England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llanfaredd St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Llanfaredd lis in southwestern Radnorshire forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Breconshire, here formed by the course of the River Wye (Afon Gwy). Llanfaredd is located roughly 2 miles east of the town of Builth Wells and stands just across the Wye from the A470 road which links Builth Wells through to Brecon. Llanfaredd is a small hamlet with most properties adjoining the B4567 which parallel the Wye on its eastern banks, the road and hamlet are constrained by the narrow flood-plain of the river, to the east mountainous countryside looms. Llanfaredd is a simple upland farming community, the flat border to the Wye providing rich soils for both cereals and for pastures for cattle, much of the parish, however, consists of upland rough grazing which would have been the home of hardy sheep. Modern developments have come and gone from the parish, the branch railway line between Builth and Talgarth having closed and only left bridges, embankments and cuttings to mark its passing. Llanfaredd is drained by the Wye which after initially heading southwards bounces back north and then east to Hereford before passing through many meanders to reach the outer Bristol Channel through the port of Chepstow. Llanfaredd is sited at around 130 metres above the sea but sits within a deeply incised valley, eastwards land climbs to 451 metres at the summit of Aberedw Hill whilst west of Wye Banc y Celyn reaches 472. Llanfaredd parish was rather on the small side for an upland parish, covering just over 2,200 acres it would have supported a population of close to 150 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llanfaredd is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Mary's church is hidden from the B4567 as it is tucked away behind the substantial buildings of a farmyard, the farm and church stand on the eastern side of the B4567 about a mile south of its junction with the A481. The church stands within a traditional rounded "llan", a rounded churchyard indicative of an early Christian site. The earliest fabric is medieval but in such a battered condition as to not be dateable to a specific period or century. Pevsner identifies the roof trusses to the 17th or 18th century and the southern doorway & its frame also to the 17th century. The southern porch can be attributed to the Georgian period but it is not recorded as to whether it is late 18th or early 19th century. A light restoration of 1855, mainly repairs, is documented together with the more substantial work of 1891 which added the wooden bellcote and replaced some windows with lancet styling. There is no sign pointing to the church but the farm is very noticeable, parking should be done with due consideration for the working farm. The western border of the churchyard has thick yew-cover but once through there are no difficulties for the photographer.