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<< Our Photo Pages >> Gwytherin Churchyard - Stone Row / Alignment in Wales in Conwy

Submitted by Johnny on Sunday, 27 February 2022  Page Views: 16695

Date UncertainSite Name: Gwytherin Churchyard Alternative Name: St Winifred's (Gwytherin), Gwytherin Parish Church
Country: Wales County: Conwy Type: Stone Row / Alignment

Map Ref: SH87676147  Landranger Map Number: 116
Latitude: 53.138504N  Longitude: 3.680661W
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.
3 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.
5 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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Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Johnny : Gwytherin Churchyard Stones, Clwyd. GR: SH 877 615). In the circular churchyard of this ancient site stand a row of four small stones aligned east-west. They stand about 3m apart from each other and one bears a Latin inscription of a style dated to the 5th or 6th century AD. Some authors believe the stones to have been erected in this early Christian period. Others, however, believe the row to be ... (Vote or comment on this photo)
In this ancient circular churchyard in Clwyd stand a row of four small stones aligned east-west. They are about 3m apart from each other, and one bears a Latin inscription of a style dated to the 5th or 6th century AD. Some authors believe the stones to have been erected in this early Christian period. Others, however argue the row to be much more ancient in origin, with the inscription being re-use of a Bronze Age row as a personal memorial. Janet Bord contacted us to say she thinks the stones were placed in this position in the early 18th century, more details in the comments below.

These four stones are recorded as Coflein NPRN 275771 and also features on The Northern Antiquarian (TNA) - see their entry for Gwytherin Churchyard, Denbighshire. TNA give directions for finding the church, together with a brief archaeology & history which gives details of the founding of the first church on this site, together with discussion about the 'ancient folks' who lived here, and if the inscribed stone could mark the grave of St. Winifred herself.

Page originally submitted in 2002. With thanks to Anne T for the additional information.
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Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by TimPrevett : The inscribed stone at Gwytherin: "VINNEMAGLI FILI / SENEMAGLI" meaning "of Vinnemaglus, son of Senemaglus". The inscription is dated 5th to 6th Century AD, though some feel the stones may date to the Bronze Age. The place certainly feels old. Very subjectively, it has a sense of being a special location - also the mound being the highest part of the village, adjoining stream, and a ch... (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by TimPrevett : Looking from the east at St Winifrid's at Gywtherin, at the stone alignment. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by TimPrevett : The first glimpse of the stones on entering the churchyard, from under one of the very large yew trees. The ground behind the stones drops steeply into a stream. I would like to spend time at this place just being still and reflecting. A pleasant place. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine : 2008 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine : One of the stones has a Romano-British inscription

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine : 2008

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine : The stone alignment may have been set on an ancestral burial mound, photo taken 2008

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine : Hollow Yew, 2008

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Antonine : The ancient yews in Gwytherin's circular churchyard may be 2500-3500 years old and are typical of a former sacred gathering place. The site dates back to the Bronze Age and was a pre-Christian and Iron Age settlement. Photo taken 2008

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by Bladup : Gwytherin Churchyard stones.

Gwytherin Churchyard
Gwytherin Churchyard submitted by TimPrevett : A view straight along the alignment; the inscribed stone is furthest away here.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 3.4km NE 41° Rhos Domen Barrow Cemetery (SH900640)
 4.1km ESE 116° Llyn Aled Isaf Ancient Village or Settlement (SH91295959)
 4.2km ESE 112° Aled Isaf Reservoir Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SH915598)
 4.3km E 79° Boncyn Crwn Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SH9192062170)
 5.2km ENE 70° Cau Du Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SH9256063160)
 5.9km SSW 212° Maen Pebyll* Long Barrow (SH844566)
 6.0km N 357° St Digain (Llangernyw)* Ancient Cross (SH8749567455)
 6.0km SSW 206° Bryn-Cyplau Cairn Circle East Ring Cairn (SH8489756103)
 6.1km SSW 206° Bryn-Cyplau Cairn Circle West Ring Cairn (SH8486156102)
 6.1km S 171° Moel Rhiwlug Cairn 1* Cairn (SH88445538)
 6.2km SSE 166° Pen Yr Orsedd Ring Cairn* Ring Cairn (SH8901055460)
 6.2km E 94° Blaen y Cwm Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SH93916091)
 6.3km S 173° Moel Rhiwlug Cairn 2* Cairn (SH88295515)
 6.6km S 171° Moel Rhiwlug Recumbent* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SH8855954892)
 6.8km E 96° Rhiwiau Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SH94466063)
 6.9km S 171° Bryniau Duon Cairn on Hiraethog Trail* Cairn (SH8855054670)
 6.9km N 354° Ffynnon Digain* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SH87146833)
 7.0km SSW 192° Maes Merddyn Ring Cairn 1* Ring Cairn (SH8600054660)
 7.1km SSW 193° Maes Merddyn Ring Cairn 2* Ring Cairn (SH85925463)
 7.2km SSE 153° Bwlch y Garnedd Round Cairn* Round Cairn (SH90755494)
 7.2km SE 145° Lon Bwlch y Garnedd Trackway* Ancient Trackway (SH9170055450)
 7.3km S 175° Cefnen Wen Cairn and Cist* Cairn (SH8817054170)
 7.3km S 174° Cefnen Wen Cairn East* Cairn (SH8824054160)
 7.3km SSE 148° Bwlch y Garnedd Cairn 1* Cairn (SH91475517)
 7.4km WNW 287° Ffynnon Ddoged (Llanddoged)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SH806638)
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"Gwytherin Churchyard" | Login/Create an Account | 7 News and Comments
  
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Re: Gwytherin Churchyard by Anonymous on Wednesday, 12 July 2023
Sadly due to a post below by Janet many people are questioning the authenticity of the stones in Gwytherin as her post implies they were only put in this alignment relatively recently.
The Vinnemaglus stone was dated by Nash Williams and professor westward as 5th 6th century and a similar date is given by Nancy Edwards. The earliest writing about Gwytherin is from 1138 by prior Roberts of Shrewsbury MS Laud 114 kept in the Bodelian Oxford along with Lhuyds sketch book. There has been much academic study including a phd and an Ma written about the site for any one interested in exploring the history which is both ancient and fascinating. Edward lhuyd visited the site in 1698 and drew a reliquary box called the arch Gwenfrewi and two stones one that was in her chapel over the saints grave and one of a chaplain from a very early date

Janet bases her comments on a deans report not on an archaeologist survey and yet all the above archaeologists say the stones and the inscription are of a very early date. When the stones where put in this alignment has not been proven but the stones are ancient as are the ancient yews
check Cadw for verification

[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gwytherin Churchyard by Anonymous on Thursday, 24 February 2022
The inscribed stone has been dated to the 4th/ 5th century but the actual stones may be older and the inscription a later addition.There are standing stones behind the church in llangernwy and trees that have been dated to 4000 years old so the similarities in these two sites speak volumes. The overlaying of beliefs from Bronze Age to Christian is common in early religious locations.

The feel of the site is ancient. A rural deans report of 1710 is far from evidence of fact.

The sense in Gwytherin is of a very long timeline and of a place of historical and spiritual importance.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gwytherin Churchyard by coldrum on Saturday, 09 January 2010
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Coflein site entry.

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/275771/details/GROUP+OF+FOUR+INSCRIBED+STONES+IN+GWYTHERIN+CHURCHYARD/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gwytherin Churchyard by TimPrevett on Thursday, 16 February 2006
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Janet - many thanks for your input. Nonetheless, it is a very charming, atmospheric location. Very useful information. More than the very useful Coflein provides. Are you researching a new book? Thanks, Tim.
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Re: Gwytherin Churchyard by janetbord on Thursday, 16 February 2006
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Row of four stones in Gwytherin churchyard, Conwy.

Although some people believe this stone row to be ancient, even prehistoric, the fact is that the stones were placed in this position in the early 18th century. A ruridecanal report of 1710 noted only that there were two standing stones in the churchyard, and their exact position was not stated. The earliest mention of the stone row is dated 1724. Early 18th-century reports by the rural deans say that 'the churchyard is not very well fenc'd', and the likelihood is that the two ancient stones, plus two other stones of a similar shape and size, were relocated at that time, perhaps as the start of some kind of fence. Alternatively, their location, at the top of a steep slope, may mean that they were so placed to warn of the dangerous slope. So although two of the stones are genuinely old, the alignment is not, and can undoubtedly be dated no further back than the early 18th century.

Janet Bord
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    Re: Gwytherin Churchyard by Thorgrim on Thursday, 16 February 2006
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    Great to hear from you, Janet. Your "Secret Country" started my interest and I thank you warmly for that and all of your other wonderful books.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Gwytherin Churchyard by AngieLake on Monday, 20 February 2006
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    Thanks, Janet, from another grateful reader. Your books are among my favourites, and most-used. The one Thorgrim mentions is really fascinating. I often travel with another: -'A Guide to Ancient Sites in Britain'.
    [ Reply to This ]

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