Llanvair Discoed, Monmouthshire

Description
Llanvair Discoed, a township and a parish in Monmouthshire. The name is a corruption of Llanvair-is-y-Coed, " St Mary below the wood." The township is situated at the bottom of Grey Hill, a part of the range of hills on which was the great forest of Wentwood, 4 miles NNE of Magor station on the South Wales section of the G.W.R., and 6 W by S of Chepstow. Post town, Chepstow; money order office, Shirenewton; telegraph office, Caldicot. The parish contains also the hamlet of Dinham. Acreage, 1995 ; population, 166. Llanvair Castle was built in the 13th century, belonged to the Fitz Pain family, was held by the Montther-mers, passed to the Montacutes, Neviles, and Poles, reverted to the Crown in the reign of James I., and now belongs to the Kemeys-Tynti family. Two large round towers and part of the keep are all that remain. Dinham Castle is now reduced to a few wood-covered vestiges. The living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the vicarage of Caerwent, in the diocese of Llandaff. The church is ancient, and was restored and enlarged in 1883. There was formerly a church at Dinham, but it has long since disappeared.