Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Group of Four Inscribed Stones in Gwytherin Churchyard
Llangernyw, Conwy, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Inscribed Stone
- Period
- Early Medieval
- Community
- Llangernyw
- Unitary authority
- Conwy
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 53.13850, -3.68070
- SAM number
- DE150
- Cadw record number
- 3563
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1608 "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.
A row of four upright stones aligned west to east standing within the churchyard between the north side of the church and a steep slope down to a stream to the north. The stones occupy a grassed space free of gravestones or paths; to the west the ground rises towards a large yew tree, an area set with gravestones.
All four stones are of roughly similar dimensions, irregular slabs of the same fine-grained grey stone and spaced between 2.0 and 2.5m apart.
The westernmost stone A is the only one inscribed, 'VINNE MAGLI FILI SENEMAGLI' is clearly legible and reading from top to bottom on the flat east face in two rows. The other 3 faces are irregular, display no other discernible marks and seem not to have been trampled (ie it did not originally lay flat). Its maximum dimensions are 1.10m high, 0.24m wide and 0.30m thick.
The next stone B is a roughly flat slab of maximum 1.03m high, 0.44m wide and 0.40m thick. Scratch marks on its top may have been caused by its use for sharpening tools.
Stone C has similar marks on its south face; its maximum measurements are 1.00m high, 0.50m wide and 0.18m thick.
Stone D has scratch marks on its east face and is of a similar irregular shape as A, its maximum dimensions are 0.90m high, 0.35m wide and 0.15m thick.
The smooth faces of the stones would seem to be the result of natural cleaving along bedding planes and no certain marks have been caused by trimming. However, angle trimming on all 4 suggests that all originally had Ogham inscriptions.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of early-medieval commemorative practises. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Church of St WinifredReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- St. Gwenfrewi's Chapel, GwytherinChapelunder 1 mi
- Telephone Call-boxCommunicationsunder 1 mi
- Bryn GoleuAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.