Sources and questions?

close
ShropshireTraveller S
ShropshireTraveller Jul 25, 2004 17:58:17

I've asked this in a couple places, and so I thought I'd post it here; very curious I am.

There is a page in TMA on this Welsh village in Denbighshire. Page 323 if you have a copy.

JC mentions that the Church is built within a stone circle; I have been excitedly digging around online trying to see what I can find, and there is no mention of this.

One of my former colleagues grew up near Ruthin, and now lives within the Vale of Clwyd (lucky soul), and being active within the churches in the area, I thought he might know someting.

"Rich - do you know of the circular-ish churchyard at Llanarmon-yn-Ial?"
"Yes"
"Do you know if it was built within a stone circle?"
"Oh yes, yes" (without hesitation)

Checked Coflein - it mentions nothing on the circle (anyone have problems with the map tonight?)only lists these (unsurprising!) contents for this Welsh village:
7658 Tabor Methodist Church (Welsh Wesleyan), Llanarmon-Yn-Ial Chapel Llanarmon-yn-ial
7654 Bethel Chapel (Welsh Calvinistic Methodist;Brynygloch), Rhiw Ial, Llanarmon-Yn-Ial Chapel Llanarmon-yn-ial
7650 Philadelphia Congregational Chapel (Welsh), Llanarmon-Yn-Ial Chapel Llanarmon-yn-ial
268085 Llanarmon-Yn-Ial Village Llanarmon-yn-ial
2048 Llanarmon-Yn-Ial Bridge;Pont Llanarmon Bridge Llanarmon-yn-ial
165259 Llanarmon-Yn-Ial Church (St Garmon) Church Llanarmon-yn-ial

Map - shows church with road going around it
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M3F4212E8

Aerial pic -
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D105322E8

Thoughts, sources, visits, anyone?

Many thanks

Tim

K Kammer
Kammer Jul 25, 2004 21:20:57
Replying to ShropshireTraveller

Have you checked CARN? That might give you a clue:

http://www.rcahmw.org.uk/data/

CARN still contains data that Coflein doesn't.

K x

W wideford
wideford Jul 26, 2004 11:28:42
Replying to ShropshireTraveller

site definitely Church of St Garmon. Don't know how they can be that precise with something that is an area but SJ1907656159 !! Only possible rock art The Devil's Handprint cut into sanstone block inside the nave. Though scarcely visible now perhaps it served a similar purpose to 'footprints' for inauguration ?

M moss
moss Oct 24, 2006 08:15:50
Replying to ShropshireTraveller

Well taking my clue from Garmon,(a saint) came up with this...

the story goes thus;Local traditions say that Garmon came to a particular area in 447 and sought refuge at mountain stronghold of Benlli Gawr, a giant chieftan but was refused admission, however Cadell took pity on him and gave him land at Llanarmon yn Ial and Llanarmon Dyfyrryn Ceirog.. so that gives the circular churchyard some early iron age history.

St.Garmon's history, churches and chapels are to be found all over Wales, some by standing stones and cromlechs, so there is good reason to suppose something would have been in the churchyard for it to be dominated by the celtic church..
Book of Welsh Saints - T.D.Breverton.