Featured: How and why the ancients enchanted Great Britain and Brittany

How and why the ancients enchanted Great Britain and Brittany

Random Image


The Hillock

Megalithomania by John Michell, Only £4.99 + P&P

Megalithomania by John Michell, Only £4.99 + P&P

Who's Online

There are currently, 557 guests and 1 members online.

You are a guest. To join in, please register for free by clicking here

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Maen Achwyfan - Ancient Cross in Wales in Flintshire

Submitted by TimPrevett on Friday, 26 March 2004  Page Views: 16079

Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: Maen Achwyfan Alternative Name: Maen Achwynfon, Maen Achwynfan, Maen Chwyfan, The Stone of Lamentation, St Cwyfan's Stone
Country: Wales County: Flintshire Type: Ancient Cross
Nearest Town: Holywell  Nearest Village: Whitford
Map Ref: SJ129788  Landranger Map Number: 116
Latitude: 53.298966N  Longitude: 3.308362W
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.
4 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
3

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

KieKa would like to visit

cactus_chris visited on 27th Jul 2022 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

SteCymru14 visited on 1st Jan 2016 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5

sorschaL SandyG TimPrevett Marcia Wazza12 have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4.5 Access: 4.5

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : A close up on the top of the SW facing side, showing the prominence of the central boss of the cross. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Early Cross in Flintshire

Maen Achwyfan at SJ129788 is likely the tallest wheelcross in Wales at some 12 feet tall. Having been in the location for some 1000 years, the stone is still in wonderful condition, though is inevitably a little eroded in places.

The designs link it to Viking influence, and similar crosses in North Wales, Cheshire and Cumbria belonging to a Northumberland tradition. The metal fence around the stone, though designed to help protect the monument from livestock and machines, detracts from the beauty of the spot, nonetheless it is a very peaceful place.

A local tradition places Boudica's last stand not too far away, and some the fields around here are called "Cydio ar Leni", or in English "Seizing Legions", which some believe adds credence to the possibility.


You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : Maen Achwyfan at SJ129788 is likely the tallest wheelcross in Wales at some 12 feet tall. Having been in the location for some 1000 years, the stone is still in wonderful condition, though is inevitably a little eroded in places. The designs link it to Viking influence, and similar crosses in North Wales, Cheshire and Cumbria belonging to a Northumberland tradition. The metal fence around the... (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by carrie : Maen Achwyfan in Flintshire. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by Alta-Falisa : Maen Achwyfan, in May 2013. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : Jeffrep and partner at Maen Achwyfan. A transatlantic meeting in North East Wales between Portal contributors Jeffrep and Shropshire Traveller (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by cactus_chris : 20220727--Maen Achwyfan Cross, Rhyl, Wales (this may load sideways, please rotate if needed/possible)

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by BelindaRose : I read somewhere that a mass grave was found nearby with mutilated bodies inside.

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by carrie : Detail on stone - Maen Achwyfan, near Tre Mostyn in Flintshire.

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by carrie : Cross in field, near Tre Mostyn, Flintshire

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by SandyG : The cross in July 1980.

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : Detail on the lower part of the southern edge of the cross: a human figure, and a serpentine form? I am told this is significant in the mythology of Odin, and further points to the Scandinavian influences on this cross

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : Detail on the lower part of the southern edge of the cross: an eight legged horse? I am told this is significant in the mythology of Odin, and further points to the Scandinavian influences on this cross.

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : The CADW information board (English language part) which is next to the road before entering the field in which the cross is located. (1 comment)

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : The top section of the NE facing side; the lower section on this side is about the worst eroded, and reproducing a viewable image in the shade was very difficult.

Maen Achwyfan
Maen Achwyfan submitted by TimPrevett : A close up of the pattern on the centre of the NW side of the cross. A balck and white exposure somehow seemed more fitting for this side of the cross.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.8km ESE 108° Whitford Church Inscribed Stone Early Christian Sculptured Stone (SJ146782)
 1.8km ESE 111° Whitford Inscribed Stone* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (SJ146781)
 2.9km WNW 300° Axton Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SJ104803)
 3.0km SE 137° Y Gorseddau* Round Barrow(s) (SJ149766)
 3.0km SSE 166° Ffrith-Y-Garreg-Wen* Round Barrow(s) (SJ13587589)
 3.2km SE 133° Gorsedd Church* Standing Stones (SJ152766)
 3.4km SSW 211° Traveller's Inn* Round Barrow(s) (SJ111759)
 3.5km SW 232° Hendre Bach Round Barrow(s) (SJ10137671)
 3.7km WNW 294° Bryn-Y-Odyn* Round Barrow(s) (SJ0952380376)
 4.0km W 261° Cae Bryn Round Barrow(s) (SJ08917821)
 4.1km SW 230° Pany Y Dulath Round Barrow(s) (SJ09677624)
 4.1km ESE 105° Ffynnon Oswald Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SJ1688577622)
 4.2km WNW 287° Gop Wood Mound* Cairn (SJ08928012)
 4.2km SSE 146° Holywell Racecourse* Round Barrow(s) (SJ15177526)
 4.4km W 278° Hen Dy Round Barrow(s) (SJ08547950)
 4.4km WNW 287° Gop-y-Goleuni* Cairn (SJ08668015)
 4.4km WNW 286° Gop Caves* Cave or Rock Shelter (SJ08648009)
 4.5km SSE 147° Bwrdd y Rhyfel 1* Round Barrow(s) (SJ1523075000)
 4.5km SW 232° Criafol* Round Barrow(s) (SJ09317611)
 5.1km WNW 287° Gop Farm Bone Cave Cave or Rock Shelter (SJ08028041)
 5.2km SSE 151° Babell Round Barrow(s) (SJ153742)
 5.2km SE 131° Naid-Y-March* Standing Stones (SJ1676775288)
 5.2km SE 131° Naid-y-March* Standing Stones (SJ16767528)
 5.5km WNW 292° Ty-Uchaf* Round Barrow(s) (SJ07868095)
 5.5km W 260° Marian Ffrith Hillfort (SJ0746877947)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Harlow Barrow

Mynydd y Castell >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Understanding the Neolithic

Understanding the Neolithic

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Maen Achwyfan" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Street View by coldrum on Friday, 19 March 2010
(User Info | Send a Message)

View Larger Map
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Maen Achwyfan by coldrum on Wednesday, 14 January 2009
(User Info | Send a Message)
RCAHMW site record:

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94449/details/MAEN+ACHWYFAN+CROSS/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Maen Achwyfan on YouTube by TimPrevett on Tuesday, 13 March 2007
(User Info | Send a Message)
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>

We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.