Churchstoke: Bacheldre Mill
The 200 year old mill at Bacheldre between Churchstoke and Sarn, is a rare surviving example of a water powered flour mill. It stopped working in the early 1960s. This fine example of a small country mill is still capable of functioning and is a protected building. The mill is three stories high, made of local stone with a slate roof. At Bacheldre the wheel is of the "overshot" type. The water to power the iron water wheel leaves the Caebitra about half a mile upstream, and is channelled to the mill along an artificial cut or "head race", which flows alongside the Caebrita until it enters the millpond.
The mill was built around the same time as the Industrial Revolution was beginning in the north and the Midlands, and although large seaport and town mills grew more complex and increased in size during the last century, the small country mills were quite capable of dealing with the needs of their respective areas. Their milling gear was very efficient. However, with the introduction of modern steel roller machinery in the big mills, and the almost universal demand for white flour, most millers did not have the capital, or space, to install new machinery. One of the main causes of the decline and eventual closure of country mills such as Bacheldre was the increasing regionalization of British agriculture. Initially, the farms in the area would have produced the wheat for local milling, baking and consumption. Nowadays farms tend to specialize more, and much less wheat is grown locally. The wheat for modern roller mills either comes from abroad, or from British grain-producing areas such as East Anglia. Towards the end, like very many mills, Bacheldre had to give up the unequal struggle, and ended its days grinding mixed corn for animals.
[Powys Planning Information Service leaflet 1977]
The mill was built around the same time as the Industrial Revolution was beginning in the north and the Midlands, and although large seaport and town mills grew more complex and increased in size during the last century, the small country mills were quite capable of dealing with the needs of their respective areas. Their milling gear was very efficient. However, with the introduction of modern steel roller machinery in the big mills, and the almost universal demand for white flour, most millers did not have the capital, or space, to install new machinery. One of the main causes of the decline and eventual closure of country mills such as Bacheldre was the increasing regionalization of British agriculture. Initially, the farms in the area would have produced the wheat for local milling, baking and consumption. Nowadays farms tend to specialize more, and much less wheat is grown locally. The wheat for modern roller mills either comes from abroad, or from British grain-producing areas such as East Anglia. Towards the end, like very many mills, Bacheldre had to give up the unequal struggle, and ended its days grinding mixed corn for animals.
[Powys Planning Information Service leaflet 1977]
Churchstoke: Air crash
24 July 1943: a De Havilland Mosquito HJ787, flying above Montgomeryshire at low altitude, suffered port engine failure which started a fire. The pilot tried to gain height to allow his navigator to bale out. The latter jumped and pulled his parachute ripcord without getting clear. It caught the tail of the Mosquito causing the pilot to lose control. The aircraft crashed intowoodland at Pentrenant Hall, with the loss of the crew.
[Doylerush]
[Doylerush]
Churchstoke: Simon's Castle
Medieval ringwork and bailey occupying a rocky knoll overlooking the Camlad valley - a natural routeway into central Wales. The fortification uses the natural geology of the site to produce a main rounded summit ringwork with a triangular enclosure or bailey to the north. Quarrying in post-medieval times has removed the southern end of the summit.
The outer defences were of timber wind-proofed with clay and rubble, with just two internal buildings. Like nearby Montgomery Castle it was probably built in the early 1200s as part of the English consolidation of the area. It has been suggested that the site is named after one Simon de Parco who is recorded as fortifying a castle "at Snead" in 1231. Excavation by a joint team from the Universities of wales and Glasgow revealed that the site was destroyed by fire - possibly deliberately to prevent it falling into the hands of the Welsh.
[Burnham; The Times October 1994]
The outer defences were of timber wind-proofed with clay and rubble, with just two internal buildings. Like nearby Montgomery Castle it was probably built in the early 1200s as part of the English consolidation of the area. It has been suggested that the site is named after one Simon de Parco who is recorded as fortifying a castle "at Snead" in 1231. Excavation by a joint team from the Universities of wales and Glasgow revealed that the site was destroyed by fire - possibly deliberately to prevent it falling into the hands of the Welsh.
[Burnham; The Times October 1994]
Clas churches
Dating from the early years of Christianity in wales the clas was originally a gathering and became the term used for the mother church for a district from which other foundations might spread. They are thought to have been simple wooden churches at the centre of religious or monastic communities. In Powys the parish churches at Glasbury, Glascwm and Llansilin are thought to be among examples of this kind.
Clerc, William (fl.1545)
Appointed Clerk of the Peace and of the Crown for Radnorshire, Breconshire and Montgomeryshire by letters under the Signet, 21st May, 37 Henry VIII, the offices being in the King's hand by reason of felonies committed by his predecessor William Thomas who had fled the realm; the appointment to take effect from the preceding Lady Day and to be confirmed by letters patent after Thomas had been convicted by due course of law. Clerc is called "our well beloved servant" and was possibly the clerk in the privy seal office who was the King's private secretary. If so, he probably held these offices only until Thomas obtained a pardon. (Served 1545).
[Stephens]
[Stephens]
Clive, Edward (1754-1839) 2nd Lord Clive, 1st Earl of Powys (3rd creation)
On the death of the last of the Herbert Earls in 1801, the young Edward Clive, his nephew inherited the estates and castle as a minor. So it was that the father, the Governor of far away Madras and son of the famous Clive of India, took control. Upon his return from India in 1807, he was made Earl of Powis. His son had to take the surname Herbert as part of the terms of his inheritance, and he held the courtesy title of Lord Clive while his father was still Earl. The father quickly set about clearing the inherited debts by selling off outlying parts of the estates, and the two lords together managed to completely restore the castle and grounds and increase the income of the smaller estate. Edward Clive, Lord Powis died in 1839 at the age of eighty-five.
[MW; "Powis Castle" - National Trust]
[MW; "Powis Castle" - National Trust]
Clod Hall
See Ty un nos
Clopton, Walter (fl.1682)
The second son of Walter Clopton of Kentwell Hall, Long Melford in Suffolk, he was the first member of this long established East Anglian family to settle in Montgomeryshire, although his uncle was Bishop of St Asaph. In 1676 Clopton married Sarah daughter of William Penrhyn of Rhysnant in Llandysilio parish. In 1677 Walter was appointed Registrar of the diocese of St Asaph and Chapter Clerk (from which posts he was promptly removed after his uncle died in 1680). Walter's brother Thomas was given several livings in the diocese including Rector of Castle Caereinion despite his lack of Welsh. He also was removed from the diocese by the succeeding bishop. Walter lived at Llandrinio Hall, inherited Rhysnant through his wife, and had lands in the township of Penryn. He was appointed Sheriff of the County in 1682.
[MC 61]
[MC 61]