England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Gelligaer St Catwg

The Parish

The parish of Gelligaer lies in the extreme northeast of Glamorgan, indeed it forms an extensive part of the border with neighbouring Monmouthshire and also with neighbouring Breconshire. Gelligaer lies roughly 7 miles southeast of the town of Merthyr Tydfil and a similar distance north of Caerphilly. The village of Gelligaer, itself, sits on the ridge between two of the Welsh valleys on the B4254 which connects Abercynon with Blackwood. Gelligaer has a long history, it is proud of its Roman fort which lies to the southwest of the village and was also the site of a major (and bloody) battle whence the Welsh repulsed the Norman's attempt to seize the Welsh province of Gower. Gelligaer, at the time of this transcript, was undergoing a huge change from remote pastoral farming community to major industrial centre. The iron ore, coal and slate which abounds lead to rapid growth of settlement within the Afon Rhymni valley with rows of terraced cottages serving the mines and iron works. Population of the parish rocketed from a small village of fewer than 500 folk to over 3,200 by the start of Victoria's reign. Today the valleys are somewhat postindustrial with the closure of mines and iron works leaving a legacy of decay and outward migration. The Afon Rhymni, which forms the border with Monmouthshire, drains the parish southwards, to reach the Bristol Channel just to the east of Cardiff. Gelligaer, the village, is sited at around 230 metres above the sea, some 100 metres higher than the Rhymni, in an upland setting, local heights rise still further to over 400 metres on Cefn Gelligaer to the northwest. Gelligaer parish was one of the most extensive in Glamorgan and also in the whole of England and Wales, at more than 50,000 acres it covered a vast tract of the northeast of Glamorgan and as stated its growing population rose to well over 3,000 parishioners during the period of this transcript. Like most of Wales there is no mention of Gelligaer in Domesday Book as that tome did not cover this area.

The Church

St Catwg's church sits on the northern side of the B4254 as it winds through the village of Gelligaer. The site has ancient origins being close to the Roman Fort, a 10th century stone has been found. The first recorded priest was from 1266 when the church probably existed in its early form. What was a mediaeval building has, however, been extensively restored in the 1860s and few signs of the earlier origins remain. Pevsner notes the southern and priest's doorways as being of the earlier period. The western doorway is a Tudor addition. The B4254, here known as Church Road, is broad with parking possible with care, their is a small pull-in at the churchyard gates for one car. The churchyard has a local stone wall for surrounds with gates at the southeastern corner granting entry. Sadly the church is almost totally enclosed within trees severely restricting the angles available for photography.