Eliot Collins

The Church of St Cynyw in Llangyniew, Powys is a late medieval structure on the site of a much earlier church.
The little whitewashed church sits surrounded by seven ancient yews in a raised, oval-shaped churchyard. The location, as well as the dedication to a little-known, 6th century Welsh Saint point towards a pre-Norman foundation, but the earliest recorded evidence dates from 1254.
The current building was built between 1450 and 1500. The late 15th century label is based on the rustic timber porch and doorway, the Perpendicular Gothic east window, the font and screen. The screen is a particularly well preserved element, substantially complete apart from the loss of the original rood loft. Some posts were turned into pendants in the 19th century, but the Perpendicular filigree carvings are largely intact.
The church retains its post-medieval plaster interior and barrel ceiling as St Cynyw's escaped the zeal of 19th century "restoration" with only a few alterations. These include the pews and west gallery. The stenciling above the east window and along the top of the nave walls are a Victorian addition.
The altar and sanctuary received to most Victorian attention. The Gothic revival reredos are late 19th century and the faded wall paintings that flank the east window, depicting the Incarnation and Resurrection, commemorate two Victorian rectors. Both stained glass windows were added in the early 20th century.
Large, gravel car park nearby. Visibility getting back on to the lane isn't great.

Metchley Roman Fort in Edgbaston, Birmingham was a short lived fortification, built soon after the Roman invasion of Britain and rediscovered in the 18th century.
Located along the Roman road of Icknield Street, the fort was typical in its layout. 200 square metres defended by an earth bank and timber wall, corner towers and double ditches. The buildings within were all timber and it held a garrison of around 500 men.
Initial occupation began in 48BCE but after around 10 years it was converted into a storage depot. A few years later it became a fort again until 70BCE when it was abandoned. A few years later it was reoccupied again but only until 120BCE.
Later expansions added small annexes on three sides. When the fort was at its largest a civilian town, known as a vicus, grew up around the fort's West gate but only lasted a few years.
The Roman name for Metchley is not known, nor the unit garrisoned there. Nearby forts at Alcester and Droitwich both developed into towns but Metchley was forgotten.
Only small sections of the fort's earthworks are now visible between the University of Birmingham Medical School and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. If the earthworks weren't a giveaway, a quartet of unassuming interpretation boards along the path from the University train station to the hospital is the only clue to the forts location.

St Erfyl's Church in Llanerfyl was founded originally in the 5th or 6th century but the current structure dates from 1870. The settlement grew up on the Roman road from Neath to Chester.
Evidence for the early medieval church can be found in the rounded churchyard, Patriarch Yew and an inscribed gravestone thought to be the earliest Christian artefact in the county.
The roughly engraved text on the glacial boulder has been identified as Romano-British but furrows and fissures in the rock make it difficult to decipher. It commemorates the death of a young girl.
Much of the fabric of the current church dates from the late 19th century reconstruction but several elements within the church were recovered from the earlier buildings on the site, including the medieval font and shrine.
Located near the altar is the remains of a 15th century shrine. Originally recessed into the wall of the medieval church, the screen is oak and is held together with oak pegs. It is though to have originally surrounded a statue, probably to St Erfyl.
Three painted panels of the original west gallery hang in the chancel. Dating from 1727, the panels are almost certainly unique in Wales in their style and the figures depicted within. The outer panels feature Moses and At Peter with the 10 Commandments, the Baptism of Christ and the Crucifixion. The central panel depicts the Battle of Heaven, complete with the Madonna and Child, a dragon and text from Revelation.

The first verifiable record of St Myllin's Church in Llanfyllin dates to 1254, though oral tradition would have it there as early as the 7th century. It is said the Irish monk St. Moling is buried beneath the altar.
The current structure is a Wren-style church built in 1706, then updated and "Normanised" in the mid 19th century by Walter Scott. This update saw the addition of much of the stained glass and a triumphal-arch chancel screen. However, further work in 1959 saw a return to a more traditionally austere appearance. This renovation removed much of the wall decorations, to be replaced with oak panelling.
The resulting church now is clean and almost minimalist for a late Stuart, early Georgian era church. The red brick is local to Llanfyllin, and the slate roof is most likely from North Wales.

This interesting little church was built around 1864 as the parish church. The exterior is simple with a small bellcote and south porch.
Inside, the nave an chancel are undivided but the east end is apisidal, with close set roof beams forming half a dome. The pulpit is intricately carved Cefn stone, as is the font.
Outside there is a small lychgate dating to around 1870.