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Latitude: 53.1286 / 53°7'43"N
Longitude: -3.2788 / 3°16'43"W
OS Eastings: 314533
OS Northings: 359815
OS Grid: SJ145598
Mapcode National: GBR 6T.6VDD
Mapcode Global: WH779.LMWD
Plus Code: 9C5R4PHC+FF
Entry Name: Old Church of St Peter
Listing Date: 19 July 1966
Last Amended: 24 June 1999
Grade: II
Source: Cadw
Source ID: 738
Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Location: Strikingly located within a raised and revetted churchyard on the eastern slope of the Vale of Clwyd, approximately 0.5km N of the village centre and 200m SW of Llanbedr hall; accessed via a footpath
County: Denbighshire
Town: Ruthin
Community: Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd
Community: Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd
Locality: Llanbedr Dyffryn-Clwyd
Traditional County: Denbighshire
First mentioned in the Lincoln 'Taxatio' of 1291 and valued at £418 in the 'Valor' of 1535. The fabric is of two main periods; the western half is probably late C13, and the eastern half a rebuild or extension of the C14 or C15. With the exception of a post-Reformation 2-light mullioned window to the former bell loft and a first-half C19 bellcote, the surviving openings, such as they are, are medieval, and the W, S and (blocked) N entrances belong to the primary construction phase. The church was abandoned in 1863 in favour of a new parish church, built at the expense of Mr Jesse of Llanbedr Hall to designs by Poundley and Walker.
The church is currently a roofless ruin and with the exception of the W gable, which survives to full height, the walls have been reduced to a height of some 2m. A late medieval timber-framed S porch, recorded as still standing in 1966, has now gone; some of its rotten members are stacked in the NW corner.
Ruins of former parish church. Of single cell plan with walls reduced except at the W end where full height. The fabric is of two phases of construction, distinguished by clear masonry breaks to the N and S nave walls. The earlier, western half is mostly of red sandstone rubble construction; the eastern is mostly of limestone and slatestone rubble; there is evidence for the walls having formerly been externally rendered and limewashed. The masonry of the W gable has suffered much weather erosion. It has a high chamfered plinth and a pointed-arched central entrance with returned label. Above this is a 2-light bell-loft window with dressed slate jambs and an oak mullion. Tall first-half C19 bellcote of limestone ashlar, with plain bell-opening. Double pointed-arched S entrance with square-headed stoup to the R; the low rubble plinth walls of a former timber-framed porch survive. Similar N entrance, though blocked-up with C19 brick. To the L of this is an irregular circular squint, cut through the thickness of the wall and perhaps medieval. It is possible that this relates to a former anchorite's cell.
The later chancel section has the base of a former window on the S side and the surviving sill of a 4-light, hollow-chamfered E tracery window. Several sections of red sandstone Perpendicular tracery lights lie to the E of the chancel and may relate to this. The SE corner has (post-medieval) set-back, slatestone buttressing.
Drawbar holes to W and S entrances, the latter both with four-centred inner arches. The chancel and sanctuary are stepped up and the latter has a depressed-arched sandstone doorway head propped-up against its S wall; projecting keystone inscribed GI IF Wardens 17[3 or 7][ last figure lost].
The W wall retains some large patches of historic lime plaster and limewash. On the R side of the W entrance, approximately 1.8m from ground level are the fragmentary remains of painted decoration which appear to be medieval.
Listed Grade II for its special interest as a ruinous medieval former parish church.
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