Stands in its mouldering desolation about a mile and a half from Dolgelley, and half a mile from Llanilltyd, near the banks of the Maw. The ruins may be visited by the pedestrian, in his way to the waterfalls. The abbey was founded in 1198, by Meredith and Griffith, lords of Merioneth. The monks were of the Cistercian order, and the abbey was dedicated to St. Mary. Part only of the church of this monastery is left, and the refectory and abbot’s lodgings are built into an adjoining farm-house.
Within a few hundred yards of the village of Llanilltyd, in this parish, on the right of the road from Dolgelley, stands Hengwrt, the property of Colonel Vaughan, of Rhûg, formerly the residence of Robert Vaughan, Esq. the eminent antiquary, author of British Antiquities Revived and other learned works. The library here contains the largest collection of Welsh MSS. in existence. It was principally from the MSS. in this library that Aneurin Owen, Esq. compiled his able Digest of the Old Welsh Laws.
Nassau Park.
About two miles from Dolgelley, is an ancient seat, formerly belonging to the Nannau family, but now the property and residence of Sir Robert Williames Vaughan, Bart.
The grounds of Nannau are entered under a fine gateway, the house being a mile distant from the entrance to the park; which for picturesque beauty and the calm grandeur of rural scenery, is not surpassed by any domain in the Principality. Some romantic traditions also confer additional interest on this charming scene. In the higher part are the remains of a British post, called Moel Orthrwm (or the Hill of Oppression), having probably been held by some notorious tyrant of the olden time. Here also once stood an immense oak, blasted and hollowed by time, in which, according to popular belief, Owen Glyndwr inhumed the fresh-bleeding corpse of his treacherous cousin, Howel Sele, who had been bribed to make an attempt upon his life, where it remained concealed for forty years. In Pennant’s time, the trunk of this patriarchal tree was twenty-seven feet and a half in circumference; it was in the last stage of decay, and pierced by age into the form of a Gothic arch. Its end is thus described by Sir Richard Colt Hoare: “During a visit to Sir Robert Vaughan, in the summer of the year 1813, this aged tree, mentioned by Mr. Pennant, attracted my notice; and in the morning of the 13th of July, I made a drawing of it, on one of the most sultry days I ever felt; the succeeding night was equally hot, and on the same night this venerable oak fell to the ground.”
The gardens at Nannau are very extensive, and laid out with excellent taste: they contain a number of choice exotics, and an inspection of them proves a source of never-failing gratification to every lover of horticultural pursuits.
Angling Stations.
| Distances from Dolgelley. | Miles. |
| Traws-vynydd, on the Bychan | 12 |
| Llanvachreth | 3½ |
| Hendre Llwyngwr, (S. W.) | 11 |
| Pont Dolgefiliau, on the Mawddach, (N.) | 8 |
| Dol-y-gamedd, on the Wnion | 3½ |
| Llyn Cregenan, (S. W.) | 4 |
| Llyn Gader | 1½ |
| Llyn Geirw, (S. W.) | 5 |
| Tal-y-llyn, Cader Idris | 8 |
FFESTINIOG,
(Merionethshire.)
| Caernarvon | 25 |
| Capel Curig | 20 |
| Bala | 19 |
| Maentwrog | 2½ |
| Tan-y-Bwlch | 2½ |
| Tremadoc | 13 |