{82} St. Piranus, Otherwise Called St. Kiaran, Or Piran, Was An
Irish Saint, Said To Have Been Born In The
County of Ossory, or of
Cork, about the middle of the fourth century; and after that by his
labours the
Gospel had made good progress, he forsook all worldly
things, and spent the remainder of his life in religious solitude.
The place of his retirement was on the sea-coast of Cornwall, and
not far from Padstow, where, as Camden informs us, there was a
chapel on the sands erected to his memory. Leland has informed us,
that the chapel of St. Perine, at Caerdiff, stood in Shoemaker
Street.
{83} So called from a parish of that name in Glamorganshire,
situated between Monk Nash and St. Donat's, upon the Bristol
Channel.
{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.
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