Mechell, Anglesey

The winding lane to Mynydd Mechell
Llanfechell
Bodewryd
Rhosbeirio
Mynydd Mechell
Carreglefn
Map of Anglesey Community boundaries, showing the main settlements within Mechell Community.

Mechell is a community in the north of the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Llanfechell is the largest village within the community area. Tregele, Mynydd Mechell, Bodewryd, Rhosbeirio and Carreglefn have a more dispersed settlement pattern. The antiquity of these settlements is shown by the presence of 6 medieval (or older) churches and some 16 more ancient sites dating back into prehistory.

The population of the community in 2011 was 1,293.

Situation

Mechell's settlements are all on inland situations, although a narrow strip of land reaches up as far as the north coast of the island, east of Cemaes Bay, in Llanbadrig Community. To the east is Cylch-y-Garn Community, and to the south is Tref Alaw and Rhosybol.

There are three wards within the Mechell community area, with a total of 10 councillors representing Llanfechell, Mynydd Mechell and Carreglefn, plus a chairperson.[1]

History

The oldest of the settlements appears to be Llanfechell, named, as is the larger community, after the 6th century saint Mechell, reputedly a Breton missionary. Tradition has it that he is buried in Llanfechell.[2] The large number of prehistoric sites attest to human habitation across the Community since well before that.

There is a very detailed account of daily life in the Mechell area during the 18th century, within the diaries of William Bulkeley, (1691-1760). He lived at Brynddu, a house on the edge of Llanfechell, and kept a daily record of Anglesey life from 1734 to 1760.[3]

Economy

The land of Mechell Community is a settled agricultural landscape, with a network of small farms. The longstanding importance of arable agriculture is shown by the remains of two watermills and four windmills in the Mechell area: Meddanen Water Mill and Melin Mechell Windmill (also known as Minffordd Mill and Melin Maen Arthur), SH362902 are close together so could have been worked by the same miller, utilising water and wind as available.[4]

Cafnan Water Mill is the other watermill. Pant y Gŵydd Mill; Cefn Coch Mill and Pandy Cefn Coch Mill are the other windmills.[5]

Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, close to the Community boundary's northern tip, was the only substantial employer in the immediate neighbourhood, on the coast, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) northwest of Llanfechell. It was the only Nuclear Power Station in Wales after Trawsfynedd shut down. The site produced electricity from 1971, and ceased at the end of 2015.[6] Proposals from Horizon Nuclear Power to build 'Wylfa Newydd' are under consideration.[7]

Mechel Churches: Church in Wales

Mechell Community has 4 Church in Wales buildings in the Bangor Diocese and Bro Padrig Deanery, [8]

St Mechell's Church, Llanfechell
(Grade II* listed). 12th century church with 19th century rebuild.[2] SH369913 53°23′35″N 4°27′13″W / 53.3930°N 4.4536°W / 53.3930; -4.4536 (St Mechell Church).[9]
St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin
(Grade II listed) in Mynydd Mechell. Documentary records from 1254, but the oldest extant fabric appears to be 18th century, extensively restored in the 1930s. SH350890 53°22′21″N 4°28′56″W / 53.3724°N 4.4822°W / 53.3724; -4.4822 (St Fflewin's Church).[10]
St Mary's Church, Bodewryd
(Grade II listed). The present structure is from the 16th century or earlier, and on a much earlier site. The original dedication was to St Gewryd. SH400906, 53°23′16″N 4°24′26″W / 53.3878°N 4.4071°W / 53.3878; -4.4071 (St Mary's Church, Bodewryd).[11]
St Peirio's Church, Rhosbeirio
Grade II listed, now disused. SH391917. 53°23′53″N 4°25′17″W / 53.3980°N 4.4213°W / 53.3980; -4.4213 (St Peirio's Church, Rhosbeirio).[12]
Capel Anhunedd-y-Pran
There is a redundant (or decayed) medieval chapel at Clegyrog. By 1796 it was in use as a cowhouse.[13] SH388903, Coordinates:53°23′06″N 4°25′31″W / 53.3849°N 4.4252°W / 53.3849; -4.4252 (Capel Anhunedd-Y-Pran, Clegyrog).[14]
Cappel Newsaint
An unlocated medieval chapel stood somewhere in Mynydd Mechell. SH3590. 53°22′52″N 4°28′56″W / 53.381°N 4.4821°W / 53.381; -4.4821 (Cappel Newsaint).[15]

Mechell non-conformist Chapels

There have been least nine non=conformist Chapels in the Mechell area, dating to the nineteenth and early 20th centuries:-

Libanus Chapel, Llanfechell
Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, Welsh Calvanistic Methodist Chapel on the village square. Founded in 1832, rebuilt in 1903.[16] SH369912. 53°23′34″N 4°27′15″W / 53.3927°N 4.4542°W / 53.3927; -4.4542 (Libanus Chapel, Llanfechell)
Ebenezer Chapel, Llanfechell
Welsh Independent chapel near the School, on Mountain Road. Built 1862, replacing a Chapel built soon after 1800.[17] SH365909, 53°23′23″N 4°27′35″W / 53.3896°N 4.4598°W / 53.3896; -4.4598 (Ebenezer Chapel, Llanfechell)
Calfaria Chapel, Mynydd Mechell
Welsh Baptist chapel built in 1897 to replace an earlier building of 1815.[17] SH361900 53°22′52″N 4°27′59″W / 53.38113°N 4.4663°W / 53.38113; -4.4663 (Calfaria Chapel, Mynydd Mechell)
Jerusalem Chapel, Mynydd Mechell
Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, Welsh Calvanistic Methodist chapek.[18] SH358897, 53°22′42″N 4°28′15″W / 53.3783°N 4.4709°W / 53.3783; -4.4709 (Jerusalem Chapel, Mynydd Mechell)
Bethlehem Chapel, Carreglefn
Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel.[19] SH383891, 53°22′28″N 4°25′54″W / 53.3744°N 4.4318°W / 53.3744; -4.4318 (Bethlehem Chapel, Carreglefn)
Seion Chapel, Carreglefn
Independent Chapel.[20] SH394895,53°22′40″N 4°24′59″W / 53.3778°N 4.4164°W / 53.3778; -4.4164 (Seion Chapel, Carreglefn)
Hephsibah Chapel, Rhosbeirio
Former Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, converted into a house in 1985.[21] SH394913, 53°23′39″N 4°24′59″W / 53.3943°N 4.4164°W / 53.3943; -4.4164 (Hephsibah Chapel)
Capel Bethania, Tregele
The Calvinistic Methodist cause at Tregele began in 1810. The Chapel was rebuilt in 1906 and closed in 1973[22] and is now a house.

Mechell notable buildings

All four extant medieval churches above are given the legal protection of Listed Building status. Below are the other listed buildings within the community,[23] plus some other notable buildings and structures:-

Bodewryd

Plas Bodewryd
(Grade II* listed mansion). A 15th/16th century Hall house at Bodewryd, with substantial additions in every century following.[24] SH40019082, 53°23′24″N 4°24′26″W / 53.3899°N 4.4073°W / 53.3899; -4.4073 (Plas Bodewryd mansion).[23]
Bodewryd Colomendy or Dovecote, Bodewryd
Grade II listed late 17th C. dovecote in the grounds of Plas Bodewryd. Stone walls incorporate around 400 nests. SH40019082, 53°23′24″N 4°24′26″W / 53.3899°N 4.4073°W / 53.3899; -4.4073 (Bodewryd Colomendy or Dovecote).[25]
Lychgate at Church of St Mary, Bodewryd
Grade II listed building. SH40119057, 53°23′16″N 4°24′21″W / 53.3877°N 4.4057°W / 53.3877; -4.4057 (Lychgate at Church of St Mary).[23]

Llanfechell

Brynddu, Llanfechell
Grade II listed 18th Century larger Anglesey house. Home of the Bulkeley Family. SH37329119 53°23′33″N 4°26′52″W / 53.3924°N 4.4479°W / 53.3924; -4.4479 (Brynddu).[26]
Pont-y-Plas, Llanfechell
Road Bridge with square headed arches and steps to water. SH36889135||53°23′37″N 4°27′17″W / 53.3937°N 4.4546°W / 53.3937; -4.4546 (Pont-y-Plas).[27]
Crown Terrace, including Crown House, Llanfechell
Grade II listed row of three terraced buildings with a shop/bank. SH369912, 53°23′33″N 4°27′15″W / 53.3924°N 4.4542°W / 53.3924; -4.4542 (Crown Terrace, Inc.Crown House).[28]
Old Rectory, Llanfechell
Grade II listed, 17th Century Rectory, with 18th C additions. SH36989128, 53°23′35″N 4°27′11″W / 53.3931°N 4.4531°W / 53.3931; -4.4531 (Old Rectory)[29]
War Memorial, Llanfechell
Grade II listed memorial to the fallen of the Great War, in the village square and incorporates a clock. SH37029120||53°23′33″N 4°27′09″W / 53.3924°N 4.4525°W / 53.3924; -4.4525 (War Memorial)[23]

Mynydd Mechell

Ffynnon Ddygfael, Mynydd Mechell
Well shaft close to a pool. SH35119050||53°23′08″N 4°28′51″W / 53.3855°N 4.4808°W / 53.3855; -4.4808 (Ffynnon Ddygfael).[30]
Llanddygfael-groes, Mynydd Mechell
Grade II listed building. SH35149059||53°23′11″N 4°28′49″W / 53.3863°N 4.4804°W / 53.3863; -4.4804 (Llanddygfael-groes).[23]

Tregele

Cae Mawr, Tregele
Grade II listed late 18th century farmhouse. SH34929088||53°23′20″N 4°29′02″W / 53.3889°N 4.4838°W / 53.3889; -4.4838 (Cae Mawr, Tregele).[31]
Cefn-Coch, Tregele
Grade II listed ||17th century central hall type house, with pointed internal doorways and 17th C. balusters. SH34259072 53°23′14″N 4°29′38″W / 53.3872°N 4.4938°W / 53.3872; -4.4938 (Cefn-Coch).[32]
Groesfechan, Tregele
Medieval domestic remains. SH351917||53°23′47″N 4°28′53″W / 53.3963°N 4.4815°W / 53.3963; -4.4815 (Groesfechan)[33]
Melin Cefn Coch (Ty'n y Felin), Tregele
Grade II listed building. SH34319139, 53°23′36″N 4°29′36″W / 53.3933°N 4.4932°W / 53.3933; -4.4932 (Melin Cefn Coch).[34]

Carreglefn

Cottage at Pant-y-Gist, Carreglefn
Grade II Listed Building, SH39358967, 53°22′46″N 4°25′00″W / 53.3794°N 4.4167°W / 53.3794; -4.4167 (Cottage at Pant-y-Gist).[23]
Hen Bont, Carreglefn
Grade II listed building. SH38408907||53°22′25″N 4°25′50″W / 53.3737°N 4.4306°W / 53.3737; -4.4306 (Hen Bont).[23]
Pant-y-cryntach, Carreglefn
Grade II listed building. SH38808967, 53°22′45″N 4°25′30″W / 53.3792°N 4.4249°W / 53.3792; -4.4249 (Pant-y-cryntach)[23]
Ty Newydd, Carreglefn
Grade II listed building. SH38408907, 53°22′25″N 4°25′50″W / 53.3737°N 4.4306°W / 53.3737; -4.4306 (Ty Newydd).[23]
Y Stryd, Carreglefn
Grade II listed building. SH38398906, 53°22′25″N 4°25′51″W / 53.3736°N 4.4307°W / 53.3736; -4.4307 (Y Stryd)[23]

Llanfflewyn, near Mynydd Mechell

Twll-y-clawdd, Llanfflewyn
Grade II listed building. SH35638861, 53°22′07″N 4°28′19″W / 53.3687°N 4.4719°W / 53.3687; -4.4719 (Twll-y-clawdd).[23]

Archaeological sites

There are five Scheduled monuments within the community area, all of them dating to prehistory, and a further 10 sites are also listed by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. All the sites are in open country within the community aea, so cannot be said to be in any one of the settlements. The 'settlement' column is there to give a guide as to which part of Mechell Community it is in.

PictureMonument NamesettlementSite typePeriodPurpose Grid Reference & Coordinates
Bodewryd Standing Stone BodewrydStanding stonePrehistoricReligious, Ritual and FunerarySH406902, 53°23′05″N 4°23′52″W / 53.3847°N 4.3978°W / 53.3847; -4.3978 (Bodewryd Standing Stone)
Llifad enclosure CarreglefnEnclosurePrehistoricPossible defended settlement.[35]SH384910, 53°23′29″N 4°25′49″W / 53.3915°N 4.4302°W / 53.3915; -4.4302 (Llifad enclosure)
Pen-y-Morwyd Round Barrow Pen-y-MorwydRound barrowPrehistoricReligious, Ritual and FunerarySH384912, 53°23′36″N 4°25′50″W / 53.3933°N 4.4306°W / 53.3933; -4.4306 (Pen-y-Morwyd Round Barrow)
Standing Stone North of Llanfechell Church (Baron Hill Maen Hir) LlanfechellStanding stonePrehistoricReligious, Ritual and Funerary.[36] Cup and ring mark found on one of the packing stones.[37]SH369916, 53°23′47″N 4°27′11″W / 53.3964°N 4.4531°W / 53.3964; -4.4531 (Standing Stone east of Llanfechell)
The Llanfechell Triangle Standing Stones LlanfechellStanding stonePrehistoricReligious, Ritual and FunerarySH363916, 53°23′48″N 4°27′43″W / 53.3966°N 4.46204°W / 53.3966; -4.46204 (Llanfechell Triangle Standing Stones)

Other Archaeological sites in Mechell:-

Monument NamesettlementSite details Grid Reference & Coordinates
Barrow between Rhosbeirio and Yr Efail RhosbeirioBronze Age or later Round barrowSH395911, 53°23′32″N 4°24′55″W / 53.3922°N 4.4154°W / 53.3922; -4.4154 (Rhosbeirio Barrow)
Burial Chamber at Foel Fawr, or Stones near Cromlech FarmLlanfechellIt may just be a 'suggestive natural feature'.[38] SH360920, 53°23′57″N 4°28′03″W / 53.3993°N 4.4675°W / 53.3993; -4.4675 (Foel Fawr Buriel Chamber)
Clegyrog Blas, Cropmark Enclosure CarreglefnCropmarks of a concentric ditched enclosure.[39] SH386907, 53°23′19″N 4°25′42″W / 53.3887°N 4.4284°W / 53.3887; -4.4284 (Clegyrog Blas Enclosure)
Maen-Y-Goges; Maen-Y-Eoges (the Cook's stone) Carreglefn
Natural feature with legendary associations, from which Carreglefn is named.[40] 		SH395895, 53°22′40″N 4°24′51″W / 53.3778°N 4.4141°W / 53.3778; -4.4141 (Maen-Y-Goges (the Cook's Stone))
Mynydd Groes Earthwork LlanfechellField enclosure earthworks, largely cleared.[41] SH351915, 53°23′38″N 4°28′54″W / 53.3940°N 4.4818°W / 53.3940; -4.4818 (Mynydd Groes Earthwork)
Pen-y-Morwydd Barrow LlanfechellField enclosure earthworks, largely cleared.[42] SH385913, 53°23′36″N 4°25′50″W / 53.3933°N 4.4306°W / 53.3933; -4.4306 (Pen-y-Morwydd Barrow)
Pen-y-Morwydd Pillow Mound LlanfechellConstructed rabbit warren. Up to 7 mounds recorded at this site, most no longer visible.[43] SH385912, 53°23′34″N 4°25′49″W / 53.3927°N 4.4304°W / 53.3927; -4.4304 (Pen-y-Morwydd Pillow Mound)
Enclosure north-west of LlanfechellLlanfechellroughly square enclosure 15m across.[44] SH364917, 53°23′48″N 4°27′44″W / 53.3967°N 4.4622°W / 53.3967; -4.4622 (Square enclosure)
Hilltop enclosure at CarogLlanfechellNeolithic settlement evidence with circular defensive ditch dated to 800BC. Also 800-900AD house and domestic artifacts. Excavated 2010.[45] SH373922, 53°24′04″N 4°26′57″W / 53.4012°N 4.4491°W / 53.4012; -4.4491 (Hilltop enclosure at Carog)
Tai Hen Cropmark EnclosureLlanfechellIrregular rectilinear enclosure some 46m across[46] SH384915, 53°23′45″N 4°25′57″W / 53.3957°N 4.4325°W / 53.3957; -4.4325 (Tai Hen Cropmark Enclosure)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Menter Mechell. "Community Council". Llanfechell.info. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  2. 1 2 Cymdeithas Hanes Mechell. "Llanfechell Church". cymdeithashanesmechell.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  3. ↑ Cymdeithas Hanes Mechell. "Brynddu and the Diaries of William Bulkeley". cymdeithashanesmechell.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  4. ↑ "Llanfechell Mills". Cymdeithashanesmechell.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  5. ↑ "High resolution images and the History of Mynydd Mechell Windmill (known as Melin Mechell) on Anglesey". Anglesey.info. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  6. ↑ "Wylfa: Last day for Anglesey nuclear plant". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  7. ↑ "Wylfa Newydd - About Our Site". Horizonnuclearpower.com. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  8. ↑ "Bro Padrig B230 In the benefice of Bro Padrig". British Listed Buildings. 1970-12-05. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  9. ↑ "Church of St Mechell - Mechell - Isle of Anglesey - Wales". British Listed Buildings. 1970-12-05. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  10. ↑ "Church of St Fflewyn - Mechell - Isle of Anglesey - Wales". The Church in Wales. 1970-12-05. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  11. ↑ Bodewryd Church (ID NPRN43616). at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW)
  12. ↑ St. Peirio's Church, coflein NPRN: 43640
  13. ↑ William Owen Pughe. "Cambrian Register". Books.google.co.uk. p. 286. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  14. ↑ Capel Anhunedd-y-Pran, coflein NPRN: 43548
  15. ↑ Cappel Newsaint, coflein NPRN: 309971
  16. ↑ "Picture of Libanus Chapel Llanfechell". Pictures.walesdirectory.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  17. 1 2 Cymdeithas Hanes Mechell. "Llanfechell Chapels". cymdeithashanesmechell.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  18. ↑ Menter Mechell. "Chapel/Church". Llanfechell.info. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  19. ↑ Bethlehem Chapel, coflein NPRN: 43548
  20. ↑ Seion Chapel, coflein NPRN: 8846
  21. ↑ Capel Hephsiba, coflein NPRN: 8839
  22. ↑ "pew rents book | The National Archives". Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Listed Buildings in Mechell, Isle of Anglesey, Wales". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  24. ↑ Plas Bodewryd coflein NPRN: 15803
  25. ↑ Bodewryd Colomendy, coflein NPRN: 31059
  26. ↑ Brynddu, Llanfechell, coflein NPRN: 15590
  27. ↑ Pont-y-Plas, coflein NPRN: 23730
  28. ↑ Crown Terrace, coflein NPRN: 15676
  29. ↑ Old Rectory, Llanfechell, coflein NPRN: 15772
  30. ↑ Ffynnon Ddygfael, coflein NPRN: 32159
  31. ↑ Cae Mawr, Tregele, coflein NPRN: 405485
  32. ↑ Cefn-Coch, Tregele, coflein NPRN: 15637
  33. ↑ Groesfechan, Tregele, coflein NPRN: 15699
  34. ↑ Melin Cefn Coch, coflein NPRN: 40365
  35. ↑ "LLIFAD, EARTHWORK ENCLOSURE". Coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  36. ↑ "STANDING STONE NORTH OF LLANFECHELL;BARON HILL MAEN HIR". Coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  37. ↑ "The Welsh Rock Art Organisation - Llanfechell (East) Standing Stone". Rock-art-in-wales.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  38. ↑ "BURIAL CHAMBER, FOEL FAWR, OR STONES NEAR CROMLECH FARM". Coflein.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  39. ↑ "CLEGYROG BLAS, CROPMARK ENCLOSURE NORTH-EAST OF". Coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  40. ↑ "AEN-Y-GOGES;MAEN-Y-EOGES". Coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  41. ↑ "MYNYDD GROES, EARTHWORK FEATURES". Coflein.gov.ukn. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  42. ↑ "PEN-Y-MORWYDD, BARROW". Coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  43. ↑ "PILLOW MOUND, PENYMORWYDD". Coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  44. ↑ "POSSIBLE ENCLOSURE NORTH-WEST OF LLANFECHELL & SOME DISTANCE FROM GORS". Coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  45. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  46. ↑ "TAI HEN, CROPMARK ENCLOSURE SOUTH OF". Coflein.gov.uk. 1999-06-14. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
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