Llowes: Church of St Meilig
St Meilig is said to have come from Strathclyde and founded a clas here at Croesmeilig around 650AD. The parish church is dedicated to St. Meilig, and although it was completely rebuilt in 1853 the shape of the churchyard and the setting on the North bank of the Wye suggest this could have been the site of Meilig’s clas. Although the church was rebuilt the base of the tower may be medieval and the iron-banded font is thought to be 12th century. St. Meilig's Cross – a medieval wheel-cross – now stands in the church to prevent further erosion. It stood in the churchyard and may have once stood on another site nearby. Local tradition refers to the cross as Moll Walbee's Stone perhaps a reference to Maud de St Valery, wife of William de Braose.
The photograph to the right shows the stone sited in the churchyard.
[Haslam; Historic Churches Survey]
The photograph to the right shows the stone sited in the churchyard.
[Haslam; Historic Churches Survey]
Lloyd, Edmund (1623-1699)
Edmund Lloyd of Trefnant near Castle Caereinion was the son of Edward Lloyd who had submitted himself to the obedience of Parliament in 1644 at the first approach of parliamentary forces, and compounded for his estates in 1655. Edmund, like his father, seems to have been brought before the courts in local disputes. In 1683 he was appointed Sheriff for the County. His first wife Anne was buried in 1685 and he remarried at the age of 62 taking Mary, daughter of Thomas Mason of Rockley as his wife. Thomas Mason, Sheriff himelf in 1689, was named as guardian to the four children left from this second marriage when Edmund Lloyd died in March 1698/9. His son Thomas was to succeed him at Trefnant and become sheriff himself in 1749.
[MC 61]
[MC 61]
Lloyd, Edward (1644-1686)
Third son of Sir Charles Lloyd, 1st baronet of Moel-y-Garth, Guilsfield (Sheriff in 1670). Edward was born in London where the family had strong connections. He was admitted BA at St John's College, Cambridge in 1665 as Edward Vaughan Lloyd. He married Ales or Alice Penrhyn of Rhysnant in Llandrinio and was later said to be "of Mathraval". He was a magistrate for the county and was appointed sheriff himself in 1681. At the time of his death in 1686 he was living in Shrewsbury.
[MC 61]
[MC 61]
Lloyd, J.D.K. (1900-1978)
Dr Lloyd was a keen local historian and archaeologist and an acknowledged authority on Montgomery. An active member of the Powysland Club for fifty-five years, he served it as Hon. Secretary and Vice-President. He was a regular contributer to the Montgomeryshire Collections and served as a Commissioner of the RCAHM (Wales), council member for the National Museum of Wales, and Chairman and President of the Cambrian Archaeological Association. He was a Borough Councillor and Montgomeryshire County Councillor and a local magistrate. He served as High Sheriff in 1940-41 and later Deputy-Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire. He was awarded the CBE and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Wales. He is believed to have been working on a history of Montgomery at the time of his death.
[MC 67]
[MC 67]
Lloyd, Jacob Youde William "Chevalier Lloyd" (1816-1887)
Son of Jacob William Hinde of Essex and his wife Harriet Youde the heiress to Clochfaen in Montgomeryshire and Plasmadog. After Oxford he was ordained and became curate of Llandinam in 1839. Shortly after he left the church of England and became a Roman Catholic in 1842. He inherited his mother's estates in 1856 and in 1868 he obtained a royal license to change his name from Hinde to Lloyd, the old name of the Clochfaen family, and assume the Lloyd arms. He spent much of inheritance on his new faith and for a while served in the Pontifical Zouaves protecting papal territories in Italy. He was made a knight of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope Pius IX. In later life he moved away from the catholic church. He settled at Clochfaen and devoted his energies to historical research writing for Archaeologia Cambrensis and the Montgomeryshire Collections. His major work was his multi-volume History of Powys Fadog.
[MW; DWB]
[MW; DWB]
Lloyd, John (fl.1684)
Of Glanhafon (sometimes Llanhavon) in the parish of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1652. Appointed Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1684. He married Hannah the daughter of Edmund Lloyd of Trefnant (see above). When he died in 1684/5 his brother Robert succeeded him both at Glanhafon and in the shrievalty.
[MC 61]
[MC 61]
Lloyd, John "Silver John" (c.1740-1814?)
A bonesetter and member of a Radnorshire family known for its skill with cures and charms. He was murdered for the silver buttons on his jacket which he took for payment. His body was found under the frozen surface of Llyn Heilyn near Llanfihangel Nant Melan. The spot is said to be haunted. He was buried on the slopes of the Radnor Forest at a place where his grave could be seen from a long way off. A local rhyme of the time ascribes his murder to the men of New Radnor.
[Palmer- Folklore of Radnorshire; Companion to the literature of Wales]
[Palmer- Folklore of Radnorshire; Companion to the literature of Wales]
Llyswen: ancient field system
The 1840 tithe map for the parish of Llyswen reveals a large area of narrow strip fields called, the "Common Field". In medieval times arable land was divided up into narrow strips and divided up between the villagers. Each villager got the same number of strips, and these were spread out so that everyone got a share of the better and poorer land. Villagers could also graze their animals on the open common pasture. The tithe map (see right) reveals vestiges this system still in use in 1840 in Llyswen. Most of the holders of the strips were tenants of nearby larger estates at Maesllwch and Llangoed.
In 1858 the narrow strips of the common field were enclosed into the larger fields we see in the modern landscape, and shortly afterwards the track of the Mid-Wales railway running down the Wye valley from Llanidloes, Rhayader and Builth was constructed right through the area.
[CAO P/X/9/M/67; B/D/BM/E/11]
In 1858 the narrow strips of the common field were enclosed into the larger fields we see in the modern landscape, and shortly afterwards the track of the Mid-Wales railway running down the Wye valley from Llanidloes, Rhayader and Builth was constructed right through the area.
[CAO P/X/9/M/67; B/D/BM/E/11]
Llyswen: Llangoed Castle
Though parts of the building are Jacobean the building was extensively rebuilt by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in 1919 (This was his first major commission). Major features of his design are the carved timber staircase and 95 foot long pillared gallery. The castle was in the ownership of the Chichester family, but stood empty for some years before being restored and turned into a hotel (Llangoed Hall) and restaurant by Sir Bernard Ashley.
[Haslam; Newspaper Cutting from Western Mail, 1986, in Enquiry file 21/4L]
[Haslam; Newspaper Cutting from Western Mail, 1986, in Enquiry file 21/4L]
Llythyfnwg (Radnor lordship)
A commote within the area known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren also known (after conquest) as the lordship of Radnor, and equivalent to the later hundred of Radnor.
It consisted of the parishes of:
Cascob, Colva, Discoed, Ednol, Evenjobb, Gladestry, Harpton & Wolfpits, Kinnerton, Salford & Badland, Litton & cascob, Llanfingel nant melan, Old Radnor & Burlingjobb, Presteigne, Trewern & Gwaethla, Walton & Womaston.
[Richards]
It consisted of the parishes of:
Cascob, Colva, Discoed, Ednol, Evenjobb, Gladestry, Harpton & Wolfpits, Kinnerton, Salford & Badland, Litton & cascob, Llanfingel nant melan, Old Radnor & Burlingjobb, Presteigne, Trewern & Gwaethla, Walton & Womaston.
[Richards]
Lucas, Richard (1648-1715)
The son of Richard Lucas of Presteigne, the younger Richard was born there and educated at Jesus College, Oxford. After being ordained he served a few years as a schoolmaster in Abergavenny before becoming rector of a London parish. He became blind around the time he became a Doctor of Divinity in 1691 and went on to be a prebend of Westminster. He was a well-known preacher and the author of several volumes of sermons. He died in June, 1715, and was buried in Westminster abbey.
[DWB; DNB; Foster, Alumni Oxon]
[DWB; DNB; Foster, Alumni Oxon]