Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Pillar of Eliseg
Llantysilio, Denbighshire, Wales
A Grade I listed building in Valle Crucis, Llangollen, Llantysilio, Denbighshire, designated on 7 June 1963.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade I
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 7 June 1963
- Locality
- Valle Crucis
- Town
- Llangollen
- Community
- Llantysilio
- Unitary authority
- Denbighshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.99213, -3.18923
- Cadw reference
- 19678
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 121 Wrexham (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 121 Wrexham (Outline) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
The pillar is raised on a tumulus, approximately 50m from the road, and 400m N of Valle Crucis Abbey
History
The cross was set up in the C9 by Cyngen, 808-854 AD, last king of Powys in honour of his great grandfather, Eliseg, who had enlarged the kingdom by taking land occupied by the English. The presence of this outstanding cross here indicates the presence of a royal estate in this valley. The mound on which it stands could well be his burial place as excavation prior to the re-erection of the cross in 1780 revealed a burial cist, but this could equally be a prehistoric tumulus. The recording of the inscription by Edward Llwyd in the late C17 has been fundamental to any understanding of the early history of the Kingdom of Powys.
Exterior
The base section of a sandstone 'round-shaft' cross, approximately 2.41m high, the upper part broken and lost after being thrown down in the Civil War, set in a socket on a large flat base, approximately 1.65m x 1.65 m x 0.42m thick. The cross was inscribed with a long text of 31 lines in round half-uncial script, and was most fortunately recorded by Edward Llwyd in 1696. It is now almost invisible, and has an added inscription on the opposite, NE, face recording the re-setting up in 1780, by T Lloyd de Trevor.
Reason for designation
Included at Grade I as a very important cultural icon in the history of Wales, and of the greatest significance as an early Celtic cross, unusually fully inscribed, illuminating the early history of the kingdom of Powys.
Scheduled Ancient Monument
Nearby in the register
- Eliseg's Pillar & TumulusRound Barrowunder 1 mi
- Telephone Call-box opposite Pillar of ElisegCommunicationsunder 1 mi
- Maes-y-llyn Farm BuildingAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Well House at Abbey FarmWater Supply and Drainageunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.