Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/29

Rh ABERNYTE. 19 ABERYSTRUTH. house, or uniTersity, was established here, which was converted into an Austin priory in 1273. The most striking evidence of the antiquity and early importance of the place is its round tower. There is only one other structure of this kind in Scotland, that at Brechin. It stands in a corner of the churchyard, and ia used at present as a steeple, a clock and hell being placed in it. This circumstance may give a clue to the real origin of these towers, which, 'from their peculiar construction, appear well adapted to answer the purpose of the mina- rets of the East, and to have been employed to call the people to church before the invention of bells. This would account for their being found so frequently near the ruins of ancient churches in Ireland. It is 74 feet in height, its circumference at the base is 48 feet, and the walls are 3 feet thick. It has only one door, facing the north, and four windows near the top, equidistant, and each supported by two small pillars. On the side of the tower, in the period of persecution, there was an iron collar and a chain in readiness as a pillory for persons convicted of breaking the law of the church. It is similar to the round towers of Ireland, and was probably built by the Hibernians in some of their incursions into Scotland. During the Pictish era, Abernethy was far more exten- sive than at present, and was the seat of a royal residence, which tradition asserts to have stood on the hill called "Castle-law." The land in the parish is fertile; the houses are irregular and thatched. Linen- weaving is the chief occupation of the people. The living is in the presb. of Perth, val. 256, and in the patron, of the Earl of Mansfield. Fairs are held, principally for the sale of cattle, on the 12th February, the fourth Wednesday in Mav, and the second Thursday in November. ABERNYTE, a par. in the co. of Perth, Scotland, 10 miles N.E. of Perth. Its post town is Inchture. The village lies in a valley, with braes and rocks sur- rounding it. There is a ravine leading to the Carso of Gowrie, with a waterfall at the head of it. King's Seat is a spot on tho edge of this ravine, so called from a castle said to have been built there by King Edgar. A farm-house now occupies its site. The view from this point, which is 1,155 feet above the sea, is very extensive and varied, with the Frith of Forth bounding it on the south. The soil is poor, but well cultivated. The living, val. 160, is in the presb. of Dundee, and in the patron, of the Crown. The parish church was built in 1736, and can accommodate the whole popula- tion. There is also a free church for Abemytc and Rait. ABERPERGWYN, a chplry. in the par. of Cacloxton, himd. of Neath, in Glamorganshire, South Wales, 9 miles N.E. of Neath. It is situated at the head of the rich and beautiful vale of Neath. There is a colliery, which gives employment to above 150 hands. The living it) a cur. united with Cadoxton. Aberpergwyn House is an ancient seat of the Williams family. Oliver Crom- well is said to have halted hero on his way to Milford Haven, when going to embark for Ireland. ABEH PORTH, a par. in the hund. of Troedyraur, in tho co. of Cardigan, South Wales, 6 miles N.E. of Cardigan. It is situated on the shore of Cardigan Bay, in a cove near the mouth of the river Howny. There are some small craft belonging to the village, which are employed in the carriage of limestone from Carmarthen ami Pembroke ; and of coal from Glamorgan and Liver- pool. Others are employed in the bay fishery. Cribach Roads, off this village, afford good shelter for ships, and in time of war have been frequently resorted to by the French. The surrounding district is hilly, and has M'veral rapid streams, of which the principal is the Howny. Tho church, which is of considerable anti- quity, is very small and plain, not exceeding 45 feet in length, by 22 in breadth. It stands on a hill about a mile from tho village. The font is a square basin, supported by a round pillar. The living is a rect., val. 100, in the dioc. of St. David's and in the patron, of the bishop. ABERPWL, a vol. in the par. of Bangor, hund. of Uwchgorfai, in the co. of Carnarvon, North Wales, not far from Bangor. ABERRHEIDOL. See ABERYSTWITH ABERRHIW. See BERRIEW. ABERSOCH, a vil. in the hund. of Gafflogian, in the co. of Carnarvon, North Wales, 6 miles S. W. of Pwllheli. It is situated on the shore of St. Tud well's Bay. ABERTANATT, a tashp. iu the par. of Llanyblod- woll, hund. of Oswestry, in Shropshire, 4 miles S.W. of Oswestry. It is situated on the river Tanat, near Clawd Coch, the Mediolrtnum of the Romans. ABERTARFF, a par. in theco. of Inverness, Scotland, now united with Boleskine. It is situated near Fort Augustus, at tho mouth of the river Tarff, which here falls into Loch Ness. It is the seat of a presbytery. ABERTAWE, Carmarthenshire. See SWANSEA. ABERTEIFI, Cardiganshire. See CARDIGAN. ABERTHAW, a small vil. in the par. of Penmark, in the co. of Glamorgan, South Wales, 5 miles S.E. of Cowbridge. It is situated on the Bristol Channel, at tho mouth of tho river Thaw, or Ddaw. The harbour is small and the port is subordinate to Cardiff. It is fre- quented only by coasting vessels of small size. The principal produce of the district is lias limestone, here called Aberthaw tarras, and is used in making cement for subaqueous works, canal locks, &c. ABERTHIN, a hmlt. in the par. of Llanblethian, hund. of Cowbridge, in the co. of Glamorgan, South Wales, 1 mile N.E. of Cowbridge. The scenery around it is of a pleasing character. ABERUTHVEN, Perthshire. See AUCHTERARUER. ABERWHEELER (Aber-chwiler), a tnshp. in tho par. of Bodfary, in the hund. of Ruthin, co. of Denbigh, North Wales, "3 miles N.E. of Denbigh. It stands at the confluence of the river Chwiler with the Clwyd. The course of the Chwiler here lies through a deep and well- wooded valley between lofty mountains. Llewellyn-ab- Grufydd, the last Prince of Wales, had a residence at Maes Mynan in this tnshp., the foundations being traceable till within a few years. ABERYSCHAN GELLYWOOD, a vil. in the par. of Trevethan, hund. of Abergavenny, in the co. of Moii- mouth, 2 miles N.W. of Pont-y-pool. It is situated at the junction of the river Sychan with the Afon, and in the neighbourhood of tho British iron-works. The living is a cur., value 44, in the dioc. of Llandaff, and in the patron, of the incumbent. ABERYSCIR, ABER-ESGAIR, or ABER-ESCIR, a par. in the hund. of Merthyr Cynog, in the co. of Brecknock, South Wales, 2 miles W. of Brecknock. It derives its name from its situation on the river Yscir, near its junction with the Usk. The Yscir is here crossed by two bridges, tho Pont ar Yscir, and the Pont ar Vrau ; and the Usk by Aberbran Bridge, two stono bridges in private grounds, and a small suspension bridge. The lordship of the parish was granted by Bernard New- march to Sir Hugh Surdwall, whose seat is fixed by tra- dition on a spot now occupied by a farm-house. Tho site of tho keep of the old mansion of the Surdwalls is supposed to be indicated by an artificial mount, sur- rounded by a moat near the Usk. Hywel Surdwall, one of the heraldic bards of the 15th century, was a mem- ber of this family. A Roman road passed through this parish, and the station called Cacr JSannan is on the eastern bank of the Yscir, nearly opposite the church. From this station tho Saru Helen joined the Via Jn/ic Maritima. The living is a rect., val. 136, in the dioc. of St. David's, and in the patron, of the Rev. D. Jones. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, or, as some say, to St. Cynidr. It is a mean building in a beautiful situation on the western bank of the Yscir, and formerly belonged to the priory of Malvern. ABERYSTRUTH (Abcri/stu-ith), a par. in the upper div. of the hund. of Abergavenny, in the co. of Mon- mouth, 8 miles S.W. of Abergavenny. Tredegar is tho post-town. Of the population, above 4,000 are employed in the Beaufort coal and iron works, and nearly 3,000 in those of Sirhowy and Ebbw Vale. The living is a perpct. cur., val. 265, in the dioc. of Llandaff. The pat. is the Earl of Abergavenny. The church is dedicated to St. Peter. Besides the parish church, there are two