsd Mayor
Aldn Baihffs & Burgss of the Boro afsd or any or either of them
for any matters causes things offences claims or usurpations
or any of them by them or any of them due claimed sued taken
had or usurped before the makg of these presents WiUing also
that the Mayor Aldn Baihffs & Burgesses of the Boro afsd &
their succrs or any of them be not by any Justice Officer or
Minister afsd in or for the due use claim or abuse of other hberties
franchises & Jurisdictions within the Boro afsd the Hmits or
precincts thereof before the makg of these our letters patent
in any wise molested or hindered or compelled to render for
them or any of them Also we will & do by these presents for
us our heirs & succrs grant to the afsd Mayor Aldn Bailiffs &
Burgesses of the Boro afsd & their succrs that they shall & may
have these our letters patent as well under our great seal of
England as under our seal of the Duchy of Lancaster in due
manner made & sealed without fine or fee great or small in our
Hanaper altho Mencon &c In Witness &c Given under our
private seal at our palace at Westminster the 20th day of July
in the i6th year of our reign of England France & Ireland of
Scotland the sist
' Edward Anthony.
1 77 1, May 8.
Translated from an office copy of the record
said to be remaining in the Duchy Court of I^ancaster
John Turman, Inner Temple Lane.
Attested as a Copy of the Translation of this
Charter this 4th day of April, 1792, by us,
J
John Browne,) Hart St, Bloomsbury.
APPENDIX M. 157
APPENDIX M.
' VICTORIA by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith To all
to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Whereas by the
Municipal Corporations Act 1882 it was enacted that if on the
Petition to Us of the Inhabitant householders of any Town or
Towns or District in England or of any of those inhabitants
praying for the grant of a Charter of Incorporation We by the
advice of Our Privy Council should think fit by Charter to create
such Town Towns or District or any part thereof specified in
the Charter with or without any adjoining place a Municipal
Borough and to incorporate the inhabitants thereof it should
be lawful for Us by the Charter to extend to that Municipal
Borough and the inhabitants thereof so incorporated the pro-
visions of the Municipal Corporations Act And it was furtSer
enacted that every Petition for a Charter under the said Act
should be referred to a Committee of the Lords of Our Privy
Council (in the said Act called the Committee of Council) and
that one month at least before the Petition should be taken
into consideration by the Committee of Council notice thereof
and of the time when it would be so taken into consideration
should be pubUshed in the London Gazette and otherwise in
such manner as the Committee should direct for the purpose of
making it known to all persons interested And it was further
enacted that where We by a Charter should extend the Munici-
pal Corporations Acts to a Municipal Borough it should be law-
ful for Us by the Charter to do all or any of the following things
(a) To fix the number of Councillors and to fix the number and
boundaries of the Wards (if any) and to assign the number of
Covmcillors to each Ward and (b) To fix the years days and
times for the retirement of the first Aldermen and Councillors
and (c) To fix such days times and places and nominate such
persons to perform such duties and make such other temporary
modifications of the Municipal Corporations Acts as might appear
to Us to be necessary or proper for making those Acts apphcable
in the case of the first constitution of a Municipal Borough
And that the years times and places fixed by the Charter and
the persons nominated therein to perform any duties should
as regarded the Borough named in the Charter be respectively
ig8 APPENDIX M.
substituted in the Municipal Corporations Acts for the years
days times places ofl&cers and persons therein mentioned and
the persons so nominated should have the Mke powers and be
subject to the hke obUgations and penalties as the officers and
persons mentioned in those Acts for whom they would be re-
spectively substituted And that subject to the provisions of the
Charter authorised thereby the Municipal Corporations Acts
should on the Charter coming into effect apply to the Municipal
Borough to which they should be extended by the Charter and
where the first Mayor Aldermen and Councillors or any of them
should be named in the Charter should apply as if they were
elected under the Muincipal Corporations Acts and where they
should not be so named should apply to their first election And
whereas certain inhabitant householders of the Poor Law Parish
of St Mary Kidwelly Within did in the month of September
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three petition Us for
the grant of a Charter of Incorporation And whereas such pe-
tition was referred to a Committee of Our Privy Council and
one month at least before the same was taken into consideration
by the said Committee notice thereof and of the time when the
same was so to be taken into consideration was duly published
in the London Gazette and otherwise as directed by the Com-
mittee And whereas Our Privy Council have recommended Us
to grant this Charter of Incorporation We therefore as well by
virtue of our Royal Prerogative as in pursuance of and in ac-
cordance with the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 or any other
Act or Acts and of all other powers and authorities enabling Us
in this behalf by and with the advice of Our Privy Council Do
hereby grant order and declare as follows (i) The District situ-
ate within the Hmits set forth in the first Schedule to these
Presents is hereby created a Municipal Borough by the name
of the " Borough of Kidwelly " (2) The inhabitants of the said
Borough of Kidwelly within the Hmits set forth in the first
Schedule to these Presents and their successors Shall be and are
hereby declared to be one body poUtic and corporate by the name
of the Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Kid-
welly with perpetual succession and a Common Seal and may
assume armorial bearings (which shall be duly enrolled in the
Heralds College) and may take and hold any lands tenements
and hereditaments which may be vested in them by Scheme
under Part XL of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 and
such other lands and hereditaments as well without as within
APPENDIX M. 159
the Borougli as may be necessary for the site of the buildings
and premises required for the official purposes of the Corporation
and other the purposes of the Municipal Corporations Acts
provided that such other lands do not exceed in value the amount
of One hundred pounds by the year (3) The Mayor Aldermen
and Burgesses of the said Borough shall have the powers author-
ities immunities and privileges usually vested by law in the
Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses of a Municipal Borough and
the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Acts shall extend
to the said Borough and the inhabitants thereof incorporated
by this Charter (4) The number of Councillors of the Borough
shall be twelve (5) For the purpose of making the Municipal
Corporations Act 1882 applicable in the case of the first con-
stitution of the said Borough We do hereby so far only as regards
the first Burgess List first Burgess Roll and first election of
Councillors Mayor Aldermen Auditors Assessors Town Clerk and
Treasurer for the Borough fix and order as follows: — (a) The Town
Hall in the Town of Kidwelly shall be the place at which any
list notice or document required to be afl&xed on or near the
outer door of the Town Hall is to be aflSxed and {b) Both in re-
lation to the matters aforesaid and also in relation to any such
election as aforesaid which it may be necessary to hold before
a vahd election can be held under the Municipal Corporations
Act 1882 Daniel Charles Edwards of Kidwelly aforesaid Sohcitor
or in case of his death inabihty refusal or default Mansel Rees
of Llanelly Sohcitor shall perform the duties of the Town Clerk
and Thomas Morgan of Kidwelly aforesaid Gentleman or in
case of his death inabihty refusal or default David Harries of
Kidwelly aforesaid Gentleman shall perform the duties of the
Mayor and the Assessors for revising the Burgess List and the
separate list of persons quahfied to be Councillors and the said
Thomas Morgan or in case of his death inabihty refusal or default
the said David Harries shall perform the duties of the Mayor
and Aldermen respectively as returning ofiicer and of the Mayor
as summoner of the first meeting of the Council and of the
Mayor or Chairman of the meeting for the election of the Mayor
Aldermen Town Clerk and Treasurer And the said persons shall
be substituted in the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 for the
said Town Clerk Mayor Assessors Aldermen and Chairman re-
spectively so far as relates to the matters aforesaid and (c) The
first election of Councillors shall take place on the second day
of November One thousand eight hundred and eighty five and
l60 APPENDIX M.
the first meeting of the Council of the Borough shall be held on
the ninth day of November One thousand eight hundred and
eighty five (6) The years and days specified in the second Schedule
to these Presents shall be the years and days for the retirement
of the first Aldermen and Councillors who shall retire in the
manner and at the times therein designated (7) Subject to these
Presents and the provisions and directions in the second Schedule
thereto the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882
shall apply to the determination of the qualifications of the
first Burgesses the making out signing delivering inspection com-
pletion pubhcation commencement and continuance of the
First Burgess Lists and Burgess Rolls the claims objections
and determinations with regard to the first Burgess Lists or
Rolls the holding adjournments and decisions of the first re-
vision Courts the nominations elections and continuance in
ofl&ce of the first Mayor Aldermen Councillors Auditors and
Assessors the appointment and continuance in office of the first
Town Gerk and Treasurer the first meeting and quarterly meet-
ing of the Town Council and all matters and things touching
and concerning the above and the dates and times in the said
Act mentioned shall be the dates and times on at during within
or for which the matters aforesaid and the various acts and
things in relation thereto shall take place be done be estimated
or be calculated.'
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Metes and Bounds of the Borough.
' The area of the Borough created by the Charter shall be co-
extensive with the area of the old Borough which was co-exten-
sive with what before the twenty fifth day of March one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four was the area of the Poor Law
Parish of St Mary Kidwelly Within.'
SECOND SCHEDULE.
' The one tliird of the Councillors who are elected by the
smallest number of Votes shall go out of office on ist November
1886 The one third of the Councillors who are elected by the
next smallest number of Votes shall go out of office on ist Nov-
ember 1887 The remaining one third of the Councillors shall
^o out of office on ist November 1888 The one half of the Alder-
APPENDIX M. l6l
men who first go out of office shall be those who are elected by
the smallest number of Votes and shall go out of office on gth
Nov. 1888 The remaining one half of the Aldermen shall go out
of office on gth November 1891 If any Councillors or any Alder-
men have obtained an equal number of Votes or have been elected
without a Poll so that it cannot be determined which of them
has the smallest number of Votes the Council of the Borough
shall at the first or second quarterly meeting and not later by
a majority of Votes or in case of equahty of Votes by the casting
Vote of the Chairman determine who are to go out of office at
the times above specified respectively In witness whereof We
have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness
Ourself at Westminster the twentieth day of July in the forty
ninth year of Our reign By warrant under the Queen's Sign
Manual
' MuiR Mackenzie.'
At the Court at Windsor, the 24th day of June, 1885. Present —
The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
' Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Report
of a Committee of the Lords of Her Majesty's most Honourable
Privy Council dated the ist day of June 1885 in the words
following — Your Majesty having been pleased to refer unto this
Committee by Your Order in Council of the 23 rd day of August
1883 the humble Petition of certain Inhabitant Householders
of the Poor Law Parish of S. Mary Kidwelly within in the County
of Carmarthen praying for the grant of a Municipal Charter
of Incorporation The Lords of the Committee having taken the
said Petition into consideration and being of opinion that a
Scheme for the adjustment of the property rights and habilities
of the existing Corporation of the Borough of Kidwelly and
for other purposes would be necessary in the event of a Charter
of Incorporation being granted their Lordships after reference
to the Secretary of State and the Local Government Board
settled a Scheme for those purposes which said Scheme they
caused to be pubhshed in conformity with the provisions of the
Mtmicipal Corporations Acts 1882 and not having received any
Petition against the said Scheme their Lordships do agree
humbly to report as their opinion to Your Majesty that it may
be advisable for Your Majesty to confirm the said Scheme Her
l62 APPENDIX M.
Majesty having taken the said Report into consideration together
with the said Scheme (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed)
was pleased by and with the advice of Her Privy Council to
approve thereof and to confirm and doth hereby confirm the
said Scheme
' C. I., peei,.'
Municipal Corporations Act 1882.
SCHEME FOR THE BOROUGH OF KIDWEI.I.Y.
' Whereas by the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 it is enacted
that where a petition for a Charter of incorporation is referred
to the Committee of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council and it is proposed by the Charter to extend the Munici-
pal Corporations Act to the municipal borough to be created
by the charter the said Committee of Council may settle a
scheme for the purposes in the said Act named and containing
such provisions as are in the said Act particularised And whereas
certain inhabitant householders of the Poor Law Parish of St
Mary Kidwelly Within in the county of Carmarthen have peti-
tioned Her Majesty the Queen praying for the grant of a Charter
of Incorporation And whereas the said petition for a charter
has been referred to the Committee of Council and it is proposed
to create the said district a municipal borough and to incor-
porate the inhabitants thereof and by the Charter to extend
the Municipal Corporations Acts to the municipal borough to
be created by the charter And whereas Kidwelly is a place
named in the Schedtde to the Municipal Corporations Act 1883
and the area of the said place is coextensive with the area of
the municipal borough proposed to be created by the said Charter
And whereas by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883 it is en-
acted that nothing in that Act shall prevent the apphcation to
any place of any charter appl5dng the Municipal Corporations
Acts which Her Majesty may be pleased to grant or affect any-
thing done in pursuance of those Acts or any scheme thereunder
and shall not affect the operation of any such charter thing or
scheme save that nothing in the said Acts or scheme shall author-
ise the estabUshment or continuance of any court for the trial
of civil actions and that nothing in that Act shall affect the
right to the benefit of any charity or shall alter or confer any
APPENDIX M. 163
power of altering the defined charitable purposes (if anj') to
which any property was by law applicable at the passing of
that Act And whereas the Mayor Aldermen Bailiffs and Burges-
ses of the Borough of Kidwelly are a local authority within the
meaning of Part XI. of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882
And whereas the said Mayor Aldermen BaiUifs and Burgesses
are a body corporate under and by virtue of certain royal charters
And whereas the area of the proposed borough as part of the
parish of Kidwelly was before the date of the commencement
of this scheme within the district of the Llanelly Union as the
rural sanitary authority of the said Union and the said guardians
as such rural sanitary authority are a local authority within
the meaning of Part XI. of the Municipal Corporations Act
1882 and it is expedient that all property and liabiUties vested
in or attaching to such rural sanitary authority should so far
as the same relate to the area of the borough created by the
charter be transferred to the new corporation in manner pro-
vided by this Scheme And whereas the highways within the
area of the borough created by the charter were before the date
of the commencement of this Scheme repairable by the Kid-
welly Borough Highway Board by rates levied within the borough
under the provisions of the Acts relating to highways and such
highway board is a local authority within the meaning of Part
XI. of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 and it is expedient
that all property and liabiHties vested in or attaching to the
said highway board should be transferred to the new corporation
in manner provided by this Scheme And whereas it is expedient
right and just that a Scheme should be settled pursuant to Part
XI. of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 containing the pro-
visions hereinafter contained Now therefore the said Committee
of Council have settled a Scheme containing the provisions
herein and do hereby order and declare as follows (i) This Scheme
may be cited for all purposes as the Borough of Kidwelly Scheme
1885 (2) This Scheme shall come into operation on the day of
the first meeting of the Council of the municipal borough created
by the charter above referred to or at the date of its confirma-
tion by ParHament or Order in Council whichever is later This
date is herein mentioned as the " commencement of this Scheme "
(3) The Mayor Aldermen BaiHffs and Burgesses of the said
borough are herein referred to as the " Old Corporation " The
corporation of the municipal borough created by the charter
above mentioned is herein referred to as the " New Corporation "
164 APPENDIX M.
(4) The municipal borough created by the charter above referred
to shall be placed immediately on from and after the day of
the first meeting of the Council of the municipal borough afore-
said within the jurisdiction of the Council of the said municipal
borough as the Sanitary Authority and shall thereafter no
longer be within the jurisdiction authority or district of the
Rural Sanita:ry Authority of the Llanelly Union (5) Immedi-
ately from and after the commencement of this Scheme the
Old Corporation shall be and the same is hereby abohshed and
shall thenceforth be dissolved and cease to exist together with
all the franchises rights privileges powers jurisdiction authority
and exemptions of the said Old Corporation and its members
and oijficers as such of what kind soever they may be which have
no pecuniary value (6) Immediately from and after the com-
mencement of this Scheme the said Kidwelly Borough Highway
Board shall be and is hereby abolished and shall thenceforth
be dissolved and cease to exist (7) All property (not being pro-
perty within the meaning of the second subsection of section
4 of the Municipal Corporations Act 1883 applicable to charity
or applicable to defined charitable purposes at the passing of
that Act) of any kind whatsoever possessed by or vested in the
Old Corporation or any person or body in trust for it or any of
its members as such or applicable for the benefit or under the
direction of the Old Corporation or any of its members as such
shall vest in the New Corporation and (save as is hereinafter
expressly directed) shall by the New Corporation be held and
appUed exclusively for the municipal purposes of the municipal
borough created as aforesaid and the pubhc benefit of the in-
habitants of the said borough (8) All market property possessed
by or vested in the Old Corporation and all liabihties attaching
to the Old Corporation in respect of the same shall immediately
from and after the commencement of this scheme vest in and
attach to the Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses of the said munici-
pal borough acting by the Council as the sanitary authority
(9) All habilities which immediately before the commencement
of this Scheme attached to and were enforceable against the
old corporation or the property thereof shall attach to and be
enforceable against the New Corporation so far only as the pro-
perty vested in it under paragraph 7 may extend to satisfy
such liabihties and no further (10) Any investigation legal pro-
ceeding or remedy in respect of any debt habihty penalty or
forfeiture due to or inciirred by or on behalf of the old Corpora-
APPENDIX N. 165
tion before the commencement of this Scheme may be continued
prosecuted or enforced by or against the New Corporation so
far only as the property vested in it under paragraph 7 may
extend to satisfy such UabiUties and no further (11) Any sewers
drains culverts water mains pipes or other sanitary works situate
within the area of the borough created by the charter being the
property of the Rural Sanitary Authority of the Llanelly Union
and used by them for the purpose of the drainage water supply
or cleansing of the said area and any liabiHties attaching to the
said rural sanitary authority in respect of the said area shall
immediately from and after the commencement of this Scheme
vest in and attach to the Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses of the
said Municipal Borough acting by the Council as the sanitary
authority (12) All property and liabilities vested in or attaching
to the Kidwelly Borough Highway Board shall immediately
from the commencement of this Scheme vest in and attach to
the New Corporation (13) The term " property " in this Scheme
means and includes all property real and personal and all things
in action and all rights of common or commonable rights and
rights to toll and all franchises privileges and rights which have
any pecixniary value and all charters records deeds books and
documents all rights all claims to relief and all rights to avoid
contracts or otherwise and includes any estate or interest legal
or equitable in or in respect of any property so defined (14)
The term " market property " in this Scheme means and includes
rights to market tolls and all franchises privileges and rights
relating to markets and all lands and premises used for the
purpose of markets.
APPENDIX N.
At the Court at Balmoral, the 24th day of September, 1886.
Present — The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
' Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Report of
a Committee of the Lords of Her Majesty's Most Honourable
Privy Council dated the nth day of September 1886 in the
words following Your Majesty having been pleased to refer unto
this Committee by Your Order in Coimcil of the 6th day of May
1886 the humble Petition of the Municipal Corporation of the
Borough of Kidwelly in the Coimty of Carmarthen praying for
l66 APPENDIX N.
a Scheme amending the Borough of Kidwelly Scheme 18S5 and
for a Scheme under the Municipal Corporations Acts 1882 and
1885 (for the adjustment of the property rights UabiHties &c
of the St Mary Kidwelly United District School Board and for
other purposes) their Lordships after reference to the Secretary
of State the Local Government Board and the Education Depart-
ment settled a Scheme for those purposes which said Scheme
they caused to be pubhshed in conformity with the provisions
of the Mnviicipal Cgrporations Act 1882 and not having received
any Petition against the said Scheme their Lordships do agree
humbly to report as their opinion to Your Majesty that it may
be advisable for Your Majesty to confirm the said Scheme Her
Majesty having taken the said Report into consideration together
with the said Scheme (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was
pleased by and with the advice of Her Privy Council to approve
thereof and to confirm and doth hereby confirm the said Scheme
' C. W. PeEi<.'
SCHEME 1886 FOR THE BOROUGH OP
KIDWELLY.
' Whereas by an Order dated the fourteenth day of August
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three made by the Lords
of the Committee of the Privy Coiuicil on Education (hereinafter
called the Education Department) under section 40 of the Ele-
mentary Education Act 1870 the parishes of St Mary Kidwelly
Within and St Mary Without in the County of Carmarthen were
constituted a United School District for which pursuant to the
provisions of the Elementary Education Acts a School Board
was formed by the name of the St Mary Kidwelly United Dis-
trict School Board And whereas by an Order of the Local Govern-
ment Board under the Divided Parishes Acts dated November
twenty third one thousand eight hundred and eighty three a
part of the parish of St Mary Kidwelly Without was added to
the parish of St Mary Kidwelly Within which alterations so made
was agreed to by the Education Department so far as any School
Districts were affected but such portion so added to the parish
of St Mary Kidwelly Within was not included within the Muni-
cipal Borough hereinafter mentioned and is hereinafter referred
to as " The part of the parish of St Mary Kidwelly Within
aforesaid And whereas on July twentieth one thousand eight
APPENDIX N. 167
hundred and eighty five Her Majesty was pleased by Charter
to extend the Municipal Corporation Acts to and to create a
Municipal Borough the parish of St Mary Kidwelly Within with
the exception of the part of the parish of St Mary Kidwelly
Within aforesaid " And whereas under Part XI. of the Municipal
Corporations Act 1882 a scheme called the Borough of Kidwelly
Scheme 1885 was settled for the said Municipal Borough and
was confirmed by Order in Council on the twenty fourth day
of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty five And whereas
on the third day of May one thousand eight hiindred and eighty
six the Municipal Corporation of the said borough did by the
Council of the said borough present a petition to Her Majesty
in accordance with section 218 of the Municipal Corporations
Act 1882 and the School Boards Act 1885 petitioning for a
scheme amending the said Borough of Kidwelly Scheme 1885
and for a scheme under the Municipal Corporation Acts 1882
and 1885 And whereas the said petition was referred to a Com-
mittee of the Lords of Her Majestys Privy Council and such
petition has been proceeded on as nearly as may be as if the
same were a petition for a Charter extending the Municipal
Corporation Acts to a Municipal Borough to be incorporated
And whereas this Scheme was before being settled by the Com-
mittee of Council referred to the consideration of the Education
Department And whereas it is expedient right and just that a
scheme should be settled pursuant to the Municipal Corporation
Acts 1882 and 1885 containing the provisions hereinafter set
forth Now therefore the said Committee of Council have settled
a Scheme containing the provisions herein and do hereby order
and declare as follows (i) This Scheme may be cited for all pur-
poses as the Borough of Kidwelly Scheme 1886 (2) This Scheme
shall be deemed to have commenced on the date of the commence-
ment of the Borough of Kidwelly Scheme 1885 which date is
herein mentioned as the commencement of this scheme and
shall be in operation as soon as it is confirmed by Order in Council
or Parhament as the case may be (3) This Scheme shall be
construed as one with the Borough of Kidwelly Scheme 1885
(4) Notwithstanding the creation of the said Municipal Borough
the School Board for the said United District shall be and be
deemed to have been and continue to be the School Board for
the area originally included in the said United District by the
name of the St Mary Kidwelly United District vSchool Board
in aU respects to the same extent and in the same manner as
l68 APPENDIX N.
if at the time of the constitution of the said United District and
of the formation of the School Board for the said United District
by the Education Department the said borough of Kidwelly
had been created a Municipal Borough and the said School
Board had been formed and created for a United District of which
the constituent districts were the said Municipal Borough the
part of the parish of St Mary Kidwelly Within aforesaid and the
parish -of St Mary Kidwelly Without by the name of the St.
Mary Kidwelly United District School Board and as if so far
as the portion of the said United District included in the said
Municipal Borough is concerned the Local Rate and the Docal
Authority had been the Borough Fund or Rate and the Council
of the said Borough respectively and as it so far as the portion
of the said United District included in the part of the parish of
St. Mary Kidwelly Within aforesaid is concerned the part of
the parish of St. Mary Kidwelly Within aforesaid had been ac-
cording to the provasions of the Elementary Education Act
1870 as amended by any other Act or Acts a parish by itself
and everything in connection with the said Board and United
School district shall be done had and construed accordingly
and not othermse (5) All liabiUties and assets attacliing to and
vested in the St. Mary Kidwelly United District School Board
immediately before the commencement of this scheme shall be
and continue attached to and vested in such Board and all
charges charged immediately before the commencement of this
Scheme under the Acts relating to Public Elementary Education
or any of them on the poor rates or other rates or funds of the
Constituent Districts of the said United District and the School
Fund of the said United District shall be a charge upon the
Borough Rate or Fund of the said borough and the Rate in the
nature of a Poor Rate of the said part of the parish of St. Mary
Kidwelly Within aforesaid (as if the same had been according
to the provisions of the Elementary Education Act 1870 as
amended as aforesaid a parish by itself) and the Poor Rate of
the parish of St. Mary Kidwelly Without and the School Fund
of the said United District respectively and not otherwise (6)
Any Bye-laws in force at the date of this scheme in the said
United District mads under the Acts relating to Public Ele-
mentary Education shall be and continue in force (7) Any Act
or omission done or made by the Education Department or the
said School Board or the Council of the said Borough or any
Justice since the date of the said Charter shall be deemed to
APPENDIX N. 169
have been lawfully done or made if it might have been lawfully
done or made by the said Department School Board Council
or Justice if no Charter had been granted or the said School
Board had baen the School Board for the United District of
which the Constituent Districts are the said borough the part
of the parish of St. Mary Kidwelly Within aforesaid and the
parish of St. Mary Kidwelly Without.'
INDEX
Aberdairon Churcli, 19
Aberdaugleddau, 5
All Saints' Churcli, 44, 45
Allt Cunedda, 6, 7, 8
Alwyn, ' Priest of the town,' 58,
59
Anchorages, 70
Anchoret Cell, 70
Ancient Fortress, 7
Aquitaine, 102
Arthur, King, 9
Ashe, George, 55
B,
Bailey, Crawshay, 106
Banbury, Field of, 90
Barbican, The, 38
Barrow, Celtic, 6
Bells, Parish Church, 74, 75
Benedictine Monks, 47, 54
Bernard, Bishop of St. Davids,
II, 56
Bethesda Chapel, 98
Bevan, Archdeacon —
Description of Parish Church,
64
Beynon, Rev. John, 97
Blanche Plantagenet, 23, 62
Borough of Kidwelly —
Charters, yj
Seal, 80
Boundaries, Dispute as to Dio-
cesan, II, 12
Bowen of Llechdwnny, 85
Brecon, Priory Church of, 64
Brecon, Chantry of, 62
Brecon, Fall of Rhys ap Tewdwr
at, 13
Brecon, Pohtical interview be-
tween Bishop of Ely and
Duke of Buckingham at, 88
Bright, Thomas, 106
Brigstocke family, 85, 86
Brittany, 88
British Church, 41
Britton, John, 104
Brythons, 6, 8, 9, 43
Cadivor, 12
Cadoc, St., 41
Cadoc, Church of, 20, 42
Cadwal, 3, 4
Cadwgan ap Blethyn, 24
Caerleon, 43
Caesar, Juhus, 9
Canal, Gwendraeth Valley, 102,
104
Cantref Bychan, 10, 11
Cantref Eginog, 2, 9
Carber}', Earl, 25
Cardigan, 39
Carmarthen, i, 19, 28, 43
CarnwyUion, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17,
47,85
' Carucate,' 48, 51
Castle of Kidwelly, 32
Its first erection, 15, 17
Its vicissitudes, 19
Age of present building, 32
Its general arrangement, -tf-i,
The Inner Ward, 32, 33, 34
The Hall and Retiring-room,
32, 34, 35
The Kitchen and Refectory, 35
The Chapel — its architecture and
age, 35, 36
INDEX
171
The Outer Ward, 32, 36
The Bake-house, 38
The Great Gate-house, n, 38
The Barbican, 38
The Outer Gate-house, 38
' Cattas,' 3, 80
Cawdor, Earl, 25
Celebrities, Local, 87
Celtic Tumulus, 6
Cemetery, Ancient (consecration
of), 12, 17, 56
Ceredig, 7, 41
Ceredigion, 4
CetgueU, 3, 5
Chalice of Parish Church, ■j'i,
Chancel of Parish Church, 65, 66,
67, 68, 69, 70, 71
Chantries, 60, 61, 62, 64
Charity, The Griffith, 93
Charters, Municipal, -j-j, 78, 79,
80
Chi vers, Jacob, 106
Chi vers & vSon, 106
Cistercian Monasteries, 54, 64
Clark, G. T.— survey of Castle,
33
Cleddau, The, 5
Clock, Town, 75
Cloth Manufacture, 100
Coker, Galfridus, Prior, 54
Collwyn, 12
' Columbarium,' 44
Commote of Kidwelly, 2, 5
Commotes, The Three, 9, 10, 17
Coney Quay, 102, 103
Constantine the Blessed, 10
Convent of Kidwelly, 49
Cromlech, 7
Cromwell, Thomas, ti,
Cunedda, 6, 8, 9, 41
Cydweh, 4, 9
Cynlas, Lord of Glamorgan, 41
D.
David, St., Bishop, 7, 41
Davids, St., Diocese of, 11, 44
Dafydd ap Edmwnt, 91
Davies, Rev. G. R., 97
Davies, John, of Kidwelly, 92
Davy, Thomas, Chaplain, 60
Deanery of Kidwelly, 46
Deer Park, 22
Deheubarth, 2, 10, 12
De Londres family. The, 23
de Londres, Maurice, 20, 21, 22,
23, 42
de Dondres, Thomas, 23
de IfOndres, WiUiam, 14, 15, 16,
18, 20
Devizes, Castle of, 17
Dillwyn, 89
Domestic buildings, 82
Llechdwnny, 82
Muddlescwm, 83
Donne family. The, 85
Downman, Henry Reed, 105
Downman, Hugh, 105
Downman & Briggs, 105
Druidic oratory, 6
Druidism, 8, 44
' Dux Bntanmarum,' 8
Dyfed, 12
Dyfed, Meurig, Prince of, 85
Dynevor demesne, 24
Dynevor, Kingdom of, 2
B.
East Garston, Berks, 23, 30
Edward I., King, 39
Edward II., King, 65, 68
Edward III., King, 65, 68
Edward IV., King, 89
Edward VI., King, 61, 78
Edward VII., King, 75, 81
Edwards, William, 107
Effigies, 71
Eginog, Cantref of, 2, 9
Eineon, son of Cadivor, 12, 13,
14
Eineon, son of Cunedda, 41
EUzabeth, Queen, 73
Enghsh, The, 2, 51, 100
Brgyng, 11
Evans, Rev. T. C, 96
Ewenny Priory, 20
172 INDEX.
F, Gweli, The, 5
Fairs, 80, 81 Gwendraeth, The, i, 2, 4, 31, 32,
Feudal system t"/ 102, 103
Fitzgerald, DaVid, Bishop of St. Gwendraeth Valley CoUieries,
Davids, 20, 42, 48 ^ 102 104
Fitzhamon, Sir Robert, 13, 14 R^f^j^^"' ^°' -^' ^4
FitzwilUam, Richard, 44 Gwledig 8
Flemings, The, 2, 19, 51, 82, 100 ^^Y"^, Leonard Bilson, 79, 80,
Flemish domestic architecture, ^°4
86
Flemish industry, 100 H.
Foreign influence. Introduction
of, 12 Harri Cydweh, 84, 89
Foreign settlement, 2, 100 Harri Hir, 90
Frederick and Jenner, 108 Hathaway, 10 s
Freeman, Professor — Hawise, 23
His description of the Castle, Hazlewood, 105
33 Henry I., King, 15, 17, 19, 20,
His description of the Castle 47, 56, "jj
Chapel, 35, 36 Henry II., King, 24, jy
His description of the Parish Henry III., King, j-j
Church, 68, 71 Henry IV.,' King, '23, 39, 62
French, The, 2, 51 Henry VI., King, 78
FulHng IMills, 27, 28 Henry VIL, King, 88, 89
Henry VIII., King, 48, 61, yi, 7S
Henry, Duke of Lancaster, 23
G, Henry, Earl of Lanca.ster, 23
Herbert, Sir Richard. 90
Garrison, The vnctualling of the, Hogas, Master Walter, 87
loi Honorius, Pope, 1 1
Gaunt, John of, 39 Horeb Chapel, 99
Geoffrey Kydwelly, 87 Howel ap Gronow, 16
Glamorgan, Kingdom of, 10, 11 Howell Surdwall, 90
Glamorgan, Lordship of, 10, 11, Hywel Dda, 10
12, 14
Godmyster, John, Prior, 48
Goidels, 6, 8, 9 I.
Goodale, John, 61
Gower, 2, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 20, 47 lestyn ap Gwrgan, 10, 12, 13, 14
Graven, Rev. W. J., 96, 97 levan Brechfa, 90
Griffith, Rev. John, of Ely, 92, leuan Deulwyn, 89, 90, 91
93 leuan Tew leuanc, 91, 92
Griffiths, Rev. D. T., 95 Innocent II., Pope. 11
Griffiths, Dr. J. H. K., 95 Inventory of Parish Church
Griffiths, Dr. T. R., 95, 96 Plate, y^^
Griffri, Bishop of St. Davids, 17, lorwerth Fynglwyd, 90
56 Ireland, 19, 39, 102
Gryffith ap Cynan, 19, 20 Iscennen, 9, 10, 17
Gryffith ap Rhys, 19, 20, 22, 24 Ishmael, St., 44, 45, 46, 50
INDEX.
173
J.
James I., King, 78
Jeffrey, Bishop of St. Davids, 17,
56
Job, Thomas, 93, 94
John, King, 77
John of Gaunt, 39
K.
Kaermerdyn, 28, 29, 39, 46
Kardigan, 39
Keianus, the Scot, 9
Kidwelly Fach, 28
King's Wood, 21
KilymaenUwyd, 85
Kymer, Thomas, 102, 104
Ladies' (Kymer) Quay, 102
I^ancaster, Duchy of, i, 26, 27,
39, 60, 61, 62
Lancaster, Henry, Duke of, 23,
27, 62, 77
Lancaster, Henry, Earl of, 23, 61
Lancet Windows, 35, 65
Leland's description of Kidwelly,
I, 2, 3
Leland's Etymology of Kid-
welly, 3
Levies, MiHtary, 30
Lewys Morganwg, 90
Lightning disaster, 67, 74
Lime-kilns, 107
Llandaff, 1 1
I/landefeilog, 46
Llandeusant, 44
Llandovery Castle, 19
Llanelly, 46
Llanfihangel, 43, 83
Llangadog, 41, 42
Llangendeirne, 46
Llanpumpsaint, 44
Llansaint, 44, 45, 57
Llanstephan, loi
Llantrisant, 44
Llechdwnny, 82, 84, 85
Llewelyn, Prince, 45, 64
Loughor, 31, 43
M.
Madonna and Infant Saviour,
Figure of, 72
Maelgwn, 8
MaenUwyd Mawr, 6, 7, 43, 44
Maes GwenlUan, 21
Malmesbury Castle, 17
Manor of Kidwelly, 17, 18
Manor of Kidwelly, Property of,
26, 27
Mansel Chapel, 62
Mansel family, 62, 84
Margam Abbey, 38, 90
Marian Churches, 64
Marine commerce, 100, loi, 102
Markets and Fairs, 80, 81
Marshall, WiUiam, Earl of Pem-
broke, 45
Matilda de Cadurcis, 28, 29
Maude de Cadurcis, 23, 61
Maurice de Londres, 20, 21, 22,
23, 42
Maurice Kidwelly, 87
Mediaeval Architecture (domes-
tic), 82
Meirion, 7
Meredydd ap Rhosser, 90
Meurig, Prince of Dyfed, 85
Meyrick, Robert, 55
Mihangel, St., Chapel of, 43
Mihangel, St., Well of, 44
Milford, 5, 39
Mihtary Levies (local), 30
Miskin, 12
Monasteries—
St. Davids, 42
Llandaff, 42
Ty-gwyn-ar-Daf, 41
Monkton Priory, 64
Morfa Chapel, 98
Morgan Hen, 10
Morgan, Sir Harry, 84, 89
Morgan, son of Gwenllian, 21
Morgan, Philip, KidweUy, 84,
87, 88, 89
Morgan, Bishop William, 91
Morganwg, Kingdom of, 10, 11
Norton, John, Bishop of Ely, 88
Moimt Solomon, 48
174
INDEX.
Muddlescwm, 82, 83, 84
Municipality of Kidwelly, "jj, 78,
79, 80
Mynydd Bychan, 14
Mynydd Sulen, 48
Mynyddygarreg, 76, 107
N.
Nanmor, 91
Nave— Parish Church, 65, 66,
67, 69, 71
Neath, 31, 43
Nennius, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9
Nicholas IV., Pope, Taxation of,
46, 48
Nicholas^ St., Bishop of Myra,
60
Nicholas, St., Chantry of, 60, 61,
63
Norman conquest of Glamorgan,
13, 14
Norman invasion of Kidwelly,
12, IS, 16, 17, 47
Normandy, 15, 47
Noted local families, 82 — 86
O.
Ogmore, Manor of, 14, 60, 61
Owen ap Caradoc, 20
Owen, Dr. Henry — etymology
of Kidwelly, 3
Parish Church —
Original building, 64
Dedication, 64
Description by Archdeacon
Be van, 64
Survey by Sir George Gilbert
Scott, 65 — 67
Its Architecture and Features,
65—69
Chancel, 64 — 67
Tower and Spire, 64 — 69 ;
Nave, 65, 66, 67, 69, 71
Windows, 65 — 67 ; Vestry,
65, 67, 70
Rood-loft, 6^, 70, 71, 72 ;
Sepulchral recesses, 66, 71
Effigies, 71, 72 ; Stair-cases,
67, 69, 70, 71
Chantry, 60 — 64 ; Side Chapel,
62
Transepts, 64, 65, 66, 71 ;
Anchoret Cell, 70
SediUa, 66 ; Piscina, 66, 68 ;
Roofs, 67, 68
Bells, 74, 75 ; Clock, 74 ;
Plate, 71 ; Registers, 73, 74
Restoration, 74
Patrick de Cadurcis, 23, 28, 29
PauHnus, 41
Payne de Chaworth, 23, 81
Pembrey, 44, 45, 46, 50
Penallt, 44, 45, 50
Pendeulwyn, 89
Perkins, 105
Picts, 8
Piscina, Parish Church, 62, 66
Plate, Parish Church, 72,
Polytheists, 9
Porter's Prison (Castle), 34
Powell, Gabriel, 80
Prior's Court, 51 — 53
Priors, Wst of, 54, 55
Priory of Ividwelly —
Its Foundation, 47, 48
Its Affihation, 47, 48
Its Situation, 50, 53, 54
Its Property, 48, 51, 55
Its Dissolution, 55
R.
Rechdyr, Gilmore, King of Ire-
land, 10
Rectory, merged in the Priory,
46, 49, 55
Redford and Harris, 108
Registers, 73, 74
Rees of Kilymaenllwyd, 85
Rees, Rev. Wilham, 94
Rees, Rev. John, 94
Rees, Mr. John, 94
Reeveship of the Manor, 26
Restoration of Parish Church, 74
' Rheged,' 10
INDEX,
^7S
Rhydygors Castle, 15, 16
Rhys ap Gryffith, 25
Rhys ap Tewdwr, Prince, 12, 13,
14
Rhys ap Thomas, Sir, 25, 84, 8 1;,
88, 89
Rhys, Lord, 24
Richard II., King, 39, 40
Richard, Richard, 94
Ricketts and James, 105
Roger, Bishop of Sahsbury, 47
Lord of the Manor of Kid-
welly, 17, 18, 77
Founds the Priory, 47, 48, 51
Consecrates local Cemetery, 56
Rogers, Lewns, 79
Roman occupation, 43
Roman evacuation, 8, 10
Romano-British Church, 41
Rood-loft, 67, 70, 71, 72
' Round Table,' 10
Routledge, James, 88
Royal Visitors, 38, 39, 40
Rufus, King Wilham, 13, 13, 15,
16
Sacristy, 36, 65, 70
Saints' Church, All, 44, 45
Sarcophagus, 63
Savage, Sir John, 88
Saxon Invasion, 16
Scots, The, 9
Scott, Sir George Gilbert—
His Survey of the Parish
Church, 65 — 67
Seal of the Borough, 80
Sediha, 36, 66
Sepulchral Tombs, 66, 71
Severn Sea, 8
Sherborne Abbe)', 20, 44, 47, 48,
55, 58
Sherborne Castle, 17
Ship- building, 60, 61, 103
' Siege of Kidwelly,' 5, 14, 21
SiHca-brick Manufacture, 107
Siloam Chapel, 99
Smart, Messrs. H. & H. E)., 108
Squint, 70
Stafford, Henry, Duke of Buck-
ingham, 88
Stair -cases (Mural), Parish
Church, 67, 69, 70, 71
Stephens, Alderman, 108
Strata Florida, 90
Strathclyde, 8
Sul, Capel, 98
Sulen, Mynydd, 48
Swansea, 19, 27, 38, 74, 80, loi
Taf, The, 5
Tawy, The, 5, 10, 11
Taxation of Nicholas IV., 40, 41,
42
Teify, The, 5
Teilo, St., 41, 43
Teilo, St., Chapel of, 41, 42
Teilo, St., Mission Church of, 76
Tewdwr the Great, 1 2
Thomas, Capt., 103
Thomas de Londres, 23
Thomas, Mr. H. J., 97
Thomas, Mr. John, 107
Thomas, St., Cemetery, 56, 57
' Thomas the Vicar,' 58, 59
Thurstan, Abbot, 48
Tin-plate Manufacture, 104 —
107
Tithes of Klidwelly, Dispute
about the, 49, 55, 58
Tower and Spire of Parish
Church, 64 — 69
Towy, The, 5, 10, 11, 28, 50
Trancepts, Parish Church, 64,
65, 66, 71
Tudor, Jasper, 88
Tudur Aled, 91
Tumulus, Celtic, 6
Ty-gwyn-ar-Daf, 41
U.
Urban, Bishop of Llandaff, 1 1
' Urien Rheged,' 9, 10
176
INDEX.
V. William de Londres, 14, 15, 16,
17, 20
Vaughan, Richard, Earl of Car- WilHams, Dr. John, 94
bery, 25
Vestry, 65, 67, 70
Vicarage House, 58
Vicariate, 55, 58
Vicars, I,ist of, 59
Williams, Rev. W. G., 96
Windows, Parish Church, 65 —
67
Wright, Col., 107
Wye, The, 10
W.
Y.
Waungadog, 41, 44
Wesley an Chapel (English), 99
Whitland, 41
Wigley, Eliza Maria, 80
Wilfrid, Bishop of St. Davids, Ystrad Tywy, 9, 15, 16, 19
17) 55 Ystradyw, 11
Yarford, Sir John, 91
York, Ehzabeth of, 88
Young, Mr. Alexander, 108
.... LIST
. . . . .OF
SUBSCRIBERS
UST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
A.
Aberdare, The Right Hon. Lord, Duffryn, Mountain Ash,
Glamorgan.
Abraham, Mr. D., Monksford, Kidwelly.
Alban, Rev. D. T., B.A., Carmarthen.
Andrews, IMiss, Wern, Kidwelly.
Anthony, Mr. D. W., 12 Bridge Street, Kidwelly.
Anthony, Mr. Edmund, 4 West End, Kidwelly.
Anthony, Mr. Llewelyn, South End House, Kidwelly.
Anthony, Mr. J. G., Paris House, Kidwelly (five copies).
Anthony, Mr. John, Muddlescwm, Kidwelly.
Anthony, Mr. S. H., Penlan, Kidwelly.
Amett, Mr. J. E., The Library, Tenby (two copies).
Arnold, Mr. Thomas, C.E., Llanelly.
Arthur, Mr. J. E., Pinged Hill, Kadwelly.
Avdd, Mrs., Laurel Bank, Whitehaven.
B.
Barker, Mr. T. W., Diocesan Registry, Carmarthen (two copies).
Bartlett, Mr. Dan, Decorator, Carmarthen.
Bate, Mr. W. H., Station Road, Kidwelly (three copies).
Baynes, Mr. Neil, 120 Warwick Street, Eccleston Square, London,
S.W.
Bebb, Principal, St. David's College, Lampeter.
Bell, Mrs., 5 Richmond Terrace, East Twickenham.
Bevan, Ven. Archdeacon W. L., Ely Tower, Brecon.
Beynon, Rev, John, Ardwyn, Wern Road, Skewen, nr. Neath,
Beynon, Mr. Wm., Penygroes, Kidwelly.
Bolton, Mr. H. C, Ivor Cottage, Burry Port, Pembrey (four
copies) .
Bonnell, Mr. D., Trimsaran.
Boulton, Mr. J., Librarian, Free Library, Llanelly.
Bowen, Mr. A. E., Town Hall, Pontypool (two copies).
Bowen, Rev. Canon, Monkton Priory, Pembroke.
Bowen, Mr. G. E., Rumsey House, Kidwelly.
Bowen, Mr. John, 28 Monksford, Kidwelly.
Browne, Mrs. R. P., Clentfield, Harborde, Staffs.
Brigstocke, Mr. A., Blaenpant, Boncath, S.O., S. Wales (two
copies) .
Brigstocke, Mr. G. R., Ryde, Isle of Wight (four copies).
Brigstocke, Mr. T. E., J. P., Carmarthen.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 179
Britten, Rev. Anthony, Gorslas Vicarage, Llandebie, S.O.
Brodie, Mr. W. W., Cheriton, L,lanelly.
Buckley, Capt., Castell Gorfod, St. Clears.
Bulkeley-Owen, Rev. T. M., Tedsmore HaU, Oswestry.
Bushell, Mr. W. D., Caldey Priory, Tenby.
Cardiff Public Libraries, per Mr. John Ballinger, Librarian.
Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society and Field Club, per Mr.
W. Spurrell.
Cawdor, Earl, 7 Princes Gardens, London, S.W. (three copies).
Chambers, Rev. R. H., M.A., Christ College, Brecon.
Chandler, Mrs., The Valley, Narberth.
Chappell, Mrs., Kidwelly.
Charles, Mr. Wm., Brickyard Cottages, Kidwelly.
Clarke, Dr. Ernest, London.
Clarke, Mr. Henry, J. P., Cannon Hall, Hampstead, N.W.
Cole, Mr. Walter S., 46 Water Street, Kidwelly.
ColHer, Mr. Ernest, 22 Picton Place, Carmarthen.
Comer, Mr. Fred., Glen Lyn, Stafford Road, Weston-super-Mare.
Copp, Mr. Charles, Pendre, Kidwelly.
Corbett, Mr. John, Stuart Bute Estate Office, Cardiff.
Cuimington, Mr. B. Howard, Devizes.
D.
Davids, Mr. G. H., New Street, Kidwelly.
Davids, Mrs., Lady Street, Kidwelly.
Davies, Mr. A. O., Uplands, Carmarthen.
Davies, Mr. C. M., Architect, Merthyr Tydfil (two copies).
Davies, Rev. D., M.A., Rector of St. Andrews' Major, Dinas
Powis, Cardiff.
Davies, Rev. D., B.A., St. Paul's Vicarage, Llanelly.
Davies, Rev, D., B.A., Devynock Vicarage, Brecon.
Davies, Rev. Evan, Llangendeirne, Kidwelly.
Davies, Mr. Evan, Llangadog Cottage, Islidwelly.
Davies, Mr. Evan, Lady Street, Kidwelly.
Davies, Mr. Evan John, Pleasant View, Kidwelly.
Davies, Rev. E. J., B.A., Parsonage, Capel Bangor, nr. Aber-
ystwyth.
Davies, Mr. G. T., Corner House, Kidwelly.
Davies, Rev. G. R., Upper Cwmtwrch, Swansea Valley.
Davies, Mr. Howell, ' The Abbey,' Kidwelly.
Davies, Rev. J. Alban, B.A., The Vicarage, Talley, Carmarthen-
shire.
Davies, Mr. James, Gwynfa Beesmy HiU, Hereford.
Davies, Mr. J. H., M.A., 20 North Parade, Aberystwyth.
Davies, Mr. J. H., Station Road, Kidwelly (three copies).
Davies, Mr. John, Pehcan Hotel, Kidwelly.
l8o UST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
Davies, Mr. John, 2 Lady Street, Kidwelly.
Davies, Rev. U., M.A., 9 Glanmor Place, Llanelly.
Davies, Mrs., Plough Inn, Kidwelly.
Davies, Mr., Caernewydd, Kidwelly.
Davies, P.C., Police vStation, Kidwelly.
Davies, Rev. R. W. F. Singers-, R.D., The Rectory, Llandrindod
Wells.
Davies, Mr. Saunders, Brickyard Cottages, Kidwelly (two copies).
Davies, Mr. Silvanus, Stradey Arms, Llanelly.
Davies, Mr. Thomas, Kidwelly Arms, Kidwelly.
Davies, Rev. Timothy, Gartheli Vicarage, Felinfach, S.O., Cards.
Davies, Rev. W., Vicar, Llanfihangel Abercowin, St. Clears.
Davies, Mr. W. Dunn, West End Villas, ICidwelly (two copies).
Davies, Mr. Wm., 38 Water Street, Kidwelly.
Donaldson, Rev. a". E., M.A.„ Christ College, Brecon.
Drummond, Mr. F. D. W., Edwinsford, Dlandilo.
B.
Edmondes, Ven. Archdeacon, Nolton Court, Bridgend, Gla-
morgan.
Edwards, Mr. D. C, SoUcitor, Llanelly (.six copies).
Edwards, Mr. Watkin, M.B., 46 Albert Terrace, Middlesbrough.
Edwards, Mr. Wm., 96 Oxford Street, Swansea.
Evans, Miss Agnes, Old Vicarage, Kidwelly.
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans,
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Evans
Mrs. Angell, Clentfield, Victoria Road, Harborne, Staffs.
Mr. Arthur, Lloyds Bank, Llanelly.
Mr. D. J., Tanygraig, Kidwelly.
Rev. D. D., B.D., Llangunnor Vicarage, Carmarthen.
Miss, Old Vicarage, Kidwelly.
Mrs. Colby, Carmarthen.
Mr. E. Vincent, 64 Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
Rev. E. W., B.A., Tremain Vicarage, Cardigan.
Mr. Frank, 5 The Avenue, Carmarthen.
Rev. George Eyre, Ty Tringad, Aberystwyth.
Rev. H., Llangwm Rectory, Haverfordwest.
Rev. J. O., B.A., Tretower Vicarage, Crickhowell.
Mr. Lewis, 2 Gwendraeth Place, ICidwelly.
Miss Martha, 12 Alstred Street, Kidwelly.
Mrs. M. M., Old Vicarage, Kidwelly.
Ven. Archdeacon, Carmarthen.
Mr. Owen, Kymer Terrace, Kidwelly.
Mr. Richard John, Tanygraig, Kidwelly.
Mr. Stephen, 59 Water Street, Ividwelly.
Rev. T. C, The Parsonage, Cwmllynfell, S. Wales (two
copies) .
Mrs. Greenfield Cottages, Kidwelly.
Mrs., Greenfield Inn, Kidwelly.
Rev. W. Eilir, The Parsonage, I,lancarfan, Cowbridge.
Evanson, Rev. M., B.Sc, Merthyr Mawr Rectory, Bridgend.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. l8l
F.
Feltoe, Rev. C. L., D.D., Duxford. Rectory, Cambridge.
Footman, Rev. W. 1,1., M.A., College School, lyampeter.
Francis, Mr. W. J., Hazlemere, ICidwelly.
Franklen, Mr. T. M., St. Hilary, Cowbridge.
Fryer, Rev. A. T., St. James' Vicarage, Walthamstow.
Gery, Mr. A. R., Solicitor, Royston, Court, Ferryside (three
copies) .
Gibbert, Mr. W., Water Street, Kidwelly.
Gillespie, Mr. J., Glanmorfa Cottages, Kidwelly.
Gillespie, Mr. W., 4 Gwendraeth Terrace, Kidwelly.
Glascodine, Mr. C. H., 7 Abbingdon Gardens, Kennington,
London, W.
Gower, Mr. James, Cowpark Lane, Kidwelly (three copies).
Gower, Mrs., Boot and Shoe, Kidwelly.
Gower, Mr. W., Water Street, Kidwelly.
Graham, Mrs., Moss Lea, Mossley Hill, Liverpool.
Graham, Mr. W. J., CuUa House, Trimsaran, Kidwelly.
Graven, Mr. D., Goitre, Kidwelly.
Gravell, Mr. John, Green Alley, Kidwelly.
Graven, Mr. J. D., Hamilton, Montana, U.S.A.
Gravell, Mr. Lewis, Alstred Street, Kidwelly.
Gravell, Mr. P., Nelson, Kidwelly (three copies).
Gravell, Mr. W., Gordon Terrace, Kidwelly.
GraveU, Rev. W. J., B.A., St. Michael's College, Llandaff, Cardiff.
Gray, Mr. Thomas, J. P., Underbill, Port Talbot.
Green, Rev. Prof. E. Tyrrell, St. David's College, Lampeter.
Greenwood, Mr. H., Solicitor, Kidwelly.
Greville, Mr. David, 12 Doughty Street, London, W.C.
Greville, Mr. T., Maesderwen, Pontyberem, Llanelly.
Griffith, Rev. John, Llangynwyd, Glamorgan.
Grifi&th, Rev. Wm., Villa Master, 67a Hampton Road, Southport.
Griffiths, Dr., Kidwelly (two copies).
Griffiths, Rev. D., Llangranog Rectory, Henllan, Cards.
Griffiths, Mr. John, Ferry Road, Kidwelly.
Griffiths, Mr. Joseph, i St. Peter's Terrace, Cambridge.
Griffiths, Rev. J. T., B.D., Brawdy Vicarage, Penycwm, S.O.,
Pembs.
Griffiths, Mr. J. Wigley, F.G.C.M., Fehnfoel, Llanelly.
Griffiths, Mrs., London House, Kidwelly (four copies).
Griffiths, Mr. T., J. P., Glanmor, Burry Port.
Griffiths, Rev. T. I4anspyddyd Vicarage, Brecon.
Griffiths, Mr. Wm., Station Road, KidweUy.
l82 IJST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
H.
Harries, Mrs., Alpine Villa, Kidwelly.
Harries, Mr. D., Bryncaerau, Trimsaran.
Harris, Mr. A., i Croft Terrace, Kidwelly.
Harris, Mr. Eli, Water Street, Kidwelly.
Harris, Mr. Evan, Greenfield Cottages, Kidwelly.
Harris, Mr. Wm., Pinged Hill, Kidwelly.
HeadJey, Rev. W., M.A., The Vicarage, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn,
Aberystwyth.
Hills-Johnes, Lieut. -Gen. f^ir, V.C, Dolaucothv, Llanwrda, S.O.,
S. Wales.
Hitchings, Mr. B., Sea View, Kidwelly.
Holmes, Mr. H. S., Training College, Carmarthen.
Howell, Mr. D., Causeway Street, Kidwelly.
Howells, Dr., Trimsaran, Kidwelly.
Hugh, Mr. D. J., Bay View, Kidwelly.
Hugh, Mr. WiUiam, Cobourg Hotel, Tenby.
Hugh, Mr. William, Morley, Michigan, U.S.A. (two copies).
Hughes, Mr.s., Cobourg Hotel, Tenby.
Hughes, Mr. Christmas, Kidwelly.
Hughes, Miss E., 9 Ferrj^ Road, Kidwelly (two copies).
Hughes, Rev. Eynon, The Vicarage, Bettws Ivan, Beulah, S.O.,
Cards.
Hughes, Mr. Samuel, Siding, Kidwelly.
Hiighes, Mr. T. Oldham, 50 Lady Street, Kidwelly.
Hughes, Col. W. Gwynne, D.L., J. P., Glancothi, Nantgaredig.
Hybert, Mr. F. W., Trafalgar House, Conway Road, Cardiff.
Innes, Mr. John, Old Road, Llanelly.
Isaac, Mr. R. H., Station House, Kidwelly (three copies).
James & Son, Messrs., Outfitters, Stepney Street, Llanelly.
James, Mrs., 79 Hafod Terrace, Swansea.
James, Mr. Hugh, Square Cottage, Pontyates.
James, Rev. J. M., B.A., Llanstephan Vicarage, Carmarthenshire.
James, Mr. James, Upper Mill, Kidwelly.
James, Sergeant, Kidwelly.
James, Mr. W. D., The Barbican, Kidwelly.
Jenkins, Rev. D. A., M.A., Chaplain, AbergwiU Palace.
Jenkins, Mr. John, New Street, Kidwelly.
Jenkins, Rev. W. C, Pistyll-gwyn, Kidwelly (five copies).
Jennings, Capt., Gelli-deg, Kidwelly.
Jennings, Mr. R. E., 15 Palmeira Mansions, Brighton.
John, Mss, Castle Hotel, Kidwelly.
UST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 183
John, Mr. Rees, Pleasant View, Kidwelly.
John, Mr. Wm., Brynhyfryd, Trimsaran.
Johns, Mr. Wm., 7 West End, Kidwelly.
Johnson, Mr. Samuel, 38 Osborne Road, Pontypool.
Jones, Mr. Archibald LI., Heolfawr, Kidwelly.
Jones, Rev. B. H., B.D., Kilymaenllwyd Rectory, Login, S.O.,
Carmarthenshire.
Jones, Rev. Chancellor, Bryn Road, Lampeter.
Jones, Mr. Daniel H., Kymer Terrace, Kidwelly.
Jones, Rev. D., B.A., Bangor Teifi Rectory, Llandyssul.
Jones, Rev. D., B.A., The Vicarage, Pembrey.
Jones, Mr. D. O., Castle School, I\idwelly.
Jones, Rev. D. T., The Rectory, Loiighor.
Jones, Rev. D. T., B.A., Hillside, Kidwelly.
Jones, Rev. Ebenezer, M.A., The Vicarage, Llandovery.
Jones, Mr. Edmund James, C.E., J. P., Fforest Legionis, Pont-
neath Vaughau, Neath.
Jones, Mss E. J., Christ College, Brecon.
Jones, Mr. E. W., J. P., 6 Addison Road, Kensington.
Jones, Miss E. G., Waungadog, KidweUy (two copies).
Jones, Mr. George, n New Street, Kidwelly.
Jones, Rev. Henry, B.A., Llandyfriog Vicarage, Newcastle
Emlyn.
Jones, Rev. H. R., 27 Ferry Road, Kidwelly.
Jones, Rev. James, The Vicarage, Llandebie, Carmarthenshire,
Jones, Mr. James, 25 Water Street, Kidwelly (two copies).
Jones, Rev. John, M.A., St. Issell's Vicarage, Saundersfoot.
Jones, Mr. John D., H.M. Head Postmaster, Carmarthen.
Jones, Rev. J. H. Watkins, M.A., Christ Church Vicarage,
Swansea.
Jones, Rev. J. R., M.A., Dafen Vicarage, Llanelly.
Jones, Mr. J. Wesley, New Road, Llanelly.
Jones, Mr. Lems, Chemist, Kidwelly.
Jones, Mr. Rhj's, Godrecoed, Neath.
Jones, Rev. Thomas, B.A., Llanddarog Vicarage, Carmarthen.
Jones, Rev. Thomas, Llaudefeilog Vicarage, Kidwelly.
Jones, Mr. Thomas, Mountain School, Kidwelly.
Jones, Rev. T. Geler, Llangennech Vicarage, Carmarthenshire.
Jones, Mr. W., A.R.C.A. London, School of Art, Carmarthen.
Jones, Mr. W., 76 Water Street, Carmarthen.
Jones, Mr. W., Heolfawr, Kidwelly.
Jones, Mr. W., Siding, KidweUy.
Jones, Mr. W., Brynhyfryd, Trimsaran.
Joyce, Rev. Canon, St. Deiniol's Library, Hawarden.
K.
Kenyon, The Right Hon. Lord, Gredington, Whitchurch, Salop.
184 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
Laws, Mr. Edward, F.S.A., Brython Place, Tenby.
Lewis, Mr. Charles R., Quay Street, Kidwelly.
Lewis, Rev. H. Elvet, M.A., n Highbury New Park, London, N.
Lewis, Rev. J. Pollard, B.A., Carew Vicarage, Pembroke.
Lewis, Rev. Canon W., Ystradyfodwg Vicarage, Pentre, Glatn.
Lewis, Sir W. T., Bart., The Mardy, Aberdare.
Llandafif, The Very Rev. The Dean of, Glam.
Llewellyn, Mr. R. W., Baglan Hall, Britton Ferry.
Llewelyn, Mr. C. Venables, Llysdinam, Newbridge-on-Wye,
Radnor.
Lloyd, Mr. Charles, Wannifor, Maesycrugian, S. Wales.
Lloyd, Mr. D., 30 Lady Street, Kidwelly.
Lloyd, Mr. Henry, 59 Priory Street, Kidwelly.
Lloyd, Mr. H. Meuric, Delfryn, Llanwrda, S.O., Carmarthenshire.
Lloyd, Rev. Preb. J., Llanpumpsaint Vicarage, S.O., Carmarthen-
shire.
Lloyd, Mr. Thomas, Bell Inn, Kidwelly.
Loosemore, Mr. W. J., Myrtle Cottage, Kidwelly.
M.
MaUphant, Mr. W. J., 28 Lady Street, Kidwelly (two copies).
Martin, Mr. E. P., The Hill, Abergavenny.
Mee, Mr. Arthur, Tremynfa, Llanishen, Cardiff.
Meredith, Mr. Daniel, Brynhyfryd, Kidwelly.
Meyrick Librarv, Jesus College, Oxford.
Moore, Mr. G. W., Pen Illtyd, Llandaff, Glam.
Morgan Brothers, Messrs., 3 Priory Street, Kidwelly (two copies).
Morgan, Rev. D., B.A., Llanstepban Vicarage, Llyswen, S.O.,
Radnor.
Morgan, Mr. D., Ffairfach Council School, Llandilo.
Morgan, Rev. D. Watcyn, B.A., The Vicarage, Llanelly (two
copies) .
Morgan, Mr. Frank, Tutor, Keble College, Oxford.
Morgan, Mr. John, junr., Gwenlhan, Kidwelly.
Morgan, Miss, Orchard Villa, Kidwelly (two copies).
Morgan, Mr. J. B., 50 New Road, Llanelly.
Morgan, Mr. Tahesin, 12 Queen Chambers, Cardiff.
Morgan, Mr. Wm., Hill Park, Trimsaran.
Morgan, Lieut.-Col. W. LI., Bryn BriaUu, Swansea.
Morris, Rev. John, M.A., The Rectorj'^, Narberth.
Murphy, Mr. James, Lawrenny House, Kidwelly.
N.
Nevill, Miss, Fairfield, Llanelly.
Nevill, Mr. W. Y., Fehnfoel, Llanelly.
Newell, Rev. E. J., M.A., Neen Sollars Rectory, Cleobury Mor-
timer, Shropshire.
UST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 185
Newman, Mr. Josiah, F.R. Hist. Soc, Oristano, Hatch End,
Mddlesex.
Nicholas, Miss, Ajalon Cottage, Kidwelly (two copies).
Nicholas, Rev. W. L., M.A., The Rectory, Flint.
Northcote, Mr. Fred., 34 Alstred Street, Kidwelly.
Northcote, Mr. Richard, 52 Lady Street, Kidwelly.
O.
Oakwell, Mr. A. E., Heolfawr, Kidwelly.
Owen, Rev. C. Fred., M.A., The Vicarage, St. Clears.
Owen, Rev. D. Edmondes, B.A., Llanelwedd Rectory, Builth
Wells.
Owen, 'Rev. D. Geler, Alma Terrace, Kidwelly (two copies).
Owen, Mr. Henry, Poyston, Haverfordwest.
Owen, Rev. Canon R. Trevor, M.A., F.S.A., Bodelwyddan
Vicarage, FUnt.
P.
PhilHps, Mr. D. Rhys, Puhhc Library, Swansea.
Philhps, Mr. James, 10 Hill Street, Haverfordwest.
Phillips, Mr. John, Caiiseway Street, Kidwelly.
Phillips, Mr. J. W., Tower Hill, Haverfordwest.
Phillips, 'Miss, The Cottage, Kidwelly.
Philhps, Rev. Silas T., R.D., The Vicarage, Pembroke Dock.
Philhps, Mr. Thomas, Aberporth, S.O., Cardiganshire.
Poole-Hughes, Rev. W. W., M.A., Warden, The College, Llan-
dovery (two copies).
Price, Mrs., Glanmorlais, Kidwelly (three copies).
Price, Mr. Fred. S., 2 Rose Hill, Swansea.
Pritchard, Mrs., The Priory, Cardigan.
Prys, Rev. J., Llanover, Abergavenny.
R.
Randell, Mr. Theophihis, 10 Woodend Road, Llanelly.
Rees, Mr. Howell, J.P , 190 Newport Road, CardiflE.
Rees, Rev. Hugh, P.. A., Llandyr}-, Kidwelly (two copies).
Rees, Rev. John, Tylorstown Vicarage, Glam. (two copies).
Rees, Rev. J. Lambert, B.Sc, IJanddowror Rectory, St. Clears.
Rees, Mr. Thomas, The Mil, Kidwelly.
Reynolds, Mr. George, Pembrey.
Reynolds, Mr. Llywarch, B.A., Old Church Place, Merthyr
Tydfil.
Reynolds, Mr. Thomas, Bradford House, Kidwelly.
Reynolds, Mr. Thomas, 27 Water Street, Kidwelly.
Richard, Mr. Richard, 34 Randolph Gardens, Broomhill, Glasgow.
Richards, Mr. D. C, Newport, Mon.
l86 UST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
Richards, Mr. D. M., Wenallt, Aberdare.
Richards, Mr. W., Salt Rock Farm, Pembrey.
Richards, Mr. W. J., Johannesburg.
Roberts, Mr. J., 36 Lady Street, Kidwelly.
Roderick, Mr. H. B., 19 Trumpington Street, Cambridge.
Rogers, jNIr. John, Brook House, Kidwelly.
Routledge, Mrs., 32 Alstred Street, Kidwelly.
Rowlands, Mr. David, IJly Place, Kidwelly.
Ri;msey, Rev. Lacy H., M.A., ijanstadwell Vicarage, Pembs.
St. David's College, Lampeter, per The Librarian.
St. Michael's College Library, per Rev. W. J. Gravell.
Salmon, JNIr. D., Swansea Training College, Swansea.
Shankland, Mss Annie, Bridge Street, Kidwelly.
Sheppard, Mr. Frank, Kidwelly.
Sinnett, Rev. W. H., M.A., IJangunider Rectory, Crickhowell
(three copies).
Smart, Mrs., Mountain View, Kidwellj^ (three copies).
Spurrell, Mr. Walter, Carmarthen.
Stephens, Mr. Alfred, Broomhill, Kidwelly (six copies).
Stephens, Mrs., Arlais, Kidwelly (three copies).
Sullivan, Mr. John, 5 Gwendraeth Terrace, Kidwelly.
Svitton, Mr. C. W., Librarian, Public Free Libraries, Manchester.
Swansea Pubhc Library, per Mr. D. Rhys PhilHps, Welsh Li-
brarian.
Swansea, The Right Rev. Bishop of, Cantreff Rectory, Brecon.
Taylor, Major R. Weutworth, Selse}^
Taylor, Mr. T. Litton, Solicitor, Baling (two copies).
Terry, P^^ev. W. A., Benthall Vicarage, nr. Broseley, Salop.
Theakstpn, Mrs. H. Lloyd, Fir Grove, Menai Bridge, Anglesey.
Thomas, Mr. D., Organist, Kidwelly.
Thomas, Mr. D., 37 Gwendraeth Town, Kidwelly.
Thomas, Mr. D. Llexxfer, Barrister-at-Law, Hendre, Swansea.
Thomas, Mr. D. Lleufer, Librarian Royal Inst, of S. Wales,
Swansea.
Thomas, Rev. Evan, M.A., Llannon Vicarage, Llanelly.
Thomas, Mr. Fred. G., George House, Llandilo.
Thomas, Rev. Griffith, Troedybryn, Carmarthen.
Thomas, Mr. Henry John, Solicitor, 78 Queen Street, Cardiff.
Thomas, Rev. J., R.D., Laugharne Vicarage.
Thomas, Mr. John, Velindre, Kidwelly (three copies).
Thomas, Mr. John, Parc-y-llong, Kidwelly.
Thomas, Mr. J. D. G., Emporium, Kidwelly.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. I87
Thomas, Rev. J. LI., M.A., Aberpergwm Vicarage, Pontneath
Vaughan.
Thomas, Dr. J. Lynn, 21 Windsor Place, Cardiff.
Thomas, Mrs., Broadlay House, Ferryside.
Thomas, Rev. N., Llanbadarn Vicarage, Aberystwyth.
Thomas, Mr. T., VeUndre, Kidwelly (two copies).
Thomas, Mr. T., Myrtle Villa, Wellfield Road, Carmarthen.
Thomas, Mr. Wm., 39 Lady Street, Kidwelly.
Tredegar, The Right Hon. Lord, Tredegar Park, Newport, Mon.
Tiirbervill, Col., Ewenn}' Priory, Biidgend, Glam.
U.
Ullock, The Misses, Quarry Howe, Windermere.
V.
Vaughan, Mr. Herbert M., Llangoedmore, Cardigan.
W.
Wade, Miss, Spilman Street, Carmarthen.
Wakin, Mr. T. M. J., ' Portculhs,' H.M. College of Arms, Queen
Victoria Street, E.C.
Walters, Mr. Thomas, 40 Alstred Street, Kidwelly.
Walters, Rev. T. R., R.D., The Parsonage, Carmarthen (two
copies) .
Waterhouse, Mr. W. J., Plas Waun Fawr, Tregaron.
Wheldon, Mr. P. J., Nat. Prov. Bank, Carmarthen.
Whitelev, Mrs., 11? Rouge Bomllon, Jersey.
Wild, M'r. John, Pinged Hill, Kidwelly.
Wild, Mr. Joseph, Pinged Hill, Kidwelly.
Wild, Mr. Joseph, Hillside, Kidwelly.
Wild, Mr. Thomas, Lady Street, Kidwelly (two copies).
Wilkins, Mr. Wm., Mayor of Kidwelly (four copies).
WiUiams, Mr. C, F.G.S., Springfield, Merthyr Tydfil.
Williams, Rev. D., B.A., The Cottage, Ferryside.
Wilhams, Mr. D., 71 Priory Street, Kidwelly.
WiUiams, Mr. D., Trimsaran.
Wilhams, Mr. Evan, 16 Alstred Street, Kidwelly.
WiUiams, Mr. Frank, Pinged Hill, KidweUy. ;
WiUiams, Mr. Henry, Anthony Hotel, KidweUy. ;
WiUiams, Mr. Ivor, Burry Port.
Wilhams, Mr. James, Pendre, KidweUy.
WiUiams, Miss Jane, Greyhound, KidweUy.
Wilhams, Sir John, Plas, Llanstephan, Carmarthenshire.
WiUiams, Dr. John, Cynlais House, Femdale, Pontypridd.
Wilhams, Mr. John, Gletwyn Farm, Kidwelly. ;
l88 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
WiUiams, Mrs., Park Villa, Kidwelly.
Williams, Miss, Bloomfield, Narberth.
Williams, Dr. Owen, Burry Port (two copies).
Williams, Rev. Canon R. Camber-, The Vicarage, Lampeter.
Williams, Rev. R., M.A., The Vicarage, Llandilo.
Williams, Rev. Roger, R.D., Llanedi Rectory, Pontardulais.
Williams, Mr. R. E., County School, Llanllawddog, Llanpump-
saint.
WiUiams, Mr. T., Trimsaran.
WiUiams, Mr. Thomas, Moat, Kidwelly.
WiUiams, Mr. Thomas, Preswylfa, Kidwelly.
Williams, Mr. Thomas, Gletwyn, Kidwelly.
Williams, Mr. Wm., Coach-house, Kidwelly.
Williams, Rev. W. G., B.A., The Rectory, Peierston-super-Ely,
CardiflF.
WilHams, Mr. W. James, Cambray House, Parade, Carmarthen.
WiUiams, Mr. W. Rees, Medical HaU, Tylorstown, Clam.
Wixcey, Mrs., Pinged HiU, Kidwelly.
Worthington, Rev. D., Ivlangeitho Rectory, Cards. •
Y.
Young, Mrs., Glanmorfa, Kidwelly (three copies).
Young, Mr. WilHam, Glanmorfa, Kidwelly (three copies).
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