The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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St. Tudor's Church, Mynyddislwyn

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00082g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Ynysddu
Unitary authority : Caerphilly
NGR : ST19349391
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Church
Status : listed building II

Summary :
Mynyddislwyn church is first mentioned c 1102. It consists of nave with integral chancel, N aisle, W tower and S porch. The W bay of the N aisle is partitioned off to form a vestry. The church has undergone extensive reconstruction both in 1820 and in 1907. Most of the present appearence of the church is due works carried out at these dates.

Description :
Mynyddislwyn church is first mentioned c 1102 (Brook 1988, 82). However the church has a Celtic dedication and the churchyard, which is quadrangular with a curved W side and occupies a central position on the Mynyddislwyn central plateau, is respected by the N-S road across Mynyddislwyn which makes a detour around the church's boundaries. Halliday (1901, 149-50) dates the lych gate to the 18th century. The motte of Twyn Tudur (PRN 81g) stands in the next field but one.

The church consists of nave with integral chancel, N aisle, W tower and S porch. The W bay of the N aisle is partitioned off to form a vestry. The porch was locked at the time of the field visit. The church is constructed in fine-grained grey/brown sandstones, of the Pennant series, with coarser sandstone used for the quoins of the tower and some dressings; Bath stone is used for the S window of the chancel and the E window of the N aisle and possibly also the heads of the other windows of the aisle and the chancel.

The church has undergone extensive reconstruction both in 1820 (Guy and Smith 1979, 51) and in 1907 . Most of the present appearence of the church is due works carried out at these dates. The latter restoration, as well as extending the chancel, rebuilding the porch and reroofing the nave, seems also to have involved the refacing of much of the walls. At one of these dates the capitals of the arcade seem to have been renewed and their bases covered by the present plinths, thereby hampering assessment of the date of construction of the nave. A 15th/16th century date is possible, but the nave should be earlier, since it seems certain that the N aisle was an addition, as shown by the straight joint on its E wall. The tower arch could be of similar date, but the tower itself has seems to been rebuilt, probably at some time after the 17th century, possibly as part of the 1820 restoration. The nave windows, and the windows of the N aisle with the exception of the E window are in similar in character to those at Llandevaud and Nash, and appear to date to the 1820 restoration, and the porch may be too. It is possible that it was at this date that the N aisle was extended one bay to the W, but this is not certain, and it could have been carried out at an earlier date. The present chancel dates to 1907

Most of the internal fittings probably date to the 1907 restoration or are subsequent to it. Wright (1940a, 38-9) notes one bell of 1742 and two of 1844, one of which was cracked at the time of his visit in 1937; this and the 18th century bell had not been rehung after the failure of the timbers in the tower.

References:
Bradney, J A, 1993, A history of Monmouthshire. Vol V, The Hundred of Newport (ed M Grey), 139-44
Brook, D, 1988, The early Christian church in Gwent, Monmouthshire Antiq 5, 67-84
Evans, J D, 1988, The churchyard yews of Gwent, 44, 101, 104, 120, 159-60
Guy, J R and Smith, E B, 1979, Ancient Gwent churches. Newport
Halliday, G E, 1901, Lych-gates in the Diocese of Llandaff, Archaeol Cambrensis, 6 ser 1, 149-51
Wright, A, 1940a, The church bells of Monmouthshire v, Archaeol Cambrensis, 95, 36-47
Evans 1997 GGAT 51 Historic Churches Project

Church recorded in early 12th century but with later fabric. Celtic dediction and rectangular enclosure suggest an earlier occupation (Procter 2018). Associated with Llantarnam Abbey.



Sources :
Evans, E M , 1997 , Gwent Historic Churches Survey: Churches in the Diocese of Monmouth, Archdeaconry of Newport
Evans, E M , 2003 , Early Medieval Ecclesiastical sites in Southeast Wales: Desk based assessment
Procter, E. , 2018 , The topographical legacy of the medieval monastery: evolving perceptions and realities of monastic landscapes in the southern Welsh Marches
The Handley Partnership , HAAbase built heritage assessment system: Buildings at Risk database
03/PM Map//Rees W/1932/S.Wales & Border in 14th Cnt/SE Sheet
04/PM Desc Text///1909-11/PSA/Vol 23.2nd ser.p424
Arch Camb 6th ser.Vol.1.p149-51
02/PM Desc Text///1912/Arch Camb/Vol12, 6th Ser.pp339-40
05/PM List//Crossley & Ridgway FH & MH/1959/Arch Camb/Vol.108.p71
06/PM Desc Text Illus/RISW/Halliday GE/1901/Lychgates in Llandaff/
01/MM Record Card/OS//1957/ST 19 SE 9/
Evans EM, 2003-04, GGAT 73 Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Sites Project
EM Evans (1998) GGAT 51/81 Welsh Historic Churches Survey: Glamorgan and Gwent

Events :
E001386 : Early medieval ecclesiastical sites in Southeast Wales desk based assessment (year : 2003)

Related records
Church in Wales Reference No. 4759 https://churchheritagecymru.org.uk/CHR/ChurchDetails.aspx?id=4104
National Monuments Record NPRN 307322 https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307322/details/st-tudurs-church-mynyddislwyn
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 12293g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00624g

Compiled date : 12-03-2004


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