BEALT , Beauhalt, or Builth, is situated in a most delightful spot, on the river Wye. That it is a place of great antiquity is indisputable, though the learned are not quite agreed whether it was the Bellaeum Sylurum of the Romans, or not; however, that it was one of their stations is evident, from there being still some remains of a camp; and pavements, with other pieces of antiquity, have been discovered at different periods. The Britons, when they fled into these parts from the superior power of the Saxons, built a strong castle here, to prevent the incursions of their merciless enemies.
But, the English having taken possession
of it soon after the Norman conquest, one of the Welsh princes seized upon it,
and laid the whole in ashes. It was however afterwards rebuilt by the Mortimers
earls of March; but, a fire having accidentally broke out in the part of the
town next the river in the year 1690, the remains of the castle and many houses
were totally demolished.
The pleasant and beautiful situation of this town has induced many people to
settle in it, and of late years a manufactory of stockings has been established
in it, by which many hands are employed. The houses in general are very neat,
and the streets regularly and well paved; but there are not any public structures
that merit particular notice.
The town has two weekly markets,
Monday and Saturday; and fairs June 27, Oct. 2, and Dec. 6. It is distant from
London 171 miles, 15 from Brecknock, 14 from Rhayader, 20 from the Hay, 20 from
Kington, and 21 from Llandovery.
The little vale of Builth has always been justly admired by all travellers,
for the many picturesque views in and about it. - A mile N.W. of the town is
the park wells, well known for the virtue of its salt springs, &c. and about
seven miles N.E. in the county of Radnor, is Llandrindod wells, too well known
for the value of its three different springs, to need any encomiums upon it
in this work, (see Dr Lee on the virtues of Llandrindod waters.) Llanwortyd
well is about 11 miles westward of the town of Builth, a most efficacious relief
of all scorbutic cases; this spring was discovered about sixty years ago by
a clergyman.
Gentlement's seats in the neighbourhood. A mile north of the town, in the county
of Radnor, is Llanlwedd Hall, the seat of - Gwynne, Esq. Half a mile above it,
upon the side of a hill, is Willfield, a new-built villa, belonging to David
Thomas, Esq. the situation of this house is delightful, particularly so for
a summer residence, having a beautiful view from the south front of the vale
of Builth, the town, two stone bridges, and the junctions of three rivers, viz.
the Wye, the Irvan, and the Wevery; when the plantations come to perfection,
from the variety of the grounds and the different views northward and southward,
this will be one of the most agreeable spots in the county.
On the Llandrendod [sic] road, two
miles from Builth, is Pinkerrig, the seat of Thomas Jones, Esq. West of the
town is Kilmarry, the seat of Thomas Price, Esq. Seven miles west is Garth,
the seat of Howell Gwynne, Esq. Nine miles west is Abaranell, the seat of John
Lloyd, Esq. Ten miles west is Llevyn Madock, the seat of - Thomas, Esq. Seven
miles east is Langoid Castle, the seat of Sir Edward Williams, Bart. Eight miles
to the south is Trebariud, the seat of - Vaughan, Esq.
The following are the principal inhabitants:
| Gentry | ||
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Clergyman |
|---|
|
|
| Gentry | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Gentry | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Traders &c | ||
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
back to Universal Directory contents