St Matthew's Church, Llanelwedd

 

On the homeward leg of our walk up the old railway line in town last week, we stopped to check out St Matthew's Church at Llanelwedd.  Judging by the cobwebs across the gates into the church, it was definitely LOCKED, which is a shame.  It dates back to the late Medieval period, although of course the Victorians, as they were wont to do, smartened it up a bit and only the tower (below the Belfry) is the only original part of the church.  The CADW listing describes it as being 19thC Gothic style (it was restored in 1877 by the London architect John Norton.

The churchyard had absolutely masses of Autumn Flowering Cyclamen - as you can see it has romped into the distance and is also in the grass below the dropped wall to the right (out of sight).

HERE is a link about the architecture of the church and its interior.

Memorial stone to John Rumbate? and his wife Margaret, who died aged 67 (1801) and she aged 80, in 1820.

Memorial to the memory of Elizabeth Meredith of Penybont in this parish, died Jan 11th 1799 (I think!) and also of her daughter Maria.

Two Children of Evan and Jane Thomas of Cwmbach in this parish.  Viz Mary died the 20th August 1817 aged 17 weeks.  Jane died the 5th of February aged 1819 aged 7 mths.  Their ages suggest that they lost two children in a row. I can just make our a Richard towards the bottom of the stone - I hope he grew up.

I managed to clip the top name off this  memorial to Thomas Morris, of this parish, Gent, and his wife Ann.

Another touching one - his name has flaked off but he was a Wheelright in the parish, and married to Ann.  Three of their children died so young - Elizabeth died 11th February 1793 aged just 2 yrs.  Another Elizabeth fared no better and died on 8th November 1801 aged 6 years, and their little sister Mary died aged 1 year 9 mths.

Tomorrow the Electrician arrives to do the electrics here (fitting an up to date fuse-box to replace the 1960s Bakelite "plug in" fuses) and checking the system, and installing my new cooker, and various light fittings.  We have a single light in the middle of the "business end" of the kitchen, which is useless for lighting what you are doing.  Keith and I also have our flu jabs, and so it is going to be a busy day.