Llanrhystud History
Llanrhystud history, (previously anglicised as Llanrhystyd) archaeology and antiquities. Is a coastal village in Ceredigion, formerly Cardiganshire, West Wales. Situated on the Cardigan Bay coastline, between Llanon and Blaenplwyf.
Llanrhystud’s conservation area is one of 13 conservation area in the county of Ceredigion. Conservation Areas are designated to preserve and enhance the special character of areas of architectural or historic interest. These conservation areas are selected according to the quality of the area as a whole, including the contribution of key individual or groups of buildings, trees, open space and streetscape.
For the full information, including information on designations, individuals should contact the planning department at Ceredigion County Council.
Table of Contents
1. Local History
- 1.1 Llanrhystud – Lost Buildings on the Seashore
- 1.2 Ceredigion Historical Society visit to Llanrhystud Beach
- 1.3 Ceredigion Historical Society visit to Salem Chapel Llanrhystud
- 1.4 Ceredigion Historical Society visit to Llanrhystud Church
- 1.5 Later Medieval Lordly Seats in Cardiganshire: A Re-examination of Castell Gwallter (Llandre) and Caer Penrhos (Llanrhystud)
- 1.6 Lloffion Llanrhystud
- 1.7 The Rebuilding of Llanrhystud Church
- 1.8 A disturbance on Llanrhystud mountain
2. Illustrations and Old Pictures
- 2.1 Index to Illustrations, Ceredigion Journal, Volumes I-X, 1950-84
3. Location Map
4. Topography
5. Gallery
6. References
7. Links
History of Llanrhystud |
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Llanrhystud Church before restoration |
County: Ceredigion Community: Llanrhystud Traditional County: Cardiganshire Map Reference SN56NW Grid Reference SN5397269770 |
Medieval Parish Cantref: Uwch Aeron Commote: Anhuniog |
Ecclesiastical Parish: Llanrhystud Mefenydd (Upper), Acres: 4004.419 Haminiog (Lower), Acres: 4763.806 Parish Hundred: Ilar |
Electoral Ward: Llanrhystud |
Listed Buildings: Llanrhystud Scheduled Monuments: Llanrhystud |
Llanrhystud is a very small built-up historic landscape character area that includes the old village core, the bridge over the River Wyre, and modern development at the village fringe. It lies 20m above sea level at a point where the constrained valleys open out into a coastal plain. The old core of the village consists of a loose cluster of houses, cottages, Post Office, pub, memorial hall, garage and the church in the immediate area of Llanrhystud Bridge at the junction of the A487, B4337 and Church Street.
The modern single-arch bridge with a 38 ft. span, replaces an much earlier bridge dating to c.1900 which was once one of the older structures in the village.
The parish church, St Rhystud, although built on an ancient foundation, dates to 1852-4, on the footprint of an earlier medieval church, to designs of R. K. Penson, and stands to the souththwest of the bridge, with the earthworks of ‘Caer Penrhos’ ‘Castell Bach’ ‘Castell-Mawr’, a series of medieval hillforts, built on the surrounding hillsides.
Llanrhystud had a number of working mills dating from the 1840s. Felin Ganol, a late C18, early C19 century corn mill and house (Grade II listed), built of rubble-stone sits on the banks of the river. Shown on 1841 Tithe map, alterations and additions, including late c.1900 rebuilding of a kiln. The owner in 1841 was David Saunders Davies and the occupier, Richard Morgan. The birthplace of D. Wyre Lewis, bard, in 1872. The mills machinery is in situe and the working mill still produces flour to this day.
Most of the older domestic buildings in the village, however, date to the mid to late 19th century, slate, rubble or finely cut and coursed stone, is used as the building material of these older buildings. The aspect to several of them, for example: Ffrwd-ganol with its whitewashed rubble construction, slate roof, slated barges and rubble gable chimney stacks, Felin Ganol with its waterwheel and attached mill house, Capel Rhiwbwys a Calvinistic Methodist Chapel built 1832, with a gallery and ceiling added 1871, and the old Smithy.
Most of these stone-built 18th and 19th century buildings are listed. Modern development in the form of small housing estates, a primary school and 3 large caravan parks including club houses, two of which lie to the west of the bridge and one two the east. Recorded archaeology consists of buildings, limekilns or those sites mentioned above.
1. Local History
Scheduled Monuments in Llanrhystud, Ceredigion.
Scheduled monuments (also known as scheduled ancient monuments, or SAMs) are sites of archaeological importance with specific legal protection against damage or development.
- Caer Penrhos
- Defended Enclosure 500m north of Pen y Castell
- Gilfach-Hafel Camp
Since 1909 the Ceredigion Historical Society has published articles written about the archaeology, antiquities and history of Ceredigion, many of the articles are about Llanrhystud history.
The society has also produced three county volumes, under the name of the Cardiganshire County History series, these knowledgeable, learned, comprehensive and scholary publications record the history of prehistoric, early and modern Cardiganshire.
1.1 Llanrhystud – Lost Buildings on the Seashore
Are probably quays and they consist of two sets of timbers close together pointing towards each other.
1.2 Ceredigion Historical Society visit to Llanrhystud Beach
One of the really interesting things about Llanrhystud is that there is a lot, that is not known very much about archaeologically and there is a lot that has gone
1.3 Ceredigion Historical Society visit to Salem Chapel Llanrhystud
Following a visit to Llanrhystud Church it was a short walk over to Salem Chapel where Rheinallt Llwyd gave a talk about the Chapel’s history.
1.4 Ceredigion Historical Society visit to Llanrhystud Church
The tour started at Llanrhystud Church on a beautiful sunny day, where members of Ceredigion Historical Society listened to a talk by Richard Suggett
1.5 Later Medieval Lordly Seats in Cardiganshire: A Re-examination of Castell Gwallter (Llandre) and Caer Penrhos (Llanrhystud) – JOHN WILES – 39
Ceredigion – Journal of the Ceredigion Historical Society Vol XVIII, No I, 2017
1.6 Lloffion Llanrhystud – PETER DAVIES – 49
Ceredigion Journal of the Ceredigion Antiquarian Society Vol XII, No 4 1996
1.7 The Rebuilding of Llanrhystud Church – By Ieuan Gwynedd Jones – 99
Ceredigion – Journal of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, 1973 Vol VII No 2
1.8 A disturbance on Llanrhystud mountain (W. J. Lewis) – 312
Ceredigion – Journal of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, 1962 Vol IV No 3
1.9 Storm Francis reveals ‘ancient’ forest in Cardigan Bay
2. Illustrations and Old Pictures
2.1 Index to Illustrations, Ceredigion Journal, Volumes I-X, 1950-84
- Llanrhystud Church. The old and the new, between vii:106 and 107 pl. 2a and 2b
- Llanrhystud. Plan of the parish church, facing vii:106 fig. 6
Vanished and Vanishing Cardiganshire
3. Location Map
View Larger Map of Llanrhystud
4. A Topographical Dictionary of Wales
Originally published by: Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (London, Fourth edition, 1849)
LLANRHŶSTID (LLAN-RHŶSTYD), a parish, in the poor-law union of Aberystwith, Lower division of the hundred of Ilar, county of Cardigan, South Wales, 9 miles (S. by W.) from Aberystwith, on the road to Cardigan; comprising the townships of Llanrhŷstid-Hamminiog and Llanrhŷstid-Mevennydd, and containing 1608 inhabitants. This place, though at present of little importance, has been distinguished in history from an early period. In 987 its church was demolished by the Danes, in one of their descents upon South Wales. The castle of Llanrhŷstid, called also Dinerth Castle, in 1080 belonged to Iestyn ab Gwrgan, Prince of Glamorgan, and was then sacked by Rhŷs, Prince of South Wales. It was destroyed in 1135, by Owain Gwynedd and his brother, aided by Hywel ab Meredydd and Rhŷs ab Madog ab Ednerth; and, having been re-erected, was besieged and taken, in the year 1150, with several other fortresses, by Cadell, Meredydd, and Rhŷs, the sons of Grufydd ab Rhŷs, Prince of South Wales, who, enraged at the spirited resistance of its defenders, whereby they lost some of their bravest troops, put the garrison to the sword. It was fortified by Roger, Earl of Clare, in 1158, and, about the close of the same century, was besieged and taken by Maelgwyn ab Rhŷs, who slew the garrison left to defend it by his brother Grufydd, and in 1204 razed it, with several others, to prevent its falling into the hands of Llewelyn ab Iorwerth.
The parish is situated on the shore of Cardigan bay, and bounded on the north by the parish of Llanddeiniol, on the south by that of Llansantfraid, and on the east by Llangwyryvon. It comprises by admeasurement 8650 acres, of which 2250 are arable, 600 meadow, 5200 pasture, 400 uninclosed common, and 200 woodland. The surface is ornamented with the stream of the Wyre and several other rivulets, and interspersed with oak and ash, and some recent plantations of larch; it is marked by moderate elevations in several parts, and in the vicinity of the sea are some fine level tracts. The lands are in general well cultivated, the chief produce being wheat, barley, and oats. The seat of the ancient family of Lloyd is situated here, and is now occupied by a family of the name of Philipps. The village is situated near the influx of the Wyre into the bay of Cardigan, and consists only of a few cottages, indifferently built. Fairs are held on the Thursday before Easter, on November 12th (a fair for hiring servants), and the Thursday before Christmas; and at Lluest Newydd others take place on Sept. 23rd, on Oct. 8th, and the second Friday after the 10th of the same month. The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king’s books at £6. 13. 4.; patron, the Bishop of St. David’s: the tithes have been commuted for £620, of which a sum of £450 is payable to the Dean and Chapter of St. David’s, and one of £170 to the vicar. The church, dedicated to St. Rhystyd, occupies an elevated situation above the village, and is of considerable antiquity. There are places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists, and Baptists; a day school; and five Sunday schools, one of which is in connexion with the Church, and the other four with the dissenters. Leland mentions the remains of a large edifice here, which some suppose to have been a nunnery; but there are now no vestiges of it, nor any authentic account of such an establishment having existed here.
5. Gallery
Some ideas to share your Stories below!
Have a memory and your not sure what to write? We have made it easy with some prompts and ideas, just think about this place and the importance its had in your life and ask yourself:
- What are my personal memories of living here?
- How has it developed and shops changed over the years?
- Do you have a story about the beach, community, its people and history?
- Tell us how it feels, seeing photographs and images of this place again?
- Tell us your favourite memories about this place?
The aim of the Ceredigion Historical Society is to preserve, record and promote the study of the archaeology, antiquities and history of Ceredigion. That objective has remained the same since the foundation of the Society in 1909, though its name was changed from Ceredigion Antiquarian Society to the Ceredigion Historical Society in 2002.
6. References
- Llanrhystud map (Header): Reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC-SA) licence with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
- View: Llanrhystud Historic Mapping
7. External links
- Llanrhystud village website
- Coflein, discover the archaeology, historic buildings, monuments and history of Llanrhystud, Ceredigion
- Historic Place Names, learn about the field names and house names in the community of Llanrhystud
- A Pint of History, read about the history of Ceredigion pub’s, inn’s and local taverns of Llanrhystud
- People’s Collection Wales, share your stories, memories and photographs of Llanrhystud
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
(p108)
“MR. EDWARD JONES, PENCWM, LLANRHYSTID, AND THE FAIRIES.
Mr. Edward Jones, Pencwm, who only died about 8 years ago, was coming home from Lampeter one moonlight night, and when he came to the top of Trichrug hill, he saw the Fairies dancing in a field close to the road. When he was within a certain distance of them he felt as if his feet were almost lifted up from the ground, and his body so light that he could almost stand in the air.
My informant, Mr. D. Morgan, Carpenter, Llanrhystid, added that Mr. Jones was an intelligent and educated man, who had travelled, and was far from being superstitious.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
(p122)
“A LLANRHYSTYD MAID LOST AMONG THE FAIRIES.
Mr David Morgan, Carpenter, Llanrhystyd, informed me that some years ago the maid servant of Pencareg Farm in the neighbourhood, went out one evening to bring home the cattle which were grazing some distance away from the house. A boy employed to look after the cattle in the day-time known as “bugail bach,” saw the Fairies dragging the maid into their circle or ring, where she joined them in their dances. Search was made for her everywhere, but she was never seen again.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
(p124)
“A SERVANT OF PERTHRHYS, LLANDDEINIOL, AND THE WHITE FAIRIES.
A very old man named John Jones, who lives at Llanddeiniol, about six miles from Aberystwyth, informed me that many years ago, when he was a young man, or a lad of 18, he was engaged as a servant at a farm called Perthrhys, in that neighbourhood. One evening after supper he went to the tailor who was making him a suit of clothes; but as the clothes were not quite ready he had to wait till a late hour before returning home, but it was a delightful moonlight night. As he proceeded along a lonely path across a certain moor known as Rhosrhydd, and happened to look back he was suddenly surprised by seeing two young men or boys as he thought, coming after him. At first he thought they were some boys trying to frighten him; but after they had followed him for a short distance till they came within about 30 or 40 yards of him, they turned out from the path, and began to jump and to dance, going round and round as if they followed a ring or a circle just as we hear of the fairies. They were perfectly white, and very nimble, and the old man informed me that there was something supernatural both in their appearance and movements; and that he is convinced to this day that they could not have been human beings. When he arrived home at the farm, and related his adventure, every one in the house was of the opinion that the strange beings he had seen were the Fairies.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
(p130)
“THE FAIRIES OF CWM MABWS, SEEN DRIVING IN THEIR CARRIAGES.
In the interesting small valley of Cwm Mabws, near Llanrhystyd, nine miles from Aberystwyth, there is a rocky spot known as Craig Rhydderch. Even within the memory of some who are still alive, the caves of Craig Rhydderch were the favourite haunts of the Fairies, where these mysterious beings were thought to dwell, or at least pass through to the underground regions. The Fairies of this part were, it was supposed, some kind of spirits or supernatural beings, and were often seen in the Valley of Mabws going about in their phantom carriages and horses. About fifty years ago when Fairies were still to be seen in this neighbourhood, the eldest son of Penlan farm, and some of the men servants one evening just before dark, took their horses down to the little river which runs through the bottom of the valley in order to give the animals water, as there was no water near the farm-house which stood on [130]high ground. As they were on their way to the river they heard some noise on the road quite near them, and the farmer’s son said to the servants, “It is the noise of the Fairies on their journey, and they are coming from the direction of Craig Rhydderch; let us stand one side of the road to make room for them to pass.” And sure enough, just as he spoke, a number of Fairies appeared on the scene and passed by as if they were on a journey. They were little men with little horses and carriages, but my informant could not tell me the colour of their dresses nor the colour of their horses
After taking their horses to the water and turning them into a field, the men went home to Penlan; and as soon as they entered the house and related what they had seen, another son of the farm had just arrived home from Aberystwyth with a horse and cart, and he also had seen the Fairies, just as he was turning to the road which led up the hill.
The above story was related to me by Mr. David Morgan, Carpenter, Llanrhystyd, who vouches for the truth of the account as he was well acquainted with the persons who saw the Fairies, and one of them was a friend of his.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).
GHOST STORIES
The belief in the existence of Fairies in Wales has almost died out, but we still find many people who are more or less superstitious with regard to ghosts, spirits, etc., and the belief in death omens is rather popular, even among educated people.
(p164)
“YSFRYD DYN BYW
“Many years ago at a farm called Ystradteilo, near the pretty village of Llanrhystyd in Cardiganshire, the servant girl was sent to the field to fetch home the cows for milking, and while in the field she saw her master doing something there. The master’s name was Williams, and he was a near relation to the eminent scholar Rev. E. Williams, M.A., of Lampeter. When, however, the servant girl returned home, she was astonished to find her master in the house. ‘How in the world did you come home so quick?’ she asked. ‘Just now I saw you in the field.’ He replied that he had not been from the house during the afternoon, and added, ‘look here, girl, that was not a bad sign at all but if you will see me like that after my departure you may depend that I shall be in a place of torture.’ It was a general belief that of the dead the ghosts of the wicked only were to be seen.””
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).