had dropped in sleep or numb despair." ^
T. T^o (C. DCXX) sets forth the terms of a settle-
ment between the Abbot of Neath and the Abbot of
Marram concerning a hundred acres of land at the
Grange of Skerra, which the monks of Margam had
sold to the monks of Neath, but could not guarantee
it. Therefore the Abbot of Margam was to return
the purchase money, 12 silver marks. But if the
' " The Maid of Sker," R D. Blackmore.
i
THE MANOR OF SKER 235
abbot could get possession and deliver it to Neath,
that abbey was to pay 20 marks instead of 12. If
the Abbot of Margam failed to get possession and had
to accept an exchange from the Earl of Gloucester,
he is to pay to Neath Abbey 12 marks and 5 added
thereto.
Witnesses : Dom Joill(enus) ^ Abbot of Savigny,
and Dom Walter Abbot of Combermere, with assent
of the two convents of Neath and Margam.
I have previously told you that Richard de Cardiff
made claim to Sker and that I would explain this.
The Earl had given Richard de Cardiff extensive grants
of land at Newton (see page 132), and probably he
thought Sker was included, and I believe he had reason
to think so, as Sker lies within the boundaries described
and is not mentioned as excluded ; but he was wrong.
In T. 544, 1 7 (C. MCCCCI 1 1) the Earl William notifies
to his Sheriff of Cardiff as to Blakescerra which is
in dispute between Margam Abbey and Richard de
Kardiff. The Earl states that he had given the
land in question to Margam in exchange for their
land of Novus-Burgus (Cardiff) long before the said
Richard had any land in Wales from the said Earl,
therefore he warrants it to the Abbey. Witnesses :
Hawisia, the Countess of Gloucester ; Master Samson ;
David, the chaplain. Mr. Clark says that Novus-
Burgus is Newton, but Dr. Birch prefers to place it
in Cardiff, and I think he is right.
Now we come to the end of the dispute.
Harley Charter 75, A. 15 (C. XXXIII), is a notifi-
^ Joslenus, " Gallia Christiana," vol. xi. p. 546. He occurs
A.D. 1173 and 1178.
236 THE BURIED CITY OF KEN FIG
cation by Bishop Nicholas of the canonical termination
of the suit between the Abbot of Margam and Richard
de Kardiff concerning Blakescerre. The abbot had
proved that he held it upwards of ten years before
Richard owned any land in that district. Judgment
was given for the abbot, and he conveyed the property
to the Abbot of Neath.
The grange was endowed by Thomas de Sanford
with a quittance of 2S. per annum on fifty acres of
land and one and a half acre upon^ the sea at
Blakesker. The boundary of Earl William's grant
to Richard de Kardiff is somewhat difficult to follow
in parts.
A deed of lease of Sker in possession of the Rev.
Henry Hay Knight, B.D., Rector of Neath in 1845,
was printed by Francis in his " Neath and its Abbey."
It was granted by Leysan Thomas, the last Abbot of
Neath, shortly before the Dissolution, to Gwenllyan
Turberville, widow of Watcyn Loyghor, and Richard
Loghor, her son, 8 April, 1536. You will remember
further back John Leland mentions the Manor place
of Sker, and says Richard Loughor, a gentleman, lived
there. Leland was there two or three years after
the date of the lease. The lease is an interesting
document, and as it was granted before the dis-
solution of the monasteries I give it in full.
"This indenture made the viijt day off Aprill the
xxijt years of the reigne off o'r sov'ain Lord Kyng
Henrye the VHjt, betwyne Lyson Thomas, Abbot of
Nethe and the Co' vent of the same place off the one
p'te and Gwenllyan Turbervill, wydoe, late wyffe of
^ Upon the sea; i.t'., abutting on the sea.
THE MANOR OF SKER 237
Watkyn Loyghor and Richard Loyghor sone and
heyre apparant of the sayde Gwenllyan of that other
p'tye WYTNESsiTHE that the same Abbot and Co'vent
wt one assent and consent, hathe dymysyd, grauntyd,
and to ferm lettyd and by this p'sent' dymysithe,
grauntithe and to ferm lettyth to the sayde Gwenllyan
and Richard, the Grange or Man' off Skarre wt his
singuler apportenaunce set and beyng in the Countie
off Glamorga' wt all incle'rs lands, ten'ts, medows,
lesus, and pasturis, comyns, and wast land, wt all
other comodytes and profytts belonging or p'teyning
to the same grange or man' of Skarre. Also the
sayde Abbot and Co'vent dymysyth, grauntythe and
by this p'sents to ferm lettyth to the sayde Gwenllyan
and Richard iiij closys wt ther p'tynences sett and
lyyng et the sayde grange or man' off Skarre, whereoff
one close is callyd the Abbots close, a nother callyd
the new P'kes, the thyrd called the Barbor is land, and
the fowrthe close callyd John Lloyd is close, to have
and to hold the sayde grange or man' off Skarre and
iiij closis wt, all other the p'miss wt, ther p'tynences
to the saide Gwenllyan and Richard ther ex'ers and
assignis from the fest off the Ann'cyac'n off o'r Lady
last past untyll the full end and term of iiij'''^ xix
years^ then next folowing, and fully to be completyd,
yelding and paying yerely therefore to the sayde
Abbot and Co'vent and to their successors vij marks
sterling at the fest off All the Saynts wt. vs. yerely
to the Lord off Glamorgan, and yelding and paying
yerely for the saide iiij Closis xxxjs. viijd. at the fest
of All saynts In lykewyse wt. xxs. in name off a
' Four score and nineteen, or ninety-nine years.
238 THE BURIED CITY OF KENFIG
heryot after ev'y decesse, and at the fest of the
Natyvyte off o'r Lord one cople of pure and clene
capons yerely, and yff hit hapen the saide rent of vlj
marks or xxxjs. viijd. and one cople of capons or any
p'cell therof, to be unpayde by xv days after any of the
sayde fests in whiche hit ow't to be payde and of no
suffyant suretys there to be found, that then hit shalbe
lawfull unto the sayde Abbot and Co'vent and ther
successors to reenter into the sayde grange off Skarre
and man' wt' other the p'miss' as in ther pristynat
estate, this Indenture notwithstanding, also the sayde
Gwenllyan and Richarde, the executors and assignis,
shall repare, uphold, and maynteyn the sayde grange
or man' wt. other the p'miss' in all things, and at the
end of the sayde term to leve and delyv' it sufficialy
reparid, and wee the sayde Abbot and Co'vent and o'r
successors the sayde grange or man' off Skarr and
other p'miss' to the sayde Gwenllya' and Richard,
ther executors and assignis during the sayde term
in man' and forme aforesaid shall warant and defend
by this o'r p'sents In Wyttness hereoff to thes pre-
sent Indenturis the p'ties abovesayd interchangeable
have set ther seale, yeven the day and yere above
specyfyed."
In the " Survey and Presentment " of 1660 it is stated
that Kenfig Down was granted (time out of mind) to
the monks of the Abbey of Neath, as owners of Sker
doubtless.
A lease is among the Margam MSS. by King
Henry VIII. as lord of Glamorgan to Walter Log-
hour, probably son of Watkin Loughor, and John ap
Thomas ap Howell, of the Cornmill of Kenfegge, and
THE MANOR OF SKER 239
the suit' for grindings of Newton Notashe, with two
acres of land at Grameshill (so called from the Gramus
family) between the high-road on the north and Goy-
lake on the south, with liberty to appoint a miller, an
easement to the mill, and a site on the mill-stream for
the mill if required, for 99 years, rent 20s. yearly ;
with clause for repair by the lessees, to whom wood is
to be allowed for " wyndyngs " and poles for the weir.
The tenants of Newton Notashe are to grind at the mill
under penalty of a fine.
Dated Chancery of Cardiff, 29 April, a.d. 1526.
The parish of Kenfig contains 2,996.4 acres, of
which more than half consists of drift sands. The
lordship of Kenfig contains Kenfig parish, or Lower
Kenfig, Upper Kenfig, and part of Trisant in the
parish of Margam, and its jurisdiction extended over
the sub-manors of North and South Cornell and Sker.
I now give the Survey and Presentment of 1660,
which I copy from Mr. Clark's "Kenfig," as being
ready to hand : —
Survey and Presentment of 1660,
The presentment here printed is that of a jury of
burgesses, given in the usual form, and in reply to the
usual questions issued on such occasions. Such docu-
ments, of the reigns of Elizabeth, James, and Charles,
are not uncommon in this county, and are usually the
^ " And John Banty, a tenant according to the custom of the
Manor, hath not made his continuous suit at the lord's mill as he
is bound by custom of his lordship, therefore he is in mercy I2d.
He had not taken his corn to be ground at the lord's mill." —
" The Manor," by N. J. Hone.
240 THE BURIED CITY OF KEN FIG
earliest and best evidence for boundaries and local
rights. There are extant two rolls of this presentment,
of which one, though not original (that is, not signed by
the jurors), is yet probably of original date, and is that
here followed. The other is a later copy, made prob-
ably in 1773. It is to be observed the jurors and
steward are all Welsh. ^
" The Lordship, Mannor, Town and Burrough of
Kenfigg,
"A presentment in answer unto certain articles
given in charge for and on the behalf of the Right
Honourable Phillip Earl of Pembroke and Mont-
gomery lord of the said lordship mannor town or
burrough unto a jury of survey sworn and impannelled
(by Robert Williams Esquire steward of the said lord-
ship or mannor and Constable of the Castle of the .
said town and burrough) the eleventh day of January '|
in the twelveth year of our Soverign Lord Charles the
Second by the grace of God of England Scotland
France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c.
annoq. Domini 1660.
" By the oathes of
Thomas Bevan Morgan Evan Yorath
David Thomas Howell Henry Lyddon
Thomas Morgan Hopkin Edward
Evan Thomas Jenkin Griffith
Thomas Hopkin Thomas Nicholas Morgan
Thomas Hopkin Pritchard Thomas Prichard
Jenkin William George Thomas, Jurors.
' Clark's " Kenfig Charters."
- '^- ^' n
I'INE KNU OF TY-YK-YCHKN. SKEK.
[To face f'tiiii- 241.
THE MANOR OF SKER 241
" I. To the first article they present and say that
the manner town or burrough of Kenfigg is a particu-
lar and distinct lordship except only the intermixture
of certain lands of other lordshipps as shall be
mentioned in answer to the second article And the
bounds and meares of the said lordship doe extend
from a place called Gutter y furlong on the south
part unto half the race or current of Kenfigg water or
river on the north part and from the Rugge or the
lordship of Coyty on the east part unto the sea on
the west part And that the meares and bounds of
the said town burrough or corporation doe extend
from the sea by a house called Ty yr Ychan in
Skerre unto a stone lyeing in the highway leading
from Kenfigg to Notage and from thence by a stone
lyeing in a close belonging to Rees Thomas Matthew
called Y Kae Issha unto another stone lyeing on
Heol y Broome on the south part and from thence
by a stone lyeing at Groes y gryn unto another stone
lyeing in Kae Pwll y Kyffylau and from that stone on
the eastern side of Marias House unto a cross called
Croes Jenkin on the east part and from thence by a
cross lyeing in Kae Garw unto a stone by Notch
Coarton lyeing in the highway leading from Kenfigg
to Margam on the north part and from thence directly
unto the sea And as for the compass length and
breadth thereof they referr it to the said apparent
meares and marks,
" 2. To the second article they present and say that
the lordship of Pile in Kenfig alias Kenfigg and Pile
being the lordships and mannors of S'r Edward
Mansel Barronet and that the mannor of North
16
242 THE BURIED CITY OF KEN FIG
Cornely holden by John Turberville Esquire and the
mannor of South Cornely holden by William Herbert
Esquire doe next adjoyn unto the said town and
burrough and that part of the said severall lordships
or mannors of Pile in Kenfig al's Kenfigg and Pile
and North and South Cornely doe ly within the
bounds or circuits of the said town and burrough of
Kenfigg They further say that they know not of any
person or persons that did or doe intrude or incroach
in or upon the said town or burrough or any part
thereof
" 3. To the third article they present and say that
there is within ye s'd town or burrough or under the
said lordship or mannor two manners of free soccage
tenure one thereof called Pascall Hall holden under
the yearly rent of two pence halfpenny an acre and
suit of court every month And the other free tenure
under the rent in the schedule hereunto afiexed
specified and suit of court twice in the year (videlicett)
at May and at Michaelmas
'' Paschall Hill Hould
d.
William Herbert of Swanzey Esq. holdeth
one acre and a half rent p'r ann' . -031
John Turberville Esq. holdeth one acre rent
p'r ann' . . . . . . . o 2j
Richard Lougher of Tithegstone Esq. holdeth
eight acres rent p'r ann' . . . .18
Jenkin Griffith and Thomas James jure
uxoris holdeth three acres rent p'r
ann' . . . . . . • o 7I
THE MANOR OF SKER 243
s. d.
Richard Lewis of Kenfigg holdeth seven acres
and one quarter rent p'r ann' . .16
Hopkin Thomas of Kenfigg holdeth eight
acres rent p'r ann' . . . .18
William ap Evan infant holdeth half one acre
rent p'r ann' . . . . . . o \\
Jenkin Howard holdeth eight acres rent p'r
ann' . . . . . . .18
David Bevan of Cornely holdeth 2 acres rent
p'r ann' . . . . . . .05
Gronow William of Kenfigg holdeth eleven
acres rent p'r ann' . . . -23^
Thomas Hopkin of Kenfigg holdeth one acre
and a half or thereabouts rent p'r ann' . o 4
Lewis Aylward of Kenfigg holdeth thirty-
eight acres and a half rent p'r annum . 8 o\
Edward Morgan of Lantwit by Neath holdeth
23 acres rent p'r ann' . . . • 4 92
Rees Leyson of Kenfigg holdeth one acre and
3 quarters rent p'r ann' . . . . o 4J
Thos. Morgan of Kenfigg holdeth eleven
acres rent p'r ann' . . . -23!
John ap Evan of Kenfigg holdeth two acres
rent p'r ann' . . . . . .05
Nicholas Morgan of Kenfigg holdeth one acre
and a half rent p'r ann' . . . -03!
George Thomas Katherine Jenkin and Eliza-
beth Jenkin do hold one cottage rent p'r
annum . . . . . . .01
Harry Jenkin of Kenfigg holds one cottage
rent p'r ann' . . . . . .01
244 THE BURIED CITY OF KEN FIG
^' Free Tenants
s. d.
William Herbert Esquire holds the manner
of South Cornely rent . . . .160
John Turberville Esq. holds the mannor of
North Cornely rent p'r ann' . . .910^
Thomas Turbervill of Skerre 2"ent. holds the
third part of Kenfigg Down and payeth
therefore yearly at the Feast of St. James
ye Apostle . . . . . .50
The buro^esses of Kenfio-or doe hold the other
o 00
two parts of Kenfigg Down and pay
therefore yearly at the feast afores'd .10 o
Sir Edward Mansell Barronett holds part of
Marias Farm rent . . . . .44
Thomas Hopkin Pritchard holds one acre
rent p'r ann' . . . . . .10
Jenkin Thomas holdeth one acre rent p'r
annum . . . . . . .10
Wenlliam Thomas of Kenfigg Vidua holds
one acre rent p'r ann' . . . .10
Lewis Ayleward holds one acre rent p'r ann' . o 5I
Gronow William holdeth three acres rent p'r
ann' . . . . . . .04
David Nicholas of Margam holdeth one acre
called Ball Acre rent p'r ann' . . .02
Richard Lougher Esq. holdeth eight acres
rent p'r ann' . . . . . .08
Katherine John of Margam holds 3 acres rent
p'r ann' . . . . . . .02^
David Bevan holdeth one acre rent p'r ann' . o of
Hopkin Thomas afores'd holds fifteen acres
rent p'r ann' . . . . . .14^
THE MANOR OF SKER 245
" They further present and say that there are
within the said lordship certain free lands of soccage
tenure held from time to time part under the rent
of a red rose and the other part under the rent of
three pepper graines to be paid yearly at the Feast of
St. John Baptist and to be fetcht with wain and oxen
but how distinguished the one from the other they
know not Also suit of court twice in the year (vizt.)
at the two leets The said land holden of and by the
persons following
" Rees Leyson holdeth six acres
" David Bevan holdeth thirty acres and one half
" Edward Morgan holdeth twenty acres
" Mary Sanor of Ballas widow holdeth six acres
" William Thomas of Kenfigror holdeth one acre
** Alice Evan wid'w and Evan Lydon her son doe
hold five acres
" Phillip Stringer of Kenfigg holdeth half one acre
" Thomas Hopkin Thomas jure uxoris holdeth one
acre
" Cecill Thomas of Kenfigg spinster holdeth two
acres and three quarters
" Howell Rees of Kenfigg holdeth one acre
" John Kerry of Margam jure uxoris Hopkin
Jenkin of the same jure uxoris Leyson Edward of
Newton jure uxoris Alice William and Ann William
spinsters doe hold jointly four acres
" Gronow William of Kenfigg aforesaid holdeth
three acres
" Llewelyn John of Kenfigg holdeth one acre
" David Nicholas of Margam holdeth two acres
" Lewis Nicholas of Margam holdeth half one acre
246 THE BURIED CITY OF KEN FIG
" Lewis Ayleward of Kenfigg afores'd holdeth
eighteen acres
" Thomas ab Evan of Kenfi^or holdeth two acres
" Richard Lougher of Tithegston Esq. holdeth
forty one acres
" They also present and say that severall of their
free tenants have lost their freehold (time out of mind)
by reason of the choaking blowing and over-blowing
up of the sands what number of acres they know not
" 4. To the fourth article they say that the said
town or burrough have been incorporated (time out
of mind) and by prescription time out of mind they
hold monthly courts and therein hear and determine
all manner of suits actions and plaints between party
and party to any value whatsoever and that such
courts are held from time to time (before the
portreeve) under the style and name of His Ma'tys
Court Leet or the Court Baron of the Right
Honourable Phillip Earl of Pembroke and Mont-
gomery &c. or both and that the burgesses of the
said town doe owe suit to the same courts and
other free tenants at such time or times as is speci-
fied in their answer to the third article They
further say that the officers yearly changeable are
the portreeve one sergeant one constable one
heyward and two aletasters and that the major
part of the burgesses yearly elect three of their
own society whereof the constable of the Castle
sweareth one to be portreeve At any time after
Michaelmas Leet the rest of the said officers are
to be sworn by the portreeve and as for the officers
THE MANOR OF SKER 247
of the said town both past and present their names
are to be seen in the records of the said town and
the yearly benefitt and profitt belonging to such
officers are both uncertain and inconsiderable
" 5. To the fifth article they say that they are not
certain what number of buro^esses were and are within
the said town and who ought to perform their suit
at every court They have answered to the fourth
article and they know not of any profitt or acknow-
ledgement due unto the lord from them as burgesses
but their yearly rent which is (besides the rent of
Kenfigg Down) the certain sum of ten shillings
"6. To the sixth article they say that (for ought
they know) the oath of late yeares administered unto
the s'd buro;esses is ag'reeable in substance and effect
with the oath of the burgfesses time out of mind but to
declare the particulars thereof they know not
"7. To the seventh article they say they have
one com'on called Rug-ofe within and belonorin^ to the
burgesses of the said town and burrough the quantity
thereof they know not It is meared in length from
the Rugge of Coyty to Cats Pit in breadth from
Kevencribor to the river And one other com'on
called Kenfiggs Down the quantity thereof they know
not meared from the lands of Richard Lougher Esq.
to the sea They further say that none of the bur-
gesses of the said town (by their ordinances) ought to
pasture in and upon the said com'on lands but such of
the burgesses as doe dwell or inhabit within the
bounds or limits of the said town or corporation.
" 8. To the eighth article they say that the fore-
mentioned com'on called Kenfiggs Down was
248 THE BURIED CITY OF KEN FIG
granted (time out of mind) to the monks of the Abby
of Neath and the burgesses of Kenfigg as they were
informed by their forefathers but the most part thereof
is and hath been enjoyed by the said burgesses (time
out of mind) at the yearly rent specified and mentioned
in the third article
" 9. To the ninth article they say that they know
not of any herriott profitt or acknowledgement due
unto the lord of the said burrough att the death of a
burgess and that the perquisites of courts waifes
estrays felons goods and many other royalties hap-
pening within the said town and burrough do (for
ought they know) properly belong unto the lord of the
burrough and to be accountable unto the said lord by
the portreeve from time to time The estrays (time
out of mind) in manner and form following (viz't) for
every estrayed sheep twelve pence and for every hairy
beast five shillings and the perquisites of courts fines
and amerciaments to be affeered by two of the
ancientest burgesses upon oath as is accustomed time
out of mind
"10. To the tenth article they say they have
specified (in answer to the foregoing articles) In
particular what and how much yearly rent is payable
unto the lord and that the same is levyable by the
Serjeant and ale tasters and accountable by the port-
reeve They further say that Thomas Lougher Gent,
holdeth one messuage and one hundred and six acres
of land more or less but what rent or duty he payeth
or ought to pay they know not but refer themselves to
his lordships terriers &c The said Thomas Lougher
payeth yearly for one acre called Erw Heol Cornely
THE MANOR OF SKER 249
twelve pence and for one other acre called Erw yr
Gorse Heer payeth yearly five pence halfpenny And
the said seventeen pence halfpenny is leviable by the
Serjeant and accountable unto the lord by the
portreeve They further say that John Leyson and
David Bowen of Newton doe enjoy the benefitt and
profitts of the coales at the com'on of Rugge but what
rent they pay or ought to pay they know not but
refer themselves to his lordships terriers &c They do
further say that after the decease of every lord dyeing
possessed or lord of this lordship or mannor there is
due unto the succeeding lord thirty three shillings and
fourpence in and under the name of mizes to be paid
in five years next after the decease of every such lord
as shall die possessed of the premises viz't six shillings
and eight pence yearly for and during the said five
years to be rated upon the tenants and burgesses and
accountable by the portreeve They further say that
they know not of any other yearly rent or profitt due
unto the lord saveing what they have mentioned in
answer to the forg-oino;- articles.
•'II. To the eleventh article they say that the
burgesses of the said town have time out of mind
been sworn by the portreeve and thereby admitted
burgesses and they know not of any acknowledg-
ment payable unto the lord upon their admission
And as to the number of burgesses sworn within
one or two days together they are uncertain They
further say that (time out of mind) it hath been
their practice to swear and admitt such and so
many person or persons burgesses as the portreeve
and aldermen of the said town did think fitt to be
250 THE BURIED CITY OF KEN FIG
sworn and admitted they only agreeing and consenting
thereunto
"12. To the twelfth article they say that Evan
Gronow for some late yeares was and att present is the
recorder or town clerk constituted by the portreeve
and for his fee it is inconsiderable and uncertain
They also say that the constitution and appoint-
ment of the recorder and town clerk there and time
out of mind was by the portreeve of the said town and
burrouorh for the time beinof.
" 13. To the thirteenth article they say that they
are not certain what messuages or dwellings houses
were and are within the said burrough or corporation
by reason that the sands had overcomed (time out of
mind) a great number of dwellinghouses within the
said burrough and town
" 14. To the fourteenth article they say that some
part of the said third part of the lands granted
unto the said corporation and monks of Neath now
in the possession of Thomas Turbervill Gent, of
Skerre hath been inclosed (time out of mind) and
doth soe continue The quantity and value thereof
they know not And the said Mr. Thomas Tur-
bervill doth receive the profitt and benefitt of the
said land They also say that some part of the
other two parts of the said land granted as aforesaid
now in the possession of the burgesses of the said
town or corporation containing by estimation eighteen