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Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales

Early Christian Inscribed Stone in the Churchyard, Llanaelhaearn

Llanaelhaearn, Gwynedd, Wales

A scheduled monument in Llanaelhaearn, Gwynedd, recorded as Inscribed Stone (Early Medieval).

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913) covering the location of Early Christian Inscribed Stone in the Churchyard, Llanaelhaearn, Gwynedd, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Designation
Scheduled monument
Site type
Inscribed Stone
Period
Early Medieval
Date of designation
10 May 1947
Community
Llanaelhaearn
Unitary authority
Gwynedd
Country
Wales
Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
52.97639, -4.40405
SAM number
CN084
Cadw record number
3170

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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)
  • 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1899 · 118 Nevin (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in Cadw's own full report ↗

Cadw's description

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

A small upright granite stone (0.95m tall) with an early Christian inscription. It was dug up in the churchyard in 1923 and now stands (base uppermost) on the S side of the path leading to the W door of the church. On one face is an inscription consisting of six letters MELITV in one line reading vertically. A mark following the V is due to attempts made to 'complete' the inscription since its discovery. The inscription probably dates to the 5th or early 6th century.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the early medieval period and Christianity in Wales.

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

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 2026-09-07, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service · Open Government Licence v3.0
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