A Brief History of Llanymynech
See some old pictures of the village: here
and some new pictures: here
| DATE | SUBJECT |
SUBHEADING |
290-355 million |
Geology |
Ordovician & Carboniferous systems |
Mining |
The Ogof and mineral veins: Copper, lead, zinc, silver | |
50 |
The Hill Fort |
Caractacus’s last stand |
Folklore |
Wrekin | |
c784 |
The Saxons |
Offa's Dyke |
The Normans |
Carreghofa Castle | |
The Quarry |
Gunpowder | |
The Quarry |
Tramways | |
1797 |
Canals |
The Ellesmere Canal & The Montgomeryshire Canal |
1848 |
Railways |
The Cambrian Railway: Oswestry to Welshpool |
1866-1950 |
Railways |
Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Railway: Llanymynech to Shrewsbury |
1748-1832 |
Robert Baugh, map maker | |
1723-1795 |
John Evans, map maker | |
1789-1864 |
Richard Roberts, engineer | |
1809-1882 |
Charles Darwin | |
| Rodney's Pillar | ||
| Wakes and Festivals | ||
1799-1940 |
Races | |
19th century |
People and Buildings | |
20thcentury |
People and Buildings | |
1827 |
Road bridge to Welshpool | |
1845 |
St Agatha’s Church | |
Industries |
Rope making | |
18thC?-1914? |
Industries |
Lime burning |
| Carreghofa | ||
Bradford Arms |
||
| Names | ||
| Sources |
Between 290 and 355 million years ago, there was a warm and shallow tropical sea which bordered a peninsula of land to the south. Llanymynech Hill consists of the Carboniferous limestone which was deposited then. Since the Hill was close to land, the deposits are relatively shallow compared to deposits in other parts of Britain.
The limestone is exposed to form the southern end of a west facing escarpment, which continues northwards to the Eglwyseg escarpment near Llangollen. The strata lies on folded Ordovician and Silurian rocks, and is divided into four distinct layers: at the bottom, basal shales, which are up to 13 m thick; lower limestone, up to 85 m thick; upper grey limestone, 70 to 100 m thick; Sandy limestone, 100 to 200 m thick.
The mineral veins in the limestone dates from the late Carboniferous age, and tend to run chiefly in a north east direction
Apart from being quarried for limestone, Llanymynech Hill was once extensively mined for copper, lead, zinc and silver. Mine entrances and spoil heaps are visible on the golf course. The main mining entrance is called The Ogof, the Welsh for cave, and this could be one of the earliest sites of mining in Britain.
The hillfort dates from the Bronze Age, and excavations have revealed that copper smelting took place here. Copper is one of the main components of bronze and it would have been visible on the hill as a green stain in the rock. Copper was mined here in surface pits, and later in small underground passages.
When the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43, many Britons acknowledged the power of the Roman Empire. But Caradog (Caratacus) king of the Catavellauni tribe, continued to fight the Romans. He had provided the pretext for the invasion by invading the territories of the Atrebates, whose king, Verica, fled to Rome and appealed for help.
Caradog moved north and west as the Roman army settled Britain as far as the Fosse Way, the great Roman road running from Exeter to Lincoln. With the help of the Silures in the south-east and the Ordovices in the north, Caradog made life on the frontier unpleasant. The Romans had little choice but to deal the troublesome tribes. All we know about Caradog's last stand comes from a passage by the historian Tacitus. Professor Barri Jones, who lived in the area, surmised that of all the possible places, which includes the Breiddyn, three Caer Caradoc's, and old Oswestry, the most likely was Llanymynech Hill.The site chosen had to enjoy accessibility from lowland Britain, as well as possible escape routes into Snowdonia and northwards, where Caradog fled after the battle, only to be surrendered to Rome by Queen Cartamandua. According to Tacitus, there was a river that the Roman army crossed, and the site was defended at its weakest points by a rampart. The hillfort had to be large to accommodate the huge British army, and Llanymynech Hill is one of the largest in the countries at 58.4 hectares.
In 1991 Professor Jones excavated at Abertanat, and discovered a number of archaeological features surviving in section. "Notable amongst these was a clay filled V shaped ditch forming the northern defences of a camp, the interior of which contained a series of features also visible in section. Amongst these the most remarkable was a field-oven..."
The Roman timbered gateway was reconstructed and opened in 1991. It seems the camp was probably sited to defend the river crossing, and if there was a siege on Llanymynech Hill, would have been used to prevent supplies reaching the fort.
Although geologists say that the Wrekin consists of pre Cambrian rock, it is well-known that the hill was made by a giant.
Some fishermen from Shrewsbury had sailed down the Severn to look for eels. When they reached the Bristol Channel, they discovered a huge eel trap, and helped themselves to the eels from inside. As they rowed away a huge giant appeared in the distance, shouting at them to return his eels. Realising they were far enough away to escape, they shouted back that they were men of Shrewsbury and would not return anything.
The giant spent several weeks in festering anger. Eventually, he lifted his spade, and dug up a huge amount of earth, and set off upstream determined to dam the river and drown the town of Shrewsbury and all its people. It was a hot day, and he was tired and fed up after several hours walking. He didn't realise that Shrewsbury was around the next to bend in the river, when he came across a cobbler. The giant asked him how far it was to the town of Shrewsbury. The cobbler, though frightened by the giant, realised that he had to keep his wits about him, and took off the sack of old shoes from his back and emptied them onto the road. “I'll tell you how far it is to Shrewsbury,” he said. “I set out from there two months ago, and I've wore out all these shoes to reach here.” The giant decided he couldn't walk that far, and dumped his earth beside the river, and that became the Wrekin. He scraped his shoes off on the back of his spade, and that became the little hill beside the Wrekin called the Arcall, and he walked back home.
King Offa of Mercia ruled from 757 to 795. He built the great earthwork as a border between the Welsh and the Saxons. It extends from Prestatyn on the North Wales coast to Chepstow, on the Severn estuary. The Dyke was originally known as the Mark or March, which name the Normans later used to refer to a much wider area.
The Dyke was probably built in the last twelve years of Offa’s reign, and it is possible there was some agreement between the Saxons and Welsh as to its whereabouts, though in any treaty the Saxons would have been able to dictate most of the terms. Certainly it seems the Dyke was designed for maximum military effect, always keeping to the high ground on westward facing hills, and with the ditch to the west side of the rampart. Some English settlements were to the west of the mark, which suggests that the military purpose was paramount.
Offa’s Laws are particularly concerned about the procedure for tracking and recovering cattle which were taken over the border. They also laid down that any English nor Welsh had to have a guide from the other side, who had to ensure they returned safely, without committing any offence. Only half the usual death fine had to be paid for either an Englishman or Welshman who was killed on the wrong side of the dyke. The law that any Welshman who was found carrying weapons on the English side should have his right arm cut off did not exist.
The mining technique called firesetting involved lighting a fire against the rock, causing it to expand with the heat. When water was thrown against it, the rock suddenly contracted and split, and primitive antler and bone picks would prise open cracks in the rock. Deep trenches would have been dug, but when the deposit became too deep it had to be followed underground. Small hand picked passages have been found in and near to the Ogof, and part of a deer antler, possibly a broken pick, was found in one.
The Romans developed the copper mining industry by engineering the workings in a more logical pattern. Mining was basically the same, with firesetting and picking, although they used iron picks and wooden shovels with iron tips. Copper ore was placed in small wicker baskets and dragged out along the low passages.
It is impossible that slaves were imprisoned in the mine, although the discovery of Roman coins and skeletons do not proved this. It is unlikely that slave miners would be able to accumulate money, nor would dead people be buried in a working mine where they could spread disease. The burials found in the Ogof probably took place when the workings were abandoned.
A great many Roman artefacts have been found in the mine including, in 1965, a hoard of silver coins found by some schoolboys.
After the Romans left, the next period of activity of mining on the Hill was in the 12th century. Silver only occurs in this country in small quantities in the lead mineral galena, from which it can be refined during smelting, and there is record of sliver being mined on the Hill. King Richard I went to the Crusades and was captured in 1193 on his return. The Bishop of Salisbury, Hubert Walter, had accompanied Richard to Palestine and returned to England as one of the commissioners to raise the required £100,000 for his ransom. He heard of the discovery of silver at the Carreghwfa Mine on Llanymynech Hill, and decided to develop the mine and re-open the mint at Shrewsbury to refine the silver and make it into coins. To protect the mine, the nearby castle at Carreghwfa was repaired and provided with a garrison of troops. Despite the work that was carried out between 1194-95, very little silver was refined from the mine and the whole venture made a net loss.
A documentary source mentions activity at Llanymynech: a grant of land to the Cistercian Monastery of Strata Marcella in 1198 included rights “above and below land”, which suggests that the monks had an interest in lead mining in this area.
Mining seems to have stopped on Llanymynech Hill until the 17th century.
It is believed the quarry opened in 1756, mainly for limestone to be used to improve the land, which, in the flood plain of the Severn and Vyrnwy, was very acidic.
The technique used was first to clear the top soil, then drill down with a drill rod, a long piece of metal with a screw thread on it, another man hitting the top of the rod with a maul, a large metal hammer with a hazel handle, to dampen the blows. Once they’d drilled down between 6 to 10 feet, the next hole would be excavated. Each hole was filled with gunpowder, fuses were attached and lit, and the two men would find shelter. Once a face had been created, there were levels, or terraces, and the men would climb down ropes to reach their level, and climb up while waiting for the detonation.
The stone had to be no smaller than 6 inches across, or it would be too small for the kilns. The stones were loaded into trucks by the men, and pushed by them (although later ponies were used) to the top of the incline plane, where the trucks were attached to the gin wheel and lowered to the canal quays or the kilns. Many farms took the unburnt stone, having their own kilns. The stone, once burnt, was put on the fields, the action of rain and frost disintegrating the rock, so that the farmers could rake the lime and spread it over the land.
A Pant quarryman blinded by an
explosion lived in a railway carriage that had been turned into a house.
He weaved baskets for a living, and his son lead him around as he sold his
baskets.
In the last half of the 19th century, experiments were made by the owners of the limestone quarries to allow them to obtain a stone in sufficient quantities so they could compete with the quarry owners of Staffordshire. They wanted to offer the fluxing stone to iron masters at a lower price, which they could not with the old method of drilling holes and blasting on a small scale.
The first experiment took place on the 17th of September, 1867. A shaft was sunk at a distance of 12 yards from the edge of the face of the rock to a depth of 60 feet. From the bottom of this shaft, a chamber, 7 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 4 feet high, was cut. 1½ tons of powder was placed in the chamber, and to it three fuses were attached. Men were stationed at various points along the Hill with signals, and traffic was stopped along the adjoining roads. The firing signal was given, the explosion occurring within 16 minutes. It was estimated that about 8 or 9000 tons of rock was brought down, and half that amount loosened.
The next experiment was intended to make use of electricity. A level was driven into the rock a few yards above the base, to a distance of 12 yards. At the end of the level, a cross level was driven to the right and to the left. At equal distances small shafts were sunk in that level, until the base of the rock was reached. Chambers were cut at the bottom of these shafts and a total of 6½ tonnes of blasting powder were placed in the chambers. Two powerful electrical batteries were used so that the three charges could explode simultaneously. On the 11th of March 1868, a large crowd of people gathered to witness the explosion. The owner, Mr Savin, gave the final signal. The explosion was instantaneous. The rock was burst from the base to the summit and poured down on to the floor of the quarry, a tremor passing through the rock where people were standing. Some of the debris fell at a great distance. Part of the tramway bridge on the Oswestry Road was destroyed, and some fragments of powder were carried a mile away. The noise of the explosion was heard at Welshpool, ten miles away. No more similar experiments were carried out on the Hill.
The first record of a railway at Llanymynech seems to be in 1809 when a line was mentioned in the rent book of the Bradford estate. In 1820 a man was killed at the "Old Rail Road Rock" when boarding in a quarry. That Tramway was probably the line which ran down to the canal along it is now a distinctively narrow plot in which stands the house called Rock Cottage. It seems this Tramway may have started as a public road. It was derelict in 1838, but remained in the occupation of the Carreghofa Lime Rock Company.
There were at least five inclined planes at Llanymynech hill. Since the traffic was downhill, they would act on gravity, the weight of the stones in the truck going down pulling empty trucks going up.
23/10/1792 meeting held at Welshpool to support a proposal to extend the proposed at Llanymynech branch of the proposed Ellesmere Canal as far as Welshpool.
18/10/1793 meeting agreed to continue the line to Newtown; decision to form a separate company independent of the Ellesmere Canal.
1794 to 1797 26 km length from Carreghofa to Garthmyl, and the 3½ km Guilsfield branch, constructed
1796 The Ellesmere Canal completed from Welsh Frankton to Carreghofa
18/07/1794 John Dadford appointed Engineer to the Montgomeryshire Canal
09/1796 John Dadford resigns as Engineer to the Montgomeryshire Canal
1815-1821 12 km Garthmyl to Newtown built.
1823 George W Buck rebuilds the Vyrnwy aqueduct.
1880s More repairs on the Vyrnwy aqueduct.
1892 Major work on the Vyrnwy aqueduct.
05/02/1936 breach in the canal about 1 mile south of Welsh Frankton.
07/1980 Williams Bridge demolished
There was an accident at Wern Junction (near Carreghofa School) on 7 August 1908. A livestock train of Great Central stock was derailed as it left the Nantmawr line to join the new spur to Llanfyllin, just past the bridge under the canal. The engine fell on its side, and the track was badly damaged. At the inquiry excessive speed was blamed.
In the year after, a man was knocked down by a train near Llanymynech. A verdict of suicide was recorded, and the directors asked the general manager to report on the question of trespass.
Chronology Of Llanymynech Railways
01/15/1860 Oswestry to Pool Quay opened
25/07/1864 Cambrian Railways formed
13/08/1866 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech opened
13/08/1866 Llanymynech to Nantmawr opened
21/12/1866 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech closed
Llanymynech to Nantmawr closed
12/1868 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech opened
Llanymynech to Nantmawr opened
18/04/1870 Llanymynech to Llanyblodwell opened
21/06/1871 Kinnerley to Criggion opened
20/06/1880 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech closed
Llanymynech to Nantmawr closed
Kinnerley to Criggion closed
01/06/1881 Llanymynech to Nantmawr opened (by the Cambrian)
13/04/1911 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech opened
05/01/1912 Kinnerley to Criggion opened
10/1932 Kinnerley to Criggion closed
06/11/1933 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech closed
1939 Wern Junction to Blodwell Junction abandoned
01/06/1941 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech opened by the War Department
26/02/1960 Shrewsbury (Abbey) to Llanymynech closed
18/01/1965 Llanymynech to Llanfyllin closed
Oswestry to Buttington Junction closed
15/02/1992 Llanddu Junction to Nantmawr closed
This is a letter from the vicar of Criggion, Robert Brock, complaining about the state of the Criggion branch of the Shropshire & Montgomery Railway:
Criggion Vicarage,
Shrewsbury.
23rd November 1912
Sir,
I booked today my fare by the 3.57 train from Abbey Gate station to Criggion on the Shropshire & Montgomery Rly.
I rode to Kinnerley Junction by a properly equipped train.
Proceeding by the branch to Criggion, I was put with another man and two women into the back part of an engine with only a screen between us and the fire - no roof, and the sparks and smuts falling all over us - one spark nearly got into my eye - with danger of being blinded - my clothes too injured by the same.
I wish to know whether passengers can be thus treated and deceived - for the last train I caught about a fortnight ago I was incarcerated in a carriage as I have hitherto been.
I have had occasion to use the railway for my wife and daughters and friends from London, and of course I cannot subject them to such risk & barbarous treatment.
If they cannot or will not serve proper accommodation through the journey, they should not be allowed to advertise it - there were carriages at the Station (Kinnerley), and as an engine ran - a carriage could and should have been on the back.
Another matter of which I have complaining and which the Supt. has promised to have remedied is the hollow appropriately termed a ditch by one of the officials, formed by sinking the rails, or making proper approaches to the crossing to my church - trusting that these matters may be inquired into and remedied.
I am your obedient servant,
R. Brock
Vicar of Criggion
Robert Brock was ordained in South Africa by a bishop who had been excommunicated for heresy. His first wife was said by the locals of Criggion to have been eaten by cannibals in Africa. When his second wife died he married the Criggion schoolmistress, who had also been courted by his son. Throughout the years he was Vicar of Criggion, 1900 to his death in 1926, he had constant financial problems, and wrote frequent letters to the governors of Queen Anne’s Bounty, who held the parish church funds, asking for money to be paid him more often, and for credit. He became bankrupt in 1912, which only made him beg for more money from church commissioners. In 1918 he sent his wife to London to plead his case, but she too was refused, even though she said she was stranded without the train fare home. The secretary of the governors wrote: “Mr Brock is not a very estimable old man, I fear, and not very formidable. He regularly begs to have advances against the warrants coming due to him, sometimes by letter, sometimes in person, and not long ago by sending his wife. He never gets them.
Robert Baugh was born in 1748. He engraved several maps of Shropshire and North Wales. He was born at Llandysilio, and was for many years parish clerk of Llanymynech.
Robert Baugh & John Evans of Llwynygroes prepared the large and map of North Wales engraved by Robert Baugh.
Richard Roberts was born on April must 22nd 1789. It seems likely he was born at the gate house that stood on the north side of the canal bridge, on the Shropshire side, although the canal was built a few years after his birth. The family tomb stone states that he was born at Carreghofa. His mother was from Meifod, and his father from Llwyntidman.
He spent a short time at the village school, then kept in a room in the Church (an account says the school was kept in a room in the belfry of the Church, but from a contemporary drawing the old Church had only a small tower). When he was 10 it is said he made his mother as spinning wheel in laid with mother of Pearl, which impressed the quarry men of Llanymynech Hill that they collected enough money to purchase him a tool chest. He worked at the quarry, and eventually obtained a position as a pattern maker at Bradley Iron works under a John Wilkinson.
He moved to Manchester and started a business in 1816, where he did mechanical work and screw cutting. He erected gasometers for Manchester, and invented a gas meter. He took out his first patents in 1822, for machinery for weaving plane and figured cloths, and for certain improvements in the construction of looms. The next year his firm was established as locomotive builders, tool makers, and general machinists. He patented some improvements in steam engines.
Then it is said he invented the Jacquard machine. However, it seems clear that M Jacquard invented the Jacquard machine, which was a punching machine for making patterns in cloth. It is possible that Richard Roberts altered the machine, so that it could punch holes in metal plates. His invention was certainly used to punch the plates of the Menai Bridge.
He also improved the construction and propelling of twin screw boats. His greatest achievement was the self acting mule, which considerably improved the productivity of the cotton mills.
He died on the 11th of March 1864, at the age of 75, and was buried in Kensal Green cemetery.
Charles Darwin was born at Shrewsbury in 1809. At Cambridge he studied various subjects, particularly geology, and did field work in Shropshire and Wales in the summer of 1831. He came to Llanymynech with the 1795 map made by Robert Baugh and John Evans, and coloured it in to show the geological state of the area. He wrote in his notebooks that Llanymynech was 16 miles east of Shrewsbury – of course, it is west of Shrewsbury. On his return home in August he received the letter offering him the position of naturalist on the HMS Beagle’s voyage round the world. That voyage had a huge influence on his later theorizing. It is possible he also came to Llanymynech on other dates, 1836, 37, 38, or 42, when he did field work in Shropshire.
Rodney's Pillar was built to commemorate the victory of Admiral Rodney over the French. At it seems there was already a plan to erect a monument because of the timber taken from trees growing around the Breidden hills and used by the British Navy for its ships.
It was built in 1781, and may have been designed by John Evans of Llwynygroes. Originally there was a round copper ball on the top of the Pillar, but this was destroyed by lightning. It was replaced in 1847, and the whole pillar repaired. Again it was renewed in 1896, and the ball was in place at that time.
In the only part of the 19th century, there was an idea to raise a monument to the memory of Lord Nelson on us Llanymynech Hill. Meetings were held its Llanymynech, and the scheme was agreed, but abandoned, though it is not known why.
The wake Sunday in the parish was the first Sunday after February 5th. Crowds flocked to the village, mainly to go to the public houses to spend their time in drinking and fighting. Football was played in the churchyard, after the services were over. The festivities were again carried out on Wake Tuesday in the same week. In the evening farmers and their friends met at the Lion hotel, when a ball was held until the early hours of the following morning. There was another day of amusement on the Thursday after. This was the day when the “mayor” was elected. The mayor was decked in ribbons, his face painted red or black, and a huge cabbage suspended on his back, with its head downwards. A quart pot was put in his hand, and he was carried in a wheelbarrow to the main farm houses, and provided with beer. By the end of the tour everyone was drunk, the mayor usually ending in the middle of the large puddle which had collected in front of the Dolphin inn. An old man, Isaac Dykes, was frequently elected. By the late 18th century the wakes had fallen into disuse.
There was a flat race in Llanymynech in 1799, though it was infrequent in the years after. The first steeplechase was probably in 1886, at Pentref Farm, and continued every year until 1889. In 1890 the course used was at Llwynygroes, and that continued, with occasional lapses, and sometimes at Pool Quay, until 1910.
In 1922 the racing was revived at Llwynygroes, and continued until the outbreak of the second World War.
In 1925 Tipperary Tim was second in the Llanymynech Optional Selling Steeplechase – but three years later the horse won the Grand National, although only because it was one of two horses still standing, and the other fell.
Those marked 1 reside at Llanytidman, 2 at Treprenal.
2 Asterley Thomas, farmer
Asterley William Lloyd, Esq
Batterbee Charles, brazier, plumber, painter, and beerhouse keeper
Baugh Margaret, victualler Cross Keys
1 Botheil Mary, farmer
Bower William, wool agent
2 Broughton Richard Nightingale, woolstapler and maltster, Llwynygroes hall
Broughton and Asterley, grocers, drapers, and general dealers
Davies Mrs, gentlewoman
1 Davies John, farmer and miller
Dovaston Edward Milward, surgeon
1 Dyke Issac, farmer
Ellis Letia, tailor and draper
1 Evans John, farmer, gardener, and rate collector
Griffiths Richard, blacksmith
Griffiths Richard, draper and grocer
1 Griffiths Jn., quarry master
Gwynne George, cooper
Gwynne George, shoemaker
Hackett John, tallow chander
1 Harris Geo., quarry master
1 Harrison John, farmer
Hughes Edward, shoemaker
1 Humphreys James, victualler, Cross Guns
Jeffreys John, weaver
Jones Edward, saddler and harness maker
1 Jones Thomas, farmer
Leak Francis, toll collector
Lloyd John, farmer, timber merchant, builder, and vict., Lion Inn
Lloyd Richard, vict., Dolpin
Luxmoore Rev. John, the Rectory
Morgan Edward, saddler and dealer
Morris John, shoemaker
Parkins Charles, shoemaker
Poole Mrs., gentlewoman
1 Price Elizabeth, farmer
Price Hugh, seedsman
1 PryceWilliam, gentleman, Holly Bush
Pugh Henry, seedsman and druggist
Pugh James Owen, grocer and draper
Ratcliffe Samuel, farmer
Richards Richard, farmer, maltster, and vicl, Bradford Arms
1 Roberts William, gentleman, Prospect cottage
Rodgers Edward, farmer
1 Savage Elizabeth, farmer
2 Sheldon Wm., gentleman
Thomas Thomas, farmer
Thomas Robert, schoolmaster and parish clerk
Watson Miss, post office
Whitticose Mary, gentlewoman
Williams Sarah, schoolmistress
Kellys Directory of Shropshire 1891
PRIVATE RESIDENTS
Baugh Miss
Bishton Mrs
Davies Mrs
Evans David
Griffiths Miss
Johnson William Henry (H. M. Assistant Inspector of Schools)
Jones Rev. Llewelyn Wynne M.A. The Rectory
Jones Rev. Richard (Welsh Presbyterian), The New House
Jones The Misses
Manning Leonard Archibald M.B. The Hollies
Moon Richard
Normandale Rev. Jn. Wm. (Prim. Meth)
Temple Rev. Robert M.A. (H.M. Inspector of Schools), Llwynygroes Hall
COMMERCIAL.
Asterley Amelia Mrs.), farmer
Baugh Edward, grocer
Bromley Richard, farmer, Lower house
Davies E. Fox & Co. grocers
Davies Evan, blacksmith
Davies Jane (Mrs), shopkeeper
Davies John Walter, commission agent
Deam Thomas, painter, Post Office
Ethelston William, miller (water) & farmer, Llwyntidman
Evans E, & Sons, grocers
Evans John & Sons, nurserymen and florists
Harris John, tailor
Jeffreys John Morris, rope maker
Jeffreys John. linen manufacturer
Jones Edward, saddler & harness maker
Jones Edward, farmer, Plascerig
Jones John, shoe maker
Jones John, butcher
Jones William, beer retailer
Lloyd George, butcher
Lloyd Richard, farmer, Carreghofa
Manning Leonard Archibald M.B. surgeon, The Hollies
Morgan Harriet, (Mrs.), grocer &c
Owen Robt. Cross Guns P.H. Llwyntidman
Owen William, beer retailer
Phillips William, Dolphin inn
Pitt Alfred, timber dealer
Poole Charles, butcher
Price Edward, shopkeeper
Pugh Francis, tailor
Randles John, farmer, Elm Tree farm
Richards Richard, Bradford Arms P.H. & malster
Roberts Catherine Elizabeth (Miss), ladies' school
Roberts Emma (Mrs.), Lion hotel
Roberts Wm. Shoe maker Llwyntidman
Rogers William, farmer, Llwyntidman
Savin & Co. Limited (F. Dunford, manager), lime & limestone works: offices, Llynclys
Soames & Co. Cross Keys hotel (James Compton, manager)
Thomas John, Malster
Thomas Eliza (Mrs.) farmer, Treprenal
Ward Edward Walter, farmer, Llwyntidman
The Village in the 19th century
Old buildings of Llanymynech, according to John Fewtrell, writing in the Montgomeryshire Collections in the 1870’s.
Near Elm Tree Farm stood a tollbar, and next to it a a sentry box for the keeper. The old man who looked after the bar was often the butt of practical jokes, once being so frightened by some youths he knelt down and began to pray.
Between there and the Post Office stood a thatched cottage, partly of timber, and near that a pond.
On the Llansantffraid side of the Dolphin pub was a smithy, heavy and tumble down.
The Dolphin was once known as the Holly Bush Inn, apparently because the proprietor used to place a barrel of beer for sale under a holly bush, because a license was not then required. The name “Dolphin” is a corruption of the word “Godolphin”, the family who once owned the inn.
Ty Croes was once the Corner Shop, although before that it was a small “by-tack”, or farm.
Opposite there was a large field (where the garage is) and in the corner there was a wooden building known as the Market Hall. Articles were placed there for shelter and sale on fair days.
Near this was a large slough, or cesspit, which seems to have been an open sewer for the village. All kinds of rubbish was dumped there.
The field seemed to be the usual place for fights, the losers being thrown into the slough. Fewtrell says, “So low were the morals of some of the inhabitants, that a man has been known to roll himself into the centre of it for a small quantity of beer, a circumstance scarcely to be credited in these days”.
The rector managed to arrange for the slough to be drained, and a sewer to be constructed through the village, terminating in the river.
To the north of the village, on the far side of the canal, was the Sun Inn, originally a butcher’s shop.
On the opposite side of the road were two small thatched cottages, at the side of one a smithy, and by that the Gate house, which in the 1870s remained as it was at least 80 years before.
On the south side of the canal were a shop and two cottages, and before that there were two very old cottages. One had a cellar kitchen and, the other was a small shop. Next to these was a large building with the date 1719. The lower part was a shop. Next were some stables, and over them a granary. Between these and the Cross Keys hotel was a cottage and workshop.
The old Cross Keys hotel was not built as near to the road as the present one. It was a thatched with an adjusting gable. The front part was surrounded by wooden palings. Most of the in was rebuilt about 1820, and several large rooms were added. In the 19th century the boundary between Shropshire and Montgomeryshire, and between England and Wales, passed along the foundations of the front walls of the houses to the north of the hotel. It then passed through the centre of the smoke room of the hotel. according to John Fewtrell, an inquest was held in the inn. After the jury had been sworn in, and the inquest began, someone discovered that the jury and coroner was sitting in Montgomeryshire, but the death had taken place in Shropshire.
At the back of the Cross Keys hotel was the “well house” yard, a corruption from wool house. It had a large room used for the storing and stapling of wool. Next to that was a garden and then a malt house.
Opposite the malt house was a shop and three cottages. Before that was a refused cool, similar to these Slough.
Further along the road was a building with a sort to house, thatched and dilapidated. It was condemned, but the tenant refused to leave, so the roof was taken off to force the tenant to leave.
Before the houses of Bradford Row were built there was a series of barns, one section of which was a malthouse. The houses, until fairly recently, were shops.
The Bradford Arms used to be called “The Old Coach”, when coaches went between Oswestry and Welshpool. Next to it was a smithy, and a cottage.
The Lion Hotel was the Red Lion Inn, until the middle of the 19th century. The front part of the hotel was a added by the proprietor and owner, the late Mr Lloyd, in the 19th century.
A correspondent to “Bye-Gones Relating to Wales and the Border Counties (Sept 3rd 1873) mentioned that the nickname for Llanymynech people was Llanymynech Cut Tails. Apparently it used to be very common many years ago to say, Take care how you go through Llanymynech or you will have your tail cut! though its unclear what exactly was meant by that.
Kellys Directory of Shropshire 1929
PRIVATE RESIDENTS
Brimelow Joshua David, Glanvirnew
Bromley Mrs. Elizh. C. The Laurels
Bromley Richard. Hafod
Davies Mrs. Elizabeth. Fulshaw
Evans R.W. School. Llanymynech
Jackson Miss Mary, The Gardd
Johnson Thomas Henry, The Hollies
Jones Charles Owen. Vron Vyrnwy
Jones Mrs. Mary Hannah, Fyrnwy bank
Moon Miss Morfydd, Pen-y-voel house
O'Conor Hy. Stratford, The Willows
Poole-Hughes Rev. John Prytherch M.A. (rector), The Rectory
Randles John Frederick. Bronwylfa
Roberts Capt. Hy. Fras. Belwood
Symond Rev. Oscar S. B.A.
Vernon Mrs. I.C.W.Blighty
Williams Mrs. Llwyn-y-groes
COMMERCIAL
Marked thus o farm 150 acres or over.
Barraclough Jn. & Son. clog solemakers. Rock view
o Bromley Rd. N farmer. Lower ho.
Brown Chas. blacksmith
Bryan Thomas. Farmer, Plascerrig
Capper Chas. Rowland, garage
Clarke Wm- shopkeeper
Cross Keys Hotel (John Edward Lewis. Proprietor); family & commercial hotel; charabanc parties catered for; fishing, golfing, tennis; terms moderate.
Day Wm. Ernest. Chemist & druggist
Ethelston Ernest, miller (water) Llwyntidman
Evans Eliz. Ashford (Mrs.), farmer, Beechfield
Fox-Davies Edwyn & Son, grocers &c
Fox-Davies Frank, grocer
Frank John Wallace, farmer, Treprenal (letters through Oswestry)
Gruar David, farmer
Humphreys Rt. Farmer
Jones Arth. & Geo, saddlers
o Jones Rt. Farmer, Llwyntidman hall
Kynaston Wm, pig dealer, Greenfields
o Lewis Ernest, farmer, Llwyntidman
Lewis Harriet (Mrs.), farmer, Elm Tree
Lewis Mary (Mrs.) shopkeeper, Station Road
Lloyd John Harvey,farmer, Carreghofa
Lloyd Mar Emily (Mrs.), butcher
Marsh William Wallace, Lion hotel
Morris Wm. farmer
O'Conor Henry Stratford L.R.C.P. & L.R.C.S. Edin., L.R.F.P. & S. Glas. surgeon, The Willows
Owen George, cowkeeper,
Owen Wm. shopkeeper
Pearson Jn. Michael, grocer
Porthywaen Lime Co. Limited, quarry owners
Pryce Hugh. shopkeeper
Pugh Francis & Son. drapers
Richards Richard (Mrs.), Bradford Arms P.H.
Savage Edwd. cowkeeper
Thomas Wm. Farmer, Carreghofa
Tomlinson Thomas, Dolphin inn
Vernon Leveson Geo. garage
Wall Robert John, builder
Before the bridge was built at Llanymynech the ford, and the heavily wooded road either side, was meant to be haunted by a white horse. The horse, bridled and saddled but riderless, galloped furiously along the road, and on its shoulders it had great blood clots. In 1903 there was a story in Bye-Gones, which used to appear in the Oswestry Advertiser, about a girl who rode back from Oswestry market one Wednesday, hurrying to cross the ford before dark. She had great difficulty persuading her horse to enter the water, but once out and smelling home it set off at a canter. At that moment she heard behind her the sound of furious galloping. As she looked round she saw coming closer the outstretched head and neck of a white horse. As she reached the end of the wood the sound stopped, but her horse raced on to her home.
On April 23, 1825, Betsy Elliot, who was 15 years old, was crossing the River Vyrnwy by the ferry, during the floods, and the boat overturned. Betsy and the boatman’s wife were killed.
Two years later, in 1827, the road bridge to Welshpool was built.
Queen Victoria crossed the bridge in 1832, on her way to Oswestry. She stayed at the Lion Hotel for a short time (not overnight). Quarrymen fired a salvo in celebration.
A crowd had assembled for the laying of the foundation stone of St Agatha’s Church on ??? 1843. Miss Sarah Tannatt and her three sisters were riding along the road from Llandysilio when there was a sudden thunderstorm. Sarah’s “spirited” horse took fright and dashed off in the direction of the river bridge. The horse knocked down a woman who was walking across, and swerved against the right side of the bridge, just above the second arch. Sarah was thrown over the parapet into the river and carried down the swollen river, and drowned, in her heavy riding habit.
The present church is thought to be the third on the site. The first church was probably built of wood, and consequently there are no remains. The second was built in 1272 to 1307, of stone. It was a double building with at the west end a turret with two bells. There were three entrances, two on the south side and the third on the north side.
By the 1840s the church was in a poor state of repair. It was demolished in 1843 and on Ascension Day, 25 May 1843 the foundation stone of the present church was laid by Lord Dungannon. The site of the foundation stone is not known, though it is probably under the floor by the altar.
The church is built in the Normanesque style. It is constructed of local limestone, apart from the arches and ornamental portions, which are terracotta, possibly fired at Morda. The cost of the new church was £2000, most of which was raised by private subscriptions.
The clock was made and given to the Parish of Llanymynech by Richard Roberts in 1844. A condition of his giving the clock was that one face should be visible from the quarry where he had worked, so that quarrymen should know the time.
The first rope wall in this Llanymynech was in a meadow through which the Llanfyllin railway line was later built. The rope walk was moved to a field next to the railway station. The rope and twine manufacturer was Joseph Powell of Chester, though there was another rope maker at Pant. The most well-known rope maker of Llanymynech was Mr John Jeffreys, who lived along the Wern. His father, also called John Jeffreys, was the last Weaver in Llanymynech.
There was a great demand for limestone in Shropshire and Montgomeryshire, because of the acidic soils, especially in the Severn and Vyrnwy flood plain. It had other uses, particularly as a constituent of mortar in building, and as a flux in the making of iron. A turnpike road was built in the 1770s from Burlton, on the Shrewsbury to Ellesmere road, to Llanymynech, via Knockin.
The Montgomeryshire and Ellesmere canals were used to take limestone from Llanymynech south to the farms of the upper Severn valley, and east to the ironworks at Oakengates, Dawley and Madeley.
Limestone rock is mainly composed of calcium carbonate. Burning limestone in a kiln converted to calcium oxide, or quicklime. Most lime kilns were built into the sides of hills, for the ease of loading. The shape of the kiln was usually two cones joined base to base, tapering towards the top and the bottom. Limestone and coal were poured in from the top, to rest on iron fire bars. Every 24 hours a fire bar would be withdrawn, allowing a quantity of burnt lime to fall into the ash pit at the bottom of the kiln. The process was continuous, although small kilns would only be operated when they were needed.
Lime or burning at Llanymynech probably began well before the 16th century of. The Reverend Richard Pococke, travelling from Oswestry to Welshpool, noticed a hill which he thought local people called “Tana Manah”. He saw a great number of lime kilns.
By the end of the 19th century traditional lime burners were facing increased competition for the manufacturers of Portland cement as a building material. Also, after 1870, iron making in Shropshire and Staffordshire declined rapidly. In the 1860s the number of rockmen working in Llanymynech fell from 45 to 33, and down to 21 by 1881. In Pant the number fell from 43 to 11 doing the 1870s.
The Hoffman kiln at Llanymynech was built after 1900, probably as an attempt by the owners to develop a better product, as the market for limestone for use in ironworks was declining.
After the Second World War, there was a move by some of the inhabitants of Carreghofa to move the parish from Montgomeryshire to Shropshire. The main cause of complaint was the lack of sewage facilities and mains water and decent roads. Montgomeryshire did not want to lose the good ratepayers of the parish, and it seems improvements were made, though it isn't known whether the move was merely a bluff to gain better facilities.
Vyrnwy, or properly Efyrnwy, has one of two likely meanings: either it derives from the river Severn (Welsh Hafren), as a tributary; or it is named after the Goddess of the efwr, or yew tree.
Tanat means the fiery one, or possibly the stream that is bright with fire.
Llanymynech means place of the monks, local historians now believe, not of the miners, as was once thought.The first written record of the place name is Llanemeneych in 1254. The plural of monk in Welsh is mynaich. There are lots of such names in the area: Tirmynach (monks land) near Pool Quay, Tirabad (Abbots land) in the same area. Strata Marcella monastery was established in the 12 century.
Carreghofa, or Carreghwfa (the correct Welsh spelling) means Hwfa's rock. Hwfa is a medieval Welsh name occuring throughout Wales (eg Rhostrehwfa on Anglesey - the rough land of Hwfa's township).
Pen-y-Foel means top of the bare hill.
Powys apparently derives from the Latin “pagensis”, or country dwellers. “Pagan” also derives from this word.