PREFACE TO VOL. II.

AT the commencement of the Second Volume of the Archæologia Cambrensis, the Editors cannot avoid congratulating the Antiquarian Public of Wales, and themselves, on the success which has attended this work. The expectations which they formed at the beginning of their undertaking have been amply realized; and, they have succeeded, as they flatter themselves, in centralizing and uniting, if not in awakening, a spirit of enquiry and research, as well as one of reverence and conservation, in many parts of the country.

The communications made in their pages, have been of a value fully commensurate to what they had anticipated; and their readers will, no doubt, do them the justice to observe that, but for the appearance of this work, many of these valuable papers might never have seen light, least, might have remained in their Authors' portfolios for an indefinite period.

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In reverting to the labours of their friends and correspondents, the Editors, while expressing their warmest thanks for the ready zeal and hearty good will, with which their antiquarian brethren have supported them, would briefly call attention to the peculiar value of some of the more important articles of the First Volume. Thus the Antiquitates Parochiales, which might never have escaped from its MS. form, is now in course of publication. A connected and complete series of accounts of the Monastic Institutions of Wales, which will form an useful supplement to Dugdale, has been commenced; and thus the history of Llanthony Abbey has been drawn out in a manner that may be taken as a model of a complete and well-sustained narrative. The papers on Harlech Castle are certainly some of the most valuable ever communicated on such a subject to the antiquarian world; and they will, no doubt, lead to the compilation of one of the great desiderata of the day,—a complete Castellarium Cambrense.

ARCHEOL. CAMB. VOL. II.]

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The introduction of palæographic discussions is one of the most important branches of archæology which have occupied the pages of this volume.

Systematic surveys of county architectural antiquities have been commenced, and will be continued; while the communication of valuable documents, such as the Bulkeley MSS., and the papers connected with Merionethshire, shew that the value of these publications is beginning to be appreciated. The discoveries at Segontium, and the miscellaneous remarks of correspondents, are evidences of the interest taken in these matters, not only by local, but also by distant enquirers.

To crown, however, the combined efforts of Welsh antiquaries during this the first year of their united action, the Cambrian Archæological Association has sprung into existence, and promises to be a lasting instrument of good in promoting the study and preservation of the national antiquities of Wales.

While, therefore, the Editors would once more express their deep obligations to all their friends and supporters, they would request of them an active continuance of their aid, since it is only by the steady and combined efforts of a multitude of observers that the great cause of national archæology can be effectually promoted. On the other hand, their own humble services are at the command of any of their correspondents; and their constant aim will be to render themselves useful to all the antiquaries of Wales and its Marches.

CROMLECH AT BRYN CELLI DDU,
ANGLESEY.

THIS is one of the most interesting remains of the kind still extant within the isle of Anglesey; not only on account of its size and form, but also for its antiquarian history, and its preservation. It is situated on the farm of Bryn Celli ddu, belonging to the Marquis of Anglesey, not a great way from Plas Gwyn, the seat of C. Evans, Esq., of Hên Blas, and now stands in the middle of an open field near the farmhouse. A most gratifying circumstance connected with it, and which may be mentioned at once, is, that Mr. Evans, fully aware of its value as a Celtic monument, has given

orders for surrounding it with a suitable fence, so that its farther decay may be retarded as much as possible.

Before going into any description of its present condition, we will quote the first account that has been met with concerning it. This was given by Rowlands, in his Mona Antiqua, p. 93, where, after alluding to various monuments of the same kind in this part of the island, he observes, — "There are also in Llandeniel parish, at a place formerly called Llwyn Llwyd, now Bryn Kelli, the remains of two carnedds, within a few paces of one another: the one is somewhat broken and pitted into on one side, where the stones had been carried away; the other having had its stones almost all taken away into walls and hedges, with two standing columns erected between them."

Two engravings are given by him of these remains, which, however, being executed in the rude manner of his day, convey no farther idea of these carneddau than that the stones of which they were composed were all visible, and that they were not then covered with earth or turf. The work of destruction had, in fact, even then begun.

The next account given of this spot is by Pennant, in his Tour, vol. ii, p. 262, and in the following words: “A few years ago, beneath a carnedd similar to that at Tregarnedd, was discovered, on a farm called Bryn-celli-ddu, near the seat of Sir Nicholas Bayley, a passage three feet wide, four feet two or three inches high, and about nineteen feet and a half long, which led into a room, about three feet in diameter and seven in height. The form was an irregular hexagon, and the sides composed of six rude slabs, one of which measured in its diagonal eight feet nine inches. In the middle was an artless pillar of stone, four feet eight inches in circumference. This supports the roof, which consists of one great stone near ten feet in diameter. Along the sides of the room was, if I may be allowed the expression, a stone bench, on which were found human bones, which fell to dust almost at a touch: it is probable, that the bodies were originally placed on the bench. There are proofs that it was customary with the Gauls to place their dead in that form in cells: but, they added to the head of each body a stone weapon, which served as a pillow; but nothing of the kind was discovered in this sepulchre. The diameter of the incumbent carnedd is from ninety to a hundred

feet. This seems to be that which Mr. Rowlands takes notice of in his Mona Antiqua.”

It may be inferred from the above accounts, the latter of which is also given by King, in his Munimenta Antiqua, that in Rowlands's time, the larger of the two carneddau had not been opened so as to allow of the inner chamber being discovered that in Pennant's time, the smaller of the carneddau had disappeared, together with the upright columns, or Meini Hirion, mentioned by Rowlands; but that the larger carnedd was still tolerably perfect, though the chamber had been opened and ransacked. At the present day (1846,) the appearance of the monument is exactly that given in the plate, as seen from the south east and the tradition preserved on the spot is, that the stones have been removed at different times, to make or to repair walls.

All traces of the carnedd have disappeared except the earth and stones that still lie on the cromlech, where a tree had taken root, but is now withered and dead; and, also, on the top of the passage leading to the chamber. The ground, however, rises all around, making the base of a tumulus that now would measure not more than sixty-five or seventy feet across; and, the occurrence of a large stone on the outer circumference of this rise, would lead to the conjecture that originally it was surrounded by a circle of such blocks. The passage which led from the outside to the chamber within, runs from east to west, and now measures not more than eighteen feet in length, by about three feet in height, and two feet six inches in breadth: it is composed of six large stones on the northern, and five on the southern side; but on the latter, several stones are built in, exactly as is now done in the common stone fences of the country. The sides of the chamber or cromlech, which is correctly described as "irregularly hexagonal," are composed of single stones of the width of five feet four inches, four feet, six feet, four feet, and six feet respectively, allowing a space of only twenty inches for the entrance, which with a stone twentyone inches wide, makes up the sixth side. The upper stone forming part of the roof, is eleven feet long, by six feet six inches wide, and fifteen inches thick. There was a second stone, placed in rather a slanting position on the northern side, which also made part of the roof, and is of rather smaller dimensions than the former. This has now fallen