England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llandecwyn St Tecwyn

The Parish

The parish of Llandecwyn lies in northwestern Merioneth not too far from its border with neighbouring Caernarvonshire and also not too far from its Cardigan Bay coastline, a narrow stretch of Llanfihangel y Traethau prevents its having a coastline itself. Llandecwyn is located just under a mile east of the A496 road which links Harlech with Ffestiniog, Llandecwyn being roughly 6 miles northeast of Harlech. Whilst Llandecwyn grants its name to the parish it is not the principal settlement today, subsidiary settlements at Cilfor on the A496 and Bryn Bwbach also hold populations whilst the vast majority of the parish consusts of remote uplands dotted with farmsteads and cottages. Those uplands provided the major source of income for the parish, hill farming of sheep whilst cattle grazed the lusher pastures on lower grounds. In addition to farming a small lead mine operated for some time employing a few men. Modern developments have come to Llandecwyn, the coastal railway line from Harlech to Porthmadog passes through and grants Llandecwyn a station. Today tourism has potentially become the main bread-winner, people drawn by the attractive scenery of the area, bestrewn, as it is, with picturesque lakes; it remains to be seen what impact the new Wales Coastal National Trail, which passes through, will also have. Several small streams drain the parish into the nearby Traeth Bach, the estuary of the Afon Dwyryd and thence to the Irish Sea. Llandecwyn is sited at between 15 metres, at Cilfor and 150 metres at the church in strongly undulating countryside where local heights rise inland to 623 metres on Moel Ysgyfarnogod to the southeast, upland country indeed. Like most upland parishes Llandecwyn covered an extensive area, covering close to 4,000 acres it would have supported a population of close to 500 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llandecwyn is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Tecwyn's church sits on a narrow lane which beyond the church becomes a "white-road" headed for Llyn Tecwyn Uchaf, a popular local walk. Sadly the early church which once stood here was replaced in 1880 by today's church which, therefore, is not the venue for these marriages. The medieval church was clearly ancient as an 11th century inscribed stone was re-incorporated into today's building. Early gazetteers state that it was "an ancient structure in the early English style of architecture". Today's church was built slightly to the north of the predecessor and is a plain church of nave & chancel augmented with a porch and bellcote and all in a "Gothic" style. The lane to the church is rather narrow but enough verge is available at the site to park safely. A massive blocky lychgate, covered with local slate, grants entry into a churchyard which has no obstacles for the photographer.