Llangernyw
is located in the valley of the Cledwen River in Conwy County North
Wales, some 8 miles, 12 km, to the south-west of Abergele. The village
straddles the A548 between the town of Llanrwst and the village of
Llanfairtalhaiarn. The village church is dedicated to and founded
by the 5th Century Saint Digain, though the church itself as seen
today is not thought to be earlier than the 13th Century. It may have
been extended in the late medieval period, acquiring its unusual and
distinctive cruciform shape at that time.
One of the yew trees in the graveyard is claimed to be the oldest living
tree in Wales, well, being 4000 years old it is one of the oldest living
things on the planet.
Also within the churchyard are two good pairs of standing stones which
would have been erected long before the church was built. One pair are
described as pillar stones, both with crude incised crosses, and some
say these are of the 7th-9th Century. The other pair of stones
are described as boulders of a much earlier pre Christian date.
Which makes one wonder why Harry and Roger Lloyd, buried in 1665,
chose there last resting place to be presided over by "pagan" monuments.
Close to the village are the remains of Hafudnos a gothic mansion ravaged
by fire in 2004. As of 2008 there are plans afoot to rebuild the property.
Next to the church is the village pub, the Stag Hotel.
