Elenydd is the largest and the most remote area in the Cambrian Mountains. The east side of the range runs down into the Wye valley and the English speaking Boarder counties. In contrast, the west facing hills extend out gently into the Welsh speaking heartland of Ceredigion. It is on this side of Elenydd that the village of Pontrhydfendigaid stands – in  the foothills, near to the source of the river Teifi and the remains of the celebrated abbey of Strata Florida.

In times gone by, life in this tiny sheltered corner of Ceredigion was inextricably bound and moulded by the closeness of Elenydd’s wild expansive landscape. For centuries, the local inhabitants clung doggedly to  long-established traditions, customs and  beliefs ; outside events had but little effect on their everyday existence. H.V. Morton in his book, In Search of Wales (1932), claims that :

 “Mountains are the barriers against change. Wherever there are mountains you will find old memories, old beliefs, old habits, and unaltered ways.”

Indeed, when those words were written, change in this small Elenydd enclave was slow and continuous and the past was still a reliable guide to the future. The social structure was essentially long-standing, and was, largely, shaped by the seasonal demands of local agriculture. In essence and spirit, the community was physically and emotionally removed from the rest of the country.