England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llanwynio St Gwynio

The Parish

The parish of Llanwinio lies in the extreme west of Carmarthenshire forming a short stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Pembrokeshire. Llanwinio is located roughly 7 miles north of the large village of St Clears and sits a little over 2 miles west of the B4299 road which connects St Clears with Newcastle Emlyn. This is a remote upland parish with few substantial settlements, the location of Llanwinio on modern maps is that solely of the church and some adjacent farms, the only substantial settlements within the parish are Blaenwaun, about 1 1/2 miles northwest, a small crossroads hamlet and Cwmbach, 3/4s of a mile west, a cluster of properties wither side of the bridge across the Afon Sien, both of these settlements are modern developments. The wider parish is dominated by farming of mainly sheep with a few cattle in the river valleys and arable fields in the more sheltered and fertile locations. Modern developments have come to the area very recently as it was chosen for the first major wind-farm site in southwestern Wales at Dyffryn Brodyn, just 11 turbines were built as a foretaste of what has since arrived as we seek to mitigate climate change. The parish is interrupted from being totally upland by the twin courses of the Afron Sien and Afon Cynin which together drain the parish southwards, after they unite and continue southwards they meet Afon Taf south of St Clears to reach the Irish Sea or Outer Bristol Channel passing Laugharne. Heights within the parish vary significantly, Cwnbach standing at 90 metres whilst the parish church is at 190 just a short distance away, land rises steadily northwestwards with local heights of 220 metres at the wind farm, 234 metres at Trugelwin and 242 metres on Llanwinio Common. Like most upland parishes Llanwinio was very extensive estimated to cover almost 7,200 acres and support a population, highly dispersed, of around 1,000 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llanwinio is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Gwynio's church sits accompanied by a few farm buildings on the eastern side of a lane which rises from the hamlet of Gellywen and eventually climbs to the summit of Llanwinio Common, the lane's straightness is perhaps indicative of its origins as a drove road. The church sits within a roughly circular "llan" also indicative of an early Christian site. Today's church, however, is not an ancient building nor is it the venue of these marriages, it replaced a medieval predecessor and was completed only in 1846. A simple design with a broad nave and narrower chancel just a western porch and pedimented bellcote embellish that typical "preaching box". The interior is equally plain with plaster covered ceilings, nothing to distract from the lessons. The entrance to the churchyard is notched into the circle allowing a couple of cars to safely get off-road, not that high volumes of traffic trouble the site. A metal gate grants entry to a churchyard which has a few easily avoided trees which present no difficulties for the photographer.