St Dwynwen's Church

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The remains of a medieval church consisting of chancel and nave with central E and W transepts. Most of the walls of the chancel remain to full height, with the exception of the SE corner, which has partly fallen. The rest of the walls are only a few courses in height with the exception of a small part of the S nave and parts of the S transept. The E window of the chancel has fallen since the church was described by the RCAHM in 1937, and now only survives as far as the base of the curve on the N side and for about a third of this distance on the S side. The S window of the chancel survives intact but the N window is merely a hole, with no dressed masonry remaining. The remains of a circular stairway can be seen in the junction between the chancel and N transept.

The foundations of the wall of the circular or D-shaped churchyard are visible lying 6-7 m away from the church, and beyond, to the S, are the foundations of rectangular structures, measuring some 20m by 7m overall with a semi-circular projection at the SW corner, 2m across and 0.75m deep. These structures are known as the "Rectory", "Sexton's house" or "Priest's house" and maps of the early 20th century note them as the remains of "Llanddwyn Abbey". They were no longer standing by the end of the 17th century and are, therefore, most probably associated with the late-medieval pilgrimages to the church.

Archaeological excavations and consolidation of the church took place in the 1980s, 1990s and between 2011 and 2013.

The site was well known as a place of pilgrimage. A. D. Carr states, 'Dwynwen's reputation as the patron of lovers was more than local and pilgrims came to her well from all over Wales. In the 14th century Llanddwyn was one of the richest churches in Anglesey, thanks to its popularity as a place of pilgrimage, and in 1535 the tithes of the parish, which contained far more sand than soil, amounted to less than a pound while "offerynges of charitable peple to the Saynt in times past" came to £12 6s 8d.'

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval ecclesiastical buildings. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.