Llanfihangel Ystrad - Extract from 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' by Samuel Lewis

"LLANVIHANGEL YSTRAD (LLAN-VIHANGEL YSTRAD), a parish in the upper division of the hundred of MOYTHEN, county of CARDIGAN, SOUTH WALES, 6 miles (N. W.) from Lampeter, comprising the Upper and Lower divisions, and containing 1183 inhabitants, of which number, 612 are in the Upper, and 571 in the Lower, division. This parish, which is pleasantly situated on the river Aêron and on the turnpike road front Lampeter to Aberystwith, is of considerable extent, reaching from the beautiful vale of Aêron almost to that of the Teivy, comprehending a rich variety of scenery, in many parts highly picturesque, and embracing, especially from the higher grounds, several interesting and extensive views of the surrounding country. This place formerly constituted a prebend in the college of Llandewy-Brevi, rated in the king's books at £7.14.4 1/2 and is now an impropriation. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Cardigan, and diocese of St.David's, rated in the king's books at £4.18. 1 1/2., endowed with £400 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Bishop of St. David's. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient structure, consisting of a nave and north and south aisles : the nave is separated from each of the aisles by a series of four pointed arches, supported on square pillars ; the font is quadrangular, and is placed on a short round column. There are places of worship for Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists, Presbyterians, and Unitarians. A Sunday school is supported by the vicar, at whose expense, assisted by the National society, and by some of the proprietors of land in the parish, a commodious schoolhouse has been erected in the churchyard. In the southern part of the parish there is an ancient intrenchment called Cribyn Clottas, of which no particulars are recorded ; and in a field called Maes Mynach, is an ancient stone, embellished with Runic ornaments, but without any inscription. The average annual expenditure for the support of the poor amounts to £ 423.13."

[Gareth Hicks: 11 December 1999]