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

The Parish

The parish of Ysceifeiog lies in the central portion of the main part of Flintshire, the county being rather thin on a north to south axis, Ysceifiog still carries part of the border with neighbouring Denbighshire. Ysceifiof is located roughly 7 miles west of the county town of Flint and sits in lanes a mile north of the A541 road which connects Mold with Denbigh. Ysceifiog is a small and compact village grouped around a small square of lanes at the foot of the Clwydian Hills which rise to the south. Whilst pastoral farming provided a bedrock to the economy there was extensive quarrying of the local limestone for building and within the rock lay workable lead seams which provided an extractive industry too. The porous limestone means surface drainage is erratic but forms eventually the Afon Alun draining southeastwards before meeting the De and reversing that flow to meet the Irish Sea through the Dee's estuary. Ysceifiog is sited at around 180 metres above the sea but land rises steeply onto the Clwyd Hills to reach reach 426 metres on nearby Penycloddiau where the Offa's Dyke National Trail runs over the crest of the range. Flintshire parishes are often broad in extent and Ysceifiog was typical, covering almost 5,900 acres it would have supported a population of close to 1,750 parishioners, the village being relatively small most would have been spread over the wider parish. Unlike most of Wales Ysceifiog is mentioned in Domesday Book, a relatively small holding of Earl Hugh of Chester it could muster just a pair of ploughs as well as extensive woodland.

The Church

St Mary's church sits at the heart of the small village of Ysceifiog on the eastern side of the square of lanes. Sadly this is not some medieval masterpiece but a late Georgian replacement which would not have been the venue for these marriages, except for the last few as it was built between 1836 & 1837. It is fair to say that the church's architecture failed to excite Pevsner who's description is short, covering just 5 lines of text and not passing any favourable comment. There is much scope for parking within the village making a visit relatively easy, the churchyard has a local stone wall surrounding and is extensive, the main entrance is directly east from the village inn. The churchyard is opem, uncluttered and with no obstructions to photography.