Bettws Cedewain Explained

Official Name:Bettws Cedewain
Welsh Name:Betws Cedewain
Coordinates:52.561°N -3.295°W
Population:445
Population Ref:(2011)
Os Grid Reference:SO122967
Community Wales:Betws Cedewain
Unitary Wales:Powys
Lieutenancy Wales:Powys
Country:Wales
Post Town:NEWTOWN
Postcode District:SY16
Postcode Area:SY
Post Town1:WELSHPOOL
Postcode District1:SY21
Postcode Area1:SY
Dial Code:01686
Constituency Westminster:Montgomeryshire
Constituency Welsh Assembly:Montgomeryshire
Static Image:St Beunos Church, Bettws Cedewain (geograph 1848914).jpg
Static Image Caption:St Beuno's church

Bettws Cedewain (Welsh: Betws Cedewain), also known as Bettws Cedewen, is a small village and community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. It lies in a sheltered valley on the banks of the River Bechan, some 3miles north of Newtown, on the B4389 road. The community is known as Betws Cedewain,[1] and includes the hamlets of Highgate and Brooks.

A wooden motte-and-bailey castle appears to have existed there at one time. The site was also possibly previously used by Roman soldiers, and an ancient church was founded there by Saint Beuno in the 6th century.

Bettws Cedewain's Grade II* listed St Beuno's church, which was the location of the village's first schoolroom, contains possibly the only pre-Reformation memorial brass in the county, dedicated to the Reverend John ap Meredyth for his work in planning and building the tower.

Until 1914, most properties in the village belonged to the Gregynog estate.

Bettws Hall is a local venue for game bird shoots.

The first element in the name of the village is from the Middle English word bedhus, meaning "prayer house", which became betws in Welsh.[2] Cedewain is the name of the medieval land division, or cantref, in which the village is situated.

National Cycle Route 81 (Lôn Cambria) passes through the village.[3]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Betws Cedewain Community. Mapit. 17 November 2023.
  2. http://kimkat.org/amryw/1_enwau/enwau_lleoedd_cymru_geirfa_a_0817e.htm Welsh Place Names Dictionary
  3. Web site: Geograph:: Village shop - Bettws Cedewain © Penny Mayes cc-by-sa/2.0 . 2024-07-30 . www.geograph.org.uk.