Mallwyd () is a small village at the most southern end of

Gwynedd Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...

, Wales in the Dinas Mawddwy community, in the valley of the River Dyfi. It lies on the A470 approximately halfway between

Dolgellau Dolgellau () is a town and community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the traditional county town of the historic county of Merionethshire ( cy, Meirionnydd, Sir Feirionnydd) un ...

and Machynlleth, and forms the junction of the A458 towards Welshpool. The nearest villages are Dinas Mawddwy, two miles to the north, and Aberangell a similar distance to the south. The River Dugoed flows into the River Dyfi near the village.

History

The village is situated near the boundary between the historic counties of Merionethshire and

Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire, also known as ''Maldwyn'' ( cy, Sir Drefaldwyn meaning "the Shire of Baldwin's town"), is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after its county tow ...

. The village is situated in the parish of Mallwyd in the district of Mawddwy. This was the region of the

Red Bandits of Mawddwy The Red Bandits of Mawddwy (Welsh: ''Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy'') were a band of red-haired robbers, highwaymen or footpads from the area of Mawddwy in Mid Wales in the 16th century, who became famous in folk literature. History In the 1500s, M ...

, which is remembered in the village pub, ''The Brigands''.

Railway

In 1867, the Mawddwy Railway was opened, connecting Dinas Mawddwy with Cemmaes Road. A small station was provided to serve Mallwyd, though it was nearly a mile from the village. Passenger services on the railway were withdrawn in 1931, and the railway closed and was lifted in 1952.

The Church

Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 30.tif, The church viewed from the East Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 93.JPG, Yew tree Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 34.JPG, Church portals Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 22.JPG, Ports and timber belltower Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 37.JPG, The timber belltower Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 92.jpg, A panorama view of the church facing East Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 67.tif, Raised seating at the back of the church Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 57.JPG Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 49.tif Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 41.JPG, The font Eglwys Sant Tydecho Mallwyd Powys Cymru Wales 62.JPG, Sculpture of Mary and Jesus According to tradition, Mallwyd church was founded in the 6th century by Saint Tydecho after he came to the area from Cornwall. The present building dates from the 14th century and is unusual in form, being long and narrow with a balcony at each end. There are many wooden fixtures dating from the 17th century. The scholar John Davies was rector of Mallwyd for 40 years at the beginning of the 17th century. There is a memorial to him in the church which was put up to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death. Outside the church are several great

yew Yew is a common name given to various species of trees. It is most prominently given to any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Taxus'': * European yew or common yew (''Taxus baccata'') * Pacific yew or western yew (''Taxus br ...

trees. The timber bell tower of the church is inscribed: SOLI DEO SACRUM ANNI CHRISTI MDCXL. It formerly also read VENITE CANTEM s dominoA.D.1640 HONOR DEO IN EXCELSIS. The portals of the church, found between the church and the river, are decorated with fossil mammal bones. The black marble, octagonal font, dated below the bowl 1734, was a gift of Sir John Mytton of Dinas Mawddwy

Notable people

* John Davies (ca.1567–1644), scholar, Rector of Mallwyd 1604-44 *

Robert Foulkes Robert Foulkes (baptised 19 March 1633/34 – executed 31 January 1678/79) was a Welsh-born English Church of England cleric and murderer. Early life Although long presumed to have been a native of Shropshire in England, Foulkes was born and bapt ...

(ca.1633 - 1679), clergyman and murderer. *

John Rice Jones John Rice Jones (February 11, 1759 – February 1, 1824) was a Welsh-born, American politician, jurist, and military officer. He helped establish the territorial governments in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. John Rice Jones was the father of U ...

(1759–1824), American jurist and politician * Rowland Williams (1779–1854), Welsh Anglican priest and writer * Robert Vaughn (1836-1918), Montana Rancher

References

External links

www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Mallwyd and surrounding area
{{authority control Villages in Gwynedd Villages in Snowdonia Mawddwy