ABSTRACT
In marked contrast with England, the general Manorial supremacy throughout all Wales was recognised and confirmed by Act of Parliament as late as 1535–1543, when the Stewards of Manors and Lordships were expressly authorised to hold their Courts Leet and Courts Baron and Lawdays; and to decide civil suits up to forty shillings. Few and far between were the Welsh Boroughs that had attained to greater heights of real autonomy, to a more elaborate Municipal Constitution, or to a larger independence of the County Magistracy than Aberystwyth or Cardiff. The best vision of the Welsh Manorial Boroughs is afforded by the archives of the little port and market town of Aberystwyth in Cardiganshire, of which the population in 1689 was probably only a few hundreds. Unlike many Boroughs, Aberystwyth had not even a lock-up, or any sort of prison under its own administration, the House of Correction in the town being erected, maintained, and administered by Quarter Sessions.
