Talgarth

History

A fort near Cwmdu (Pen-y-Gaer) is of significance to Talgarth, as it was the site where a 1st-century AD British chieftain, Caratacus (of the Catuvellauni tribe), fought with the Romans. Talgarth was the royal residence of Brychan, King of Brycheiniog, in the 5th century AD. With three wives, 24 daughters and 24 sons, the family was an important force in Wales and responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout the region. Talgarth (and Brycheiniog in general) was seized by the Norman Bernard of Neufmarché, who issued an undated charter concerning the district. The town became part of Bernard's Lordship of Brecknock (a Marcher lordship – an almost sovereign state). The Normans established Castell Dinas to control the passes on both sides. In the reign of King John, the then Lord fell out with the king, and the east of the lordship was detached in punishment, forming a new Marcher Lordship of Blaenllynfi, ruled by Peter FitzHerbert. Although the caput of the latter lordship was officially Blaenllynfi Castle, Talgarth was its principal town, and the lordship was sometimes called the Sub-Lordship of Talgarth as a result. The Lordship of Blaenllynfi eventually found its way back to the descendants of the last Welsh princes of Brycheiniog (in the person of Rhys ap Hywel). Rhys played a significant part in the implementation (though not the planning) of the final coup against Edward II, and consequently Edward's son, Edward III, was not well disposed towards him; he dispossessed Rhys' heir, and merged the Lordship of Blaenllynfi back into the Lordship of Brecknock (which, with the Lordship of Buellt, eventually became Brecknockshire, centuries later). During the Jacobite revival, support in Talgarth was strong. The town was a Jacobite hotspot, backing Bonnie…

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,065
• Red Kite

  Milvus milvus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,053
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,025
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  893
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  866
• eastern gray squirrel

  Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788 · Mammalia
  822
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  793
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  773

Most recent

• M 3.4 — 2023-02-24
  1 km ENE of Brynmawr, United Kingdom
• M 4.3 — 2018-02-17
  5 km NE of Clydach, United Kingdom
• M 4.1 — 2014-02-20
  17 km NNW of Ilfracombe, United Kingdom
• M 3.9 — 2008-10-26
  2 km N of Bromyard, United Kingdom
• M 3.3 — 2007-11-30
  4 km NNE of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, United Kingdom
• M 2.7 — 2006-11-05
  4 km NNE of Tenbury Wells, United Kingdom