Cylchgronau Cymru

CEFN-Y-LLYS. From C. H. SANDFORD. c EFN-Y-LLYS was originally the palace in which the Silurian Lords of Moelynaidd and Elfael made their abode and held their Court of Judicature. The word Llys means a Court, but it also means a palace since castles in ancient times were palaces or seats of residence as well as courts of judicature. Cefn-y-Llys castle has sometimes been denominated Castell-Glyn- Ithon because its situation is upon a bank or ridge that overlooks the vale of the river Ithon. Its original construction was so well adapted for defence as to be almost impregnable against the modes of attack practised when the use of gunpowder and artillery was unknown. However, in 1262 it was taken by surprise by a detachment of troops sent thither by the order of Llewelyn ab Gruffydd Prince of North Wales, (i.e. the last Prince of Wales,) who had defeated Roger Mortimer in the field and was laying waste his Radnorshire and Herefordshire estates with fire and sword. The Governor of the Castle was made prisoner and the greater part of the garrison who were Herefordshire men were put to the sword. The detachment then made their residence in he castle, but they were soon besieged, their supplies cut off and they were compelled to surrender. It remained ever after in the possession of the Norman lords of Moelynaidd who established in it the court of justice called the Lords Marchers Court, which gave them an uncontrolled authority over all the inhabitants and over the whole property of the country. In the reign of Henry VI died Edmund the last Earl of March and Wigmore of the name of Mortimer, leaving no issue. The Castle then devolved to Richard Duke of York and Earl of Cambridge in right of his wife Anne, the only surviving sister and heir of the aforesaid Edmund and upon the succession of his son to the throne of England as Edward IV, it was finally annexed to the crown. Camden, the antiquary, relates that in his time (circ. 1558) it lay in ruins and that the site on which it stood belonged to the Duke of York.