England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llandetty St Tetta

The Parish

The parish of Llandetty (often rendered Llanthetty in the past and Llanddetty nowadays) lies in southern Breconshire forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Glamorgan. Llandetty is located roughly 6 miles northwest of Crickhowell and stands on the B4658 road which follows the southern bank of the River Usk between Crickhowell and Brecon. Llandetty, itself, is a tiny hamlet on that road sitting a quarter of a mile south of Llandetty Hall, a 17th century mansion. Nearby to both hall and church there are no properties other than scattered farmsteads. The wider parish, however, extends for several miles into the county's borderlands with Glamorgan holding small hamlets such as Brynmelyn and Wern which are again little more than collections of upland farmsteads. Whilst the Usk valley has rich soils the greater part of the parish is upland and above 500 metres for much of its area. The valley provided crops such as cereals and root crops but the upland content of the parish would have served as vast sheep runs. Modern developments have come to the parish with the construction of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal alongside the Usk much of which is required to tunnel through rock in the Llandetty area. Llandetty is drained southeastwards by the Usk which eventually meets the outer Bristol Channel through the port of Newport. Llandetty is sited at 120 metres by its church but, as already mentioned the parish is upland with heights of 551 metres on Tor y Foil being only superceded by Carn Fawr topped by its ancient burial chamber. Like many Breconshire parishes Llandetty covered an extensive area of almost 10,800 acres which would have supported a largely dispersed population of around 500 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llandetty is not mentioned in Domesday Book which has no coverage in this area.

The Church

St Tetta's church sits alongside the B4658 squeezed between road and the Usk in a circular "llan", an ancient Christian site. Whilst there has been a stone-built church here since the 13th century only traces remain of the earliest structure. Of today's church the earliest feature and only remaining medieval portion is the late-Perpendicular east window of the 15th century. Both southern and priest's doorways are slightly later being added in Tudor times but much was altered during an extensive restoration conducted in 1878. That restoration created the western bellcote as well as restoring the main body and porch. The final work came in the 20th century when the ribbed wagon roof was remade. Thankfully a parking bay is carved into the northern side of the B4658 allowing several cars to park outside the gates. Whilst there are thick trees close to the eastern end and the odd tree dotted elsewhere the photographer should have no difficulty finding appropriate angles.