England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llandyrnog St Teyrnog

The Parish

The parish of Llandyrnog lies in northeastern Denbighshire, forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Flintshire. Llandyrnog sits roughly 3 miles east of the county town of Denbigh on the B5429 road which skirts the eastern fringe of the Clwydian range from Rhuddlan to Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd. Llandyrnog is a compact crossroads village with most properties lying around the village's main junction, a smaller settlement to the north at the next crossroads, Waen, is also a modest small village similarly disposed. The parish includes a portion of the Vale of Clwyd, rich grazing land for cattle, but also a stretch of the Clwydian range to its east stretching up to Moel Arthur, here the grazing is tougher and the residence of hardy sheep. The hills along the county border are graced by the Offa' Dyke National Trail as it wends its course from Chepstow to Prestatyn. Most of the hilltops have ancient hill-forts topping them, a continuous run of ancient defensive sites. Llandyrnog is drained northwards by Afon Clwyd which takes water through St Asasph before reaching the Irish Sea to the west of Rhyl. Llandyrnog is sited at around 60 metres above the sea but land rises to Moel Arthur reaching 456 metres at its hill-fort. Like most parishes with an upland component Llandyrnog parish was extensive covering just over 3,200 acres, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 650 parishioners. Like most of Wales Llandyrnog is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Teyrnog's church sits on the eastern side of the B5429 a little to the north of both the main crossroads and of the Golden Lion Inn. The church has a distinctly Victorian feel to it the result of its extensive restoration during a campaign from 1876 to 1878 which finished the church in its crisp peddle-dash with sandstone dressings. Despite this outward appearance the core of the church, its twin naves, are both from the late medieval period of the Perpendicular era. The first documented record of a church on this site does, however, go back even further with a reference dated 1254, nothing remains of that early church beyond the circular churchyard or "llan" in which the present church sits. The best estimate for today;s church is a building date of the late 15th century. The Victorian restoration, however, left its mark thoroughly on the church, the northern porch was removed, the double bellcote added and the southern porch rebuilt with a timber-frame. Parking on the B5429 is to be discouraged, the side street opposite the churchyard sufficing. The churchyard is well above road height with 7 steep steps rising to its gates, it is also very compact such that only views from the east or from the road to its west are there any angles available to the photographer.