Llanfechell (from Welsh: llan church + Saint Mechell) is a village in Anglesey, Wales. It is the largest of several small villages and dispersed settlements that make up Mechell Community Council area. It is 11 miles (18 km) east of Holyhead, and 5.6 miles (9 km) west of Amlwch, in the north of the island.
MechellCommunity (which also includes the small villages of Mynydd Mechell and Carreglefn) had a 2001 population of 1,532,[1] decreasing to 1,293 in 2011. Village services include a church, a primary school, a pub and two chapels. It is an agricultural area, and has been a local centre for markets, livestock fairs, and had both a watermill and a windmill. The area round about has many prehistoric monuments.
History
The many prehistoric remains close to the village indicate that the area has been lived in for thousands of years. The first written mention of Llanfechell itself is in 1291.[2] The name Llanfechell means Church of St Mechell (In the lenitive (treiglad meddal) the 'M' becomes 'F', pronounced V.[3]). Mechell (or Mechyll) appears to have been a 6th-century missionary, possibly from Brittany, who founded a monastery here. He is said to have been the son of Echwydd and the grandson of Gwyn Gohoyw, who flourished in the 5th century. A 17th century manuscript (Llanstephan MS. 125)[4] records a Welsh poem, Cywydd i Fechell Sant. This describes how St Mechell was offered a gift of land in gratitude for a miraculous healing, to be demarcated by the route of a released hare. The hare, under divine guidance, marked the full extent of what is now the parish of Llanfechell, where he then founded the monastery.[4]
18th century life in Llanfechell was described in great detail by William Bulkeley (1691–1760). From 1734 to 1760 he kept a daily diary recording Anglesey life, social customs, personal and family dealings, farming practices and the weather.[5] William Bulkeley lived at Brynddu as Squire of Llanfechell. His daughter married Fortunatus Wright, a brewer from Liverpool whose colourful life included periods as a privateer.[6]
Llanfechell was one of a network of market towns on Anglesey. During the 18th century and following, in addition to its weekly market day the village held a fair several times a year, for the sale of livestock and produce. The Llanfechell Fair (Welsh: Ffair Mechell) no longer includes livestock and agricultural sales, but continues as a horticultural show and family fun day at Llanfechell Community School in late July.[7]
A war memorial in the village square records those from the village who died in both world wars, three sons of Brigadier-General Owen Thomas of Brynddu, who headed Lloyd George's Welsh Army.[8]
Community activities
'Menter Mechell' is an umbrella community venture, which helps facilitate a variety of activities and interest groups in the village. Areas of activity include the History Group, a Hobbies Group, the Maes Martin playground and sports project and an Allotment Group.[9]
Facing the church across the village square is Libanus Chapel (Welsh Calvinistic Methodist). Founded in 1832, it was rebuilt in 1903.[12] Ebenezer Chapel, a Welsh Independent chapel, is near the school on Mountain Road. Built in 1862, it replaced a chapel built soon after 1800.[13] Both chapels are listed grade II.[10]
Buildings
In addition to the three churches, there are six other listed buildings within the village (all grade II):
Brynddu (listed in 2001), is a large 17th to 18th century house 440 yards (400 m) south-east of the village.[14] (Location: 53°23′33″N4°26′52″W / 53.3924°N 4.4479°W / 53.3924; -4.4479 (Brynddu), SH37329119. There was a medieval building which the diarist William Bulkeley began to rebuild in the 1690s. Brynddu estate has been in the hands of the Bulkeley family and their descendants for 500 years. It is now a 900-acre farming estate with five long-term tenant farmers in the locality, as well as 70 acres farmed directly from Brynddu. Since 2006 it has been the home of Robin Grove-White, formerly director of CPRE and chair of Greenpeace UK.[15]
Crown Terrace, including Crown House. A row of three listed terraced buildings on the corner of the Square.[16]
The Old Rectory,[10] a 17th-century rectory, with 18th century additions, in grounds alongside the churchyard and Crown Terrace.[17]
Baron Hill Maen Hir, a standing stone north-east of Llanfechell
The standing stone 440 yards north of Llanfechell Church, known as Baron Hill Maen Hir, is a prehistoric standing stone (one of many such on Anglesey). The stone is 6.6 feet (2.0 m) high, with a further 19 in (0.5m) below ground and weighs 4.6 tons. In 2009 it had keeled over, and in 2010 it was lifted and re-set in position by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust under the guidance of Cadw. When removed from its socket, some 20 packing stones were found around its base, one of which had two 'pecked' engravings, a cupmark and a cup and ring mark.[18] The engraved stone is now at Oriel Ynys Môn Museum, Llangefni. Such rock engravings are very rare in North Wales, and its use as part of the construction of the standing stone implies a particular, if unknown, significance.[19] It is Located at 53°23′47″N4°27′11″W / 53.3964°N 4.4531°W / 53.3964; -4.4531 (Standing Stone east of Llanfechell), grid referenceSH369916.[20]
