The earliest owners of Penybenglog descended from the 11th century chieftains Gwynfardd Dyfed and Cyhybyn Fardd. Howel Gawr held the property in 1342, and his grandson Rhys (living 1370) owned Penybenglog, Glanduad Ucha, Cwmgloyn and Cruglass Issa; he was followed by his son Llewelyn (living 1451 – 1481), whose son and heir, David ap Llewilyn, who left an only daughter and heiress, Dyddgu (died 1538), married Rees of Dyffryn Tâf, son of David ap Howel ap Jenkin Lloyd of Blaiddbwll who, in her right, succeeded to Penybenglog. The said Jenkin Lloyd descended from Cyhybyn Fardd and bore arms: azure a lion rampant or within an orle of roses or, but as ‘he was a zealous partisan of the House of York, changed the colour of the roses to argent’. Rhys of Penybenglog died in 1520, and his wife Dyddgu in 1538; their grandson Griffith inherited Penybenglog where he died on 28th November 1569, and was followed there by five generations of his descendants who all bore the permanent surname of Griffith. Of these the best known was George William Griffith, JP. (b. 1584) noted scholar, historian, antiquary and genealogist, who married Maud Bowen of Llwyngwair in 1605. He died in 1654-55, and many of his manuscripts have survived among the Bronwydd Archives (now in NLW), in the British Museum, and in The College of Arms.

        His great-grandson, Robert Griffith, was the last male of the family at Penybenglog where he died without issue in 1737, when the estate passed to his three sisters, co-heiresses, each enjoying a share, namely Anne married Thomas Merchant, gent., of Manorbier-Newton; she died on 26 November 1761, aged 74; Elizabeth who married Griffith Twyning of Llandre, Llanycefn, gent., had issue; and Lettice who married John Williams of Cardigan. Over the succeeding years the co-heiresses sold their shares of the estate to various buyers, mostly from West Wales. The mansion of Penybenglog, and its demesne continued intact. The mansion was commodious and in 1670 contained six hearths, and in 1744 Thomas and Anne Marchant conveyed one-third of the estate with other properties in Meline and Nevern, to Thomas Parry of Aberystwyth; by 1756 Penybenglog was owned by George Summers of Haverfordwest, who, in that year sold it to his only daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Parry, widow.

        During the years 1759-1771 the tenant of Penybenglog was the rector of Meline, the Revd. Watkin Lewes (father of Sir Watkin, Lord Mayor of London, M.P.). In 1773 the Revd. John Lewes of Whippingham, Isle of Wight, Doctor of Laws, sold Penybenglog, probably for a term of years, to the Revd. James Bowen rector of Meline. The freehold continued in the Parry family until the death of George Parry of Scovaston, near Milford, solicitor, who by will made in August, 1816, bequeathed ‘my messuage called Penybenglog’ in Meline, and a house and garden in Haverfordwest, to his housekeeper (and paramour), Miss Elizabeth Elson, widow. She did not keep it long, and by 1828 Penybenglog had been bought by John Hughes, Esq., of Alltcwyd (Cards), who still owned it in 1837 with a Thomas Hughes as tenant. In the early part of the 19th century the old house seems to have become ruinous. Over the kitchen door is a stone inscribed ‘Rebuilt 1828 J. Hughes Esq. (owner), William Lewis tenant’. Whether this meant it was totally or partly rebuilt is not clear, probably the latter, for the house with its ancient cellars and other features, clearly survives still on the original site. A local farming family of Hughes owned it at this time.

        Penybenglog was bought by Mr. Stuart Wilson (its owner-occupier when Major Jones visited in 1986), who improved and repaired the three-storeyed house, retaining the long window that once contained ancestral coats-of-arms, tastefully extending and improving surrounding lawns, flower beds, grassy ground and walks, retaining the ancient style of historic Penybenglog.

        The last ‘official’ notices of the house were made by The Pembrokeshire Archaeological Survey (1896-1907), as follows: ‘Penybenglog mansion. An old pedigree house. The existing house is of the 18th century. It has good panelled ceilings, a charming old china Closet, dados etc. A hideous new wing was added some time ago and the old entrance (relic of an earlier house) destroyed. Overhead was a beam, fortunately preserved, on it the date 1623, and in a vase-shaped figure the initials G.G. Outside is a nicely carved pew-back brought from Meliney Church when this edifice was restored, on it is the following legend: SED: MATHILD:UX: GEO: PER (resti GRI) PENYBENGLOG: G.E. 1626, ‘At the rebuilding of the church (1865) this pew-back was removed to Penybenglog’. (visited 1920, RCAM, 1925, p. 226).

References: 

Geo. Owen, 2nd Book p. 227, edited by Dr. B. G. Charles, in NLW Journal 1948, L.D. i, pp. 151, 184, WWHR ii, p. 54; 

Fenton Tour Pembs. 1811, pp. 309-310, Francis Jones, ‘Griffith of Penybenglog in Trans. Cymmr. 1939, pp. 125-153; 

NLW Llanstephan ms 138E, fo. 35; Alltlwyd Deeds; 

ET. Lewis, North of the Hills, 1973, contains a photo of Penybenglog.