Crickhowell: Fountain
Built in grey granite around 1900 Crickhowell Fountain was erected in memory of a local doctor, Henry John Lucas, of Glanyrafon. It is built on the site of a market hall which stood in the centre of the market square in the 18th century. The fountain was particularly useful for watering stock on market days.
[Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
[Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
Crickhowell: Gwernvale chambered tomb
Excavations in 1977 and 1978, by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, confirmed the presence of a Neolithic Long Cairn alongside the A40 at Gwernvale just outside Crickhowell. This cairn was of the Severn-Cotswold tradition, and was dated at around 3,000 B.C. It was a trapezoidal (wedge-shaped) cairn, over 45 metres long, with a recessed forecourt at its eastern end. It enclosed 3 chambers with a possible 4th chamber or cist at the western end. The cairn was oriented east-west and edged by dry-stone walls of which only the lower most courses remain. The capstones of the chambers have not survived. The building of the turnpike road damaged the northern and western area of the tomb and one capstone is recorded as being removed in 1804.
The chambers were probably used for communal burial by agricultural communities in the area. Neolithic artifacts were found, although no burial deposits were preserved within the chambers. Excavation revealed evidence for Mesolithic domestic activity on the site before the cairn was built.
[Burnham;CPAT;Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
The chambers were probably used for communal burial by agricultural communities in the area. Neolithic artifacts were found, although no burial deposits were preserved within the chambers. Excavation revealed evidence for Mesolithic domestic activity on the site before the cairn was built.
[Burnham;CPAT;Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
Crickhowell: Parish Church of St Edmund
The parish of St Edmund, Crickhowell was carved out of the parish of Llangattock by decree the Bishop of St David's on the 10th August 1303, at the request of Lady Sybilla Paunceforte. Unusually the new church was dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon King and Martyr, St Edmund. It is the only parish church in Wales bearing this dedication.
The church was originally cruciform in ground plan. Portions of the original side walls can be seen at the west end. Memorials inside the church include those of Grimbald Paunceforte, husband of Lady Sybilla, (died 1287); Lady Sybilla, the founder of the church, (died 1326); Sir John and Lady Joan Herbert; and the Rumsey family, who came to Crickhowell in the time of the Tudors. The tower and spire houses 8 bells, one of which is pre-reformation. There is also a Lych Bell, bearing the inscription Memento More 1638. It was originally used to give warning of the approach of a funeral.
The font is of the chalice type dated 1668 (possibly a reconstruction of the original).
During the Civil War Robert Cecil was presented with and instituted to the Living, but he was ejected by the Commonwealth Commissioners and Elias Harry substituted in his place.
[Haslam; Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
The church was originally cruciform in ground plan. Portions of the original side walls can be seen at the west end. Memorials inside the church include those of Grimbald Paunceforte, husband of Lady Sybilla, (died 1287); Lady Sybilla, the founder of the church, (died 1326); Sir John and Lady Joan Herbert; and the Rumsey family, who came to Crickhowell in the time of the Tudors. The tower and spire houses 8 bells, one of which is pre-reformation. There is also a Lych Bell, bearing the inscription Memento More 1638. It was originally used to give warning of the approach of a funeral.
The font is of the chalice type dated 1668 (possibly a reconstruction of the original).
During the Civil War Robert Cecil was presented with and instituted to the Living, but he was ejected by the Commonwealth Commissioners and Elias Harry substituted in his place.
[Haslam; Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
Rectors and vicars of Crickhowell 1397-1978:
1397 David Coch, Rector
1400 Stephen Henore, Rector
1405 William Wascheborne, Rector
1444 John Loarch, Rector
1444 John ap Richard, Rector
1491 Clement ab Howell, Rector
1545 Hugh Gough, Vicar
1569 Morris Walter
1580 Thomas James
1612 Thomas James, Rector
1612 William Davies, Vicar
1617 William Kynvyn, Rector
1621 William Watkins, Vicar
1637 Robert Pritchard
1660 Morgan Jones, Rector
1668 John Davies, Rector
1676 Anthony Pritchard, Vicar
1701 David Williams, Rector
1721 Thomas Bradbury, Vicar
1722 William Williams, Vicar
1742 William Davies, Rector
1759 Morgan Powell, Vicar
1766 Thomas Knight, Rector
1794 Robert Penny, Rector
1795 William Williams, Vicar
1812 George Jones Bevan, Vicar
1832 Henry Vaughan, Vicar
1821 [sic] Lord William Somerset, Rector
1837 John Evans, Vicar
1874 Boscawen George Henry Somerset, Rector
1893 Henry Plantaganet Somerset, Rector
1920 George Roberts, Rector
1934 George Wilkinson, Rector
1936 Gethin Hugh Griffth
1957 Cyril George James
1977 Idwal Brian Bessant
1978 Morgan Emlyn Griffiths
1397 David Coch, Rector
1400 Stephen Henore, Rector
1405 William Wascheborne, Rector
1444 John Loarch, Rector
1444 John ap Richard, Rector
1491 Clement ab Howell, Rector
1545 Hugh Gough, Vicar
1569 Morris Walter
1580 Thomas James
1612 Thomas James, Rector
1612 William Davies, Vicar
1617 William Kynvyn, Rector
1621 William Watkins, Vicar
1637 Robert Pritchard
1660 Morgan Jones, Rector
1668 John Davies, Rector
1676 Anthony Pritchard, Vicar
1701 David Williams, Rector
1721 Thomas Bradbury, Vicar
1722 William Williams, Vicar
1742 William Davies, Rector
1759 Morgan Powell, Vicar
1766 Thomas Knight, Rector
1794 Robert Penny, Rector
1795 William Williams, Vicar
1812 George Jones Bevan, Vicar
1832 Henry Vaughan, Vicar
1821 [sic] Lord William Somerset, Rector
1837 John Evans, Vicar
1874 Boscawen George Henry Somerset, Rector
1893 Henry Plantaganet Somerset, Rector
1920 George Roberts, Rector
1934 George Wilkinson, Rector
1936 Gethin Hugh Griffth
1957 Cyril George James
1977 Idwal Brian Bessant
1978 Morgan Emlyn Griffiths
Crickhowell: Standard Street
The street is though to commemorate the fact that in 1485, Sir Richard Evans mustered 3,000 men locally under his standard before marching in support of Henry Tudor and ultimately to victory at Bosworth Field on 22nd August 1485. Local tradition claims many of the men drank to their success at the nearby The Bear Inn before setting out.
[Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
[Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
Cwmwd Deuddwr
A mountainous medieval commote in the area which was known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren. This roughly corresponded to the later county of Radnorshire with Ceri. Cwmwd Deuddwr corresponded approximately to the modern parish of Cwmdauddwr.
[Richards; RT]
[Richards; RT]
Cynidr, Saint (fl. 6th century)
Another Welsh saint of whom little is known. He is thought to be another grandson of Brychan and to have been buried at the clas at Glasbury which he may well have founded. Churches at Llangynidr, Llanwern and Aberyscir are dedicated to him, as is the holy well at Ffynnon Gynydd. The church at Kenderchurch in Herefordshire is also dedicated to him and it is possible that he is the saint recorded as St Enoder in Cornwall.
Cynllibiwg, Kingdom of
Cynllo, Saint
5th century saint about whom very little is known. Taliesyn in one of the mystical tales from the Mabinogion claims “Not an empty treasure is the prayer of Cynllo”. There are parish churches dedicated to him at Llanbister, Llangynllo and Nantmel.
Cynog, Saint (born c.434)
The eldest son of King Brychan of Garthmadryn (later Brycheiniog) he was said to be the product of the violation of his mother Banhadlwedd who was later married by Brychan. Cynog grew up at his father's court in Caer Efrong (Brecon Gaer) and later deputised for his father when he was away. He ministred to the religious needs of the people of the kingdom, and like other siblings, evangelised in Cornwall founding religious communities there (eg. Boconnoc)
He retreated to an ascetic religious community in North Brycheiniog at Y Fan Oleu where his fellow hermits became jealous of his greater sanctity and eventually murdered him. The church of Merthyr Cynog was built over his grave. Other versions of his legend ascribe his murder to foreign invaders.
[Early British Kings website; B; Theophilus Jones]
He retreated to an ascetic religious community in North Brycheiniog at Y Fan Oleu where his fellow hermits became jealous of his greater sanctity and eventually murdered him. The church of Merthyr Cynog was built over his grave. Other versions of his legend ascribe his murder to foreign invaders.
[Early British Kings website; B; Theophilus Jones]