Llanfoist


Llanfoist is a village, near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. The name derives from that of Ffwyst, an early Christian Welsh saint, although the anglicised name of the church patron is St Faith. The population was 1,228 in 2011. It gives its name to the community of Llanfoist Fawr.

The Church of St Faith

1901 Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire describes the parish church of St Faith's:
The church holds records for baptisms from 1736–1975, for marriages from 1736–1971, for banns from 1824–47 and 1890–1933, and for burials from 1736-1945. There are also Bishops Transcripts for 1725-32, 1734–51, 1753-4, 1756–75, 1777–1806, 1808–10, 1813, 1815–16, 1820–37, 1841–58, 1862–1865, 1869 and 1880.
The parish of Llanelen has historically been held with Llanfoist, although since the retirement of the last resident Rector, the Reverend Thomas Arthur Foster in 1992 the parishes have been served from Govilon. At the time of his departure, Father Foster was the longest serving incumbent in the Diocese of Monmouth, having held the benefice since 1959. His predecessor, the Reverend Harold Stanley Richards served between 1930-59.
The village also had a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, erected in 1839. In 1851 the attendance was 200 for morning worship, 200 scholars in the afternoon and 40 for evening worhsip with 50 scholars.

Crawshay Bailey and Alexander Cordell

Llanfoist was home to the ironmaster, Crawshay Bailey. Before 1851 he had retired to Llanfoist House in the village. Llanfoist Primary School had a house named after him until 2008 when the House was renamed 'Skirrid'. He died in 1872, aged 83, after at least seventy years in industry. His only son and heir, also Crawshay Bailey, inherited his estate.
The novelist Alexander Cordell, most famously author of Rape of the Fair Country is buried at Llanfoist.

Amenities and attractions

The village is located beneath the hill known as Blorenge, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, rising above sea level over the vale of the River Usk. The hill can be ascended on foot from Llanfoist, straight up its 'front', a very direct route but also very steep. The rewarding views from the top are among the best in South Wales.
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs just above the village offering an excellent flat route for contour walking along the valley side, with views across to the Black Mountains. Llanfoist Wharf, at a very picturesque location, a quarter of the way up the Blorenge, is now owned by a narrowboat hire company.
The village has a church hall, situated on the Merthyr Road, which holds Public Liability Insurance.

Recent developments

The Llanfoist Fawr Primary School moved to a new location in the Barratt estate on Gypsy Lane and was opened in 2008.
On 2 January 2012 an ancient yew tree in the grounds of St Faith's Church, which was believed to be up to 1,000 years old, was brought down by high winds.