England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llangynyw St Cynyw

The Parish

The parish of Llangynyw (these days often spelt Llangyniew) lies in the northeastern portion of central Montgomeryshire roughly 6 miles west of the market town of Welshpool. Llangynyw sits immediately north of the A458 road which links Welshpool with Llanfair Caereinion. Llangynyw is a rather scattered series of settlements across an upland parish, Llangynyw, itself, sits on the banks of the Afon Banwy and is a linear settlement paralleling the river. To the west on the short linking road of the B4389 sits Glascoed another linear settlement rising up a steep lane to the parish church. The B3289 links the A458 to the A495 and on that road sits Newbridge by the confluence of Afon Banwy with Afon Efyrnwy and also Plas Coch, afew cottages gathered around a prominent inn. Like much of the borderlands between Wales and England Llangynyw suffered from the frequent fighting which suppressed economic development, for most of the medieval period the area was dominated by livestock husbandry, cattle on the valley bottoms and sheep on the rougher grounds. With its excellent valley communications to England Llangynyw became a centre for droving of Welsh livestock to the English markets, the wool from the many sheep also fuelled a textile business mainly manufacturing flannel & woollen goods. With borders settled and at peace much more arable came into the parish such that by the end of this transcript period some 30% of the acreage had become arable mainly growing hardier cereals and root crops. Modern developments have come to the parish, whilst the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is no longer part of the transport network it continues life as a heritage line. Llangynyw is drained by the combined strength of Afon Banwy and Afon Efrynwy which heads off as the latter northeastwards before curving back southeastwards from Llanymynech to join the mighty Severn for that river's long journey to the sea at the Bristol Channel. Llangynyw is sited between 105 metres above the sea by the Banwy to a series of mid-height hills all topping out around the 230 metre mark, to the northeast stands Moel y Sant at 268 metres the highest local ground. Like most upland parishes Llangynyw was extensive covering 4,400 acres which would have supported a population of close to 650 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llangynyw is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

A few yards west of the access track for Glascoed halt on the railway a narrow and rather steep lane rises northeast passing several cottages before arriving at the parish church which sits surrounded by pastures and with dramatic views across the valley of Afon Banwy. St Cynyw's church (the dedication is to an eminent British saint, who flourished in the sixth century) sits within a circular "llan" an indication of an early Christian site and it is believed the saint himself founded the church in the 6th century, obviously nothing tangible remains of that church except for the ring of venerable yew trees which stands around today's church. The church is also mentioned in 13th century taxation documents but today's church is largely a product of the 15th century Perpendicular era and later. The basic single chambered church together with the southern doorway and its timber-framed porch are all 15th century and in that style. Victorian work came in three significant phases, the first of 1842 erected the western gallery, the second of 1858 added the vestry and raised the floor level of the chancel by a step to give more definition, finally late in the 19th century (date uncertain) the stone bellcote was constructed.  Given the narrow lane it is with some relief that one finds a substantial car park to the east of the site. For the photographer there are two issues, the circle of ancient yews leave few angles between them and the circular churchyard is sloping southwards.