Dolanog () or Pont Dolanog is an ecclesiastical parish or chapelry that was formed in October 1856. It comprises the
townships
A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, C ...
of Dolwar in
Llanfihangel portions of
Coedtalog in
Llanerfyl,
Cynhinfa in
Llangyniew and
Gwaunynog in
Llanfair Caereinion
Llanfair Caereinion is a market town and community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales upon the River Banwy (also known as the River Einion), around 8 miles west of Welshpool. In 2011 the ward had a population of 1,810; the town itself had a popul ...
. The total area of this parish is 3,100 acres. Dolanog was within the historic county of
Montgomeryshire
, HQ= Montgomery
, Government= Montgomeryshire County Council (1889–1974)Montgomeryshire District Council (1974–1996)
, Origin=
, Status=
, Start=
, End= ...
, which now forms part of
Powys
Powys (; ) is a county and preserved county in Wales. It is named after the Kingdom of Powys which was a Welsh successor state, petty kingdom and principality that emerged during the Middle Ages following the end of Roman rule in Britain.
Geog ...
, Wales.
Dolwar Fechan in Dolanog was the home
Ann Griffiths
Ann Griffiths (née Thomas, 1776–1805) was a Welsh poet and writer of Methodist Christian hymns in the Welsh language. Her poetry reflects her fervent Christian faith and thorough scriptural knowledge.
Biography
Ann was born in April 1776 ...
, the Methodist hymn writer.
Description of the village
![Bridge across the Vyrnwy, Dolanog - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Bridge_across_the_Vyrnwy%2C_Dolanog_-_geograph.org.uk_-_509992.jpg)
Dolanog lies in an exceedingly pretty stretch of the
Vyrnwy valley. The 17th or early 18th century single-arched bridge spans the river below the church beside a pool overhung with oaks. The ford at the lower end of the village is crossed by a footbridge raised on stone piers, near a whitewashed former Corn Mill of the later18th. century.
![St John the Evangelist, Dolanog - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/St_John_the_Evangelist%2C_Dolanog_-_geograph.org.uk_-_510003.jpg)
Across the road, the lovely whitewashed L-plan Mill Farmhouse was originally a fulling-mill, made into a house for the corn mill about 1810.
Church
St. John the Evangelist. Nave, chancel, western bell gable and a timber south porch in
Early English rival style. The architect was
Richard Kyke Penson and the church was consecrated on 12 April 1855. The roof is similar to nearby
Pontrobert
Pontrobert is an ecclesiastical parish that was formed in September 1854. It comprises the townships of Teirtref and part of Nantymeichiaid in the parish Meifod, a portion of Cynhinfa which was in the parish of Llangynyw and portions of the to ...
church, which was also designed by Penson.
The Church school was built in 1872 for £150.
Ann Griffiths Memorial Chapel
![Ann Griffiths Memorial Chapel, Dolanog - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Ann_Griffiths_Memorial_Chapel%2C_Dolanog_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1547669.jpg)
Built in 1903 . The architect was C. Dickens-Lewis of Shrewsbury.
Ann Griffiths
Ann Griffiths (née Thomas, 1776–1805) was a Welsh poet and writer of Methodist Christian hymns in the Welsh language. Her poetry reflects her fervent Christian faith and thorough scriptural knowledge.
Biography
Ann was born in April 1776 ...
(1776-1805) was a
Calvinistic Methodist, who wrote many notable hymns in Welsh which are still sung today. The chapel has a buttressed front with
Arts and Crafts Gothic details on the bellcote and bowed porch. The adjoining house is slightly later, also of rock-faced masonry with
ashlar detail, but tactfully neo-vernacular. The furnishings are Art Nouveau, the pulpit and big seat with balustrading. Hammer-beam roof on headed
corbels of Ann Griffiths, David Davies, Rev. R Roberts, and Rev. John Hughes.
Dolanog Bridge or Pont Dolanog
Dolanog Bridge is possibly the finest single early stone bridge in
Montgomeryshire
, HQ= Montgomery
, Government= Montgomeryshire County Council (1889–1974)Montgomeryshire District Council (1974–1996)
, Origin=
, Status=
, Start=
, End= ...
and may possibly date 17th century with the high camber of the roadway over the arch, which is similar to
Llanrwst
Llanrwst ('church or parish of Saint Grwst'; ) is a market town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy, in Conwy County Borough, Wales, and the historic county of Denbighshire. It developed round the wool trade and became known als ...
bridge. It was graphical depicted against a background of mountains in Edward Pugh's ''Cambrian Depicta''. published in 1816. This view has now been lost by the building of recent bridge downstream of the old bridge. The bridge has a carriageway is about 3 metres wide. Rough masonry parapets with upright stone copings. The parapets are turned out at all four ends. Road macadamed and blocked by bollards at each end. It is listed by
Cadw as Grade II
Houses
![Stone and timbered house at Plas Dolanog - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Stone_and_timbered_house_at_Plas_Dolanog_-_geograph.org.uk_-_527145.jpg)
*Plas Dolanog, Timber-framed, with rebuilt in stone. T-plan with cross-wing and gabled porch in the front angle, dated 1664. Dressed stone chimneys set diagonally.
*Dolwar Fach. The home of Ann Griffiths, commemorated in the memorial chapel. The house has been rebuilt since her lifetime.
*Dolwar Hall A long, low,
cruck
A cruck or crook frame is a curved timber, one of a pair, which support the roof of a building, historically used in England and Wales. This type of timber framing consists of long, generally naturally curved, timber members that lean inwards and ...
-framed house, much under-built in stone, except for a thin band of black-and-white timber work. A central chimney with a stair beside it has been introduced between two of the couples. Probably built in the 15th. century.
The hydro electric plant
Dolanog Estate installed a hydro electric plant on the Vyrnwy in 1921 when electricity was supplied to five houses, the church and the chapel. In April 2007 Derwent Hydro leased the plant. The site had been subject to reliability and operational problems for many years and was not profitable. Derwent Hydro modified the turbine arrangement and comprehensively upgraded the electrical control system at Dolanog including the installation of remote monitoring equipment. The plant now runs reliably, with a peak output over 140 kW.
Literature
*Scourfield R. and Haslam R. (2013), ''The Buildings of Wales: Powys; Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire'', Yale University Press. pp 106–7.
*Thomas, D.R.(1908) ''History of the Diocese of Saint Asaph'', Vol 1, 503–4.
References
External links
Photos of Dolanog and surrounding area on geograph
Pont Dolanog Gallery
{{authority control
Villages in Powys
Montgomeryshire
Victorian Montgomeryshire Parishes