![The winding lane to Mynydd Mechell - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/The_winding_lane_to_Mynydd_Mechell_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1336906.jpg)
Mechell is a
community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...
in the north of the
Isle of Anglesey
Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island, ...
, Wales.
Llanfechell
Llanfechell ( cy, 'Llanfechell' ' church + Saint ''Mechell'') is a village in Anglesey, Wales. It is the largest of several small villages and dispersed settlements that make up Mechell Community Council area. It is east of Holyhead, and west of ...
is the largest village within the community area.
Tregele
Tregele is a small, village located Mechell Community, in north Anglesey, Wales. Located about a mile south-west of the larger coastal village of Cemaes, it is also close to the Wylfa Nuclear Power Station now decommissioning on Wylfa Head. Desp ...
,
Llanfflewyn
Llanfflewyn is a village in the community of Mechell, Anglesey, Wales, which is 141.9 miles (228.3 km) from Cardiff and 224.1 miles (360.6 km) from London. St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin is located here.
References
See also
* ...
,
Mynydd Mechell
Mynydd Mechell is an area in the Community (Wales), community of Mechell, Anglesey, Wales, which is 141.9 miles (228.4 km) from Cardiff and 223.8 miles (360.2 km) from London.
References
See also
*List of localities in Wales by p ...
,
Bodewryd
Bodewryd (; ; ) is a village in Anglesey, Wales, in the community of Mechell.
St Mary's Church
The village church is St Mary's, Bodewryd, a small medieval church. It is said by the Diocese of Bangor to be the second-smallest church in Anglesey ...
,
Rhosbeirio
St Peirio's Church is a small disused medieval church, in Rhosbeirio, Anglesey, north Wales. It is unclear when a church was first established on this site, although it has been said that this happened in about 605. The current structure, which ...
and
Carreglefn
Carreglefn is a village in Anglesey, in north-west Wales., in the community of Mechell
Saint Mechell was the 6th century founder and first abbot of the ''clas'' (a type of early Welsh/Celtic monastery) of Llanfechell, on Anglesey in north-west ...
have a more dispersed settlement pattern. The antiquity of these settlements is shown by the presence of 6 medieval (or older) churches and some 16 more ancient sites dating back into prehistory.
The population of the community in 2011 was 1,293.
Situation
Mechell's settlements are all on inland situations, although a narrow strip of land reaches up as far as the north coast of the island, east of
Cemaes Bay
Cemaes () is a village on the north coast of Anglesey in Wales, sited on Cemaes Bay, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is partly owned by the National Trust. It is the most northerly village in Wales (excluding the nearby hamlet of L ...
, in
Llanbadrig
Llanbadrig is a village and community (and former electoral ward) in Anglesey, Wales. The parish includes the township of Clygyrog, Tregynrig and the port of Cemaes (pronounced "Kem-ice"), and was formerly in the cwmwd of Talybolion. The ar ...
Community. To the east is
Cylch-y-Garn
Cylch-y-Garn is a community in Anglesey, Wales, located on the north west coast of the county, west of Amlwch, north east of Holyhead and north west of Llangefni. It includes the villages of Llanfair-yng-Nghornwy, Llanrhyddlad and Rhydwyn ...
Community, and to the south is
Tref Alaw
Tref Alaw is a community in Anglesey, north Wales. The community takes in the area west and south west of the Llyn Alaw, a man made reservoir which is also the largest body of water on the island. The community consists of a wide network of dis ...
and
Rhosybol
Rhosybol (meaning: ''Moor in the Hollow'') is a village and community in Anglesey, Wales. The community population at the 2011 census was 1,078. Located south of the town of Amlwch, the village is close to both Llyn Alaw, the largest body of wa ...
.
There are three wards within the Mechell
community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.
In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies. In ...
area, with a total of 10 councillors representing Llanfechell, Mynydd Mechell and Carreglefn, plus a chairperson.
Prior to the
2012 Anglesey electoral boundary changes Mechell was an electoral ward for the county council. It is now part of a new
Talybolion
Talybolion was a commote in the Hundred of Cemaes. The parishes of Llanfwrog and Llanbadrig
Llanbadrig is a village and community (and former electoral ward) in Anglesey, Wales. The parish includes the township of Clygyrog, Tregynrig and th ...
ward.
History
The oldest of the settlements appears to be Llanfechell, named, as is the larger community, after the 6th century saint
Mechell
Saint Mechell was the 6th century founder and first abbot of the ''clas'' (a type of early Welsh/Celtic monastery) of Llanfechell, on Anglesey in north-west Wales. St Mechell's day is celebrated on 15 November. It is claimed that he is buried in L ...
, reputedly a
Breton
Breton most often refers to:
*anything associated with Brittany, and generally
** Breton people
** Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany
** Breton (horse), a breed
**Ga ...
missionary. Tradition has it that he is buried in Llanfechell.
The large number of prehistoric sites attest to human habitation across the Community since well before that.
There is a very detailed account of daily life in the Mechell area during the 18th century, within the diaries of William Bulkeley, (1691-1760). He lived at Brynddu, a house on the edge of Llanfechell, and kept a daily record of Anglesey life from 1734 to 1760.
Economy
The land of Mechell Community is a settled agricultural landscape, with a network of small farms. The longstanding importance of arable agriculture is shown by the remains of four watermills and three windmills in the Mechell area: Meddanen Water Mill and Melin Mechell Windmill (also known as Minffordd Mill and Melin Maen Arthur) are close together so could have been worked by the same miller, utilising water and wind as available. Further south is Pant y Gŵydd, the second windmill. To the west, along the Afon Cafnan, was a series of mills, including the Cefn Coch Water Mill and Windmill, the Pandy Cefn Coch (a
fulling mill
Fulling, also known as felting, tucking or walking ( Scots: ''waukin'', hence often spelled waulking in Scottish English), is a step in woollen clothmaking which involves the cleansing of woven or knitted cloth (particularly wool) to elimin ...
), and Cafnan Water Mill at the mouth of the river.
Wylfa Nuclear Power Station
Wylfa nuclear power station ( cy, Atomfa'r Wylfa) is a Magnox nuclear power station undergoing decommissioning. Wylfa is situated west of Cemaes Bay on the island of Anglesey, off the northwestern coast of Wales. Construction of the two 490MW nu ...
, close to the Community boundary's northern tip, was the only substantial employer in the immediate neighbourhood, on the coast, northwest of Llanfechell. It was the only Nuclear Power Station in Wales after
Trawsfynedd shut down. The site produced electricity from 1971, and ceased at the end of 2015. Proposals from Horizon Nuclear Power to build 'Wylfa Newydd' are under consideration.
Mechel Churches: Church in Wales
Mechell Community has 4 Church in Wales buildings in the
Bangor Diocese and
Bro Padrig Deanery,
![Llanfechell Parish Church - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Llanfechell_Parish_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_867608.jpg)
;
St Mechell's Church, Llanfechell
St Mechell's Church is a medieval church in the village of Llanfechell, Anglesey, Wales. The building dates from the 12th century and was rebuilt in the mid to late 19th century. It also had some renovations in the 1990s. It was designated a Grade ...
: (Grade II* listed). 12th century church with 19th century rebuild.
SH369913 .
![Eglwys St Fflewin Church, Llanfflewin, Mynydd Mechell](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Eglwys_St_Fflewin_Church%2C_Llanfflewin%2C_Mynydd_Mechell.jpg)
;
St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin
St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin (sometimes referred to as St Fflewyn's Church, Llanfflewyn) is a small rural church, situated by a farm in Anglesey, Wales. The first church on the site is said to have been built by St Fflewin in 630, but the pre ...
: (Grade II listed) in Mynydd Mechell. Documentary records from 1254, but the oldest extant fabric appears to be 18th century, extensively restored in the 1930s. SH350890 .
![St Mary's Church Bodewryd east window](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/St_Mary%27s_Church_Bodewryd_east_window.jpg)
;
St Mary's Church, Bodewryd
St Mary's Church, Bodewryd (; ) is a small medieval church in the hamlet of Bodewryd, in Anglesey, north Wales. The date of construction is unknown, but there was a church on this site in 1254 and the earliest feature to which a date can be gi ...
: (Grade II listed). The present structure is from the 16th century or earlier, and on a much earlier site. The original dedication was to St Gewryd. SH400906, .
![St](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/St._Peirio%27s_Church._-_geograph.org.uk_-_332210.jpg)
;
St Peirio's Church, Rhosbeirio
St Peirio's Church is a small disused medieval church, in Rhosbeirio, Anglesey, north Wales. It is unclear when a church was first established on this site, although it has been said that this happened in about 605. The current structure, which ...
: Grade II listed, now disused. SH391917. .
;Capel Anhunedd-y-Pran: There is a redundant (or decayed) medieval chapel at Clegyrog. By 1796 it was in use as a cowhouse. SH388903, Coordinates:.
;Cappel Newsaint: An unlocated medieval chapel stood somewhere in Mynydd Mechell. SH3590. .
Mechell non-conformist Chapels
There have been least nine non=conformist Chapels in the Mechell area, dating to the nineteenth and early 20th centuries:-
![Capel Libanus Chapel - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Capel_Libanus_Chapel_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1263315.jpg)
;Libanus Chapel, Llanfechell: Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, Welsh Calvanistic Methodist Chapel on the village square. Founded in 1832, rebuilt in 1903. SH369912.
![Ebenezer, Capel yr Annibynwyr, Llanfechell- Ebenezer Congregational Chapel, Llanfechell - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Ebenezer%2C_Capel_yr_Annibynwyr%2C_Llanfechell-_Ebenezer_Congregational_Chapel%2C_Llanfechell_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1255225.jpg)
;Ebenezer Chapel, Llanfechell: Welsh Independent chapel near the School, on Mountain Road. Built 1862, replacing a Chapel built soon after 1800.
SH365909,
;Calfaria Chapel, Mynydd Mechell: Welsh Baptist chapel built in 1897 to replace an earlier building of 1815.
[ SH361900
]
;Jerusalem Chapel, Mynydd Mechell: Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, Welsh Calvanistic Methodist chapek. SH358897,
;Bethlehem Chapel, Carreglefn: Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel. SH383891,
;Seion Chapel, Carreglefn: Independent Chapel. SH394895,
;Hephsibah Chapel, Rhosbeirio: Former Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, converted into a house in 1985. SH394913,
;Capel Bethania, Tregele
Tregele is a small, village located Mechell Community, in north Anglesey, Wales. Located about a mile south-west of the larger coastal village of Cemaes, it is also close to the Wylfa Nuclear Power Station now decommissioning on Wylfa Head. Desp ...
: The Calvinistic Methodist cause at Tregele began in 1810. The Chapel was rebuilt in 1906 and closed in 1973 and is now a house.
Mechell notable buildings
All four extant medieval churches above are given the legal protection of Listed Building status. Below are the other listed buildings within the community, plus some other notable buildings and structures:-
Bodewryd
Bodewryd (; ; ) is a village in Anglesey, Wales, in the community of Mechell.
St Mary's Church
The village church is St Mary's, Bodewryd, a small medieval church. It is said by the Diocese of Bangor to be the second-smallest church in Anglesey ...
;Plas Bodewryd
Plas Bodewryd is a Grade II* listed privately owned country house in Bodewryd, Anglesey, which was owned by the Wynne family until 1755 then the Lords Stanley of Alderley until the 20th century.
History
The house was the residence of the pr ...
: (Grade II* listed mansion). A 15th/16th century Hall house at Bodewryd, with substantial additions in every century following. SH40019082, .[
]
;Bodewryd Colomendy or Dovecote, Bodewryd: Grade II listed late 17th C. dovecote in the grounds of Plas Bodewryd
Plas Bodewryd is a Grade II* listed privately owned country house in Bodewryd, Anglesey, which was owned by the Wynne family until 1755 then the Lords Stanley of Alderley until the 20th century.
History
The house was the residence of the pr ...
. Stone walls incorporate around 400 nests. SH40019082, .
;Lychgate at Church of St Mary, Bodewryd: Grade II listed building. SH40119057, .[
]
Llanfechell
Llanfechell ( cy, 'Llanfechell' ' church + Saint ''Mechell'') is a village in Anglesey, Wales. It is the largest of several small villages and dispersed settlements that make up Mechell Community Council area. It is east of Holyhead, and west of ...
;Brynddu, Llanfechell: Grade II listed 18th Century larger Anglesey house. Home of the Bulkeley Family. SH37329119 .
;Pont-y-Plas, Llanfechell: Road Bridge with square headed arches and steps to water. SH36889135, , .
;Crown Terrace, including Crown House, Llanfechell: Grade II listed row of three terraced buildings with a shop/bank. SH369912, .
;Old Rectory, Llanfechell: Grade II listed, 17th Century Rectory, with 18th C additions. SH36989128,
;War Memorial, Llanfechell: Grade II listed memorial to the fallen of the Great War, in the village square and incorporates a clock. SH37029120, , [
]
Mynydd Mechell
Mynydd Mechell is an area in the Community (Wales), community of Mechell, Anglesey, Wales, which is 141.9 miles (228.4 km) from Cardiff and 223.8 miles (360.2 km) from London.
References
See also
*List of localities in Wales by p ...
;Ffynnon Ddygfael, Mynydd Mechell: Well shaft close to a pool. SH35119050, , .
;Llanddygfael-groes, Mynydd Mechell: Grade II listed building. SH35149059, , .[
]
Tregele
Tregele is a small, village located Mechell Community, in north Anglesey, Wales. Located about a mile south-west of the larger coastal village of Cemaes, it is also close to the Wylfa Nuclear Power Station now decommissioning on Wylfa Head. Desp ...
;Cae Mawr, Tregele: Grade II listed late 18th century farmhouse. SH34929088, , .
;Cefn-Coch, Tregele: Grade II listed , , 17th century central hall type house, with pointed internal doorways and 17th C. balusters. SH34259072 .
;Groesfechan, Tregele: Medieval domestic remains. SH351917, ,
;Melin Cefn Coch (Ty'n y Felin), Tregele: Grade II listed building. SH34319139, .[Melin Cefn Coch, ]
Carreglefn
;Cottage at Pant-y-Gist, Carreglefn: Grade II Listed Building, SH39358967, .[
;Hen Bont, Carreglefn: Grade II listed building. SH38408907, , .][
;Pant-y-cryntach, Carreglefn: Grade II listed building. SH38808967, ][
;Ty Newydd, Carreglefn: Grade II listed building. SH38408907, .][
;Y Stryd, Carreglefn: Grade II listed building. SH38398906, ][
]
Llanfflewyn
Llanfflewyn is a village in the community of Mechell, Anglesey, Wales, which is 141.9 miles (228.3 km) from Cardiff and 224.1 miles (360.6 km) from London. St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin is located here.
References
See also
* ...
, near Mynydd Mechell
;Twll-y-clawdd, Llanfflewyn: Grade II listed building. SH35638861, .[
]
Archaeological sites
There are five Scheduled monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...
s within the community area, all of them dating to prehistory
Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...
, and a further 10 sites are also listed by the . All the sites are in open country within the community aea, so cannot be said to be in any one of the settlements. The 'settlement' column is there to give a guide as to which part of Mechell Community it is in.
Other Archaeological sites in Mechell:-
See also
* List of Scheduled Monuments in Anglesey
References
{{Communities of Anglesey
Former wards of Anglesey