Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Llanderfel Church
Fairwater, Torfaen, Wales
A scheduled monument in Fairwater, Torfaen, recorded as Church (Medieval).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Church
- Period
- Medieval
- Date of designation
- 10 March 1999
- Community
- Fairwater
- Unitary authority
- Torfaen
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.65163, -3.06533
- SAM number
- MM271
- Cadw record number
- 1561
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1906 · 249 Newport (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1913 · Sheet 102. Newport. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument comprises the remains of a church, probably dating to the later 11th or early 12th century. Documentary sources suggest there has possibly been a church at the location from as early as the 6th century and was likely to have been founded by the Celtic chieftain Derfel Gadarn. The unusual L-shaped form of the church could be an indication that it had a dual purpose as a church and as a lodging house during the 12th century. Llanderfel church formed part of the estate of Llantarnam Abbey, but fell out of use in the late 12th century. Following the dissolution, it fell into the ownership of the Morgan family, and was a site of pilgrimage during the 16th century.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval ecclesiastical organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Llanderfel FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Barn at Ty'r Ywen FarmAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Ty'r Ywen FarmhouseAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Glyn Bran FarmhouseDomestic1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.