England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Penrhos Lligwy St Michael

The Parish

The parish of Penrhos Lligwy, now better known simply as Rhos Lligwy, lies in the extreme northwest of Anglesey forming s lengthy stretch of the island's coastline with the Irish Sea. Penrhos Lligwy is located roughly 6 miles southeast of the port & market town of Amlwch and sits on and mostly east of the A5025 road which links Amlwch with Benllech. The modern settlement of Rhos Lligwy stands on and east of the A5025, a small t-junction settlement, the parish church sits a half mile to the southwest with the farm of Ty-mawr, to the northwest and also on the A5025 is the small village of Brynrefail another junction settlement and finally at the beach of Traeth Lligwy a collection of shacks and a holiday camp. All, in the past, was not so unspoiled as Penrhos Lligwy was renowned for the quality of its marble, the so-called Mona Marble, which was extensively quarried from the hillsides around the settlement and transported town the small stream that drains into Traeth Lligwy where a port once flourished shipping said marble to both Liverpool & London. The former quarries now litter the landscape around the area. Of more interest to archaeologists and historians are the ancient traces of human occupation, to the east of the village sits Din Lligwy, said to be the finest Romano-British homestead site in Gwynedd, whilst another half mile further on sits Lligwy Burial Chamber, a simple but impressive Neolithic burial chamber noted primarily for its massive capstone of limestone, its dimensions being 18  feet by 16 feet. The industrial heritage and archaeological interest undoubtedly draw in visitors whilst other are here for the beach or trekking the Welsh National Coastal Trail which circumnavigates tsland and passes through Penrhos Lligwy parish. Penrhos Lligwy is drained the short distance to the sea by the Afon Lligwy which reaches the Irish Sea at its beach. Penrhos Lligwy is sited at around 40 metres above the sea at the A5025 with the parish church some 20 metres higher, the whole is overlooked by the isolated knoll of Mynydd Bodafon which peaks at a spot height of 178 metres and has commanding views over the whole northwest of the island. Penrhos Lligwy parish was quite extensive covering almost 2,900 acres and would have supported a population of around 550 parishioners. Like most of Wales Penrhos Lligwy is not recorded in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

There is a history of 2 churches within Penrhos Lligwy parish, the original parish church, now a roofless ruin, sat just north of the Neolithic Burial chamber, it was built in the 12th century with a 14th century bellcote. Today's parish church, however, lies alongside Ty Mawr farmstead roughly a half mile south of Brynrefail. It too sits within a circular "llan" usually indicative of an early Christian site. The most recognisable medieval fabric is early 14th century and the result of a rebuilding during the Decorated style's period. Further rebuilding is dated to c1400 and Perpendicular. However the church was almost totally renewed in 1865 which not only restored most of the church but also added the northern porch and its western bellcote, most of the windows, too, were replaced in what Pevsner terms "over-elaborate Perpendicular styling".  The lane from Brynrefail performs a right-angled bend at the churchyard gate where the triangular space so created allows a car or two to safely park. From the kissing-gate there is quite a lengthy pathway to the church which sits in the southeastern corner, a position which removes all of the favoured southern aspects from the photographer's portfolio, only less satisfactory views from northern angles are available.