ABERLLYNFI MANOR

Identity: confirmed — The exact TNA/MDR record is titled ABERLLYNFI MANOR and is located in historic Brecknockshire. Independent archaeological and archival evidence identifies Aberllynfi as a medieval manorial centre near the Afon Llynfi and River Wye, distinct from similarly named places elsewhere. The associated 1633 rental mentioning Pipton is consistent with the local manorial complex documented in the Gwernyfed estate archive, which preserves records of the manors of Pipton, Glasbury and Gwernyfed in this area.
Representative point: 52.03475, -3.20826
Basis: supported_manorial_centre — Aberllynfi Castle is the documented medieval motte-and-bailey at the historic Aberllynfi settlement. Cadw identifies the associated Aberllynfi chapel as probably a manorial chapel founded by the castle's builder, making the castle site the best defensible surviving proxy for the manor's historical centre.
Point confidence: medium
Boundary status: representative_point_only
Boundary period:
Boundary confidence: none
Boundary basis: The sources establish the manor's historical location and its castle-and-chapel centre, but no reliable manor-specific boundary map, metes-and-bounds description, rental map, or documented parcel perimeter was located. The former parish or modern administrative areas cannot safely be substituted for the manorial extent.
Sources:
- The National Archives, ABERLLYNFI MANOR, TNA/MDR F239770: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F239770 — Exact registry record identifying the manor as Aberllynfi Manor in Brecknockshire.
- The National Archives, 1633 rental and copy, with Pipton, NRA 35096: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N14300151 — Registry-linked 1633 manorial rental lead associating Aberllynfi with Pipton.
- Cadw, Aberllynfi chapel, scheduled monument BR351: https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/sam/FullReport?id=1105 — States that the medieval chapel was probably established as a manorial chapel by the founder of the associated motte-and-bailey castle; gives the official site location at OS easting 317239, northing 237994.
- Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, Historic Settlements Survey: Aberllynfi: https://heneb.org.uk/archive/cpat/ycom/breck/aberllynfi.pdf — Identifies Aberllynfi Castle as a medieval motte-and-bailey, places the presumed medieval settlement around the castle and church, and distinguishes it from the later settlement focus at Three Cocks.
- National Library of Wales, Gwernyfed Estate Records, GB 0210 GWEFED: https://archives.library.wales/index.php/gwernyfed-estate-records%3Bisad?sf_culture=cy — Describes records and maps of local manors including Pipton, Glasbury and Gwernyfed, providing archival context for the associated Aberllynfi-Pipton manorial area.
- Aberllynfi Castle, The Gatehouse Gazetteer: https://gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Welshsites/12.html — Provides the castle's OS grid reference SO17173806 and decimal coordinates 52.03475, -3.20826, and identifies the site as Aberllynfi Castle in historic Brecknockshire.
Warnings / uncertainty:
- The representative point is a historical manorial-centre proxy at Aberllynfi Castle, not a surviving manor-house location.
- No defensible manor-specific territorial polygon was found; do not inject a parish, civil parish, settlement, or modern estate boundary as the manor boundary.