Llanasa is a village and

community A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...

Flintshire Flintshire () is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, the Dee Estuary to the north-east, the English county of Cheshire to the east, Wrexham County Borough to the south, and Denbighshire to the west. ...

, north-east

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. Llanasa is described as one of the ancient parishes of Flintshire. It originally comprised the townships of Gronant, Gwespyr, Kelston, Golden Grove, Picton, Trewaelod, Axtyn and Trelogan. The modern community also includes Ffynnongroyw and Glan yr afon.

History

Named after

Saint Asaph Saint Asaph (or Asaf, Asa) was, in the second half of the 6th century, the first Bishop of St Asaph, i.e. bishop of the diocese of Saint Asaph. Biography No traditional Welsh language, Welsh account devoted to the life of Asaph exists. He is, ...

the village is known to have existed since at least c.600 AD and was originally called ''Llanasaph'' meaning ''the Church of Saint Asaph''. It was where the tomb and

relics In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other person preserved for the purpose of veneration as a tangible memorial. Reli ...

of Saint Asaph were enshrined before they were moved to the larger St Asaph Cathedral sometime before 1281.Village of Llanasa
/ref> This ancient

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

was later the burial place of Gruffudd Fychan (the father of

Owain Glyndŵr Owain ap Gruffydd (28 May 135420 September 1415), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr (Glyn Dŵr, , anglicised as Owen Glendower) was a Welsh people, Welsh leader, soldier and military commander in the Wales in the late Middle Ages, late Middle ...

). The stone slab which covered his tomb survives and is engraved with the words ''HIC LACET GRVFVD VACHAN'' or "here lies Gruffudd Fychan". This slab, according to records, was originally in the centre of the south aisle and it would appear that Gruffudd Fychan was buried in this church sometime between 1350 and 1370. His remains have not been found. Welsh relatives of Glyndŵr, known as the Hughes of Gwerclas family, continued to live in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Elis Gruffydd Elis Gruffydd (1490–1552), sometimes known as "The soldier of Calais", was a Welsh chronicler, transcriber, and translator. He is known foremost for his massive chronicle ''Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd'' (''Chronicle of the Six Ages''), which cover ...

, the 'Soldier of Calais', was born at Gronant Uchaf in this parish. He travelled to Calais first with Sir Robert Wingfield in 1520. Returning after a spell in London, he completed in around 1522 his massive world history, 'Cronicl Oes y Byd', telling of the Six Ages, and specifically the histories of Wales and England. The work is now contained in two manuscripts at the National Library of Wales.

Golden Grove

Golden Grove () is a Grade I listed 16th century Elizabethan manor house in a 1,000 acres estate to the west of the village. It was built c. 1580 by Sir Edward Morgan and renovated during the reign of Queen Anne. It was passed down in the Morgan family, several of whom were Sheriffs of Flintshire, until 1877, when it was sold to industrial chemist Henry Davis Pochin, who had already bought Bodnant. The late 19th century terraced garden with yew

topiary Topiary is the horticultural practice of training perennial plants by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs and subshrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes, whether geometric or fanciful. The term also refers to plants w ...

, was designed by Henry Pochin's daughter Laura, wife of Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway, and leads from the house to the remains of a 17th-century walled garden. The house is now a luxury bed and breakfast hotel.

References

External links

Photos of Lanasa and surrounding area on geograph.org.ukLlanasa Conservation Society
{{authority control Villages in Flintshire Communities in Flintshire