The civil function was exercised through vestry meetings which administered the Poor Law and were responsible for local roads and bridges.

After the Dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII (1536–1540) during the English Reformation, their holdings were divided and awarded to new tenants at the direction of the 1st Earl of Essex.

A rent roll dated 1540 for the granges of Mefenydd, Cwmystwyth and Hafodwen (‘newe leases’) reveals that W[illia]m Herbert and Morgan Herbert were tenants of several properties formerly belonging to the Abbey of Strata Florida, including significantly: Havodychdryd Ceilliau Pantycrave Bwlch Gwalter parcell of Ty Loge [...] 4 parte of Pwll Piran parte of Pregnant and Blaenmerin and Alltgron Havodychdryd or Hafod Uchtryd is the name of the house and demesne and the other properties.

Silver, lead and zinc have been mined in the valley since Roman times, an activity that reached its peak in the 18th century.

The linguistic (Welsh language dialects) border between North and South is officially held to be a line east–west passing through the public house Y Ffarmers (see Gallery) in the centre of the village.