Llanafan Fawr combines an early medieval monastic tradition with later building phases and other traces of the village’s history. Its location can be understood in terms of the river, settlement and road: Llanafan Fawr lies on the west side of the Chwefri River. The settlement is west of its church, on a slightly raised spur of land, overlooking the crossing of the Chwefri valley by the B4358 between Newbridge and Beulah.

St Afan’s Church and its history

An early medieval monastic site is among Llanafan Fawr’s historical roots. According to tradition, St Afan founded the church in the 7th century. It later became the mother church of several smaller churches and chapels in the surrounding region. The churchyard also offers grounds for an early historical interpretation: it forms a large, circular enclosure, of a kind often associated with early ecclesiastical sites.

The churchyard contains the grave of St Afan, a large altar tomb with a decorated slab. Three yew trees also stand there, and the platform of the former chancel is still visible. Other historical dates can be distinguished at the church: its tower dates from 1765, and the church was extensively rebuilt in 1887. Thus, a tradition of a 7th-century foundation, an 18th-century structure and a comprehensive 19th-century rebuilding stand side by side.

The church lies on the B4358, the road from Beulah to Newbridge-on-Wye, opposite the Red Lion Inn. This provides a specific landmark on the road to complement the settlement’s location on the spur, without treating the two locations as one and the same.

Other historical traces

The Red Lion Inn is the oldest surviving residential building in the village. It is a former hall house from the early post-medieval period, built with timber framing and cruck framing. This residential architecture complements the church’s building phases with a different kind of historic fabric.

Thomas Huet is also connected with the churchyard: he is buried there and translated the Book of Revelation into Welsh in the 16th century. His story links Llanafanfawr with the Welsh language and the transmission of religious texts.

Ller'r Prior is a scheduled ancient monument. Until the early 20th century, the local community used the site for games and events, including cockfighting. The ecclesiastical centre may also have become an important local pilgrimage centre for a time. The wording as a possibility preserves the qualification found in the historical account.

The historical themes offer different perspectives: the church represents monastic tradition and religious architectural history, the Red Lion Inn represents surviving residential architecture, and Ller'r Prior represents community use. Those who choose Llanafanfawr for its cultural and historical associations will find not just a single building phase, but different perspectives on the history of the place.

Discover more destinations: Llanymynech, Ystradfellte, Erwood, Cwmdu, Cwm-twrch Uchaf, Sarn, Rhayader, Llanbedr.

For the overall travel guide: Powys.