Denbighshire

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Pontfadog

"One of the principal divisions of the parish of Llangollen, Nant Heudwy division of the hundred of Chirk, county of Denbigh; 2 miles (W) from Llangollen, containing 868 inhabitants. It forms the upper part of this picturesque parish, where the mountains are high and bold, while the river Dee winds at their feet in such an irregular course, as to make the landscape assume a fresh appearance of pleasing and diversified beauty at every turn."
[ A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, 1833 & 1849, Samuel Lewis]

The new parish of Pontfadog was formed on 15 April 1848, from the ancient parish of Llangollen. It comprised the whole of Glyn Traean - i.e. the townships of Cilcochwyn, Crogeniddon, Crogenwladus, Erwallo, Hafodgynfor, Nantygwryd, Pennant and Talygarth; and the township of Cysylltau from Llangollen Traean.
Cysylltau returned to Llangollen in 1870.

For a map link to Pontfadog village - see Maps under Llangollen

Bibliography

• Anderson, Sarah  Kirsty Williams.      Pontfadog School, 1908-2008     Wrexham : Bridge Books on behalf of the authors, 2008.
• 5 walks from Pontfadog : [compiled by The Chirk and Ceiriog Valley Partnership ; text: Goff Oldaker]         Chirk : Chirk and Ceiriog Valley Partnership, [200-?]

Church History

"The consecration of the new church and churchyard, at this interesting spot, on the banks of the river Ceiriog, took place on Thursday, the 7th inst., in the presence of a numerous assemblage of clergy and inhabitants of the surrounding districts .....
Although Tuesday and Wednesday had been exceedingly wet, and promised anything but auspicious weather for the holy solemnity, still, nevertheless, on Thursday Phoebus flung aside his cloudy veil and emitted from his cheerful disc the most gladdening rays of gratulation on the interesting occasion .....
The churchyard was afterwards consecrated; at the conclusion of which ceremony the Vicar entertained a lunch, in the Viscount Dungannon's capacious tent, which was pitched in an adjoining field .....
The church, which is much admired, was built by Mr Vaughan, of Oswestry, after a design by Mr W. Ward."
[From Chester Chronicle, 15 October 1847]

The Clwyd FHS website has a photograph of the church.

Nonconformist Churches "Welsh Church Commission - County of Denbigh - The Statistics of the Nonconformist Churches for 1905"lists the following nonconformist places of worship in the Civilparish of Pontfadog :

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Church Records

Parish Registers

• The following Parish Registers have been deposited at the Denbighshire Record Office, Ruthin.
  They may be viewed on microfilm at the Denbighshire and Flintshire Record Offices, and at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.
  These microfilms are not available elsewhere.

Bishop's Transcripts

• Bishop's Transcripts for the years shown below have been deposited in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.
  Around the year 1951, most of the Bishop's Transcripts which had been deposited at that time were microfilmed by the LDS; and the films are available on request at Family History Centres of the LDS.
  The films may also be viewed at the Denbighshire and Flintshire Record Offices, and at the National Library of Wales.
  In general, the Bishop's Transcripts are less complete than the parish registers.

I.G.I.

• There are no official I.G.I. entries for St. John's, Pontfadog.

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Civil Registration

In the GRO indexes to civil registration, entries for Pontfadog are in the format :

• Years 1837 - 1851: Corwen XXVII. nnn
• Years 1851 - 1930: Corwen 11b. nnn

(GRO index references have no relevance at the local Superintendent Registrar's Office)

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Description and Travel

Pontfadog  - on the Ceiriog Valley site

Pontfadog - on wikipedia

Pontfadog photographs - on geograph.org.uk

Population

• In 1831- this was not a separate parish.
• In 1901- the population was 888.
  [ Royal Commission on the Welsh Church - October 1907]

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Statistics

• Archdeacon Thomas gives the area of the parish as 6675 acres.
  [ The History of the Diocese of St. Asaph , 1908-1913, Ven. D.R. Thomas]

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Last Updated 12 Jan 2011 - Gareth Hicks