handbook of the origin of place-names in wales and monmouthshire

house, and attempted to kill an infant enjoying his sleep in the cradle. The faithful greyhound named Gelert,in whose care the chiId doubtless was entrusted, seized the animal and, after a severe struggle, killed it. Inthe struggle the cradle was overturned, and revealed both the wolf and child. On the prince's coming theinfant, and observing the dog's maw awash with blood, he rashly jumped to the conclusion it, Gelert hadkilled the child, and, in a rage, drew his sword, and buried it in the faithful animal ; but how great was hissadness when, on replacing the cradle, he found itand the child alive. He, however, caused Gelert to behonourably interred, and, as a tribute tohis memory, erected a church on this spot offering to God for thepreservation of his soul and held contiguous to the churchyard are two gravestones overhung with bushes,which point out the resting place of Gelert, and a rustic seat is placed near, that I may recline and meditatethe legend. The name means the " grave of Celert ap Llewelyn, descendant of one of the Irish princes thatcame from that country about the beginning of the fourth century. English name— Gelert's Grave.?????. — Its ancient name was Cilfoden. Its name is derived from Bethesda, the name of a ???il chapelbuilt in the place in 1819. An attempt recently made to abandon the Scriptural interpretation named it " GlanOgwen," after the new church nearby of Penrhyn, but it proved unsuccessful.Bettws-y-Coed. — Bettws is a Welshified form of house of prayer, a monkish institution of churches, built,perhaps, on or near the site that perpetuate the name of Bettws. It derives its name from an ancientreligious ???fed Bettws Wyrion Iddon, the bead-house ??? p of Iddon. Bettws in Welsh means a prayer andcomfort. William Llyn writes :— ?????m yr owan i Fettws, hyny yw, lie cynhesCaer Rhun. — Rhun, the son of Maelgwyn Gwynedd, and a prince of the sixth century, who took: up hisabode in the Roman Conovium; hence the name* English name — Grandfort.Capel Curig. — Capel, chapel; Curig, the name of the son of Hid or Julitta, who flourished in the seventhcentury. The church was dedicated to Curig and his mother. English name— Curig's Chapel.Carn Giwch. — Cam, a heap. On the summit of a hill close by, called Mod Cam Ciwch, there is a large heapof loose stones, supposed to have been raised to Ciwch, a British saint of an early period. English name—Heapham.Clwtybont. — Clwt, a portion; " clwt o dir" a piece of land; y, the; bont-pont, bridge; signifying a piece of landnear a bridge. English name — Bridgeland.Clynog. — A corruption of Celynog, a place overrun with hollywood. It is situated in a small grove near theshore, on a plain near the base of the hill. English name — Hollyham.Colwyn. — Some derive the name from Colwyn, the name of the chief shepherd of Bran ab Llyr Lledfaith.Others think it is a compound of cau, hollow, enclosed; and llwyn, a grove, a bush, from the deep brooks andencircling groves in the district. English name — Grovebrook.Conway. — The town of Conway was built on the north side of the river by Maelgwyn Gwynedd, in 581, andwas called Caer Gyffin, which signifies the border fortress. Conwy is the present Welsh name, taken from thename of the river, which signifies the chief water. Some philologists derive the name from cain, fair, fine,beautiful; and wy, water. Conwy and Cainwy are equally applicable to this beautiful river. From gwy or wy,water, most of the Welsh rivers derive their names. For instance, Llugwy, clear water; Elwy y gliding water;and the above, Conwy, chief water, or Cainwy, fair or fine water. The site of Conway Castle was ancientlycalled Cannock, from cann, white, fair, clear, and oich, water. English name — Fairwater.Criccieth. — Pennant spells it Crickaeth, " The Myvyrian" Cruciaith, and others Crug -earth. Some think it isa compound of crug, a heap, a hillock, and aeth, sorrow, pain ; signifying a frightful or formidable promontory.Others say it is Crug-caeth* the narrow hill. Perhaps it is a compound of craig aeth, signifying the awful rock.English name — Frethill.Croesor. — A narrow comb in Blaenau Nanmor. Tradition says that Elen Lueddog was on her journeyhomewards when, on hearing the sad news of her son's death, she sorrowfully exclaimed, " Croesawr i mi— i.e. 9 " an hour of adversity to me' and the place was called Croesawr or Croesor from that sorrowfulcircumstance. English name — Griefham.Crynant. — Cry, a. corruption of crai, a word implying a narrow place; crai'r nodwydd, the eye of the needle;nant, a brook. The old inhabitants spell it Crainant, and a bridge that spans Nant-y-Bettws is called Pont-yOrigin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 40