England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Bronllys St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Bronllys lies in eastern Breconshire not too far from the county's border with neighbouring Radnorshire. Bronllys is located roughly 8 miles northeast of the county town of Brecon and sits on the A438 road which links Brecon with Hay on Wye. Bronllys is a crossroads settlement set around the junction of the A438 with the A479 arriving in from Talgarth, most properties lie to the west of that junction or to the north on side lanes. Bronllys' main claim to fame is the presence of its 12th century Norman castle built at the confluence of Afon Dulas and Afon Llynfi, a noted defensive position, only the round tower remains and is managed by Cadw. Bronllys occupies a hilly rather than mountainous part of mid-Wales and consequently there are no tracts of rough moorland grazing, cattle were thus the dominant livestock on both the riverside water-meadows and the low hills surrounding the village. The combined flows of the Dulas & Llynfi have only a few miles to run before they meet the Wye which heads eastwards through Hay to Hereford before turning more to the south to reach the Bristol Channel through the port of Chepstow. Bronllys is sited at around 130 metres above the sea with its northern edge some 30 metres higher, to the northwest 279 metres is reached at nearby Brechfa Pool. Bronllys parish was rather small by Breconshire standards covering only a little over 2,100 acres which would have supported a population of close to 350 parishioners. Like most of Wales Bronllys is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Mary's church stands in the centre of the village in the junction of the A479 (Church Street) with the A438, the church is well-hidden being behind the fronting properties. Whilst the church is undoubtedly of medieval origins, it shows both Early English Gothic and Decorated styled tracery indicating perhaps a late 13th or early 14th century origin, the church was heavily modified during the Victorian era. Pevsner considers the priest's door to be a 14th century relic and the northern porch to be of the 16th century but is reticent on most dates. His reticence is caused by the almost complete rebuild of both nave & chancel that took place between 1887 & 1889 transforming the main body of the church. The church does, however, have one stand-out feature namely its detached tower which stands to the northeast of the chancel. Whilst, at one time, considered a folly it is now believed to have a 14th century origin similar to other detached towers in neighbouring Herefordshire such as Pembridge & Yarpole. The A438 has a few spots at which one can park but care must be taken as this is a main road. The churchyard is largely open and uncluttered with no significant obstacles for the photographer.