Henry Rowlands (1655–1723) was rector of Llanidan on

Anglesey Anglesey ( ; ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the Principal areas of Wales, county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island () and some islets and Skerry, sker ...

, and the author of ''Mona Antiqua Restaurata: An Archaeological Discourse on the Antiquities, Natural and Historical, of the Isle of Anglesey, the Antient Seat of the British Druids'' (first edition, 1723). The book includes an early description of

The Bridestones The Bridestones is a chambered cairn, near Congleton, Cheshire, England, that was constructed in the Neolithic period about 3500–2400 BC. It was described in 1764 as being long and wide, containing three separate compartments, of which only ...

Life

The son of William Rowlands, of Plas Gwyn, Llanedwen, Anglesey, by his wife Maud, daughter of Edward Wynne of Penhesgyn, he was born in 1655 at Plas Gwyn, the seat of the Rowlands family. He received a classical education, took holy orders, and was presented on 2 Oct. 1696 to the living of Llanidan, to which three small chapels were attached. Rowlands never travelled far from home. He died on 21 November 1723, and was buried at Llanedwen church. By his wife, Elizabeth Nicholas, he left two daughters and three sons.

Works

Rowlands investigated of

stone circle A stone circle is a ring of megalithic standing stones. Most are found in Northwestern Europe – especially Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany – and typically date from the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with most being ...

cromlech A cromlech (sometimes also spelled "cromleh" or "cromlêh"; cf Welsh ''crom'', "bent"; ''llech'', "slate") is a megalithic construction made of large stone blocks. The word applies to two different megalithic forms in English, the first being a ...

s, and other prehistoric remains. He conjectured that Anglesey was the ancient centre of the Druids. His major work was ''Mona Antiqua Restaurata, an Archæological Discourse on the Antiquities Natural and Historical of the Island'' (Dublin, 1723). A second edition was issued, London, 1766, and a supplement with topographical details in 1775. Rowlands also wrote a ''Treatise on Geology'' and ''Idea Agriculturæ: the Principles of Vegetation asserted and defended. An Essay on Husbandry'' (1764), based on personal observations. He left in manuscript a parochial history of Anglesey, written in Latin, ''Antiquitates Parochiales''; it was partly translated in the ''Cambro Briton'', and also published in the original Latin, with an English version, in vols. i.–iv. of the ''Archæologia Cambrensis''. The hundred of Menai only was completed.

References

;Attribution 1655 births 1723 deaths People from Anglesey 17th-century Welsh Anglican priests 18th-century Welsh Anglican priests 18th-century Welsh historians Welsh archaeologists {{archaeologist-stub