Mechell, Anglesey

Situation

Mechell's settlements are all on inland situations, although a narrow strip of land reaches up as far as the north coast of the island, east of Cemaes Bay, in Llanbadrig Community. To the east is Cylch-y-Garn Community, and to the south is Tref Alaw and Rhosybol.

There are three wards within the Mechell community area, with a total of 10 councillors representing Llanfechell, Mynydd Mechell and Carreglefn, plus a chairperson.

History

The oldest of the settlements appears to be Llanfechell, named, as is the larger community, after the 6th century saint Mechell, reputedly a Breton missionary. Tradition has it that he is buried in Llanfechell. The large number of prehistoric sites attest to human habitation across the Community since well before that.

There is a very detailed account of daily life in the Mechell area during the 18th century, within the diaries of William Bulkeley, (1691-1760). He lived at Brynddu, a house on the edge of Llanfechell, and kept a daily record of Anglesey life from 1734 to 1760.

Economy

The land of Mechell Community is a settled agricultural landscape, with a network of small farms. The longstanding importance of arable agriculture is shown by the remains of two watermills and four windmills in the Mechell area: Meddanen Water Mill and Melin Mechell Windmill (also known as Minffordd Mill and Melin Maen Arthur), SH362902 are close together so could have been worked by the same miller, utilising water and wind as available.

Cafnan Water Mill is the other watermill. Pant y Gŵydd Mill; Cefn Coch Mill and Pandy Cefn Coch Mill are the other windmills.

Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, close to the Community boundary's northern tip, was the only substantial employer in the immediate neighbourhood, on the coast, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) northwest of Llanfechell. It was the only Nuclear Power Station in Wales after Trawsfynedd shut down. The site produced electricity from 1971, and ceased at the end of 2015. Proposals from Horizon Nuclear Power to build 'Wylfa Newydd' are under consideration.

Mechel Churches: Church in Wales

Mechell Community has 4 Church in Wales buildings in the Bangor Diocese and Bro Padrig Deanery,

St Mechell's Church, Llanfechell

(Grade II* listed). 12th century church with 19th century rebuild. SH369913 53.3930°N 4.4536°W / 53.3930; -4.4536 (St Mechell Church).

St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin

(Grade II listed) in Mynydd Mechell. Documentary records from 1254, but the oldest extant fabric appears to be 18th century, extensively restored in the 1930s. SH350890 53.3724°N 4.4822°W / 53.3724; -4.4822 (St Fflewin's Church).

St Mary's Church, Bodewryd

(Grade II listed). The present structure is from the 16th century or earlier, and on a much earlier site. The original dedication was to St Gewryd. SH400906, 53.3878°N 4.4071°W / 53.3878; -4.4071 (St Mary's Church, Bodewryd).

St Peirio's Church, Rhosbeirio

Grade II listed, now disused. SH391917. 53.3980°N 4.4213°W / 53.3980; -4.4213 (St Peirio's Church, Rhosbeirio).

Capel Anhunedd-y-Pran

There is a redundant (or decayed) medieval chapel at Clegyrog. By 1796 it was in use as a cowhouse. SH388903, Coordinates:53.3849°N 4.4252°W / 53.3849; -4.4252 (Capel Anhunedd-Y-Pran, Clegyrog).

Cappel Newsaint

An unlocated medieval chapel stood somewhere in Mynydd Mechell. SH3590. 53.381°N 4.4821°W / 53.381; -4.4821 (Cappel Newsaint).

Mechell non-conformist Chapels

There have been least nine non=conformist Chapels in the Mechell area, dating to the nineteenth and early 20th centuries:-

Libanus Chapel, Llanfechell

Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, Welsh Calvanistic Methodist Chapel on the village square. Founded in 1832, rebuilt in 1903. SH369912. 53.3927°N 4.4542°W / 53.3927; -4.4542 (Libanus Chapel, Llanfechell)

Ebenezer Chapel, Llanfechell

Welsh Independent chapel near the School, on Mountain Road. Built 1862, replacing a Chapel built soon after 1800. SH365909, 53.3896°N 4.4598°W / 53.3896; -4.4598 (Ebenezer Chapel, Llanfechell)

Calfaria Chapel, Mynydd Mechell

Welsh Baptist chapel built in 1897 to replace an earlier building of 1815. SH361900 53.38113°N 4.4663°W / 53.38113; -4.4663 (Calfaria Chapel, Mynydd Mechell)

Jerusalem Chapel, Mynydd Mechell

Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, Welsh Calvanistic Methodist chapek. SH358897, 53.3783°N 4.4709°W / 53.3783; -4.4709 (Jerusalem Chapel, Mynydd Mechell)

Bethlehem Chapel, Carreglefn

Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel. SH383891, 53.3744°N 4.4318°W / 53.3744; -4.4318 (Bethlehem Chapel, Carreglefn)

Seion Chapel, Carreglefn

Independent Chapel. SH394895,53.3778°N 4.4164°W / 53.3778; -4.4164 (Seion Chapel, Carreglefn)

Hephsibah Chapel, Rhosbeirio

Former Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, converted into a house in 1985. SH394913, 53.3943°N 4.4164°W / 53.3943; -4.4164 (Hephsibah Chapel)

Capel Bethania, Tregele

The Calvinistic Methodist cause at Tregele began in 1810. The Chapel was rebuilt in 1906 and closed in 1973 and is now a house.

Mechell notable buildings

All four extant medieval churches above are given the legal protection of Listed Building status. Below are the other listed buildings within the community, plus some other notable buildings and structures:-

Bodewryd

Plas Bodewryd

(Grade II* listed mansion). A 15th/16th century Hall house at Bodewryd, with substantial additions in every century following. SH40019082, 53.3899°N 4.4073°W / 53.3899; -4.4073 (Plas Bodewryd mansion).

Bodewryd Colomendy or Dovecote, Bodewryd

Grade II listed late 17th C. dovecote in the grounds of Plas Bodewryd. Stone walls incorporate around 400 nests. SH40019082, 53.3899°N 4.4073°W / 53.3899; -4.4073 (Bodewryd Colomendy or Dovecote).

Lychgate at Church of St Mary, Bodewryd

Grade II listed building. SH40119057, 53.3877°N 4.4057°W / 53.3877; -4.4057 (Lychgate at Church of St Mary).

Llanfechell

Brynddu, Llanfechell

Grade II listed 18th Century larger Anglesey house. Home of the Bulkeley Family. SH37329119 53.3924°N 4.4479°W / 53.3924; -4.4479 (Brynddu).

Pont-y-Plas, Llanfechell

Road Bridge with square headed arches and steps to water. SH36889135||53.3937°N 4.4546°W / 53.3937; -4.4546 (Pont-y-Plas).

Crown Terrace, including Crown House, Llanfechell

Grade II listed row of three terraced buildings with a shop/bank. SH369912, 53.3924°N 4.4542°W / 53.3924; -4.4542 (Crown Terrace, Inc.Crown House).

Old Rectory, Llanfechell

Grade II listed, 17th Century Rectory, with 18th C additions. SH36989128, 53.3931°N 4.4531°W / 53.3931; -4.4531 (Old Rectory)

War Memorial, Llanfechell

Grade II listed memorial to the fallen of the Great War, in the village square and incorporates a clock. SH37029120||53.3924°N 4.4525°W / 53.3924; -4.4525 (War Memorial)

Mynydd Mechell

Ffynnon Ddygfael, Mynydd Mechell

Well shaft close to a pool. SH35119050||53.3855°N 4.4808°W / 53.3855; -4.4808 (Ffynnon Ddygfael).

Llanddygfael-groes, Mynydd Mechell

Grade II listed building. SH35149059||53.3863°N 4.4804°W / 53.3863; -4.4804 (Llanddygfael-groes).

Tregele

Cae Mawr, Tregele

Grade II listed late 18th century farmhouse. SH34929088||53.3889°N 4.4838°W / 53.3889; -4.4838 (Cae Mawr, Tregele).

Cefn-Coch, Tregele

Grade II listed ||17th century central hall type house, with pointed internal doorways and 17th C. balusters. SH34259072 53.3872°N 4.4938°W / 53.3872; -4.4938 (Cefn-Coch).

Groesfechan, Tregele

Medieval domestic remains. SH351917||53.3963°N 4.4815°W / 53.3963; -4.4815 (Groesfechan)

Melin Cefn Coch (Ty'n y Felin), Tregele

Grade II listed building. SH34319139, 53.3933°N 4.4932°W / 53.3933; -4.4932 (Melin Cefn Coch).

Carreglefn

Cottage at Pant-y-Gist, Carreglefn

Grade II Listed Building, SH39358967, 53.3794°N 4.4167°W / 53.3794; -4.4167 (Cottage at Pant-y-Gist).

Hen Bont, Carreglefn

Grade II listed building. SH38408907||53.3737°N 4.4306°W / 53.3737; -4.4306 (Hen Bont).

Pant-y-cryntach, Carreglefn

Grade II listed building. SH38808967, 53.3792°N 4.4249°W / 53.3792; -4.4249 (Pant-y-cryntach)

Ty Newydd, Carreglefn

Grade II listed building. SH38408907, 53.3737°N 4.4306°W / 53.3737; -4.4306 (Ty Newydd).

Y Stryd, Carreglefn

Grade II listed building. SH38398906, 53.3736°N 4.4307°W / 53.3736; -4.4307 (Y Stryd)

Llanfflewyn, near Mynydd Mechell

Twll-y-clawdd, Llanfflewyn

Grade II listed building. SH35638861, 53.3687°N 4.4719°W / 53.3687; -4.4719 (Twll-y-clawdd).

Archaeological sites

There are five Scheduled monuments within the community area, all of them dating to prehistory, and a further 10 sites are also listed by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. All the sites are in open country within the community aea, so cannot be said to be in any one of the settlements. The 'settlement' column is there to give a guide as to which part of Mechell Community it is in.

Other Archaeological sites in Mechell:-