Skenfrith
Encyclopedia
Skenfrith is a small village
in Monmouthshire
, south-east Wales
, in the United Kingdom
. It is located on the River Monnow
, close to the border between Wales and England, about 6 miles north-west of Monmouth
.
Skenfrith is most famous for its castle
, one of the Three (or 'trilateral') Castles – with Grosmont Castle
and White Castle
– built in the area after the Norman conquest by Marcher Lords
to subjugate and dominate this part of the turbulent Welsh Marches
into the medieval period. The castle was substantially rebuilt by Hubert de Burgh between 1219 and 1223, but by 1538 it was abandoned and ruinous.
St. Bridget's church was first mentioned in 1207, and was reconstructed and enlarged in the 14th century. The church has a squat tower and large buttress, built because of its unstable foundations. The interior has a Jacobean pew and the tomb of the last governor of the Three Castles. It also holds the Skenfrith Cope
, an embroidered
vestment
of red velvet
and linen
which has been dated to the late 15th century. Its design shows the Assumption
of the Virgin
, surrounded by angels and saints.
The village gave its name to one of the historic hundreds of Monmouthshire.
The Bell at Skenfrith, originally a 17th century coaching inn, was voted Michelin Pub of the year in 2007, for the whole of Great Britain.
Skenfrith was used as the location for the fictional village of "Upper Leadworth" in the Doctor Who
episode "Amy's Choice
", broadcast on 22 May 2010.
In June 2010 a regular Produce Market opened in the Village Hall on the second Saturday of each month. This was set up to promote local producers of meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables, honey, bread, jams and preserves, cakes, cider, beer and cheese.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, south-east Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located on the River Monnow
River Monnow
The River Monnow flows through south-west Herefordshire, England and eastern Monmouthshire, Wales.- Border River :For much of its short length it marks the border between England and Wales before it joins the River Wye at Monmouth. The Wye is also half English from Monmouth until it meets the...
, close to the border between Wales and England, about 6 miles north-west of Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
.
History and amenities
The Welsh placename Ynysgynwraidd, from which the English name derives, means "island of Cynfraeth", possibly a local 6th century leader.Skenfrith is most famous for its castle
Skenfrith Castle
Skenfrith Castle is a medieval castle located in Monmouthshire, Wales. The castle is in the centre of the village of Skenfrith, located on the banks of the River Monnow, just five miles to the north of the town of Monmouth...
, one of the Three (or 'trilateral') Castles – with Grosmont Castle
Grosmont Castle
Grosmont Castle is a ruined castle in Grosmont, Monmouthshire very near the present English / Welsh border, approximately 8 miles northeast of Abergavenny, between Abergavenny, Hereford and Monmouth.-Grosmont Castle:...
and White Castle
White Castle (Wales)
White Castle is a medieval castle located in Monmouthshire, Wales. The name "White Castle" was first recorded in the thirteenth century, and was derived from the whitewash put on the stone walls. The castle was originally called Llantilio Castle , after Llantilio Crossenny, the mediæval manor of...
– built in the area after the Norman conquest by Marcher Lords
Marcher Lords
A Marcher Lord was a strong and trusted noble appointed by the King of England to guard the border between England and Wales.A Marcher Lord is the English equivalent of a margrave...
to subjugate and dominate this part of the turbulent Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
into the medieval period. The castle was substantially rebuilt by Hubert de Burgh between 1219 and 1223, but by 1538 it was abandoned and ruinous.
St. Bridget's church was first mentioned in 1207, and was reconstructed and enlarged in the 14th century. The church has a squat tower and large buttress, built because of its unstable foundations. The interior has a Jacobean pew and the tomb of the last governor of the Three Castles. It also holds the Skenfrith Cope
Cope
The cope is a liturgical vestment, a very long mantle or cloak, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colour....
, an embroidered
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
vestment
Vestment
Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially among Latin Rite and other Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans...
of red velvet
Velvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed,with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel.The word 'velvety' is used as an adjective to mean -"smooth like velvet".-Composition:...
and linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
which has been dated to the late 15th century. Its design shows the Assumption
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
of the Virgin
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
, surrounded by angels and saints.
The village gave its name to one of the historic hundreds of Monmouthshire.
The Bell at Skenfrith, originally a 17th century coaching inn, was voted Michelin Pub of the year in 2007, for the whole of Great Britain.
Skenfrith was used as the location for the fictional village of "Upper Leadworth" in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
episode "Amy's Choice
Amy's Choice (Doctor Who)
"Amy's Choice" is the seventh episode in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast on BBC One on 15 May 2010...
", broadcast on 22 May 2010.
In June 2010 a regular Produce Market opened in the Village Hall on the second Saturday of each month. This was set up to promote local producers of meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables, honey, bread, jams and preserves, cakes, cider, beer and cheese.