Cefnllys

Cefnllys was a mediaeval town [http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/swanbrec/churches/maelien/5544.html Diocese of Swansea and Brecon website] ] in Radnorshire (now part of Powys) in central Wales. Only St Michael's Church remains standing, with mounds indicating the remains of other buildings existing before the decline of the town in the 1800s. Close by on the hill known as Castle Rock are the remains of what is known as Cefnllys Castle. Almost encircling the hill, church and remains of the town is the River Ithon which continues to Llandrindod Wells a little over a mile away.

The 'castle' was actually two, built one after the other at opposite ends of the hill by the English lord Roger Mortimer of Wigmore during his battles with Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales, for the cantref of Maelienydd. The first, at the north end, was built in 1242 and ruined in 1262 by Llywelyn. The second, at the south end, was built in 1268 and survived Llywelyn's death, but was ruined by 1588. [http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/cefnllys.html Cefnllys Castles at ukprint.com] ] [http://www.castlewales.com/cefnllys.html Cefnllys Castle at castlewales.com] ]

External links

* [http://www.ecastles.co.uk/cefnllys.html Cefnllys Castle]
* [http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=12200&t=1 aerial photograph of Cefnllys Medieval Settlement]
* [http://www.cpat.demon.co.uk/projects/longer/churches/radnor/16743.htm History & Architecture of Church of St Michael, Cefnllys] from Radnorshire Churches Survey Project of the [http://www.cpat.org.uk/index.htm Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust]
* [http://a-day-in-the-life.powys.org.uk/eng/home/eo_romance.php "Romance in an old church" from powys.org.uk]

References