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<< Our Photo Pages >> Old Radnor Church - Standing Stone (Menhir) in Wales in Powys

Submitted by vicky on Monday, 04 September 2006  Page Views: 14803

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Old Radnor Church Alternative Name: St Stephen's (Old Radnor)
Country: Wales County: Powys Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Knighton  Nearest Village: Old Radnor
Map Ref: SO24995909  Landranger Map Number: 148
Latitude: 52.224885N  Longitude: 3.09955W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

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bishop_pam visited on 26th Jun 2022 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Anne T visited on 14th Jul 2021 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Old Radnor Church: Whilst we went to have a look at the standing stone, we spent ages walking around the church, enjoying the peace and quiet and the carvings. Whilst I was excited to see the standing stone, I was immediately disappointed by the memorial carving on it. This is very reminiscent of the 'standing stone' grave markers in Kensal Green Cemetery, which we researched and were found to be official grave markers, not ancient standing stones. There was no guide book for sale, but an information leaflet marked 'Leave In the Church', so I photographed a few pages for later references. There was a very interesting old font, said to be carved from on old standing stone - still to research this one.

SumDoood visited on 26th Jun 2017 - their rating: Amb: 3 Access: 4 Standing stone unconvincing. Interesting stone head above S facing end of church. Useful info boards and panorama map on grassed area between pub and church.

FrothNinja visited - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 5 Access: 5

myf AngieLake TheWhiteRider have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 2.67 Ambience: 4.25 Access: 4.25

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TimPrevett : The possible standing stone at Old Radnor Church, flanked by much later memorials. Looking north. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The Old Radnor Church Standing Stone is situated in a raised large circular churchyard, with commanding views over the prehistorically rich Walton Basin to the north. The Hindwell Cursus, many barrows, and the Kinnerton stone circle are all within a few miles.

An unusual monument, this stone has had a gravestone carved into it with a date from 1931. Its antiquity must be questioned, but it would not be the first example of a Christian site springing up around a megalith.

A circumperambulation of the churchyard shows a couple more stones in the SW section nearest the car park. Check the historical boards on the SE side of the church near the pub, too.

For more information on the church see Coflein NPRN 306985.

Note: Additional stones noted within the church wall; click to see the full site entry with related pictures.
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Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : The massive font, just inside the south door. Said to be carved either from a large glacial boulder, then polished, or possibly from the remains of a standing stone (but probably the former). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TheWhiteRider : The Old Radnor Church Standing Stone. An unusual monument, this stone has had a gravestone carved into it with a date from 1931. Its antiquity must be questioned, but it would not be the first example of a Christian site springing up around a megalith. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : Just some of the amazingly decorative medieval tiles, to be found throughout the church, but mainly in the chancel, sanctuary and side chapels. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TimPrevett : A circumperambulation of the churchyard showed these in the SW section nearest the car park. The prominent stone is about centre of the picture. Not conclusive, but very reminiscent of Ysbyty Cynfyn (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TheWhiteRider : Another view of the Old Radnor Church Standing Stone.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : This fragment of pillar capital is dated to the original 12th century stone church, and is displayed in the now empty niche for an effigy in the vestry (which was left open at the time of our visit). This "Easter Sepulchre", according to the information sign, is very rare, and is where the sacrament was brought to on Maunday Thursday, only returning to the high altar on Easter Sunday. Also in th...

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : The tiny head is just above the top of the arched head of this blocked doorway.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : A small, 12th century head above the arch of a blocked doorway in the external east wall of the south chapel.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : Close up of the inscription, which I've been unable to read.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : The stone's western side with inscription, which was very difficult to read. Usually I can play with Photoshop and different lighting effects to bring out the text, but this one beat me. The stone is very reminiscent of those we researched in Kensal Green Cemetery, which turned out to be simple grave markers, not ancient standing stones. But given it's location on a mound, with views to open cou...

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by Anne T : The 'standing stone', as approaching it from the east.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by imonckton : Here is a postcard by Heyworth of Knighton that shows the gravestone just after it was erected in 1911. It is very clearly NOT a prehistoric standing stone.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by SumDoood : About 12cms in diameter, this head waits high on the south facing wall of the church above the blocked in window.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TimPrevett : The font - minus flash - possibly a re-used standing stone. Have seen it anecdotally that it may be from the Four Stones circle, which would make the Four Poster not a Four Poster (obviously) - though could solve the mystery of a Scottish Stone Circle in Wales.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TimPrevett

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TimPrevett : Spot the odd one out; having seen this again at the weekend, I am inclined towards its prehistory... though still with some qualification.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TimPrevett

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by AngieLake : The font in its setting beside the south door of the church.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by AngieLake : The description of the ancient font in Old Radnor church from a display on the history of the area in Presteigne Information centre. Well-worth a look before you set out to investigate the area, including the Walton Basin.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by AngieLake : This photo was taken from a display board in Presteigne Information centre where they have a display of the history of the area which is well-worth visiting. Helpful staff too. (a description from the display is posted separately).

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by AngieLake : Another angle on the megalithic-stone font in Old Radnor church.

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by AngieLake : Tim - this is for you! The old font in Old Radnor church that is believed to come from a megalithic stone - "probably the largest and oldest font in Britain" (quote from an old 'Red Guide' to Wales). On the day I visited (6th June 08), volunteers were cutting the grass in the churchyard, so maybe that was why the door to the church was open? (1 comment)

Old Radnor Church
Old Radnor Church submitted by TheWhiteRider : As you can see the stone just sits in the midst of other gravestones.

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 902m NNE 15° Walton Palisaded Enclosure* Timber Circle (SO25235996)
 972m NNW 335° Knapp Mount Barrow* Barrow Cemetery (SO2458659975)
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 1.4km ENE 59° Walton Cursus Cursus (SO26195978)
 1.5km NNW 340° Hindwell Cursus* Cursus (SO24496052)
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 1.7km N 357° Hindwell Cursus* Cursus (SO24926074)
 1.7km NNE 15° Hindwell Enclosure* Timber Circle (SO2544560720)
 1.7km ENE 61° Walton Green Cursus (SO26525989)
 1.8km NNW 345° Four Stones (Powys)* Stone Circle (SO24576080)
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 1.9km NNW 347° Four Stones Barrow Cemetary* Barrow Cemetery (SO24596091)
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 2.2km NNE 33° Hindwell Causewayed Enclosure* Causewayed Enclosure (SO26246092)
 2.5km SSE 154° The Whet Stone (Hergest Ridge)* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SO26055680)
 2.6km NNE 29° Knobley Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO26296132)
 2.7km SE 132° Yeld Wood Stone Row / Alignment (SO26995724)
 3.0km E 99° Bradnor Hill 1 Stone Row / Alignment (SO27945860)
 3.4km NNW 348° Crossfield Lane Barrow (Kinnerton)* Round Barrow(s) (SO24356243)
 3.7km N 352° Kinnerton* Standing Stones (SO24566274)
 4.0km ENE 61° Burfa Camp* Hillfort (SO285610)
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"Old Radnor Church" | Login/Create an Account | 7 News and Comments
  
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Re: Old Radnor Church by SumDoood on Monday, 26 June 2017
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I would like to be proved wrong, but this standing stone seems to me to be not in the slightest connected with our prehistory, even though I have read today that the church was built on a Bronze Age site. There are good info boards on the edge of the grassed area between the pub and the church.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Old Radnor Church by Anne T on Tuesday, 27 June 2017
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    Hi, SumDood,

    I tend to agree with you. Given PID 15264 says the stone has the year '1931' on it, it reminds me very much of the Kensal Green stones which, when the photos were first submitted to the Portal, we were asked to confirm whether or not they were standing stones and if the graveyard had been built around them. We looked into this in quite some detail. The cemetery manager confirmed were just grave markers.

    I've also seen a couple of these 'standing stones' used as grave markers in churches we've visited recently, although given the Kensal Green 'investigation', I've always had a search round for a name and date on them!

    Also, the Coflein record for St. Stephen's Church makes no reference to any standing stones.

    If anyone can prove otherwise, I'd be delighted to hear!
    Best wishes,
    Anne T.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Old Radnor Church - The Harp pub opposite by TimPrevett on Monday, 22 September 2008
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Called in on this pub yesterday, and was impressed. Good friendly service, and a superb beer garden in a good day. Particularly recommend the medium cider, Rosey. Enjoy a couple pints in the sunshine whilst trying to visualise the landscape beneath over four millennia ago.
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Re: Old Radnor Church by TimPrevett on Monday, 22 September 2008
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Having seen this again at the weekend, I am inclined towards its prehistory... though still with some qualification.
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Re: Old Radnor Church by TimPrevett on Friday, 20 April 2007
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Good CPAT page on the Church here

http://www.cpat.demon.co.uk/projects/longer/churches/radnor/16929.htm
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Old Radnor Church by TimPrevett on Monday, 04 September 2006
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Visiting last week, much of the southern section of the church was fenced off for some health and safety reason. There are 3 telephone numbers to phone to access the church, but no answer was on any; the font here is also said to be worth a look and 'very unusual' so the folk at New Radnor post office informed me.
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Re: Old Radnor Church by TimPrevett on Saturday, 02 September 2006
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A very large possible standing stone in the NW quarter of the circular raised churchyard at Old Radnor. Note also the stones in the SW quarter of the churchwall.

The stone has upon it an epitaph, so it's legitimacy is uncertain - nonetheless the churchyard in the style of other ancient Welsh churchyards (such as Ysbyty Cynfin, or Llanwrthwl) gives sympathy to the stone's situation.

Parking in large church car park to the S. Also take note of the historical signs to the east of the church near the pub.
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