We were up early this morning but it rained so fast we could not leave the house till ten. I employed the interval in copying a map of the Island on a large scale which is to be filled up as we proceed. Accompanied by our new acquaintance we first visited Llanedwyn [17] church where he officiates for the first time next Sunday. The church yard and a great part of the parish has lately been enclosed by Lord Uxbridge’s park walls and we were not a little surprized to find a (fol. 33a) porter’s lodge and a locked gate on the church road.
In the church yard is a flat stone with a Latin inscription to Rowlands the antiquarian who held this living with Llanidan for many years. We found by the date that he died in one thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven.
What is very extraordinary for the author of such a book as Mona Antiqua we were told he was never above once out of the Island in his life.
Llanedwyn church is said by this gentleman to have been originally founded by Edwen neice or daughter to king Edwin anno domini six hundred and four though none of the present building we presume can boast of that antiquity it being formed after the present model of Welsh churches. Yet it retains its bason for holy water, its modern crosses, and a curious inscription cut on the back of one of the pews, the letters running in a circle with I. H. S. in the centre. I believe the inscription is Welsh: the character (fol. 38) apparently that made use of in the time of Henry the seventh. From hence we pursued our walk across the park towards Lord Uxbridge’s house stopping in the way to examine a very large Carnedd [18] or artificial hillock formed of loose stones but now overgrown with turf and trees. This remain is one of the most considerable in the island measuring one hundred and thirty-four paces in circumference. On walking round it we observed a square opening on the south side which I entered on my hands and knees and found it about ten feet long, four wide and three high, the sides formed of three large flat stones placed edgeways in the ground supporting the roof which consists of only two. I have endeavoured to be as exact as I could in my drawings of this cistfaen (which without doubt it was) and employed as the grave of some considerable personage (folio 38a) in ancient times though Mr. Rowlands appropriates the carnedd to a very different use and connects it with the religion of the Druids. In his time three skeletons were discovered in digging near the surface of the carnedd which gave him an idea of its being a place of sacrifice but he had never an opportunity of viewing the interior (the opening having been discovered within these few years) he was unable to speak with certainty on the subject. This was certainly the mode of sepulture among the Britons, and northern invaders before the introduction of Christianity, and many of the open parts of England especially Wiltshire & Dorsetshire abound in them, there they are denomenated barrows, in Derbyshire & the northern counties they are called lows. The term carnedd implies a heap of stones.
From hence we proceeded to look at a very large cromlech [20] or Druidical altar preserved in the Park near his lordship’s stables. In our way there we passed in front of the house a vast pile of building designed by Wyatt and recently fitted up with every elegance of modern refinement but as the family (fol. 41) were at home we could not visit the interiour. However I made a drawing of the cromlech which is nearly four yards long and above a yard thick, the supporters at the north end nearly five feet high a smaller stone lying close to the other extremity measuring three feet long and two and a half thick has also its small supporters and is to all appearance intended as a separate cromlech. A large tree spreading its branches over the moss grown stone and the venerable wood sheltering the park are still very impressive and give some idea of the enthusiasm these objects were capable of inspiring when connected with superstition. The stables, not far distant from the spot are built in a style of gothic architecture resembling an extensive monastery, the pampered and lazy steeds within their stalls may be considered as no inapt emblem of the former (fol. 41a) inhabitants of such kind of edifices. From hence we walked to a modern villa situated in another part of the grounds called Fort Cæsar built by Colonel Peacock about 20 years since, but on Lord Uxbridge’s purchasing the Colonel’s estate it was enclosed within that park, as is also a more ancient mansion called Plâs Llanedwyn besides many farm houses and cottages. The park wall has not long since been erected, it is built of stone ten feet high and extends nearly four miles in length.