Llandeilo Llwydarth

Llandeilo Llwydarth (Welsh pronunciation) or Llandilo is an ancient area and parish in the Preseli Hills between Llangolman and Maenclochog in the community of Maenclochog, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

This article is about a place in Pembrokeshire. For similarly-named town in Carmarthenshire, see Llandeilo.
Llandeilo Llwydarth
Llandeilo Llwydarth
Location within Pembrokeshire
OS grid referenceSN101271
Principal area
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh

History

The area is rich in prehistoric and early Christian remains, and evidence of more recent activity such as quarrying and defence. In the south of the parish is Temple Druid, a Grade II and Grade II* complex of listed buildings.[1][2] Llandilo is listed as an historic place name by the Royal Commission RCAHMW.[3]

In 1450 the Bishop of ST Davids John de la Bere agreed to renounce his rights to lands held by Henry Perrot keeper of the Forest of Llwydarth.[4]

The forest of Llwydarth covered some 300 acres in the fourteenth century but by the late sixteenth century it had all but disappeared.[5]

Independent Chapel

Llandilo has a Welsh Independent chapel, built in 1714, subsequently restored several times, and in use in 2020.[6]

Slate of roofing quality was quarried in the 19th century.[7]

Parish

The parish of Llandilo was in the ancient hundred of Cemais. Early in the 19th century the population was 117, and the parish was partly enclosed and part mountainous.[7] Its northern end includes the highest peak in the Preselis, Foel Cwmcerwyn.[8] The parish is combined with Llangolman under the Diocese of St Davids.[9]

The parish church is dedicated to Saint Teilo[10] and the church and parish is associated with holy wells, pre-Christian enclosures and early Christian stones and inscriptions.[11][12] Extracts from the Coflein online record for the church read:

The site is thought to have early medieval origins, and to be the site of the early medieval ‘bishop house’, Llandeilo Llwydarth, mentioned as one of the seven bishop houses of Dyfed in a 9th century text of the Welsh laws ... St Teilo’s well, some 150m north-east of the church, is notable for its reputation for healing properties, the water having been drunk from part of a human skull ... The church site was abandoned sometime after 1833 and the building fell into ruins.[13]

The skull is kept in the south chapel of Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.[14]

Governance

In 1973, the parish Llandilo became part of Haverfordwest Registration District and the following year it became a community with the name of Llandeilo Llwydarth, then in Dyfed, where it remained until 1996, when Pembrokeshire was reinstated as a county of Wales, at which time Llandeilo Llwydarth ceased to be a community.[15]

References
  1. "Dyfed Archaeological Trust: Llangolman". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  2. "British Listed Buildings: Maenclochog". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  3. "RCAHMW: Llandilo". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  4. NA.E. 326/13560
  5. Willis Bund, Black Book of ST David's
  6. "Coflein: Llandilo Welsh Independent Chapel, Llandilo". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  7. "GENUKI: Llandilo". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  8. "GENUKI Parish map 43". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  9. "List of parishes under the jurisdiction of the bishop of St David's". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  10. "National Library of Wales: Welsh Classical Dictionary: St Teilo" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  11. "Pembrokeshire Historical Society: Saints and stones in Pembrokeshire". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2013). Wales and the Britons, 350-1064. Oxford University Press. pp. 162–164. ISBN 9780198217312. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  13. "Coflein: St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo Llwydarth". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  14. "Who was St Teilo?". Stteilosbishopton.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  15. "UK BMD Haverfordwest Registration District". Retrieved 8 May 2020.

Further reading
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