Mynachlog-ddu () is a village,

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...

and

community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, ...

in the

Preseli Hills The Preseli Hills or, as they are known locally and historically, Preseli Mountains, ( Welsh: ''Mynyddoedd y Preseli / Y Preselau'' , ) is a range of hills in western Wales, mostly within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The range stre ...

, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The community includes the

Llangolman Llangolman () is a village and parish in the southeastern Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is part of the community of Mynachlog-ddu. There are prehistoric remains nearby and the parish has a history of slate and clay quarrying. His ...

Origin of the name

The Welsh placename means "black monastic grange": before the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the parish belonged to St Dogmaels Abbey.

Geography

Mynachlog-ddu sits on a plateau above sea level between Carn Menyn (365m) and Foel Dyrch (368m) in the Preseli Hills.

History

Mynachlog-ddu and the surrounding Preselis are rich in prehistoric remains. It is one of the possible sites of the

Battle of Mynydd Carn The Battle of Mynydd Carn took place in 1081, as part of a dynastic struggle for control of the Welsh kingdoms of Gwynedd and Deheubarth. The result of the battle had a radical effect on the history of Wales. The battle is recorded in the near ...

in 1081. By c.1100 it was under the control of the Normans. Much has been unenclosed moorland since the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, with few houses. The village developed as housing for slate quarry workers and there has been a chapel in the village since 1794. The population of the parish in 1821 was 447. Entering Mynachlog-ddu - geograph

Carn Menyn is presumed to be the source of the

bluestone Bluestone is a cultural or commercial name for a number of dimension or building stone varieties, including: * basalt in Victoria, Australia, and in New Zealand * dolerites in Tasmania, Australia; and in Britain (including Stonehenge) * fe ...

s used in the inner circle of Stonehenge. In 2000/2001 a project was established to try to transport a piece of bluestone from the village to Stonehenge. The project ended when the stone sank in the sea. It was lifted out a few months after, but the project was never resumed. A comedy based on the idea of a campaign to have the bluestones returned

Bringing Back the Bluestones ''Bringing Back the Bluestones'' is a stage play by Derek Webb about a pressure group from Pembrokeshire campaigning to have the Stonehenge bluestones returned to Wales. It followed the fortunes of Roy Brown as he sets up the group, Carreg Las (W ...

premiered in Pembrokeshire. There are six

listed Listed may refer to: * Listed, Bornholm, a fishing village on the Danish island of Bornholm * Listed (MMM program), a television show on MuchMoreMusic * Endangered species in biology * Listed building, in architecture, designation of a historicall ...

structures in the community.

Worship

There are two places of worship in the village: the Anglican church (

Church in Wales The Church in Wales ( cy, Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru) is an Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses. The Archbishop of Wales does not have a fixed archiepiscopal see, but serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The p ...

) of

St Dogfael Saint Dogmael (or Docmael, Dogfael, Dogmeel, Dogwel, Toel) was a 6th-century Welsh monk and preacher who is considered a saint. His feast day is 14 June. Life Dogmael (or Dogfael, Dogwel) was of the house of Cunedda, descended from the kings of W ...

(sometimes, Dogmael), and Bethel, the

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...

meeting house.

Notable people

* The poet

Waldo Williams Waldo Goronwy Williams (30 September 1904 – 20 May 1971) was one of the leading Welsh-language poets of the 20th century. He was also a notable Christian pacifist, anti-war campaigner, and Welsh nationalist. He is often referred to by his f ...

(1904–1971) was a pupil at the primary school (where his father was headteacher) between 1911 and 1915, where he learned to speak Welsh. There is a memorial to him at nearby Rhos Fach. * Dutch naval officer and Colditz prisoner of war camp escapee

Damiaen Joan van Doorninck Damiaen J. van Doorninck (29 August 1902 Vught, Netherlands - 24 September 1987, Mynachlog-ddu, Wales

(1902–1987) spent his retirement in Mynachlogddu and died there.

References

External links

Further historical information and sources on GenukiPhotos of Mynachlog-Ddu and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk
{{authority control Villages in Pembrokeshire Communities in Pembrokeshire