thereof. The last Sir William, and Sir Hugh de Widworthy his son, in the age of King Edward I. left his daughter Emma, first married unto Sir William Prouse, secondly to Sir Robert Dinham, Knights. These lands remained divers descents in the name of Prouse, until by an heir of Wootton, that had wedded an heir of Prouse, it was carried into the family of Chichester of Raleigh, who gave this manor unto John his son, which he had by his second wife, the daughter of Bryett."

The mansion-house is situated near the church, a large old building, in form of a quadrangle, the undoubted residence of De Widworthy, Knt. the founder of the church. The front of the building is of more modern erection than the three other sides. Over the porch are the arms of the Chichesters, viz. Checky, a chief vairy; crest, on a helmet, an ostrich with a bit of iron in his mouth, in lead. In the ceiling of the hall is the date 1616.

The highest point of Widworthy-hill, which is as high a hill as any in the neighbourhood, is nearly the centre of the parish; on the North-east side of which are some remains of an ancient entrenchment; and near the church, on an eminence having a descent every way, in a field still called Castle Wood, are remains of a small entrenchment. In the Northern extremity of the parish there is a remarkably large flint-rock, five feet in height, and four in width and depth, known by the name of grey-stone; and nearly opposite, on the Southern extremity, is another stone of nearly the same dimensions, both of them evidently placed there by design. A school was founded by one Searl, but, having been en- . dowed with a leasehold estate, is fallen into hand. A house and school have been since given by James Marwood, Esq. 1767: some other benefactions have increased the master's salary eight pounds per annum. No Dissenting Meeting, or Dissenters. The church is situated on a rising ground in the North part of the parish, dedicated to St. Cuthbert it is built of flint, in the form of a Latin cross; as are all the churches I have hitherto seen dedicated to that Saint. The church is an uniform building, consisting of a nave, a chancel, and a transept; and, I should suppose, was built by one of the De Widworthys, Knights: though Mr. Incledon supposes it to have been built at different times. The height of the church, inside, is twentyone feet; the extreme length within, from the altar-piece to the tower, fifty-one feet; the breadth of the transept, including the nave, is thirty-six feet. The old timber being decayed, a new roof, covered with slate, was erected

Arms:

in 1785, and neatly plaistered within, with a handsome cornice. There is a strong, square, plain tower, with battlements, in height forty feet, with five bells; a neat wainscot altarpiece, given by James Marwood, Esq.; and the church was newly seated with wainscot by the parishioners in 1787. The font is of one solid free-stone, in an octagon form, about four feet high, and bears evident marks of antiquity. The screen and rood-loft were taken down before my remembrance. There are several small niches for the holywater; and on removing the old plaister when the church was lately new roofed, the walls appeared to have been painted throughout. No stained glass. On the North wall of the chancel is a handsome marble monument, erected to the memory of some of the Isacks of Ford, who were buried here, though they lived in the adjoining parish of Dallwood, in Dorsetshire; it bears date 1685. Sable, a bend, Or; in a canton Argent, a leopard's head Sable, impaling, Ermine, on a bend, between bendlets Sable, three griffins' heads Or. The rest are modern, viz. another on the North, erected to the memory of three brothers, James Marwood, M. D. Benedictus and Thomas Marwood, Esqrs. eminent for honesty, piety, and good economy. Arms: Gules, a chevron Ermine, between three goats' heads erased Ermined. On the South wall of the chancel is a monument to the memory of " Jacobi Somaster, viri probi & rei medicæ periti, quam Honitoni novem per annos feliciter exercuit; 1748." Arms: Argent, a castle between five fleurs de lis, within a bordure Or. Crest, a portcullis. In the South transept is a very handsome monument to the memory of Robert Marwood, of Cookshays, Esq. 1755; and Mrs. Bridget Marwood, his sister, 1756: an unmeaning inscription at the bottom. Sua præmia virtus. Arms of the Marwoods, as above described. Crest to this: a goat couchant proper, on a wreath Sable and Gules. In the North transept is a monument to the memory of the late James Marwood, Esq. which exceeds my description: it is executed by that celebrated statuary Bacon, and is in his happiest style. In the centre is a beautifully enriched vase, placed upon a Roman pedestal. On the right side is a most animated figure of Justice, suspending her scale; and on the left, Benevolence, reclining over a pelican in its nest, feeding its young from its breast. The delicacy and expression of their countenances, attitude, and drapery, and the harmony and just proportion of the whole, rank it with the first performances of its artist. Beneath is an inscription: "James Marwood, Esq. died April 3, 1767, aged 65.

VOL. IV.

The memory of the Just is blessed." The whole is pleasingly relieved by a back-ground of deep yellow marble, with an elegant white marble bordure rising conically to an obtuse angle over it.

Under an arch in the wall, immediately under the Northern window in the same transept, lies the statue of a man, very perfect, at full length, in complete armour, with spurs; his shield, suspended by a belt from his right shoulder, hangs over his left arm, and reaches to the lower part of his thigh; his head is supported by a cushion, with a cherub on each side, his feet by a lion; his hands recline on his breast, in the attitude of prayer. On his shield are three lions rampant between five crosslets, two at the top, one in the centre, and two in the base. There is not the least vestige of an inscription, nor, I believe, was there ever any. There is no tradition in the parish whom it was intended for; though I should suppose it the founder of the church, De Widworthy, Knt. There are two large flat stones, one in the chancel, the other in the body of the church. One has its inscription quite defaced; the other the Chichester arms, with this inscription: DORMITORIUM IOHANNIS CHICHESTER, ARMIGERI, QVI Obiit nono die IvNII, AN'O SALVTIS 1661. In a table over the door at the West end of the tower, on the outside, are three emblems; and over them some relief, but much defaced, which has the appearance of a crucifix, and on each side a person in a suppliant posture.

The following is an extract of the table of benefactions. In 1733, Robert Marwood, Esq. annually 20s. to the poor on St. Luke's day. 1741, Benedictus Marwood, Esq. the interest of 100l. to the parish school-master. 1767, James Marwood, Esq. 40s. yearly, and a school-room to ditto. 1769, Rev. Joseph Somaster, Rector, the interest of 1001. half to the parish school-master; the other to the poor, in bread, on Christmas-day. The communion plate is handsome; a chalice and a large silver vessel for the wine, given by Mrs. B. Marwood, of Čookshays, dated 1756, and a patten, given by the late rector, Jo. Somaster, in usum sacrosanctæ eucha rista, 1756; who also gave a velvet cloth for the pulpit. The church-yard is large for the parish, being near half an acre; a large flourishing yew-tree decorates it. There are two old tombs, and a few head-stones,-the inscriptions not remarkable. The register is in good preservation, and quite complete from 1540 to the present date, 1791.-The population has been rather on the decline, though it is now increasing.

July, 1791.

VI. Description of Neath Abbey, in Glamorganshire.

MR. URBAN,

YOU will oblige me by inserting in your Magazine the following account of Neath Abbey. I cannot, at present, procure a drawing of it; but, if I should hereafter, it will be much at your service.

It is situated on the Western bank of the placid, serpentine Neath, one mile from the town of Neath, in the county of Glamorgan, surrounded on all sides by the most beautiful and romantic scenery. It was founded in the beginning of the reign of Henry I. by Richard de Grana Villa, or Granville, who then held the lordship of Neath, and was brother to Robert Fitz-hamon, chief of Norman knights, who conquered Glamorganshire about the year 1190. The monks here were, at first, of the order of Sa vigny, but soon afterwards became Cistercians. Mr. Wyndham justly observes (in his "Tour through Monmouthshire and Wales") that there are no " traces among the ruins" ancient as the "original foundation;" for, the plain Gothic style of building, which the present remains exhibit, was not introduced into this country until the latter end of the reign of Henry II. nor did it generally prevail until that of Henry III.

This Abbey once afforded a temporary asylum to an unfortunate monarch and his favourite. Edward II. and Hugh Le Despenser, the younger, having taken a vessel at Bristol, A. D. 1326, with a design to sail to the Island of Lundy, or (according to other accounts) to Ireland, were driven by contrary winds on the coast of Glamorganshire, and remained concealed a short time at this place. This flight of the king is the more memorable, as it furnished the queen and her party with a specious pretext for declaring the Prince of Wales guardian of the kingdom.

Lewis of Glamorgan*, a celebrated Welsh poet, who flourished about the year 1520, gives a particular description of this Abbey, in an ode comprising the twenty-four different metres of ancient British poetry. He describes it as a spacious building covered with lead, with some fine painted windows, and a pavement of glazed brick. These bricks are, at present, frequently picked up among the

* Lewys Morgannwg.

rubbish. We likewise learn from this ode, that it was once a seat of the Muses, youth being instructed here (among other branches of learning) in arithmetic, rhetoric, logic, and the civil and canon laws; and that this school had attained a considerable degree of celebrity; nor does he forget to mention the adjacent parks, from which the Holy Fathers were supplied with venison, or to bestow a proper encomium on their sumptuous table. He also informs us, that the arms of several of the nobility and gentry were to be seen here. Some armorial bearings cut in free-stone, and placed over the principal entrance to the Abbot's house, have been lately removed; and the different quarterings of the Pembroke family, executed in the above manner, which were taken hence, are now at Courtratîr, a house belonging to the Abbey estate.

The church consisted of a nave, about two hundred and ten feet long, and sixty-six wide, with a cross-aisle, about one hundred and fifty feet long, and fifty-four wide; a large tower in the centre, and two light turrets at the West end; a good part of the latter, with the winding staircase in each, still remains. The shell of the Abbot's house is entire, and includes several spacious rooms, the largest of which is the refectory (now called the great hall), being seventy feet in length, and thirty feet wide, with a vaulted stone roof, supported by a row of plain columns, running lengthways through the middle of the room.

Leland in his Itinerary calls Neath "the fairest abbey of all Wales;" but in his Collectanea he is inclined to give Margam the preference.

It continued until the general dissolution of religious houses, when its annual revenues were estimated at 1321. 7s. 7 d. according to Dugdale, but Speed states them at 150l. 4s. 9d. This valuation must have been very low even at that time, since the demesne itself is of a considerable extent, and formerly there were several detached estates belonging to the monastery, which are not held with it now, some in the neighbourhood, and others in the different parishes of Llandilo-tal-y-bont, Oystermouth Llanridian, Penmain, Porteinon, and Llandewi, in Gower, all within the county of Glamorgan.

It was granted 33d of Henry VIII. to Sir Richard Williams, alias Cromwell, great grand-father to the Protector. We find it afterwards in the possession of the Herberts; from whom it was transferred to Sir William Dodington, of Breymore, in the county of Southampton, Knt. by his marriage with Mary, the daughter of Sir John Herbert, Knt