Books, Prehistory, Archaeologia Cambrensis 1870 Page 365

Cromlech at Presaddfed [Presaddfed Burial Chambers [Map]].

The day's excursion closed with an inspection of a cromlech at Presaddfed. It has originally consisted of two chambers with openings facing the east. The larger and more perfect chamber consists of six supporters so arranged as to give almost an hexagonal chamber. The capstone is at present supported at one end entirely on the narrow end of one of the uprights; and in case this slight support should, from the effect of weather, give way, this very perfect chamber would be destroyed. A substantial pier built underneath the slab would be the only means of saving it; and it is to be hoped that some precaution of the kind will be taken to preserve one of the finest monuments of the kind in the island. It has been already engraved and published.

Evening Meeting.—In the absence of the President, the chair was occupied by Professor Babington, who made a few observations on the more remarkable objects they had seen during the day. A letter was then read from Mr. Llewelyn Turner, the Mayor of Carnarvon, respecting the formation of a national museum of antiquities, to be established in the Castle of Carnarvon. Such a want has been long felt; for the present museum in the town of Carnarvon, although containing one or two objects of great interest and value, can hardly be considered a museum. The Secretary was directed to express the approval of the proposed plan, and to state that the Association would do all in its power to promote its success.

Mr. Barnwell then gave some details of a remarkable Celtic fortification near Brest, where the accidental configuration of huge, perpendicular rocks formed three sides; the south, and open side, being artificially protected by complicated works; the face of the ground on the slope having been roasted into solid rock, to render access more difficult. The whole of the details shew that they were carried out by the same race that fortified themselves on projecting headlands protected on three sides by precipitous cliffs.

After this account followed some extracts from the returns of certain Welsh priories at the dissolution. These were the establishments at Llanfaes, Khuddlan, Denbigh, Cardiff, Carmarthen, and Haverfordwest. As regards the priory of Llanfaes, it appears that, in addition to the church, choir, hall, and kitchen, there were cloisters, two vestiaria (one for the church furniture, the other for the use of the house), a brewhouse, a house apparently for storing cheese, a yard, and a woodhouse; but nothing is said about dormitory or guest-chambers.

The proceedings of the evening terminated with voting the thanks of the Association to Miss Conway-Griffith, who had kindly invited the Association to Carreglwyd on the following day; and to the President for his hospitable reception of the members at Treiorworth. Votes of thanks were also passed to the Hon. W. O. Stanley for the use of the Hall; and to the Local Committee, and more especially to Mr. Elliott and Mr. L. Lloyd Griffith, the Honorary Secretary for the Meeting, for their most efficient services in the organising and carrying out the objects of the Meeting. The Meeting then terminated.

25th August 1870. Friday, August 25. Excursion.—The first halt was made at Llanynghenedl Church, one of the ordinary churches of the district; and, with the exception of the font, devoid of all interest. The font is assigned by the author of Mona Mediceva to the twelfth century; but from the view he has given of it, it has rather the appearance of the thirteenth century work.

Llanddeusant Church, the next visited, has been lately rebuilt in a very creditable manner. The original font is preserved, and has a rude Norman arcade, but of very small dimensions for one of such date. An ancient bell, apparently intended to be rung by the hand, was in the old church, but was not seen on the occasion of this visit. The bell and the font are represented in Mona Medimva, xxv.

In the same number will be found the south door of the ancient church at Llanbabo, next examined. The present building is of the early part of the fifteenth century; but the south doorway is part of a much older structure, and has been thought to be made up of a larger and more ornamented doorway. The font is an early basin with sloping sides. But the most important object is the large incised slab representing St. Pabo, with the inscription, which, according to Angharad Llwyd's History of the Isle of Anglesea, ran thus: Hie jacet pabo post pkydain in telure Ima; but the latter part now seems to read prima. The history of its discovery is given by Rowland and Pennant, who both give imperfect representations of it. A more satisfactory one will be found in the last mentioned number of Mona Mediceva. The slab itself is of late fourteenth century work, but used to be thought coeval with the saint himself. Thus Lewis Morris quotes this inscription in a letter to Carte, the historian, to prove that in the seventh century the Welsh had an alphabet which was borrowed by the Saxons.

On quitting the church the excursionists found their way to the summit of a rising ground a little to the south-east of Llanfechell Church. Here is one of those large circular enclosures similar to the one visited on the second excursion, but with less defined entrenchments. At the upper end, however, are what are called in the Ordnance Map trenches; but of which no satisfactory explanation can be given, unless they formed part of the original defensive entrenchment, which has by some accident remained in its primitive state while the rest of the work has been levelled. It now presents the appearance of a deep and narrow road sunk between high banks.

Llanfechell Church is one of the most important churches in the district, with a tower which has been thought by some to be of defensive character. The east window, of three lights, also has hardly its equal in the island. The font is peculiar. It is a small square one, each side ornamented with two rude, Morman-like aiches, somewhat similar to the font of Llanddeusant. A view of it is given in Mona Mediceva, xxvii. Opposite the south door is a coffin-slab with floriated cross of the fourteenth century.

At a short distance from the church, on rising ground, are three pillar-stones, set in a triangle, about ten feet high above the ground, which appear to have been the remaining supporters of a covering stone long since removed. This chamber, in its original state, must have been one of unusually lofty and imposing dimensions. The farm on which it stands is named Cromlech, which is supposed to confirm the supposition that a cromlech once stood here. Lower down, however, oh the slope of the hill, stood also a cromlech at the time that the Ordnance Map was made, but it has since vanished. From whichever of the two monuments the farm is so called, it would be desirable to ascertain by deeds how long the farm has been so called, as the first use and meaning of the word "cromlech" is not yet satisfactorily determined.

To the right of the road from Llanfechell, and near Llanvairynghornwy Church, is a small earthwork called "Castell Bod-ronyn," washed by a little stream. It consists of a mound surrounded with a well denned ditch and agger. Local tradition spoke of some stoneworks in addition; but these have vanished, and at present there is nothing but the mound and ditch. Who the Ronyn was whose abode it was is unknown; but whoever he was, the castle is of much later date than most of our primitive strongholds. On the opposite side of the road are three large pillar-stones, about five hundred yards apart, forming a triangle; but this grouping is probably more the result of accident than purpose.