Information on Walterstone Church
By Chris Barber
(Abergavenny Chronicle April 5 2001)

Chris Barber is a well known local author whose many books about this area and Wales in general are well known to many readers.  

Turning off the A 465 at Pandy I crossed the river Monnow and drove a short distance up the Longtown road, to shortly turn right and follow the narrow land leading past historic Allt-yr-Ynys and up to the hamlet of Walterstone.

Just below the Carpenters Arms, perched at an altitude of about 600ft above sea level stands the compact church dedicated to St Mary.

It was built in early English style in about 1400 and consists of a chancel, nave, porch and a small tower containing two bells.  Restoration took place about 130 years ago.

In the porch I examined the remains of a Holy Water stoup and a fluted capital which apparently came from an earlier building of the 13th century.

Then, entering the church through it's Tudor doorway, I went in search of further items of interest and these included a 13th Century chest and a chair with medieval panels.

A gilded tablet tells of a rectors little son who died in 1775, while another which depicts a boys head, is in memory of Joel Rogers., who lived just long enough to hear about the Battle of Waterloo.

St Mary's has some fine examples of the "Brutes"

Of special interest to me was the window in the south wall of the chancel which apparently came from the parlour of Allt-yr-Ynys.
Among the heraldic devices in this precious relic are the lions rampant of the Arms of Cecil and also the lion rampant supporting a tree - the Arms of Wynston and Trwyn.  Even after the passing of four centuries the colours are remarkably bright.

On the south wall of the nave is a memorial painting dated 1803.  it depicts little Aaron Roberts, aged one, surmounted by a lamb and a star.  The second verse of the inscription reads:
"In thy fair book of life divine
May God inscribe my name.
There let it fill some humble place.
Beneath the slaughtered lamb".

Outside in the sunshine, I first admired the old preaching cross which is in a good state of preservation and then took in the view across to Skirrid Fawr, a shapely hill which has always been very special to me.
I then pondered on the origin of Walterstone and recalled that the place had derived its name from Walter De Lacy, a member of the powerful Norman family which at the time of the Conquest had secured the valley of the Monnow and built Longtown Castle.

The name in 1249 was Walterstun, meaning Walters Manor and it was obviously one of De Lacy's possessions.
There is certainly evidence of a Norman stronghold here, for just below St Mary's church is a moated mound.  The motte has a diameter of about 50 yards and rises to about 50 feet above a ditch.  The bailey is kidney shaped.

The Normans, however, were not the first to occupy this commanding position, for on higher ground between Grove Farm and the road to Rowlestone and on the 700 ft contour, is a circular Iron Age hill fort.
It is now difficult to see being very overgrown, but covers an area of  nearly 5 acres and is defended by three ramparts with entrances to the south west and north east.

It would also seem the Romans were once resident on this hillside for in 1775 some mosaic pavement was discovered which may have been part of the floor of a villa.  This mosaic was unfortunately removed and the site where it was is no longer known.