Llannerch-y-medd

Llannerch-y-medd
Llannerch-y-medd Location within Anglesey
Population	1,360
OS grid reference	SH419841
Community	Llannerch-y-Medd
Principal area	Anglesey
Preserved county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LLANERCHYMEDD
Postcode district	LL71
Dialling code	01248
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Ynys Môn
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Bangor Conwy Môn

Llannerch-y-medd, sometimes spelt Llanerchymedd, is a small village and community on the Isle of Anglesey in North West Wales. In 2011, it had a population of 1,360, of whom more than 70% were Welsh speaking. It is historically a market town.

History

Llannerch means "a woodland clearing". The word medd in the name is Welsh for mead, which is made from honey, and the name may be related to the production of honey for mead.

Evidence of human activity in the area dates back to approximately 3500 BCE, as evident through standing stones. There is no mention of official township until 1440.

An example of the standing stones that surround the area.

Agricultural markets began to be held in the village in the 1600s; this market was the only one to be run on Anglesey other than the market at Beaumaris. In 1831 the first wool fair was held in Anglesey, with the location alternating between Llannerch-y-medd and Llangefni. Other industries carried out in the village in the 1800s included the manufacturing of snuff and rock.

The classic ‘Number 8 Rock’ sold in the fairs.

It also was home to shoemakers, who constructed the shoes for the miners in Parys Mountain.

Just to the northeast of the village is the hill called Pen y Foel which is 123m above sea level; between 1951 and 1956 this was the site of a VHF Fixer station, part of the RAF Western Sector, and was one of a number similar fixed sites managed by RAF Longley Lane near Preston in Lancashire. The site contained an octagonal wooden hut with a hand-steerable radio mast with two radio receivers of type R1392D, transmitter and telephone line. This hut was protected by a close surrounding octagonal brick wall to provide some bomb blast protection which still exists. The station was used to allow each sector to locate RAF or allied aircraft and to help pilots find airfields in low cloud weather conditions. Also on the hill was a rectangular brick hut (now unroofed) also built by the RAF; this was a simple two-room hut with a rainwater collection tank. The site had three RAF wireless personnel (two were normally on duty) who were billeted with a landlady in Llannerch-y-Medd and attached to nearby RAF Valley. The site closed around 1956 as the technology was replaced by improved systems.

The brick hut that is still there today.

To the north of the village, along the B5111 to Amlwch, is an abandoned Victorian workhouse.

A claim that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is buried in the village forms the subject of Graham Phillips's The Marian Conspiracy. Mary's traditional burial place is near Ephesus, in present-day Turkey.

Governance

An electoral ward exists in the same name. This ward stretches to cover the Community of Tref Alaw with a total population taken at the 2011 census of 1,941.

Geography

The village is situated near the centre of Anglesey, close to the large water supply reservoir, Llyn Alaw, and is believed to have an ancient foundation. The River Alaw flows beneath the settlement's infrastructure and comes out on the other side.

A much smaller village known as Carmel, located slightly south on Holyhead Road (B1152), is governmentally part of Llanerchymedd. Same going for Bachau and Coedana, much smaller hamlets to the east of Llanerchymedd. Coedana was governmentally classed as a community up until 1984, when it became represented by the much broader Llanerchymedd council.

Landmarks

In the outskirts of the village lies the Clorach Wells. These were the supposed meeting places of St. Seiriol and St. Cybi. The well was said to have sacred healing water. The well can still be seen today, it is beside a bridge in Llandyfrydog.

The well as seen from the side of the road, with presumably some newer additions.

To the far north of the village is Llwydiarth Fawr, a large property and Georgian mansion. It is associated with Tegerin ap Carwed, the lord of Twrcelyn around 1143. The present house on the property dates to the 17th century, it belonged to barrister David Lloyd. It was then, in 1889, bought by an individual called William Jones, who became rich enough to afford it after being a builder in Liverpool. William then established brickworks on the land in 1900, of which flourished until 1922. It bares a similarity to Llwydiarth-Esgob, another property on the opposite side of the settlement.

Transport

The disused Anglesey Central Railway runs through the village. Its station, opened in 1866, was closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching Axe, and its goods yard is now a car park. There is now a cafe and tea rooms housed in a modern extension of the old buildings.

The railway with the bridge in the distance.

Accident

On the 29th of November, 1877, heavy rainfall breached the Rhodogeidio mill dam. This caused a flash flood which overflowed the River Alaw, a river that flows through Llanerchymedd. The first train on the dark morning as water emerged beneath the bridge, which was built out of wood at the time. Unable to see that the bridge was gone, the train went head-first into the water. There were five passengers, one of which survived. The casualties included 32-year old William Taylor, the driver, who was scalded and crushed across his body, died the following morning in the Blue Bell (A historic Inn in Llannerch-y-medd). John Davies, age 46, was an inspector on the train, who died right after the crash. John Saunderson, a 19 year old fireman, and Edward Hughes, a 35-year old guard, also died. A later report claimed that men working on the ruins found a lady's bag in the first class carriage. This makes them believe there was another passenger, but no bodies were found, and a part of an elastic boot was found, further supporting that possibility. This is not all that the heavy rain caused, two women who lived in a cottage nearby the mill dam had their rooms flooded. The bridge still exists today and is built out of stone.

Culture and community

The hill Pen y Foel is the basis for the name of the local Male Voice Choir Cor Meibion Y Foel which is a member of the National Association of Choirs. It has 43 members and rehearses in the village at Capel Ifan. Over the past decade the Choir has supported local Eisteddfodau, competed in the Anglesey Eisteddfod, raised money for numerous charities and has entertained audiences in concerts, weddings and other functions throughout North Wales.

Ysgol Gymuned Llanerch-y-medd is a primary school in the village, teaching children ages 5–11.

Llannerchymedd has its own association football club, Llanerchymedd F.C.

Religious sites

The parish church of St. Mary exists in the village. The church building has a medieval tower, a church bell believed to be from the 18th century, and a font from the 14th century. The church, with the exception of the tower, was re-built in 1850. By 2003 the church had closed, however as of 2026 the church holds services twice a month.

Capel Ifan, an independent chapel located slightly west of the square.

The Tabernacl Baptist Chapel is the other religious site in Llannerch-y-medd.

Notable people

• Hugh Hughes (1693–1776) a Welsh poet; lived on his estate at Llwydiarth Esgob, near Llanerchymedd.
• Owen Jones (1860–1906) a triple harpist; was born in the Britannia Inn, in the square. He and his brothers were also harpists. He won the triple harp in the 1874 National Eisteddfod.

External links

Media related to Llanerchymedd at Wikimedia Commons