England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llandderfel St Derfel

The Parish

The parish of Llandderfel lies in northeastern Merioneth forming a lengthy stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Denbighshire. Llandderfel is located roughly 4 miles east of the small town of Bala and sits just north of the B4401 road which links Bala with Corwen. Llandderfel is a crossroads village sitting at the junction of the northward running B4402 with lanes paralleling the course of the River Dee. Most properties line the steeply rising B-road as it climbs away from the bridge across the Dee, a smaller settlement sits south of the river. In addition to the village with the parish church early gazetteers detail several satellite hamlets within this extensive parish, Crogen, Seleorn, Llan, Dôldrewyn, Cynlas, Nant-y-Friar, Caergeliog, and Llaethcwm. The parish is dominated by pastoral farming, as are most in this upland region, the valley of the Dee holds rich pastures with cattle whilst much of the upland, almost 30% of the parish acreage, is the home of hardy sheep and subsistence hill farming. The village has a small business in the manufacture of flannel and knitting of stockings. Modern developments have come and gone from the parish, a railway branch line following the Dee valley between Bala and Corwen has closed and left only a few bridges and cuttings from its passing. Llandderfel is drained northeastwards by the Dee which heads through Llangollen and out onto the Cheshire Plain before passing through Chester and to the Irish Sea through its estuary. Llandderfel is sited at around 160 metres in its valley setting, the hills rise all around reaching 395 metres on nearby Mynydd Mynyllod and 609 metres on Moel Darren to the north in very hilly terrain that attracts hikers, mountain bikers and fisherman to this attractive area. Llandderfel parish, like most upland parishes was very extensive covering just over 7,900 acres it would have supported a population of around 950 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llandderfel is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Derfel's church, Derfel was a 6th century Welsh saint who, legend has it, was a warrior with King Arthur, sits on the western side of the B4402 as it rises steeply through the village. The church sits within a traditional round "llan", a sign of an early Christian settlement. The church is a product of the later medieval Perpendicular period having been initially built c1500 and appears to be, subject to later restoration, a single complete build. The church uses the local slatey stone and is single-chambered. Later additions include the 2 porches added in 1639 and new roofs from 1758 following a fire. Like most churches there was a typical Victorian restoration, here in 1870, which constructed the west window and the eastern bellcote. Internally the church's screen of 4-lights is worth a visit in itself being intricately carved. The B4402, here Church Street, is steep and with only odd spots for safe on-street parking mostly south of the site. The churchyard is entered through a substantial slate lychgate complete with double wooden gates, sadly for the photographer the church is placed tight to the southwestern corner of the "llan" removing most of the favoured aspects from the portfolio and making for a challenging subject on a sunny day.