Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant

History

It was an important site in the ancient commote (or cantref; sources disagree) of Mochnant, as indicated by the ym-Mochnant in its name (translates to "in Mochnant").

Administrative history

Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (historically also spelt 'Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant') was an ancient parish, which straddled the county boundary between Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. The county boundary followed the Afon Rhaeadr, which passes through the village. The parish church of St Dogfan was in the Denbighshire part of the parish, north of the river. The division between the two counties reflected the partition of the ancient commote in the 12th century.

Under the Local Government Act 1894, parishes were no longer allowed to straddle county boundaries. The parish was therefore split into two civil parishes, one in Denbighshire and one in Montgomeryshire; both parishes were called Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant (later changed to Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant). The divide continued following the local government reorganisation in 1974, with the former Denbighshire parish becoming a community in Clwyd and the former Montgomeryshire parish becoming a community in Powys. The northern community was transferred to Powys in 1996. Even then, the two remained separate communities within Powys until 2008, when they were reunited into a single community.

Buildings and antiquities

Capel Seion is in the village. It is a Methodist chapel rebuilt in the early 20th century in Arts and Crafts style.

Population

In the 2001 Census the population was 1,470, of whom 55% were Welsh-speaking. In the 2011 census the population had fallen to 1,195, with 408 in the village itself.

The village falls in the electoral ward of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant/Llansilin. The ward population at the 2011 Census was 2,295.

Parish church

The Norman church of St Dogfan is a Grade II* listed building, restored between 1879 and 1882, but with parts dating back to the 13th century. There is a gravestone with a Celtic cross possibly commemorating Cwgan son of Ethelstan, a Welsh prince of the 11th century.

The parish is best known for its former vicar, William Morgan (1545–10 September 1604), who first translated the whole Bible into Welsh in the 1580s and later became a bishop of Llandaff and of St Asaph. Gwallter Mechain (1761–1849), the bard, was the vicar from 1837 until his death in 1849. Rev. Griffith Hartwell Jones (1859–1944), a Welsh academic and Anglican clergyman, was born in the village.

St Dogfan was a son of Brychan Brycheiniog and a Welsh prince in the 5th century. A clas dedicated to him was founded on the site of the present church. The holy well of the saint is on the farm of Gwernfeifod in Cwm-ffynnon.

Local attractions

Attractions near the village include the Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall, known for its natural arch, the Berwyn Mountains, and Lake Vyrnwy.

Pistyll Rhaeadr Falls.jpg|Pistyll Rhaeadr Tafarn y Wynnstay Arms Pub, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 05.JPG|The Wynnstay Arms tavern Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 31.JPG|Church of St Dogfan Altar Croes Geltaidd yn Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 39.JPG|Carreg Gwgan (Gwgan's Stone*)*; 9-10th century Celtic cross, kept in Church of St Dogfan Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 36.JPG|Church of St Dogfan Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 34.JPG|Wood carving by altar

Public transport

Bus services are operated by Tanat Valley Coaches, based in the village. Route 76 links the village with Llanfyllin, Meifod and Welshpool. Routes 79/79A connect the town with Llangynog, Llangedwyn, Penybontfawr and Oswestry.

The village was at one point served by the defunct Tanat Valley Light Railway which served Pentrefelin, Llanrhaiadr Mochnant and Pedairffordd Halt. Of these station, Llanrhaiadr Mochant was the closest one to the village being around a mile south east. These closed in 1951 to passengers along with the line to Llangynog, but the line remained open to freight to as far as Llanrhaeadr Mochant until 1964, when the entire line to Blodwell Junction was closed.

The trackbed has been incorporated into agricultural use, but the newly formed Tanat Valley Light Railway has expressed interest in reopening the line to as far as Llanrhaiadr Mochnant for heritage and tourist use; it is currently focused on reaching Blodwell Junction from Nantmawr.

Film location

Parts of the 1995 film The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain, starring Hugh Grant, were filmed in the village, portraying the real-life village of Taff's Well in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which by 1995 had become too developed to use. More recently, the village featured in the 2012 film Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger with David Tennant, as the village where the St. Bernadette's school bus stops to buy sweets on the way to Lake Vyrnwy in search of the (fictitious) Castell Llawen ('Merry Castle').

References

References

1. "Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant community".
2. Lloyd, John Edward. (1912). "A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest". Longmans, Green, and Co..
3. (1876). "Book of Reference to the Plan of the Parish of Llanrhaiadr yn Mochnant". Ordnance Survey.
4. (1886). "Montgomeryshire Sheet V SE". Ordnance Survey.
5. {{cite legislation UK. (1994)
6. (2 March 2008). "The Powys (Communities) Order 2008".
7. [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=6116426&c=Llanrhaeadr-ym-mochnant&d=14&e=15&g=415474&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1330193425562&enc=1 UK Census – 2001]. Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2013-02-05.
8. [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=6116426&c=Llanrhaeadr-ym-mochnant&d=14&e=15&g=415474&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1330193425562&enc=1&dsFamilyId=888 UK Census – 2001]. Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2013-02-05.
9. "Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Built-up area".
10. "Ward population 2011".
11. "St Dogfan's, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant". Llanrhaeadr Group of Parishes.
12. "St Dogfan's Church".
13. [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/392273/William-Morgan William-Morgan]. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 2013-02-05.
14. "Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant". CPAT.
15. "The Tanat Valley: Cwm Blowty, Llanrhaeadr-ym-mochnant, Powys". CPAT.
16. [http://www.ovguide.com/the-englishman-who-went-up-a-hill-but-came-down-a-mountain-9202a8c04000641f800000000041eb57 OnlineVideo – The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain], Ovguide.com. Retrieved on 2013-02-05.