Coxe Tour of Monmouthshire

The hamlet of Goytre or Coedtrev in the midst of the region derives its appellation from the forests with which it is surrounded and abounds with delightful recesses and pleasant glades dotted with white cottages.

Mr Waddington remarked that this district continually reminded him of the wilds of America and in the course of our rides pointed out to me a house recently built by a gentleman who passed a great part of his life on the other side of the Atlantic and chose this position from its striking resemblance to the scenes which were familiar to him from his infancy.

The hamlet is a collection of scattered cottages placed at inconsiderable distances from each other.

A farm house adjoining the church bears the appearance of a decayed mansion and is almost the only object in the vicinity.

The situation of the church itself stands on a site and embossed in the woods is no less picturesque than that of Llanover, though of a different cast, the simplicity of the form without a tower and in the early style of gothic architecture accords with the surrounding scenery.

The few by-roads when interfaced this tract are straight, deep, narrow and stony and exhibit occasional traces of paved causeway which prove that it was farmed more frequently that at present.