LLANSTEPHAN: Meaning: from ‘church’ of St. Steffan. The original castle was early 12th century'
[Emanuel Bowen, Britannia Depicta, 1720]
The County of GLAMORGAN is 112 Miles in Circumference, contains about 540000 Acres, 10 Hundreds, 9 Market Towns, 118 Parishes and 9644 Houses.
It had formerly 25 Castles and 3 Monasteries most of which are now demolished.
The Air is various, sharp on ye Mountains, covered with Snow but very Mild & Warm on ye Seavern Coast.
The Soil in ye North Part is full of Steep, High & Barren Hills, abounding with Woods, in ye South more plain rich & fertile, feeding multitude of Cattle & Sheep; it is called for its fruitfullness ye Garden of Wales.
It is plentifully stored with Fish, Flesh, Fowl, it also has many Coal Pits, The Cheif Comodities are Corn & Cattle."