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{84} Barri Island is situated on the coast of Glamorganshire; and; according to Cressy; took its name from St。 Baruc; the hermit; who resided; and was buried there。 The Barrys in Ireland; as well as the family of Giraldus; who were lords of it; are said to have derived their names from this island。 Leland; in speaking of this island; says; 〃The passage into Barrey isle at ful se is a flite shot over; as much as the Tamise is above the bridge。 At low water; there is a broken causey to go over; or els over the shalow streamelet of Barrey…brook on the sands。 The isle is about a mile in cumpace; and hath very good corne; grasse; and sum wood; the ferme of it worth a 10 pounds a yere。 There ys no dwelling in the isle; but there is in the middle of it a fair little chapel of St。 Barrok; where much pilgrimage was usid。〃 'The 〃fair little chapel〃 has disappeared; and 〃Barry Island〃 is now; since the construction of the great dock; connected with the mainland; it is covered with houses; and its estimated capital value is now 250;000 pounds'。
{85} William de Salso Marisco。
{86} The see of Llandaff is said to have been founded by the British king Lucius as early as the year 180。
{87} From Llandaff; our crusaders proceeded towards the Cistercian monastery of Margam; passing on their journey near the little cell of Benedictines at Ewenith; or Ewenny。 This religious house was founded by Maurice de Londres towards the middle of the twelfth century。 It is situated in a marshy plain near the banks of the little river Ewenny。
{88} The Cistercian monastery of Margam; justly celebrated for the extensive charities which its members exercised; was founded A。D。 1147; by Robert earl of Gloucester; who died in the same year。 Of this once…famed sanctuary nothing now remains but the shell of its chapter…house; which; by neglect; has lost its most ornamental parts。 When Mr。 Wyndham made the tour of Wales in the year 1777; this elegant building was entire; and was accurately drawn and engraved by his orders。
{89} In continuing their journey from Neath to Swansea; our travellers directed their course by the sea…coast to the river Avon; which they forded; and; continuing their road along the sands; were probably ferried over the river Neath; at a place now known by the name of Breton Ferry; leaving the monastery of Neath at some distance to the right: from thence traversing another tract of sands; and crossing the river Tawe; they arrived at the castle of Swansea; where they passed the night。
{90} The monastery of Neath was situated on the banks of a river bearing the same name; about a mile to the westward of the town and castle。 It was founded in 1112; by Richard de Grainville; or Greenefeld; and Constance; his wife; for the safety of the souls of Robert; earl of Gloucester; Maude; his wife; and William; his son。 Richard de Grainville was one of the twelve Norman knights who accompanied Robert Fitz…Hamon; and assisted him in the conquest of Glamorganshire。 In the time of Leland this abbey was in a high state of preservation; for he says; 〃Neth abbay of white monkes; a mile above Neth town; standing in the ripe of Neth; semid to me the fairest abbay of al Wales。〃 … Leland; Itin。 tom。 v。 p。 14。 The remains of the abbey and of the adjoining priory…house are considerable; but this ancient retirement of the grey and white monks is now occupied by the inhabitants of the neighbouring copper… works。
{91} Gower; the western district of Glamorganshire; appears to have been first conquered by Henry de Newburg; earl of Warwick; soon after Robert; duke of Gloucester; had made the conquest of the other part of Glamorganshire。
{92} Sweynsei; Swansea; or Abertawe; situated at the confluence of the river Tawe with the Severn sea; is a town of considerable commerce; and much frequented during the summer months as a bathing… place。 The old castle; now made use of as a prison; is so surrounded by houses in the middle of the town; that a stranger might visit Swansea without knowing that such a building existed。 The Welsh Chronicle informs us; that it was built by Henry de Beaumont; earl of Warwick; and that in the year 1113 it was attacked by Gruffydd ap Rhys; but without success。 This castle became afterwards a part of the possessions of the see of St。 David's; and was rebuilt by bishop Gower。 'The old castle is no longer used as a prison; but as the office of the 〃Cambria Daily Leader。〃 It is significant that Swansea is still known to Welshmen; as in the days of Giraldus; as 〃Abertawe。〃'
{93} Lochor; or Llwchwr; was the Leucarum mentioned in the Itineraries; and the fifth Roman station on the Via Julia。 This small village is situated on a tide…river bearing the same name; which divides the counties of Glamorgan and Caermarthen; and over which there is a ferry。 〃Lochor river partith Kidwelli from West Gowerlande。〃 … Leland; Itin。 tom。 v。 p。 23。 'The ferry is no more。 The river is crossed by a fine railway bridge。'
{94} Wendraeth; or Gwen…draeth; from gwen; white; and traeth; the sandy beach of the sea。 There are two rivers of this name; Gwendraeth fawr; and Gwendraeth fychan; the great and the little Gwendraeth; of which Leland thus speaks: 〃Vendraeth Vawr and Vendraith Vehan risith both in Eskenning commote: the lesse an eight milys of from Kydwelli; the other about a ten; and hath but a little nesche of sand betwixt the places wher thei go into the se; about a mile beneth the towne of Kidwely。〃
{95} Cydweli was probably so called from cyd; a junction; and wyl; a flow; or gushing out; being situated near the junction of the rivers Gwendraeth fawr and fychan; but Leland gives its name a very singular derivation; and worthy of our credulous and superstitious author Giraldus。 〃Kidwely; otherwise Cathweli; i。e。 Catti lectus; quia Cattus olim solebat ibi lectum in quercu facere: … There is a little towne now but newly made betwene Vendraith Vawr and Vendraith Vehan。 Vendraith Vawr is half a mile of。〃 … Leland; Itin。 tom。 v。 p。 22。
{96} The scene of the battle fought between Gwenllian and Maurice de Londres is to this day called Maes Gwenllian; the plain or field of Gwenllian; and there is a tower in the castle of Cydweli still called Tyr Gwenllian。 'Maes Gwenllian is now a small farm; one of whose fields is said to have been the scene of the battle。'
{97} The castle of Talachar is now better known by the name of Llaugharne。
{98} Much has been said and written by ancient authors respecting the derivation of the name of this city; which is generally allowed to be the Muridunum; or Maridunum; mentioned in the Roman itineraries。 Some derive it from Caer and Merddyn; that is; the city of the prophet Merddyn; and others from Mur and Murddyn; which in the British language signify a wall。 There can; however; be little doubt that it is derived simply from the Roman name Muridunum。 The county gaol occupies the site of the old castle; a few fragments of which are seen intermixed with the houses of the town。
{99} Dinevor; the great castle; from dinas; a castle; and vawr; great; was in ancient times a royal residence of the princes of South Wales。 In the year 876; Roderic the Great; having divided the