Cylchgronau Cymru

Blaen y Caeau is one of the unlocated eleven. = of the top of the fields n. BLAEN Y COED: On OS 1836 it joins "Nant Idda" now n. Eiddew Fach and flows along the course of the present n. Eiddew Fawr (v.). = of the top(end) of the wood. BOLO: The name first occurs in 1120 Charter (St. M. Ch. 11) Blaen Bolo i blaen "cannou". 14 In the same charter Abernodwydd (SJ 0009) and Dolwen (SH 9707) are mentioned. The account of these lands of Dolwen places Blaen Bolo somewhere around SH 9609. M.E. quotes from a 1588 document, "from the springing or rysinge of Nodwydd alongest the mydle of Keven brwyn to Blain Bole to Blain Cannon." The document adds that Blain Bol was "on the side of a hill called bol y mynah." Further confirmation of the location is to be found in the Inclosure Awards for the Manor of Caereinion Uwchcoed Manor, 1829, which mentions Blaen Bolo and marks on its map "Blaen Cambwll or Blaen Bolo." (Major E. H. C. Davies kindly showed me his copy of this document and pointed out the reference,) T.M. Llangadfan 1840 has Blaen y Cambwll located at SH 9509. The stream which has its blaenau, upper reaches, here is Nant Craig y Fran. The hill, Bol y Mynach, may have been so named either because it had some connection with a monk or because it resembled the stomach of a well-fed prelate. As to the derivation of Bolo E.A. favours a derivation from a per. n. < bol = empty space, bulge, hill, cf. Rhosybol. Talebolion, in Anglesey. Also cf. Bolbro near Abermule. Bolo could also be explained as having been formed by adding the stream-ending ­o to the element bol which occurred in a place name on the course of the stream. It is reasonable to regard pwll in Cambwll as denoting the same kind of feature as pwll in Pwll Llydan, the name for the upper stretch of Afon Garno (v.). It was a flow of water through a bog: llydan described it as being wide. The Cambwll would be a stretch or a tributary of Bolo, flowing through similar terrain, cam describing it as curved, crooked or even meandering. BORTHIN: Aber Borthin is shown on OS 1836 on a loop on the right bank of the Severn. Hab. Aberborthin is shown as SO 00858; today there is no loop at this location. E.A. suggests that Borthin is a pers. n. n. y BRADNANT: SN 9885 Severn R. v.n. y Filltir. Brad = treason, treachery. The stream (nant) may have been named after the valley (nant) which was in some way treacherous or had been the scene of an act of treachery. n. y BRAN: SJ 0011 Banw L. M.E. regards it as a faulty form of Nant Bran: the expected form with the article would be Nant y Fran. The form on T.M. Llangadfan 1841 is Nant y Fraen. In a collection of Montgomeryshire folk word (G.E.M., 14) braenen is listed = crow, plural braen. The hab. named after the stream is Nant y braen bach. Cf. Llwyn y Braen near Penybontfawr on OS 1836. = of the crows n BREC: SN 892849 -> Severn L. Listed by S.E. on Enc M Llanidloes, Township of Glynhafren Iscoed 1828, marked Nant y Breck. It is the same stream as n. y Brithdir. It seems to be the E. break but with what meaning and why I have no suggestion to offer. n. y BRENIN: according to Chairman of Montgomery Civic Society this— County Brook L, SO 2395. This "rill" is mentioned but not named as flowing from Llwynobin in 1831 Perambulation of Montgomery (Mont. Coll. XL. 146). My informant was of the opinion that the name at one "Cannou for Cannon (v.) is an example of the many errors in transcribing place names which are to be found, surprisingly, in the translations of Strata Marcella charters in Mont. Coll. LI. Even when the misreading is patent. I have reproduced the name as printed in the translation.