Pen-y-clawdd


Pen-y-clawdd is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, situated between Raglan and Monmouth. The village is the site of a medieval fortification and there is a historic church with an ancient cross in the churchyard which is a scheduled monument.

Location

Pen-y-clawdd is located about two miles east of Raglan and five miles southwest of Monmouth, on the unclassified road leading from Usk to Monmouth, and to the east of the A449 trunk road.

History and amenities

The site of a possible medieval ringwork castle has been identified near the village at. Pen-y-clawdd was granted manorial status in 1349 when it was held by half a Knight's Fee by Walter de Kymbard from Lawrence de Hastings.
The Church of St Martin is the parish church. The church is constructed in a "mixture of Perpendicular and Decorated" styles and is a Grade II* listed building as of 27 November 1953. The churchyard contains a churchyard cross which is a scheduled monument. The church consists of a chancel, nave, south porch and a western tower with pyramidal stone roof. There is a stained glass east window. The register dates from 1727. The tower contains one bell, cast by Evans of Chepstow in 1793, with the inscription "Success to this City". A major restoration of the church was undertaken in 1885/86 and included the raising of the tower by about and the removal of chancel benches, the nave box pews and benches, and the two-decker pulpit and reading desk. A sepulchral slab, dated from the 14th Century, was discovered at this time.
Pen-y-clawdd House, a third of a mile south-east of the village, is described by Newman as "notable only for the plain but nobly scaled red brick arch, dated May 1861."
The house is not listed but the range of outbuildings, including the 17th century barn, is listed Grade II.