The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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St David's Church, Llanthony/ Hamlet

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01737g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Crucorney
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO28852782
Site Type (preferred type first) : UNKNOWN HAMLET / POST MEDIEVAL Church
Status : listed building I

Summary :
Llanthony church was created out of part of the conventual buildings of the Augustinian priory, founded c AD 1118, possibly from the infirmary and infirmary chapel. The church has a nave, separate chancel, N porch, W bellcote. Most of the architectural detail is Norman, but there is a blocked Decorated-period door in the N wall; the porch is undatable. Campaigns of restoration known from 1893 and 1910.

Description :
Llanthony church was created out of part of the conventual buildings of the Augustinian priory, founded c AD 1118. The churchyard is rectangular and without any features of interest; it was laid out in an area formerly occupied by monastic buildings. The church has a nave, separate chancel, N porch, W bellcote, and traces of a probable rood loft. It is constructed in local fine-grained red/grey sandstone (Old Red Sandstone). All datable architectural detail is Norman or transitional. Blocked doorways into the nave at either end of the N and S walls, two blocked fireplaces (one now no longer visible) and a drain reported under the W end of the nave show that it was not originally intended as a church.

Gardiner (1915, 351-3) suggests that the main structure originally formed the infirmary hall (nave) and infirmary chapel (chancel) of the priory. Similar treatment of windows in nave N and chancel E and S suggests that the two parts are of one build, but Gardiner (ibid) suggests that the dividing wall between the two was made thicker at the time when the chancel arch was put in, as it is thicker than the other chancel walls and impinges on the jambs of the doorways.

However, the blocked doorway at the E of the N wall has identical bar stops to the chancel arch, which suggests that the two were contemporary and date to 1250-1350 (pers comm J K Knight): the chancel arch was restored in 1893 but the stops appear to be an original feature. Only a full structural examination can resolve this point. In his plan of the abbey Williams (1985, 49) dates the chancel to 1175-1200 and the nave to 1200-1220, but does not provide any discussion of these attributions. The nave N windows pre-date insertion of the present elaborate and probably medieval seven-bay roof, which cuts across the top of the rear arches. The chancel appears to have had a (later) wagon roof, from which the ceiling has been removed.

The inclusion of two small windows in the gable over the chancel arch suggests that there was a rood screen (probably with a door to the rood stairs where the pulpit entrance is now). The most likely date for this is immediately after the dissolution of the abbey, as the alternative point at which the building could have been turned over to the use of the laity is after the migration of the monastic community in 1136, and this would seem to conflict with the presence of the 13th-14th century door at the E end of the N wall which is must have been blocked when the building was turned into a church. The bellcote is not easily datable, but may possibly be attributed in its present form to one of the later restorations. Similarly there is nothing about the porch which would indicate when it was originally added to the structure.

The Victorian and later restorations are moderately -well documented. The renewal of chancel arch is dated by an inscription to 1893. An undated newspaper cutting in Newport Library Monmouthshire collections (possibly c1910) notes four main components in the campaign of restorations which it describes. These are:

(1) Complete rebuilding of porch (except E wall) with its roof; replacement of door
(2) Lowering of nave floor to medieval levels during works, with final level established 19" above this point, on a bed of solid concrete
(3) Main roof of church; stripped, timbers restored, and tiles re-laid over new felt and boards
(4) Windows reglazed (no medieval glass survived)
The contractors are reported as `Mr Pritchard', and `Messrs Dennis and Sier'. During the excavation of the nave and porch floors, pieces pottery and glass were recovered, most c 300 years old, including a piece of `German ware' and a token from Nuremberg, not earlier than the 15th century.

The church retains an early font and 17th/18th century turned altar rails, but otherwise the fittings are Victorian or later. Inscriptions are largely as Bradney. Wright (1938b, 244) noted a single bell of 1792.

References:
Bradney, J A, 1906, A history of Monmouthshire. Vol 1 pt iia, The Hundred of Abergavenny, 250-1
Gardiner, I, 1915, Llanthony Priory, Archaeol Cambrensis 15 343-76
Williams, D H, 1985, Further excavations and fieldwork at Llanthony Priory, Monmouthshire Antiq 5, 1-61
Wright, A, 1938b, The church bells of Monmouthshire iii, Archaeol Cambrensis, 93, 226-47 (244)
Evans 1997 GGAT 51 Historic Churches Project.

Parish church for upper part of Cwmyoy following the Dissolution of the priory, on site of priory infirmary and chapel (Procter 2018).

Also referrs to Hamlet at Llanthony which was a settlement between the priory precinct and river Honddu. Place-name predates the priory, indicating an existing settlement may have been located here. No record of medieval features, except monastic mill (Procter 2018). In Cwmyoy Manor.

Sources :
Evans, E M , 1997 , Gwent Historic Churches Survey: Churches in the Diocese of Monmouth, Deanery of Abergavenny
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
Roberts G. , 1846 , Llanthony Priory, Monmouthshire , Archaeologia Cambrensis : I : 201-245
The Handley Partnership , HAAbase built heritage assessment system: Buildings at Risk database
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)
E008394 : Court Farm, Llanthony, Monmouthshire (year : 2021)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01720g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08211g
Church in Wales Reference No. 130 https://churchheritagecymru.org.uk/CHR/ChurchDetails.aspx?id=2975
National Monuments Record NPRN 307311 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307311/details/st-david-llanthony
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 12302g

Compiled date : 12-03-2004


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