On high ground above the east banks of Gwendraeth Fach, between Gellidêg and Mynydd-y-garreg. From the Middle Ages down to 1910 Llechdwnny remained in possession of the descendants of its original owners.

Of the first owners little is known beyond their medieval pedigree of eight generations recorded by Dwnn. The last of the line, Harry ab Owain Cadwgan, lived in the latter half of the 15th century, and by his wife Gwenllian daughter of Griffith Llwyd ap Meredydd, a local landowner, had an only child, Katherine sole heiress to Llechdwnny. Early in the 16th century she married Rhys, younger son of Morris Bowen of Brynybeirdd, a descendant of Sir Elidir Ddu of Crûg.

Rhys settled at Llechdwnny which remained in possession of four generations of his descendants until a sad circumstance determined the devolution of the estate, which arose in this wise. Morris Bowen (High Sheriff in 1615) married Maud daughter of Sir John Wogan of Boulston, Pembs., by whom he had six sons and six daughters. The mother died in 1623, but not before noticing some peculiarities in the behaviour of the sons as they grew older. The stark truth is revealed by the Golden Grove Book which informs us that the six sons ‘were discompos’d even to Dis­traction, and went to England’. The daughters were normal enough, and all married, so that the father had to furnish six marriage portions worthy of their status. Now, about 1626, the youngest, Mary, had married one John Brigstocke, son of a wealthy brewer of Croydon, who had assisted his father-in-law when necessary. Accordingly, a few years before his death, Morris Bowen sold the reversion of the Llechdwnny estate to John Brigstocke for £528, or, as the Golden Grove Book puts it, ‘unto whom the Estate was passed for a sum of money (paid) by her father’.

Morris Bowen died in 1639, and his daughter Mary and her husband John Brigstocke succeeded to Llechdwnny. Brigstocke did not live long after, for he died in 1641, leaving Llechdwnny to his wife for life, with remainder to their eldest son Owen Brigstocke and his heirs for ever.

In the 18th century the Brigstockes lived at their Cardiganshire mansion of Blaenpant, and Llechdwnny was let to farming tenants. Llechdwnny continued to be part of the Brigstocke estate until 1909 when it was put up for sale by the widowed Mrs Isabella Fegan (née Brigstocke), and thereafter was owned, successively, by farmers.

The present farmhouse was built in 1854 as proclaimed by a stone set above the entrance door. Remains of the old mansion stand close to the north side of the farmhouse. It is a large building containing relics of the Elizabethan period, some parts being earlier; two doorways have chamfered stone-work, and there are remains of a mullioned window, while at its eastern side is an extension or ‘wing’ with a vaulted undercroft with a room above entered by an outside stairway leading to a doorway. The corner of the undercroft collapsed recently, while one part of the building had been pulled down some years ago.

After the departure of the gentry, this complex formed the farmhouse, but after 1854 it was used as an outhouse. About a hundred yards away are the remains of a large walled garden of 2 acres, now used partly as an orchard and for pasture. Much of the walling, 9 feet high and 2 feet thick, still remains. It is said that a belvedere adorned one of the corners.

Grid Ref: SN 4279 1000.

Sources:

Beynon, Allt Cunedda, Llechdwnni a Mwdlescwm. Francis Jones, ‘Llechdwnni Revisited', Carms. Antiq.: XX, 1984, 29-49.

Brigstocke Colln.;

Carms. R.O., G.G.B. [Urien];

Cawdor Colln.;

Dale Castle Ms.;

Dwnn I & II R.C.A.M (Carms.);

Glam. R.O., Cardiff Library Colln.;

John Francis s.c.;

Jones, History of Kidwelly;

Mansel-Lewis Colln.;

Mudlescombe Dds.;

N.L.W. Llanstephan Colln.;

N.L.W. M.S. 1602D;

Trant/Yelverton Dds.