Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant () is a village,

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, ...

and an ecclesiastical parish in the extreme north 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 Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

; about 9 miles west of Oswestry and 12 miles south of

Llangollen Llangollen () is a town and community, situated on the River Dee, in Denbighshire, Wales. Its riverside location forms the edge of the Berwyn range, and the Dee Valley section of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Bea ...

, on the B4580. It lies near the foothills of the Berwyn mountains on the river Rhaeadr. At the top end of the valley is the

Pistyll Rhaeadr Pistyll Rhaeadr (, meaning "spring of the waterfall") is a waterfall from the village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in Powys, Wales, and west of Oswestry. Description Pistyll Rhaeadr is formed by the Afon Disgynfa falling, in three stages, ov ...

waterfall, one of the

Seven Wonders of Wales The Seven Wonders of Wales ( cy, Saith Rhyfeddod Cymru) is a traditional list of notable landmarks in north Wales, commemorated in an anonymously written rhyme: The rhyme is usually supposed to have been written sometime in the late 18th or ear ...

in the old rhyme. One mile north of the town is the hill Moel Hen-fache (515 m). The community includes the hamlet of

Llanarmon Mynydd Mawr Llanarmon Mynydd Mawr, occasionally referred to as Llanarmon Fach, is an isolated rural parish in Powys, Wales. It was formerly in Denbighshire, and from 1974 to 1996 was in the county of Clwyd. It measures and has a population of 40. The scat ...

. It was an important site in the ancient

commote A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

(or cantref; sources disagree) of

Mochnant Mochnant, a name translating as "the rapid stream", was a medieval cantref in the Kingdom of Powys. In the 12th century it was divided into the commotes of Mochnant Is Rhaeadr (in the north) and Mochnant Uwch Rhaeadr (in the south) (''Is'' signi ...

, as indicated by the ''ym-Mochnant'' in its name (translates to "in Mochnant"). Until 1974, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant was split into two civil parishes: the northern parish was in historic

Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...

and the southern parish in historic

Montgomeryshire , HQ= Montgomery , Government= Montgomeryshire County Council (1889–1974)Montgomeryshire District Council (1974–1996) , Origin= , Status= , Start= , End= ...

; this reflected the division of the ancient commote in the 12th century. The divide continued between 1974 and 1996, with the former Denbighshire parish being placed in Clwyd and the former Montgomeryshire parish in Powys, each with their own

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 ...

s. In 1996, both parts of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant were united within the county of Powys, and the community councils were amalgamated in 2008.

Buildings and antiquities

Capel Seion is in the village. It is a Methodist chapel rebuilt in the early 20th century in Arts and Crafts style.

Population

In the 2001 Census the population was 1,470, of whom 55% were Welsh-speaking. In the 2011 census the population had fallen to 1,195, with 408 in the village itself. The village falls in the electoral ward of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant/Llansilin. The ward population at the 2011 Census was 2,295.

Parish church

Sant Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant - geograph

The Norman church of St Dogfan is a Grade II* listed building, restored between 1879 and 1882, but with parts dating back to the 13th century. There is a gravestone with a Celtic cross possibly commemorating Cwgan son of Ethelstan, a Welsh prince of the 11th century. The parish is best known for its former vicar, William Morgan (1545– 1604), who first translated the whole

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...

into Welsh in the 1580s and later became a

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...

Llandaff Llandaff (; cy, Llandaf ; from 'church' and ''River Taff, Taf'') is a district, Community (Wales), community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of ...

and of St. Asaph.

Gwallter Mechain Walter Davies (15 July 1761 – 5 December 1849), commonly known by his bardic name Gwallter Mechain ("Walter of Mechain"), was a Welsh poet, editor, translator, antiquary and Anglican clergyman. Davies was born at Y Wern, near Tomen y Caste ...

(1761–1849), the bard, was the vicar from 1837 until his death in 1849. Rev.

Griffith Hartwell Jones Rev. Griffith Hartwell Jones (10 April 1859 – 27 May 1944) was a Welsh academic and Anglican clergyman.''1939 England and Wales Register'England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1966, 1973– ...

(1859–1944), a Welsh academic and Anglican clergyman was born in the village. St

Dogfan Dogfan, also known as ''Doewan'', was a saint and martyr who lived in 5th century Wales. He is venerated in the Anglican Church , Eastern Orthodox Church, True Orthodox Church, and Roman Catholic Church, on 13 July. Family He is the patron saint ...

was a son of

Brychan Brycheiniog Brychan Brycheiniog was a legendary 5th-century king of Brycheiniog (Brecknockshire, alternatively Breconshire) in Mid Wales. Life According to Celtic hagiography Brychan was born in Ireland, the son of a Prince Anlach, son of Coronac, and hi ...

and a Welsh prince in the 5th century. A clas dedicated to him was founded on the site of the present church. The holy well of the saint is on the farm of Gwernfeifod in Cwm-ffynnon.

Local attractions

Attractions near the village include the

waterfall A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in severa ...

, known for its

natural arch A natural arch, natural bridge, or (less commonly) rock arch is a natural landform where an arch has formed with an opening underneath. Natural arches commonly form where inland cliffs, coastal cliffs, fins or stacks are subject to erosion ...

, the

Berwyn Mountains The Berwyn range (Welsh: ''Y Berwyn'' or ''Mynydd y Berwyn'') is an isolated and sparsely populated area of moorland in the northeast of Wales, roughly bounded by Llangollen in the northeast, Corwen in the northwest, Bala in the southwest, and ...

, and

Lake Vyrnwy , image = Lakevyrnwysummer.jpg , caption = View overlooking Lake Vyrnwy showing the full extent of the lake , image_bathymetry = , pushpin_map=Wales Powys , caption_bathymetry = , location = Wales , c ...

. Pistyll Rhaeadr Falls.jpg, Pistyll Rhaeadr Tafarn y Wynnstay Arms Pub, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 05.JPG, The Wynnstay Arms tavern Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 31.JPG, Church of St Dogfan Altar Croes Geltaidd yn Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 39.JPG, ''Carreg Gwgan'' (Gwgan's Stone''); 9-10th century Celtic cross, kept in Church of St Dogfan Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 36.JPG, Church of St Dogfan Eglwys Sant Dogfan, Church of St Dogfan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys 34.JPG, Wood carving by altar

Public transport

Bus services are operated by Tanat Valley Coaches, based in the village. Route 76 links the village with

Llanfyllin Llanfyllin ( – ) is a market town, community and electoral ward in a sparsely populated area in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. Llanfyllin's community population in 2011 was 1,532, of whom 34.1% could speak Welsh. Llanfyllin means ''church or ...

, Meifod and

Welshpool Welshpool ( cy, Y Trallwng) is a market town and community in Powys, Wales, historically in the county of Montgomeryshire. The town is from the Wales–England border and low-lying on the River Severn; its Welsh language name ''Y Trallwng'' m ...

. Routes 79/79A connect the town with

Llangynog Llangynog (; ) is a village and community at the confluence of the Afon Eirth and the Afon Tanat at the foot of the Berwyn range in north Powys (previously Montgomeryshire), Wales. It lies at the foot of the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass on t ...

Llangedwyn Llangedwyn is a village in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. The population of the community at the 2011 census was 402. The community includes the hamlet of Pen-y-bont Llanerch Emrys. It lies in the Tanat Valley near to the Wales/England border. ...

, Penybontfawr and Oswestry. The village was at one point served by the defunct

Tanat Valley Light Railway The Tanat Valley Light Railway (TVLR) was a long standard gauge light railway. It ran westwards from Llanyblodwel in Shropshire, about 5 miles or 8 km south-west of Oswestry. It crossed the Wales–England border and continued up the Tanat va ...

which served Pentrefelin, Llanrhaiadr Mochnant and Pedairffordd Halt. Of these station, Llanrhaiadr Mochant was the closest one to the village being around a mile south east. These closed in 1951 to passengers along with the line to Llangynog but the line remained open to freight to as far as Llanrhaeadr Mochant until 1964 when the entire line to Blodwell Junction was closed. The trackbed has been incorporated into agricultural use but the newly formed Tanat Valley Light Railway has expressed interest in reopening the line to as far as Llanrhaiadr Mochnant for heritage and tourist use; it is currently focused on reaching Blodwell Junction from Nantmawr.

Film location

Parts of the 1995 film ''

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain ''The Englishman who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain'' is a 1995 romantic comedy film with a story by Ifor David Monger and Ivor Monger, written and directed by Christopher Monger. It was entered into the 19th Moscow International Film F ...

'', starring

Hugh Grant Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor. He established himself early in his career as both a charming, and vulnerable romantic lead and has since transitioned into a dramatic character actor. Among his numerous a ...

, were filmed in the village,OnlineVideo – The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain
Ovguide.com. Retrieved on 2013-02-05. portraying the real-life village of

Taff's Well Taff's Well () is a semi-rural village, community and electoral ward located at the south easterly tip of Rhondda Cynon Taf, to the north of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. Known locally as the 'Gates to the Valleys', it is separated from Gwa ...

, in

Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff (Welsh: ''Taf'') and Ely valleys, plus a number of towns and vill ...

, which by 1995 had become too developed to use. More recently, the village featured in the 2012 film '' Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger'' with David Tennant, as the village where the St. Bernadette's school bus stopped to buy sweets on the way to

in search of the (fictitious) ''Castell Llawen'' ('Merry Castle').

References

External links

Photos of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and surrounding area on geograph
{{DEFAULTSORT:Llanrhaeadr-Ym-Mochnant Villages in Powys