England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llanbadarn Fawr St Padarn

The Parish

The parish of Llanbadarn Fawr lies almost centrally within Radnorshire roughly 3 miles northeast of the spa town of Llandrindod Wells. Whilst the tiny hamlet of Llanbadarn Fawr grants its name to the parish it is not by a long way the principal settlement within the parish, that being Penybont that being a little over 2 miles east of the church. Llanbadarn Fawr sits on the A483 (Llandrindod Wells to Newtown) road whilst Penybont is on the A44 (Aberystwyth to Kington) road. Both settlements are eclipsed by the modern settlement of Crossgates at the junction of the said two roads. Both Llanbadarn Fawr & Penybont sit upon the banks of Afon Ithon which performs a broad southern meander between the two. Like most parishes in this rea Llanbadarn Fawr would have primarily earned its living from pastoral farming, the water-meadows of the Ithon providing richer pastures for cattle whilst the scant grazing of higher ground would have been the home of sheep. Modern developments have come to the area, the mid-Wales railway line traversing the area from Knighton through to Llandovery passes through granting a station, named as Penybont station but in reality serving Crossgates. aiding its growth from merely a way-stop at the crossroads of two major roads into the main settlement of the parish. The Afon Ithon drains the parish southwest through Llandrindod Wells to meet the Wye before a long journey to the Bristol Channel arriving through the port of Chepstow. Llanbadarn Fawr is sited at 180 metres above sea level with Penybont some 40 metres higher in strongly rolling terrain, not mountainous country but certainly hilly with local high spots topping 442 metres on nearby Rhiw Gwraidd. Like most upland parishes Llanbadarn Fawr covered an extensive area, parish acreage of just over 3,600 acres would have supported a population of close to 450 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llanbadarn Fawr is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Padarn's church sits roughly a half mile south of Crossgates where the A483 crosses the Afon Ithon, on the west side of the road and north of the river. Sadly the church which stands here today is not the venue for these marriages it being built replacing a predecessor in 1879 at the expense of the lady owner of Penybont Hall. Early gazetteers describe the previous church as "nave and chancel, the latter ceiled, with a curious entrance porch, exhibiting marks of great antiquity". Today's church is built in the Early English Gothic style with largely lancet style windows and all in a rock-faced masonry. Whilst the church, itself, seems to have been of little architectural interest to Pevsner its carved tympanum certainly struck a chord and is given an extended account, worth a visit to see alone. As the A483 is a busy and fast flowing road it is welcome that not only is there a lay-by opposite but also parking can be found to the north side of the gates. Whilst the churchyard is largely uncluttered a few yews dotted here and there make for a challenge for the photographer but are readily avoided.