Cathedine

Summary

Cathedine (Welsh: Cathedin) lies between the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains, in Wales.

It is a small hamlet approximately 2 miles from Llangorse and 2 miles from Bwlch.

It has a Norman castle and great views of Llangorse lake.

St Michael's church at Cathedine occupies a rectangular churchyard on a hill slope at the southern end of the hamlet. The church was first recorded at about the beginning of the 12th century, but was almost entirely rebuilt in the second half of the 19thC. Some stonework from the earlier structure may survive specifically the west wall and the jambs of the south door which could be relics from its predecessor.

History

Following the Anglo-Norman conquest in the late 11th century the whole of Cathedine was initially assigned by Bernard de Neufmarché to his prisoner Gwrgan ap Bleiddin ap Maenarch but was later repossessed by Bernard, and from the late 12th century formed part of the medieval Marcher lordship of Blaenllynfi. Following the Act of Union in 1536 it formed part of the hundred of Talgarth, and later formed part of the 19th-century tithe parish of Cathedine.

The hamlet was reputable a favourite country hunting base for the 19th century industrialist, Crawshay Bailey.

Landscape ^[1]

Predominantly regular fieldscapes with hedged boundaries to the south and east of Llangorse Lake, on sloping hill-land of Allt yr Esgair and the western flanks of Mynydd Llan-gors, lying between a height of between about 150–390 metres above sea level. The distinctive field patterns in the area appears to represent systematic clearance and enclosure or the enclosure of former common grazing in the later medieval or early post-medieval period. Modern land use predominantly pasture, with some conifer plantation on Allt yr Esgair. Modern settlement includes a number of widely dispersed farms including Trebinshwn farm and house and Lower Cathedine, both of which are perhaps late medieval or early post-medieval in origin.

Notes

References

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust