Penmachno
The village of Penmachno, July 2018.
Penmachno is located in Conwy
Penmachno
Penmachno
Location within Conwy
OS grid referenceSH790505
Community
  • Penmachno
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBETWS-Y-COED
Postcode districtLL24
Dialling code01690
PoliceNorth Wales
FireNorth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

Penmachno is a village in the isolated upland Machno valley, 4 miles (6 km) south of Betws-y-Coed in the county of Conwy, North Wales.[1] The B4406 road runs through part of the village. The village is at the confluence of the Glasgwm and Machno rivers. It has a five-arched, stone bridge dating from 1785. The village has been referred to as Pennant Machno, Llandudclyd and Llan dutchyd in historical sources.[2][3]

According to the 2011 census, the population of the Bro Machno parish (which also includes the village of Cwm Penmachno, about 5 km south west) was 617, of whom 342 (55%) were able to speak Welsh and 214 (34%) had no skills in Welsh.[4]

Toponymy

The village has been referred to as Pennant Machno, Llandudclyd and Llan dutchyd in historical sources.[2][3] The name derives from the Welsh pen, meaning head, end or promontory and Machno, the name of the valley.

Notable residents

The village was the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan (probably 1545 – 1604), who was born at Tŷ Mawr, Y Wybrnant, near the village. The precise year of his birth is uncertain: it is generally accepted to be 1545, but his memorial in St John's College Chapel, Cambridge suggests 1541.Memorial Cambridge He was one of the leading scholars of his day, having mastered Hebrew in addition to Latin and Greek. He was the first to translate the Bible in its entirety into Welsh. Tŷ Mawr is now a National Trust property open to the public and contains a Bible museum.[5]

Ty Mawr Wybrnant

Poet, local historian, building contractor and quarry owner Owen Gethin Jones (1816 - 1883) was born, lived and died in Penmachno.

Huw Owen alias Huw Machno (1585 - 1637), poet, is recorded by Owen Gethin Jones as living at Coed-y-Ffynnon in Penmachno (53°03′40″N 3°47′10″W / 53.061°N 3.786°W / 53.061; -3.786). Gethin Jones writes in his essay ("Gweithiau Gethin" (The Works of Gethin)):

Coed-y-Ffynnon, the old home of the learned and inspired Bard, Hugh Machno, who worked with... the famous Richard Cynwal. Their rank as Bards is seen in the Caerwys Eisteddfod - Hugh Machno was the winner in the Cywydd class for his ′Eulogy of Archbishop Williams′...[He] was educated at Cambridge and was one of the best debators of his day. It is said he died a batchelor and was buried in the churchyard where there used to be an oval lead plate hanging on the wall over his head to commemorate him but in one way or another, like many other things belonging to the second church it got lost.

and:

He was buried in the churchyard and carved on his gravestone is 'H. Machno obiit 1637'.

— Owen Gethin Jones [6] pages 18 and 38 respectively

A gravestone inscribed 'H. M. Obiit 1637' exists.[7][8] It is claimed that Huw Machno was descended from Dafydd Goch of Penmachno, an illegitimate son of Dafydd III (1238 - 1283, the last independent ruler of Wales as the Prince of Wales) and therefore a grandson of Llywelyn the Great.[9]

Richard Edgar Thomas (known as Richie Thomas) (1906 - 1988), the tenor, was born at Eirianfa, Llewelyn Street, Penmachno and lived his whole life in the village. He worked at the Machno Woollen Mill (Richie Thomas working at Woollen Mill) and led the singing in his chapel for over 50 years.[10] He first came to prominence when he won the Blue Riband at the Rhyl National Eisteddfod in 1953.[11] He gave many concerts and numerous recordings were made, and a double album of his best work was released in 2008 under the title ′Richie Thomas - Goreuon Richie Thomas (Tenor)′ (The Best of Richie Thomas). There is a plaque to commemorate him at his birthplace.[12]

Howel Harris Hughes (1873–1956), Principal of the United Theological College in Aberystwyth ministered here from 1901 to 1903.[13]

Parish Church

The Carausius Stone

The parish church of Saint Tudclud (alternatively Tyddyd, Tudclyd, Tudglud or Tudglyd),[2] was built in the mid-19th century,[14] but contains five important early Christian inscribed stone slabs dating from the 5th or 6th century. The Carausius Stone, which bears the Chi Rho symbol, was found in 1856 with two of the others when the site of the church was being cleared.[15] It has been suggested that it is the gravestone of Carausius, a Roman military commander who usurped power in 286 and was assassinated in 293 (see Carausian Revolt),[16][17][18] who is possibly the same person as St Caron to whom the church in Tregaron is dedicated.[19] Another commemorates Cantiorix as a citizen of Gwynedd and cousin of the magistrate[20] (the local ruler under the Romans, suggesting that the Roman political structure was retained locally into the 5th century after the departure of the legions).[21][22] The inscription reads: Cantiorix hic iacit / Venedotis cives fuit / consobrinos Magli magistrati ("Here lies Cantiorix / He was a citizen of Gwynedd / and cousin of the magistrate Maglos".) The third of these slabs reads "ORIA [H]IC IACIT" or "Oria lies here".[23]

A fourth stone slab was discovered in the old garden wall of the Eagles Hotel (about 40 m from the church and 15 m from the churchyard) in 1915; one interpretation of its inscription is "...son of Avitorius... in the time of Justinus the Consul".[24] There was a consul called Justinus in 540, but the inscription is unclear and could refer to Justus (328); the broadest date range for the slab is 328 - 650. Several academics have recently suggested that the inscription refers to the Byzantine Emperor Justin II, who was consul repeatedly between 567 and 574; it is argued that this is one of a number of instances of close links between post-Roman Britain and the Byzantine Empire.[25] The fifth slab was discovered during quarrying near the Roman road in Rhiwbach, Cwm Penmachno and just features a cross.

Stained glass window depicting Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great)

The chancel of the present church stands on the site of a previous church which burnt down in 1713. Three of the stone slabs were discovered when the older church was dismantled. Also discovered was a wall of a 12th-century church; this was the church of St Enclydwyn (probably the same as St Clydwyn or Cledwyn, a 6th-century saint, the eldest son of Brychan Brycheiniog and brother of St Tudful), this church fell into ruin following the Reformation. The existing font is 12th century and from the earliest church.[26] The discovery of the slabs on the site and the large enclosure of the church that is now the graveyard (about 100 m by 75 m), suggests there was a religious community here, probably a clas. It has been suggested that Iorwerth ab Owain Gwynedd (1145-1174), also known as Iorwerth Drwyndwn, the father of Llywelyn the Great, was buried in the oldest church, and that a sixth stone slab in the present church (a 13th-century gravestone) marked his grave.[3][27]

The church is kept locked; the key can be obtained by asking at a neighbouring house.

The holy well of St Tudclud is in the cellar of the old Post Office, now a private dwelling.

Other significant associations

Penmachno briefly featured during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294–95 as the place where Madog signed the so-called Penmachno Document, the only surviving direct evidence for the rebel leader's use of the title of Prince of Wales.

About 3 km north-east of the village centre(53°03′36″N 3°46′55″W / 53.060°N 3.782°W / 53.060; -3.782), close to the disused 19th century, water-powered Machno Woollen Mill (Glandwr Factory[28] or Factory Isaf[29])(Inspecting a blanket made at the factory, 1952) built in 1839, there is a drystone-built, packhorse bridge over the Machno river. This is known as the 'Roman Bridge' but it is actually 16th or 17th century.[30] Penmachno is, however, near the section of the Sarn Helen Roman road from Betws-y-Coed to the Roman fort of Tomen y Mur near Trawsfynydd; this road became part of the Cistercian Way between Aberconwy Abbey and Cymer Abbey which also passed near Ysbyty Ifan.

A mountain bike trail has been built at Gwydyr Forest in Penmachno. It consists of a 20 km loop with an optional 10 km extension.[31] There are parking facilities on the site.

The village was used as a special stage in the 2013 Wales Rally GB.[32]

References

  1. ↑ AA Book of British Villages. Drive Publications Limited. 1980. p. 312. ISBN 9780340254875.
  2. 1 2 3 Baring-Gould, S; Fisher, John (1908). The Lives of the British Saints (Volume 4). Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion/Charles J Clarke. p. 266.
  3. 1 2 3 "St Tudclud's Church, Penmachno". www.mochdrenews.co.uk/. HistoryPoints.org. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Area: Bro Machno (Parish): Welsh Language Skills (detailed), 2011 (QS207WA)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ty Mawr Wybrnant". National Trust. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Gethin Jones, Owen (9 April 2012). Gweithiau Gethin: Sef Casgliad O Holl Weithiau Barddonol A Llenyddol... Nabu Press. ISBN 1279821396.
  7. ↑ Jones, Gill. "Coed y Ffynnon, Penmachno, Conwy". www.coflein.gov.uk. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Simpkin, W; Marshall, R (1820). The Cambro-Briton Volume 1. London: Simpkin and Marshall. p. 212.
  9. ↑ "Huw Machno". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Richie Thomas". www.sainwales.com. Sain Recordiau. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Plaque unveiled on Penmachno tenor Richie Thomas' home". www.dailypost.co.uk. North Wales Daily Post. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Hydref, Elen. "Dadorchuddio plac coffa Richie Thomas, Penmachno". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Hughes, Howel Harris". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
  14. ↑ "Penmachno Caernarvonshire". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Vision of Britain. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "PMCH1/1". www.ucl.ac.uk. University College London. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  16. ↑ Bannister, Paul. "The Real King Arthur". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/endeavour-press/. Endeavour Press. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  17. ↑ Hassell, Alan. "Carausius King of the Britain". www.thunting.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "St Tudclud's Church, Penmachno, Conwy (Bwrdeistref Sirol), North Wales". www.thejournalofantiquities.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  19. ↑ Geoffrey of Monmouth; Roberts, Peter (1811). The Chronicle of the Kings of Britain (translation from Welsh). London: E Williams. p. 93.
  20. ↑ "PMCH1/3". www.ucl.ac.uk. University College London. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Prysor, Dewi. "Bryn y Castell: History and Legend". www.darnbachohanes.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  22. ↑ Davies, John (2007). A History of Wales (Revised ed.). UK: Penguin. ISBN 978-0140284751.
  23. ↑ "PMCH1/2". www.ucl.ac.uk. University College London. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "PMCH2/1". www.ucl.ac.uk. University College London. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  25. ↑ See 'Britain, the Byzantine Empire, and the concept of an Anglo-Saxon 'Heptarchy': Harun ibn Yahya's ninth-century Arabic description of Britain', by Caitlin Green, on http://www.caitlingreen.org/2016/04/heptarchy-harun-ibn-yahya.html. See footnote 12 of that article for instances of other historians who agree with Dr Green's suggestion.
  26. ↑ "A history of Saint Tudclud's Church". parish.churchinwales.org.uk. The Parish of Betws-y-Coed, Capel Curig, Penmachno & Dolwyddelan. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "Penmachno, Conwy County". www.walesdirectory.co.uk. Wales Directory. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  28. ↑ "Wales Census 1851 - Penmachno Factory". home.ancestry.co.uk/. Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "PENMACHNO WOOLLEN MILL; FACTORY ISAF, PENMACHNO". www.coflein.gov.uk. Coflein. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  30. ↑ "Penmachno Roman Bridge". www.coflein.gov.uk. Coflein. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  31. ↑ "Penmachno". mbwales.com. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  32. ↑ "Stage SS2". EWRC Results.
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