Cwmyoy Church

• Dedicated to St. Martin Bishop of Tours in France, this is in the parish of Llanvihangel Crucorney with Oldcastle and Llanthony.
• The earliest part is 12^th century, though most of the fabric is 13^th century with later restoration.
• The Church is famous for being the most twisted anywhere due to the chancel and tower moving in opposite directions. The underlying geology is Old Red Sandstone and marl. Slippage and subsidence started soon after it was first built and accounts for the huge buttresses. The six bells cannot be rung.
• It is nevertheless a fascinating Church and unlikely to fall down when you visit.
• Do note the 11th-12th century Cross with a rare carving of Christ Crucified that would have been venerated by pilgrims, like yourselves, walking from Llanthony Priory to St. David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire.

---

Hedge Dating

Hedge dating has had a ‘poor press' in recent years but is valid if care is taken ‐ follow the method and analysis below exactly...... It can be fun...

In many areas the numbers of different flowering shrub species are proportional to the age of the hedge. It is suggested that, on average, a 30 metre stretch of hedge acquires a new species every 100 years ‐ but this varies in different parts of the country.

Method:

Place a marker, stone or branch, on the ground by your chosen hedge.

Take 30 paces away from the marker following the line of the hedge ‐ if the hedge proves to be old / important this has to be properly measured as 30 metres but pacing is usually sufficient. Mark your end-point.

Walk back to your first marker noting every different species growing as a part of the hedge ‐ species to the side of the hedge are not relevant.

(If you are botanically-wary ‐ then simply collect leaves from the different species and check their plant identification from a book later.)

Note:

If your chosen stretch of hedge is composed of sections ‐ that is one part may have a number of different species while an adjoining part may have only one or two species. This means that you found two hedges of different composition and/or ages. The hedge with most species may have been from a field where the rest of the hedge has been removed and another hedge has been lineally grown to join it at a later date.

Analysis:

If you have one or two species then you have a 19^th century enclosure hedge which often has hawthorn in it. If you have more species then: