England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llanllugan St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Llanllugan lies almost centrally within Montgomeryshire and is sited roughly 9 miles north of the market town of Newtown. Llanllugan is a small settlement in an upland area but sited on the banks of the Afon Rhiw, it sits several miles from the nearest numbered major road, the closest such being the B4398 which sits almost 3 miles east of the hamlet and connects Newtown with Llanfair Caereinion. A typical upland farming regime for mid-Wales is followed, sheep on poorer ground whilst the cattle occupy the richer pastures. Llanllugan has an early history having been settled by nuns of the Cistercian order in the late 12th century and it is generally accepted that St Mary's church occupies the former site of said nunnery. The Afon Rhiw drains the parish eastwards eventually reaching the upper River Severn at Berriew and following a long journey from the latter arrives at the Bristol Channel. Llanllugan is sited at 210 metres above the sea but occupies a valley site with steep hills all around rising to local heights of over 400 metres on nearby Y Foel. Like most upland parish Llanllugan was extensive covering a little over 3,900 acres, much of which was described in early gazetteers as "uncultivated", within this extensive area some 400 parishioners could have been supported. Like most of Wales Llanllugan is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Mary's church stands on the southern side of the main lane running through Llanllugan and almost on the banks of the Afon Rhiw accompanied solely by a farm. Pevsner speculates that the boulder walls of the church could be indicative of remaining from the 12th century nunnery, the site, a circular churchyard being indicative of an early Christian site or "llan" is typical of an early church. Much of today's church fabric, however, dates from the 15th century and largely Perpendicular in style. Despite a thorough restoration of 1873 much of the fenestration remains true to its medieval origins. Further work in 1963, largely to remove the bell-turret installed a century earlier, adds to the building's ages. St Mary sits on a winding, narrow lane surrounded by lush green pastures, a small pull-in outside the churchyard permits a single car to carefully squeeze off-road. A sloping pathway leads up to the circular churchyard which has no obstacles for the photographer.