Blanche Parry

Michaelchurch Escley

Michaelchurch refers to the Church. Escley is analogous with Exe and Usk, referring to the stream: ‐ water gushing forth, an old British river name. Ley is most likely to be from the Welsh llwch, pool.

  • There was a ford and a footbridge to give access, later replaced by a road bridge.

Church: St. Michael

The most interesting feature here is a large wall painting of Christ of the Trades, that is surrounded by tools which include scissors, shears, L–square, plough, flail, wool-comb, plane, axes, saw, hammer, mallet, mattock, spoke-shave, jug, wheel, sword, cross-saw, gridiron, frying-pan, awl, bobbin, and knives. The Rood Loft carving was probably carved by the same person as at St. Margaret's (see later).

Bridge Inn

  • The 1871 census first records this as a pub, although the building is likely to be a farm house, probably 16th century in origin.

Craswall

Name means cress stream. Watercress only grows in shallow, fast-flowing streams and is an indicator of clean water.

Church: St. Mary

  • A lovely, simply-built, almost hidden, little Medieval Church, divided by an 18th century wall to accommodate a schoolroom. See: our churches
  • Behind it are the remains of a cock-fighting pit a most unusual survival.

Craswall Priory, Grandmontine

  • This, the best preserved of the 3 monastic houses belonging to the Rule of Grandmont in England, was founded by Walter de Lacy (who owned Longtown Castle) in c.1225.
  • Although the monks were vegetarian they did have fishponds. They were poor, wearing cheap, rough sackcloth with wool scapular and gaiters and leather shoes. See: Richardson & Musson, 2011, page 67.
  • See: Carole Hutchinson, The Hermit Monks of Grandmont, 1989 - a few hard copies available. Otherwise is available to download, free of charge, from Craswall Priory"
  • Craswall Priory is famous for being:
    1. the only site in England where the characteristic architecture and ground plan of a Grandmontine priory can be examined in detail;
    2. at some 1,240ft, Craswall the highest of all English monastic sites;
    3. the only Grandmontine Priory, in Europe, where one can see the ruins of two churches. The smaller, earlier one was at first mistakenly thought to be a sacristy.
  • Craswall Priory was dissolved in 1441.

Bull's Head

  • One of the most remote pubs on the route, The Bull's Head may have been originally known as Forest House. It first appears on the 1840 Tithe map apportionments.
  • Most of the early landlords were farmers. In 1997, the landlord and landlady sold up after 44 years.
  • In 2005 the pub was known to have a resident ghost: George, who moved cutlery around in the night!

Llanveynoe / Llanfeuno

Welsh name, from Llan / Church, crossroads and -veynoe: St. Beuno. The common Welsh prefix llan implies a convergence of church and tracks. A church was built where paths met, and conversely a church meant many paths to it would develop. So both reasons for the name are true.

St. Beuno, c.545–640 AD, was major saint of North Wales, equivalent to St. David in South Wales. He was educated at Caerwent and became a Christian missionary. The King of Gwent gave him estates in Ewyas and he built a church, named for him, at Llanveynoe. Leaving 3 monks here in his monastery, he returned to North Wales when his father was ill. He then travelled, and established churches, in Wales. He is the patron saint of sick children and cattle. He is said to have restored his niece, St. Winifred to life by reattaching her head. See: online and Zaluckyj pages 68–70.

  • Llanveynoe is in the Olchon Valley, where recent excavations prove people have lived for thousands of years. (Olchon derives from the Welsh river name meaning bad or evil, that is the stream would not provide regular, clear water.)
  • Cae Thomas' Well (cae / field) or St. Thomas' Well: A Holy Well near Llanveynoe whose waters are said to help weak eyes and rheumatism. Picture: The Megalithic Portal

Church: St. Peter / originally St. Beuno

  • The church's location is stunning with beautiful views across the Olchon Valley.
  • Two ancient incised tomb slabs are set into the nave wall ‐ one dates from the 9th century and one from the 10th century.
  • The ancient stone cross outside has a wide groove down the west face, similar to those found on funerary monuments from Roman times, where libations flowed down to the cremated remains below.
  • Half a mile from the church a phantom dog was said to appear, running alongside the horses then vanishing.
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