England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Bettws Newydd St Aeddan

The Parish

The parish of Bettws Newydd lies almost centrally in the county of Monmouthshire and roughly 4 miles north of the small market town of Usk. Bettws Newydd sits about 1 mile east of the B4598 road which links Usk with Abergavenny. Bettws Newydd is a small crossroads settlement sitting in a fold in the hills east of the course of the River Usk. The parish was mostly engaged in farming with a roughly 2:1 ratio in favour of arable, there was also substantial forestry patches which would have been exploited for woodland products. A small stream meanders the short distance to the Usk which takes water southwards eventually passing through the industrial town and port of Newport to reach the outer Bristol Channel. Bettws Newydd is sited at around 90 metres above the sea but easterly views are dominated by the twin summits of Trostrey Hill and the fort-topped Coed-y-Bwnydd both of which reach just below the 200 metre contour in strongly rolling countryside. Bettws Newydd parish was small covering merely 1,200 acres which would have supported a population of around 100 parishioners. Like most of Wales Bettws Newydd is not mentioned in Domesday which has little coverage west of the Wye.

The Church

St Aeddab's church sits tucked away to the southeast of the village accessed from the main north to south running lane by a narrow and shady lane, it sits some 150 yards away from the main road. Like many small churches in Wales it is a simple construction of nave and chancel combined, both nave and chancel fate from the Perpendicular period and are probably 15th century in origin. Also medieval is the western porch although Pevsner fails to define a date. Standing high above the western end of the nave is a double bellcote which may also be medieval but was extensively remodelled in the 19th century. A light Victorian restoration of 1894 also added the northern vestry. Whilst the exterior is very typical and of no great interest for Pevsner the wonders of the interior are worth a visit in their own right. The tiny remote church possesses what Pevsner believed to be the "most complete rood arrangement in any church in England and Wales", high praise indeed for the combination intact of rood screen, rood loft and tympanum that must be seen. The approach to the church is rather narrow and whilst it is widened outside the churchyard it is really only suitable for vehicles with a tight turning circle, better to park in the main village and the short distance. On arrival the church is hidden by some mature trees but the churchyard opens up into an uncluttered space allowing excellent sight-lines for the photographer.