England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llanfihangel Ystrad St Michael

The Parish

The parish of Llanfihangel Ystrad lies in southern Cardiganshire roughly 6 miles northwest of the market town of Lampeter. Llanfihangel Ystrad sits on the A482 road which links Lampeter with Aberaeron, the church being situate in the main settlement of Ystrad Aeron. Whilst Ystrad Aeron is the main settlement there are others, also on the A482 and a half mile south is Felinfach whilst a further half mile takes you to Temple Bar. The parish is extensive and the village of Cribyn is the main settlement within the area of rolling low hill-country that lies between the Afon Aaeron and the Afon Teifi. The area is dominated by pastoral farming, cattle in the more sheltered valley of the Aeron whilst the hill country carries mainly sheep. Unlike many parishes in this area there is no mention of mineral extraction in this parish. The parish once saw modern developments with a branch railway line following the Aeron from Lampeter to Aberaeron, it is nowadays closed and dismantled. The parish is drained northwestwards by the Afon Aeron which meets the Irish Sea at Aberaeron. Llanfihangel Ystrad is sited at 80 metres above the sea at its church but land within the wider parish rises to local high spots of 250 metres quite regularly with 312 metres reached by the Whilgarn Cairn on Rhos Garn Whilgarn to the southwest. Llanfihangel Ystrad parish was typically extensive, covering almost 7.500 acres which would have supported a population of around 1,200 parishioners. It is mighty sad that the register for pre-1800 is lost as an unknown, but clearly substantial, volume of marriages is lost forever. Like most of Wales Llanfihangel Ystrad is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Michael's church stands beside the A482 in Ystrad Meurig almost opposite to the Brynog Arms Inn and just northwest of the junction with the B4342 running to Dihewid. The church was largely rebuilt in 1878 in a controversial restoration which destroyed the former double-naved plan with central arcade which made the church unique, refused grant aid from the Incorporated Church Building Society went ahead anyway and much medieval detail was lost. Pevsner describes what remains as "a little gaunt" and consists of nave and chancel with a northern aisle and a bellcote sitting above the southern porch. Sadly it would be unrecognisable to the participants in these marriages. A style from the early 14th century, the Decorated is utilised by the rebuild. Immediately northwest of the site is a substantial village car park allowing a relaxed visit. The churchyard is entered through a neat lychgate. Unfortunately the church is placed tight to the southern edges of the churchyard removing the favoured aspects from the photographer's portfolio but all other angles are readily available.