The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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St. Cadoc's Church, Trevethin

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 02507g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Trevethin
Unitary authority : Torfaen
NGR : SO28380202
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Church
Status : listed building II

Summary :
Trevethin church is first mentioned in 1254. It consists of nave and N aisle with W and N galleries, separate chancel, N and S transepts, W tower, S porch, vestry, and organ chamber. The late Perpendicular tower is all that it left of the medieval church, the remainder having been rebuilt in 1845.

Description :
Trevethin church is first mentioned in 1254 (Brook 1988, 84). The present large churchyard is the product of several considerable extensions (GRO D/Pa 13.68), but the W end, immediately around the church, retains traces of the original polygonal form shown in a survey of 1840 related to the production of the tithe map.

The church consists of a six-bay nave, separate chancel, four-bay N aisle, two-bay N and S transepts, W tower, S porch, vestry and organ chamber, with boiler room under the vestry; there is also a gallery over the W end of the nave and the whole of the N aisle with an external staircase in the corner between the tower and N aisle. The north transept is divided into two sections, a front section continuing the north aisle at a narrower width, and behind it the pews for the family and household of the Hanburys of Pontypool, raised c 1m above the general level of the church to allow for the pre-existing family vault (GRO D38.451). The S transept is fitted out as a war memorial chapel of the 2nd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment (1914-18); this was done in 1921-2, when the present organ chamber and vestries were erected to replace the organ and vestries previously housed in the S transept (GRO D/Pa35.66).

Only the tower is certainly medieval, the rest of the church being reputed to have been pulled down and re-erected in 1845 (architect T Wyatt). There appears to be none of the medieval fabric left E of the tower; all the visible parts of the external walls are of one build, with the possible exception of a doorway with a jamb of red sandstone, not otherwise used in this part of the building. However, Wyatt's 1845 letter to the incumbent (GRO D38.451) makes it clear that his plans were for a church whose S wall was to be slightly further south than the medieval church, the E end of the nave was to be in the position that the E end of the chancel had previously occupied (confirmed by a lithograph of displayed in the vestry in the church), and that the nave and N aisle of the previous church had been divided by iron columns. Coxe (1801, 242) noted in 1799 that the nave was `separated from the aisle by four low circular arches reposing on massive columns scarcely five feet in height'; that the chancel arch was gothic; and that Hanbury family tombs were in a small chapel adjoining the chancel. As the columns were of cast iron by 1845 (GRO D38.451), the arcade must have been taken down and rebuilt between these dates.

The tower is faced in ashlar, as at Cwmcarvan, Llanarth and Llanover, and the windows and W door, in the same stone, are of late medieval form. The most likely date is 16th century, though the general effect is more medieval that ashlar-faced tower at Cwmcarvan, which was built at the close of the 16th century. However, the facing around the head of the door is rather irregular, indicating that the two may not be contemporary. The internal arrangements of the tower were changed in the 19th century, presumably when the rest of the church was rebuilt, and a new window was inserted in the W wall; the tracery in the medieval windows was probably renewed at the same time.

The Victorian fabric is constructed in rock-faced squared blocks of fawn ?limestone laid in snecked courses, with quoins of the same material. Dressings to windows and architectural detail are in a greyish sandstone. Wyatt (GRO D38.451) notes that his choice of Perpendicular style was influenced by the style of the previous E window. Buttresses are used to punctuate the outer walls, with angle buttresses at most of the corners. An unusual feature is the extreme plainness of the arcade between the nave and the N aisle; this was presumably the result of Wyatt's expressed intention of keeping them as light as possible. The design was for a gallery over the W end of the nave and tower, the N aisle and the S transept. This last was optional, and it difficult to tell whether it was actually built; the number of sittings given in the printed circulars suggest it was intended, but there is no evidence for the stair. If it was built, it was presumably removed at some time before the S transept became a regimental chapel/war memorial. There is now no sign either that gallery accommodation extended over the tower. The design also included underfloor heating, and although there is now no obvious sign of this apart from the boiler room, disturbance to the pre-19th century deposits within the church can be expected.

All the internal fittings are Victorian or later, with the possible exception of the base of the font. Many of the memorials noted by Bradney have been re-erected in the gallery. Wright (1940b, 239) note a ring of eight, cast in 1884 and bought for the church in 1888).

References
Documentary
GRO D 38.451, 1845, Correspondence and printed circulars on rebuilding of church, in a bundle of papers, (Wentsland and Bryngwyn coll)
GRO D/Pa 13.62, 1922, Plan of new organ and vestries
GRO D/Pa13.66, Faculties, including (1921) Erection of organ chamber and vestries; conversion of S transept (previously used as vestry and organ chamber) into memorial chapel, including enlargement of its E window and insertion of stained glass; relocation of memorials affected by changes; replacement of coloured glass in windows E & S of sanctuary with plain; and (1922) New vestry and heating chamber.
GRO D/Pa 13.68, 1870-1919, Papers concerning churchyard

Published
Bradney, J A, 1907, A history of Monmouthshire. Vol 1 pt iib, The Hundred of Abergavenny, 441-51
Brook, D, 1988, The early Christian church in Gwent, Monmouthshire Antiq 5, 67-84
Cox, W, 1801, An historical tour in Monmouthshire
Wright, A, 1940b, The church bells of Monmouthshire v, Archaeol Cambrensis, 95, 229-42
Evans 1997 GGAT 51 Historic Churches Project.

Grade II listed medieval church with 16th century fabric (Procter 2018). Associated with Llantarnam Abbey.

Sources :
, Tithe Map
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
Ordnance Survey , 1st Edition OS map 6"
Procter, E. , 2018 , The topographical legacy of the medieval monastery: evolving perceptions and realities of monastic landscapes in the southern Welsh Marches
Stewart-Turner, J. G. & J. , 2017 , Archaeological Building Investigation and Recording and Excavation Report: St Cadoc's Church, Trevethin
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)

Related records
Church in Wales Reference No. 5221 https://churchheritagecymru.org.uk/CHR/ChurchDetails.aspx?id=4238
National Monuments Record NPRN 12945 https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/12945/details/st-cadocs-church-trevethin
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00624g

Compiled date : 12-03-2004


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