Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa

Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa
Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa
 Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa shown within Powys
Population 467 (2011)
OS grid referenceSJ 0816
Principal areaPowys
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Llanfyllin
Postcode district SY22
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK ParliamentMontgomeryshire
List of places
UK
Wales
Powys

Coordinates: 52°44′N 3°22′W / 52.73°N 3.36°W / 52.73; -3.36

A group of boys in the churchyard, photographed by John Thomas in about 1885

Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa was a parish within the former historic county of Montgomeryshire. It now forms a major part of the Community Council area of Llanfihangel in Powys,[1] which covers an area of 5,366 hectares (20.72 sq mi).[2] Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa Community Council covers Dolanog, Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa and Llwydiarth with approximately 413 registered voters (as at 2012).[3] The parish originally consisted of the following townships: Cefncleisiog, Cydwnfa, Dolwar, Fachwen, Farchwell, Fynnonarthwr, Garthucha, Halfen, Llaethbwlch, Llwydiarth, Nanty-Candy, and Rhiewlas. Dolanog was formed as a separate parish out of part of Llanfihangel in 1856.[4]

The poet and hymnwriter Ann Griffiths (1776–1805) was born in Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa and is buried there.[5]

The Village

The main village is on road leading up to St Michael’s Church. It is situated just off the main Llanfyllin to Llanwddyn road, to the northwest of Welshpool. The church is no longer used, as it is unsafe. On the outskirts is the cemetery, a council estate of six houses, and a couple of privately owned bungalows. There is The Goat Inn at the centre, a post office/shop and the village hall, opened in 1981 and now the 'hub' of the village. A war memorial is at the centre of the village, and behind it is Poplar Cottage, once the home of E. D. O'Brien (1911-1953), a noted Eisteddfod conductor.[6]

Fair Llan

A fair, known as Ffair Llan, used to be held every year on 9 May, when store cattle and sheep were sold to visiting dealers. Piglets were brought by horse and cart, with a mesh strung over to prevent their escape.[6]

Demographics

Llanfihangel community's population was 467, according to the 2011 census;[2] a 9.50% decrease since the 516 people noted in 2001.[7]

The 2011 census showed 52.6% of the population could speak Welsh, a fall from 65.0% in 2001.[8]

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward had a population of 1,049 at the 2011 census.[9]

Life in a Welsh Countryside

In 1950 Life in a Welsh Countryside, A Social Study of Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa by Alwyn D. Rees was published. This was soon recognised as a classic study of the social structure and life in a predominantly Welsh speaking rural community in an upland area of Wales. This study describes the farms of the area, kindred relationships, customs and traditions, and the role of religion, particularly the chapels. In 2003 the Llanfihangell Social History Group published Welsh Countryside: Revised: A new study of Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, which compares the changes that have taken place since the original publication, the decline in chapel attendance and the use of the Welsh language, which is now only spoken by slightly over half of the people in the village.

Literature

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.