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Defynnog was at the centre of the Parish of Maescar and paid tithes. There is a tithe map and information on the area in 1837 and 1886 by the Powys Digital History Project, and GENUKI, which have other information on Defynnog and the local area at this period.
- Much of the Great Forest of Brecknock was sold by the Crown in 1821. John Christie and William Rowland Alder bought over 3,500 acres which were acquired soon afterwards by Anthony and Margaret Story. It became the 'Story-Maskelyne Estate' of 3,658 acres. Anthony Story, who also bought Glan Wysg on the banks of the river Usk in Sennybridge, developed plans to create a ‘New Forest’ on the slopes of Fan Frynych above Forest Lodge. This ambitious plan was not completed, as described by Jonathan Williams. The subsequent parcelling of the estate to the current form, took place into the 20th C.
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Sennybridge (Pont Senni). This is not as old as the adjacent village of Defynnog but grew in the 19th century as the place where the Neath and Brecon railway met the turnpike road (now A 40) in the Usk valley. This became a convenient place to hold a market and it is this role which is still the most important function of the village. The railway has long since gone, but the cattle mart is conveniently situated close to the main road. The present cattle mart first opened in 1925 as the Sennybridge and District Voluntary Stock Market, which is still run by a local committee. The mart operates every Wednesday, but in the autumn, from early September through November there are three or even four additional markets each week during which time many thousands of sheep and hundreds of cattle change hands.
- In 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' published 1849 by Samuel Lewis there is a description of:
SENNI (SENNY), a township, in the parish and hundred of Devynock, union and county of Brecknock, South Wales, 8 miles (W. S. W.) from Brecknock; containing 292 inhabitants. It comprises the upper part of the vale watered by the river Senni, and anciently formed a portion of the Great Forest of Devynock, which contained twenty thousand acres, extending over the surrounding district. On the river, which is crossed by several bridges, is one of the "lord's mills," to which the resident tenants of this township are obliged to send their corn to be ground, an exaction of servitude formerly extorted by the lords of Brecknock, and still claimed by the lords of the manor of the Great Forest, but not now rigidly enforced. The tenants possess the privilege of grazing their cattle within that manorial district, on the payment of a small regulated sum for each beast, which is called Cymmorth. On the attainder of Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, who was lord of Brecknock, the demand of cymmorth reverted to the crown; and in the 10th of George I., the dues were assigned on lease to the ancestor of the present possessor. About seventy years ago, the tenants disputed the claim, but it was established by a legal decision. The township is highly cultivated, and presents many pleasing prospects; it comprises 2800 acres, of which 40 acres are common or waste land. Some good flag-stone is quarried, and there is an iron-foundry and forge near Senni bridge, with a tramroad passing through the vicinity for the conveyance of coal and lime: at Senni bridge is also a manufactory for stuffs, but not on a very extensive scale; and there are two corn-mills on the river. The parochial church, though situated at the lower end of the Vale of Senni, is included within the township of Maescar; that of Senni, however, contains a place of worship for Independents, with a Sunday school held in it. There are three almshouses, endowed in 1723 by the bequest of David Walter, who also left a rent-charge of £5 for the apprenticing of poor children. The tithes, which have been commuted for a rent-charge of £177. 15. 3., are divided in three equal portions among the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, the vicar of Devynock, and the impropriator.
- 21 November 1838. The 'Hereford Journal' reported:
On Sunday morning, at Senni, in the parish of Devynnock, Breconshire, Gwenllian, wife of John Williams, tailor, was safely delivered of three fine girls, who were christened Gwenllian, Betsey, and Susannah, and with the mother are doing well.
Updated 20/04/2021