England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant St Dogfan

The Parish

The parish of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is unusual as it spans across the border of two counties, the majority of the parish lies as the southernmost parish in Denbighshire whilst a slightly smaller percentage forms one of the northernmost parishes in Montgomeryshire. Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is located roughly 12 miles west of the Shropshire town of Oswestry and sits as the western terminus of the meandering B4580 road which links it with Oswestry. Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is a valley settlement on the edges of a vast area of upland, early gazetteers estinated that almost half of the parish acreage was "waste", better known today as unimproved upland grassland. The village lies in the valley of Afon Rhaeadr and is largely built alongside the river's course, running for almost a mile alongside the river. Upland farming dominated the local economy, the moorlands to the west being the haunt of hardy sheep whilst the lusher valleys were enjoyed by cattle, a few hardy cereals and roots were the only viable arable crops. Local industries in cloth manufacture and shoe making employed a few within the village whilst some of the local stone was also exploited. Today Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant has a strong tourism industry as the gateway to the Berwyn Mountains and access point for the noted local attraction of Pistyll Rhaeadr, some 4 miles northwest, a 240 feet cataract within a wooded gorge that draws many to the area. The whole area is the playground of hikers, off-road cyclists and fisherman and busy with such all year round. Modern developments have come and gone from the village, a branch railway line connecting it to Oswestry has closed and largely disappeared. Afon Rhaeadr runs only a short distance eastwards before it is met and merges with Afon Tanat, the valley of which represents the most fertile area of the parish and forms the border between the two counties, in its turn Afon Tanat meets Afon Efyrnwy shortly before the whole drainage runs into the mighty Severn, from here it is a very long journey trending southwards to eventually reach the sea through the Bristol Channel. Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is sited at around 150 metres above the sea with its higher reaches some 20 metres higher, westwards, however, land rises into the Berwyn Mountains reaching 621 metres on Moel Hen-fache within less than 2 miles and summitting the Berwyns at Bwrdd Arthur's cairn at 784 metres in impressive and challenging mountains. The combined area within the two counties amounts to almost 23,300 acres making Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant parish one of the most extensive in the land, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 2,600 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Dogfan's church sits on the main street of the village on the southern side of the B4580 and opposite to the Wynnstay Arms Inn, the site is squeezed in between the road and Afon Rhaeadr. As the church sits within a circular churchyard, usually the site of an early Christian setting, and is believed to have been a monastic foundation from earliest times. Nothing remains of th earliest churches on this site and only traces of medieval masonry can be confidently dated due to the extensive work in more modern times. A 9th or 10th century Celtic cross preserved in the southern aisle indicates what we are now missing. 12th century fabric is perhaps found at the very base of the western tower and a single 12th century window once graced the north wall. Late medieval times saw the early church much enlarged as exemplified by a Decorated styled window in the northern aisle and Perpendicular dated wagon ceiling internally. The remainder of today's tower was completed in the 18th century and in the 19th much change added the 3-bay chancel aisles to greatly enlarge the church. At least two Victorian restorations took place, the first of uncertain date is referred to caustically as spoiling the windows in documents dated to 1872 whilst that of 1881 added the northern porch and yet again changed many windows including removing that Norman window. The overall result is a large church of unusual form, with a squat tower, a long and low nave and chancel, and large side aisles or naves confined to the eastern part of the church, giving a striking triple-gabled east elevation. Small parking bays exist to both east and west of the site which is entered by a stone lychgate almost opposite to the inn. Various paths criss-cross the extensive churchyard which has no significant obstacles for the photographer.