Llantilio Crossenny


Llantilio Crossenny is a small village and much larger community in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, in the United Kingdom. It is situated between the two towns of Abergavenny and Monmouth on the B4233 road. The community includes Penrhos, and Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern.

History

In January 2015 metal detectorists unearthed axe and spear heads, thought to be around 3,000 years old, in a field near the village. The items are thought to date back to Ewart Park phase of the late Bronze Age, about 1000-800 BC. Principal Curator of Prehistory at National Museum Wales, Adam Gwilt, said: "Many whole and still usable bronze objects were carefully buried in the ground at this particular time and archaeologists now think that these may have been gifts to the gods and ancestors, buried during ritual ceremonies. It is curious that this place in the landscape was chosen for the burial of two hoards of the same date and very close to each other."
The site of the village, or at least the locality, is associated with a battle between a Dark Ages King of the Welsh Kingdom of Gwent, Ynyr, and the incoming Saxons. The village is also associated with the incoming Normans in Wales who built many castles in this border area of the Welsh Marches and with Dafydd Gam, a local warrior and Welsh ally of King Henry V.
A Free Grammar School was founded in the village, on 10 August 1654, by James Powell, Gentleman of Cymmerau. In 1924 a history of the grammar school was published by local historian Sir Joseph Bradney.

Notable sites

St Teilo's church

The Church of St Teilo dates from the 13th century and is
"an unusually grand cruciform church." It was designated a Grade I listed building on 19 November 1953 and is dedicated to Saint Teilo.

White Castle

is a fine example of the medieval castle-builders art which stands on the hill overlooking the village. The Three Castles Walk passes close by. The fortification was established by the Normans in the wake of the invasion of England in 1066, to protect the route from Wales to Hereford. Possibly commissioned by William fitz Osbern, the Earl of Hereford, it comprised three large earthworks with timber defences.

Hen Gwrt

Hen Gwrt is the site of a thirteenth-century manor house and a sixteenth-century hunting lodge. Originally constructed for the Bishops of Llandaff, it subsequently came into the possession of the Herberts of Raglan Castle.

Culture

The Offa's Dyke path passes through the village.
Llantilio Crossenny holds an annual festival of music and drama, which was co-founded in the 1960s by Welsh composer Mansel Thomas.
At nearby Great Treadam is the Hog's Head pub, also situated on the Offa's Dyke path.

Governance

An electoral Ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches north to Llangattock-Vibon-Avel. The total population of this ward at the 2011 census was 1,755.
Llantilio Crossenny community elects a Community Council of nine members.

Notable residents