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CROMLECH AT GAERLLWYD, NEWCHURCH, NEAR CAERWENT, MONMOUTHSHIRE.

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THE relic of antiquity called a CROMLECH, of which a representation is here given, being the only one of the kind in Monmouthshire, and no particulars relating to it having been given by Coxe, Williams, or any of the numerous tourists who have undertaken to describe the more remarkable places in that county, some account thereof, it is deemed, will prove interesting.

The upper or incumbent stone of this ancient relic is twelve feet long, and at a mean, three feet and a half broad; the uprights or supporters are from four to five feet high, and the whole seems to have been surrounded by a slight trench and bank. It is situated on a small farm called Gaer Llwyd, in the parish of Newchurch, on a hill northwards from the town of Caerwent, and distant therefrom, in a direct line, about four miles.

In addition to this, there are several interesting antiquities in the neighbourhood. About a mile from the Cromlech, in the same direction from Caerwent, and in the parish of Llangwm, near its boundary with that of Wolvesnewton, is a very extensive camp, called Gaervawr, and a mile and half

westward from thence is another camp, also in the parish of Llangwm, at Golden Hill, formerly called Bryn Eurawg. And about a mile north-east from the Gaervawr is another camp, called Cwrtygaer, in the parish of Wolvesnewton, that gives name to the house and estate on which it is situated; this camp is circular, and thought to be Danish, whereas the others are considered to be British.

The Cromlech was discovered some years ago, by T. Wakeman, Esq. of the Graig, Monmouthshire, who seeing, when at some distance off, what he thought was a cottage, went to it, and was agreeably surprised on finding it different from what he expected. Since then, the account he gave of it has caused it to be visited by several individuals; and when a new road was about to be made in the neighbourhood, he interested himself to preserve it from being broken for road materials, as a Maen Hir, near Monmouth, had shortly before been done for the purpose.

Connected with the subject, the following passage has been supposed to refer to this Cromlech, the great city mentioned therein having been thought to mean Caerwent, and the direction northwards therefrom agreeing with its situation. The passage is extracted from a little work entitled Topography of Monmouthshire, by C. Cooke, published some years ago by Sherwood, Jones, & Co., London. The author, speaking of the Silurian hero, Caractacus, who so long baffled the Roman forces in their invasion of Britain, proceeds as follows:

"Caruth, the bard, in an Ode to the memory of their Chieftain, says, The castle of Dinham is consecrated to his memory,

It riseth near his grave.

In the ancient lore

Of the learned, thus it is written, On the mount
Which lieth north of the great city, there sleeps
Caractacus, till God, the God of Bran, appears
On earth."

Should, however, the monument not be thought to be the resting place of the celebrated Caractacus, it may, notwithstanding, cover the remains of some British chieftain of ancient days, who fell in battle, of which the camps are the only record. At all events the subject is interesting, and worthy of investigation.

A BARIS.

[We understand that the person in occupation of the land upon which this cromlech stands, was so much annoyed at the number of visitors who came to see it, that he threatened to pull it down and destroy it. A gentleman, however, in the neighbourhood, distinguished for his love of antiquities, has interfered, and we hope with success. It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the nobility and gentry of the land that they are, by virtue of their station, the natural conservators of the historical monuments of their country, and that they are bound to protect them, even at the expense of their money and their leisure. Disrespect for ancient things and ancient institutions becomes easily associated in the minds of the uneducated many, with contempt and disaffection for existing monuments and laws; and the pathway to change and destruction, which mankind are so fond of treading, is thereby rendered only the broader. Every stone wantonly pulled out of an old building, every chip knocked off a cromlech, indicates a step taken in the wrong direction.— EDD. ARCH. CAMBR.]

VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY.

[Additional particulars.]

THE arms of Valle Crucis are vert three rising falcons argent.

Owen Glyndwr was fifth in descent from Madoc ap Gryffydd Maelor, who built the Abbey. Guttyn Owain, in 1480, mentions Abbot John, fourth son of Bodidris, who had three of his fingers covered with costly rings.

The tincture of the shield of arms mentioned in No. I., p. 23, as checky, indicates the arms of John, Earl Warren, to whose tender mercy, Edward I. gave the eldest son of Gryffydd ab Maelor, in wardship. (Pennant, p. 270.)

The inscription in p. 30, relating to Dydgc..., referred, probably, to a Lady of the House of Bryn Cynallt.

In A.D. 1487, Robert Trevor ab Ievan, died Sept. and was buried at Valle Crucis.

The following extract has been transcribed from an old paper found at Chirk Castle, A.D. 1834:

Particulars to be enquired of my Lord Wotton's steward, Mr. ffor young St. Thomas Myddletton. Torn very much.

Hen:

1. The valuation of Val y Crucis alias Llan Egwyst Records seind: with the remembrance, &c. . . . under and seale, dated 324 Febry. . . . . E

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año nostr: regine 39.

2. A Registers Booke begininge thus, i.e. visitation . . . et diñ: Dini henrici permissione Asaphensis Episcob: Año Dñi. 1528, et suæ consecrationis, Añ. 10.

3. Sr. William Pickerings lettre patent ffrom K: Edward the 6th, of the Monasterie of Valle Crucis and the scite thereof.

4. Exemplification of a decree taken temp. Henry 8th., in the Court of Augmentation touchinge the Bishops dues ffor procurations to synods, and a note of Beeston's Account under Hanbry (or Lanbry) the auditors hand.

5. Copie of Edward Davies hys informacion against John Edwards in the Exchequer, and a copie of an order upon.

6. A copie of John Edwards hys Bill in Chancerie against Sr. Edward Wotton ffor Tyr y Bwrth.

7. A copie of St. Edward Woottons answer and Mr. Edwards replication.

8. A copie of Edwards Bill in the Sessions for Lactualls, against Hugh ap Rhys and others, with the defendants answer thereunto; alsoe an order, and a warrant to witnesses, ad testificandm, under Sr. Richard Shuttleworths hand.

9. Peece of paper, wherein was written upon the top "Jura Rege Decanatid de Marchia," that is, a note of the tenths subsidies, Lactualls, Añuals, and visitations of fourteen Benefices.

10. A Booke or Register of Valle Crucis ffor añ. 30 of H. 8., containing six leaves.

11. An Extract out of the first fruits office, of the Lactualls, Annuals, Procurations, and Procurations in visitations of the seven Benefices belonging to Valle Crucis, under Mr. Taylor's own hande, and three witnesses.

12. The exemplification of a survey of Valle Crucis, 27 H. 8. 13. A Graunte of Lewys, Bishop of St. Asaph, whereby he impropriated divers Rectories to the Monastery of Valle Crusis, Año

Dni. 1290.

14. A copy of a Comission out of a Chancery to survey the Lands belonginge to the said Monastery, 26 H. 8.

15. Sr. William Pickerings account, 30 H. 8.

16. A copy of the receipts duringe the tyme of Henry, late Bishopp of St. Asaph, exemplified under the Bishops seal in the tyme of Robert, Bishop of St. Asaph, Año. 1536.

A. LL.

SUPPLEMENT. In consequence of the numerous and valuable Papers contributed by our antiquarian friends, we have been obliged to publish a Supplement to this present Number, to which our Readers are referred.

Correspondence.

IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION.

To the Editors of the Archeologia Cambrensis.

GENTLEMEN,-I take the liberty of addressing you, not only as being one of your constant readers, but as being deputed by several of your friends and brother antiquaries to communicate to you our opinion upon a matter of no small interest to the common cause we advocate, the study and preservation of the National Antiquities of Wales.

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In the first place I should observe, that we highly approve of the efforts made by yourselves and the contributors to the Archeologia Cambrensis, towards exciting and extending a love and knowledge of Cambrian Archeology; and we make no doubt but that your efforts will, in the course of time, produce an excellent effect upon the whole body of Welsh antiquaries, as well as upon the public in general. We consider as a token of this, the great variety of communications concerning Wales which your pages have received, not only from correspondents within the Principality, but also from those in other parts of Great Britain, and even from the sister island. The value, too, of nearly all the papers you have printed, and the highly interesting information which your Work has been the means of divulging, show that the subject of Welsh antiquities is not merely as rich as you yourselves apparently anticipated it to be, but, we expect, will prove to be much more extensive and important, in a national and historical point of view, than the majority of British antiquaries are inclined to admit. We also would remind the archæological world, through your pages, that the correspondence, which you have published shows how warm an interest is taken in antiquarian subjects in places, where the very existence of such a feeling has been strongly denied; and, were we called on for a proof of this, would appeal to Caernarvon as a remarkable instance; where to our knowledge several amateurs, and even indifferent persons, have been bitten with the antiquarian furor, and where a strong desire to cultivate the study of national antiquities now happily prevails. Your publication is entitled to much praise for having encouraged and concentrated this good feeling in that town; and we doubt not but that similar results have occurred, or may be expected, at other places.

Next, we consider that the existence of a publication like your own, appearing at stated intervals, and making periodical additions to our stock of antiquarian knowledge, as well as appealing to our better feelings for the preservation of the existing monuments of Wales, is a positive good for the Principality, inasmuch as it gives us a common vehicle of communication, and tends to keep up that feeling of good will, which should ever prevail ARCH. CAMB. VOL. I.] HH

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