Cardiff Records, Volume II, Chapter I
NOTES ON THE MANORS OF THE CARDIFF DISTRICT

Transcribed by Pat Sewell 1995
email: pat.sewell@btopenworld.com
www: http://www.btinternet.com/~pat.sewell/

Last Modified: 9 April 1996

Note: Cartae = G. T. Clark's "Cartae et alia munimenta quae ad Dominium de Glamorgan pertinent"

MANOR OF ROATH DOGFIELD

Roath (in Welsh, y Rhath) is a parish adjoining Cardiff on the east. There is some reason to think its name is more ancient that of Cardiff,

The manor formerly known as Roath, but for about 300 years called Roath Dogfield, is one of the manors carved out of the old Commote of Kibbor, though it comprises certain lands ( Taff Mead, Merches, &c.) west of the Taff, which were not within that Commote according to Leland's description. It seems to have been always in the hands of the Lord of Cardiff Castle. Its principal house was anciently fortified and moated, and was no doubt on the site occupied by the present Roath Court, the seat of C. H. Williams Esq. Rice Merrick says :- "Within it stood an old Pyle, compassed with a "Mote, which is called The Court ; but now in ruyne." This manor comprises lands in the parishes of Roath, Llanishen, Lisvane, Saint John Baptist and Saint Mary.

Merrick says that in this manor is a place called Bedd-y-ci-du ("the grave of the black dog"), and this place is also mentioned in Minister's Accounts and a Survey temp. Hen.VIII. and Elizabeth. The same curious name is still borne by a field situate a little to the north of Llanishen church. After referring to this place, Merrick adds:- "Whereof it is supposed the lordship was named Dogfield."

This, however, is a very doubtful point. The name in the early documents is always "Roath," without addition. "Dogfield" first appears as part of the name of the manor in the time of Henry VIII.

It has been thought that it may be connected with the name Docgeuel or Doggevel (see below) a mediaeval form of the ancient Welsh Docmail and Dogvael.

In the Inquisition of Isabel, Countess of Warwick, 18 Henry VI., mention is made of a place called "Dogowyldescroft."

In this manor is Ty Mawr (otherwise Llys Du), which in 1748 was in the occupation of Sir George Howells. It stands close to Roath church.

Among the early inhabitants of this manor was, it appears, a family named Roth, no doubt deriving their name from it. Alice, daughter and heir to David Roth, was married to Jenkyn ap Adam ap Cynaelthwy ap Herbert, who was great-grandfather to Sir William ap Thomas, and so ancestor of the great Herbert family. This appears from an Elizabethan pedigree of Roberts of Cardiff, preserved at the Free Library.

1155 (c). Richard Bulchart granted to Margam Abbey 5 and a half acres of meadow lying between the meadow of William Docgevel and the meadow of the men of Rad (Roath). (Cartae III., pp. 89-90.)

1185. The Glamorgan Pipe Roll (Compotus de firmis maneriorum de Glamorgan) charges for the repair of the bridges of Rat and Reigni (Roath and Rumney), of Lequid mill, and Cardiff Castle and town gates, and accounts for 24L. "of the farm of Caerdif." (Cartae I., p. 27.)

1186.(c). William Doggeuel notified to the Bishop of Llandaff his grant to the monks of Margam of his field under Rahat (Roath), in the marsh towards the south, and any acre they might choose in his land at Lisbonit. (Cartae III., p. 118.)

1200 (c). In an agreement between Margam and Caerleon " the land Duc of the fee of Dogefel" is mentioned. (Cartae IV., p. 601.)

1307. Roath and Leckwith are called members of the town and castle of Cardiff. (Inquisition on death of Joan de Clare.)

Rents of a pound of cummin, a pound of pepper and a pair of gilt spurs are mentioned in early Inquisitions as paid for different tenements.

1395-1307. From the Inquisitions of Gilbert de Clare and Joan de Clare, the curious fact appears that it was the duty of the tenants of Llantwit to mow and make the hay of Taff Mead.

1316. A compotus of the possessions late of Gilbert de Clare includes lands "in the manor of Roath and the vill of Kaerdif with the castle."

1325. Grant, Walter Balle to John Mody, of one acre of meadow lying in the fee of Kaerdif at Westmor, in width between a meadow of the lord on the south, &c (Cartae I., p. 260.)

1550. Minister's Accounts. "A certain rent paid to our lord the King as in his demesne of Dogfield."

1550. Roath was one of the manors included in the grant by the King to Sir William Herbert, knight. (Vol. I., p. 463.)

One of the customary tenements was called "Alyce hill," containing 20 acres. (Chanc. Proc., Series II., bdle 101, No 12.) A Survey of the 12th year of Elizabeth shows that there were then only five copyhold tenements, and one of these was claimed to be held freely.

1678. MS. Glam. pedigrees. "The said Earl (of Pembroke) hath the castle of Cardiff, which stands in the manor of Roath."

The tenants of this manor held by freehold, sergeantry, kitchenhold and bond tenure. Copyhold tenure in Roath has long ceased to exist.

The Marquess of Bute is now Lord of Roath.

A Court Baron for Lord Bute's manors of Roath Dogfield, Roath Tewkesbury, Kibbor and Cardiff (called in recent times "White Friars and Kibbor"), and Llystalybont, was held, till the middle of the present century, at the Cross Keys inn, just outside the east gate of Cardiff. It was then removed to the old Angel inn and then to the Cardiff Arms (now the Angel), within the town walls, and is still held there. The Court was formerly held every six months, but now meets only once a year.