England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Yspytty Ifan St John the Baptist

The Parish

The parish of Yspytty Ifan (usually rendered as Ysbyty Ifan nowadays) lies in the extreme southwest of Denbighshire such that it forms not only part of the border with neighbouring Caernarvonshire but also with Merioneth, the parish was previously cross-county having portions in both Denbighshire & Caernarvonshire. Yspytty Ifan is situated in remote hill-country about halfway between Bala and Llanrwst being about 8 miles northwest of the former and 7 southeast of the latter. Yspytty Ifan is sited on the B4407 road which leads southwest from the A5 towards Ffestiniog. Yspytty Ifan is a small and compact village sitting on both banks of the Afon Conwy and linked by a crossing bridge. The area around Yspytty Ifan is extremely poor quality upland suitable only for sheep grazing with a few cattle in the Conwy valley. The Afon Conwy drains the parish to the north to reach the Irish Sea through the town of Conway. Yspytty Ifan is sited at around 220 metres above the sea but local heights dramatically to nearly 700 metres on Carnedd y Filiast within a few miles of the village. Yspytty Ifan parish is large as are most in this area, it covered just over 9,500 acres and would have supported a population of almost 850 parishioners most of whom lived outside the village itself. In common with most of Wales Yspytty Ifan is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St John the Baptist's church sits on the northern side of the lane running over the hill to Pentrefoelas along the eastern side of the Afon Conwy. The original church, here, was founded by the Knight's Hospitallers but this mediaeval edifice has long since disappeared hastened by the effects of the dissolution. Today's church dates from the mid-Victorian period having been opened in 1861. Pevsner does notice some original materials reused but laments the loss of the historical Hospitallers' church. His short description is a reflection of the lack of architectural interest in what is a small and fairly typical upland church. The church is set somewhat back from the lane (Church View), a gate sheltering under a large tree grants access to a grassy extension to the churchyard. The site, once reached, is open and with few restrictions to photography.