Llandefaelog (Fach)

Nearest town: Brecon

Site type: churchyard

Access: Public

Church name: St Maelog or St Maelo

Diocese: Swansea and Brecon

County: Powys

Country: Wales

Grid ref: SO03393238

Lost yew site: Yes

Date visited: 26-Oct-13

Recorded by: Tim Hills

Protection & responsibility: Church in Wales

Yews recorded at this site: Ancient 4m-5m, Ancient 5m-7m

Notes: In 1833 Lewis's Topographical Dictionary described the tower of the church as 'seen just rising above the dark foliage of the venerable yew-trees by which it is surrounded'. In 1946 Cornish recorded that there were '15 trees, four of them between 16' and 20' 6''.' Now there are 14 and a stump of one of the smaller girthed trees. Six of the seven significant yews recorded here are male. The churchyard is thought to be of early medieval origin. The first photo shows, from left to right, trees 10, 9, 8 and 7. The second photo shows, from left to right, trees 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. The third photo shows trees 11, 12 and 13. Paul Wood considers that these three yews grow on a bank that was once the churchyard boundary. To the north of them is a hollow way leading down to a river crossed at a ford.

Site files:

Llandefaelog-Fach-2019.pdf