Cylchgronau Cymru

FOURTH SERIES.—No. XXVI. APRIL, 1876. ISCOED IN MAELOR SAESNEG. This name occurs three times within a radius of five miles. There are the parishes of Is y Coed, near Wrex¬ ham ; and of Bangor Is y Coed, which occupies both sides of the Dee; and this township. The word means " below the wood or forest", and not only implies that •this part was.reckoned the lowlands of the district,1 but also indicates the outskirts of the great " holt" or forest that formerly covered the higher lands on the Cheshire side of the river. At the east and west ends of this township, the name "Gelli" (grove) is found, which may possibly refer to Druidical worship. The successive stages of Christian worship may more easily be dis¬ cerned. There is a " Maes y Groes" (field of the cross), and close by the " H&n Rus",2 written sometimes u Hen- gwayes" (probably "hen grwys"—the old crosses).3 There are also traces of many buildings; and it may be that these were ecclesiastical, as we have the words 1 Celyddon Is y Coed was the name for the Scotch Lowlands. 2 Owen Pughe gives "rhws" =cultivated ground. 8 The frequent occurrence of this word in the nomenclature of this district, e. g., Henrus, Henwayes, Hendre, Hengoed, Hen Dinas, suggests an occupation anterior to its permanent settlement; such, for instance, as we can well conceive to have been dispersed in the fierce and frequent inroads to which it was exposed in early times ; and it may be the clue to the early name of Hanmer also.—Ed. Arch. Gamb. 4th ser., vol. vii. 6