Beguildy
| Beguildy Welsh: Bugeildy | |
| Radnorshire | |
|---|---|
 Beguildy village shop | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SO194797 |
| Location: | 52°24’32"N, 3°11’2"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 704 |
| Post town: | Knighton |
| Dialling code: | 01547 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Powys |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Brecon & Radnorshire |
Beguildy is a small village and extensive parish in northern Radnorshire near the border with Shropshire.
It lies in a remote tract of countryside, eight miles northwest of Knighton, on the B4355 road to Newtown. It lies near the headwaters of the River Teme and has an elevation of 833ft. The name means "the shepherd's house", a reference to the pastoral occupation of its inhabitants.
The village has a pub (the Radnorshire Arms), a post office, a place of worship and a primary school.
Community
The large, rural parish of Beguildy includes the settlements of Beguildy, Felindre, Dutlas, Lloyney, Heyope and Knucklas.[1]
Castle
Beguildy Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey castle of which the well preserved 20-foot high motte and earthworks remain.[2]
Church
The church, which is mainly 14th century, was restored considerably in the 19th century, with the chancel being rebuilt in 1885 and the nave restored in 1896. The original tower collapsed in the 19th century and bells, which date from 1661 and 1664, were re-hung in their present position in 1936.
The church features a 14th-century octagonal font (which reputed to carry marks made by Cromwell's troops sharpening their swords), a holy water stoup at the south door and a priests door in the south wall. The Rood screen is a fine example of 15th century workmanship and is well preserved, bearing the original coloured Tudor Roses. Probably from the same period are two oak benches. The dug out parish chest, which was reputedly hewn out of a solid block of timber, is an ancient churchwarden's chest and probably dates form the 13th century. At the end of the chest is an iron ring for use when it was drawn by a horse to be buried or hidden in times of trouble. One part of the chest would have held the church valuables and the other the churchwardens treasures. Each compartment was locked separately. The church is well endowed with 20th-century stained glass windows.
Associations
John Dee (Black Jack) was born in Beguildy in 1527 and served at the court of Elizabeth I as the royal tutor in mathematics. He later became the Queen's Ambassador to Poland but is remembered as a distinguished early scientist and astronomer. He was reputedly a descendant of Rhodri Mawr.
References
- ↑ Ordnance Survey Election Maps
- ↑ "Beguildy Castle". Castles and Fortifications of England and Wales. http://www.ecastles.co.uk/beguildy.html. Retrieved 2007-07-16.