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Llandissilio grass circles -a mystery ?
Local History
Llandissilio
The village lies in the parish of Llandissilio West in the former shire of Pembroke, and takes its name from Tysilio a 6th century saint. It is not known when the first church bearing his name was founded, but the early inscribed stones testify to the presence of Christians in the area from the late 5th or early 6th centuries. The parish was once known as Llanysilio yn Nyfed, distinguishing it from others bearing the saint’s name.
Boundaries
Llandissilio parish became divided centuries ago. During the Middle Ages, the part of the parish containing the church was under the jurisdiction of the Barony of Llawhaden. The surrounding area was in a different lordship. The separation was perpetuated at the union of England and Wales when the Lordship of Llawhaden became part of Pembrokeshire and the surrounding areas joined the shire of Carmarthen. Llandissilio West today consists of 1,748 acres and is within Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council. Llandissilio village is the main growth point within the parish which is one of the few rural parishes in Pembrokeshire to have a bigger population now than at any time since population records began.
Prehistory
Llandissilio parish contains many prehistoric sites. Aerial photography has revealed an enclosure at Pencnwc while a most exciting discovery, by Dyfed Archaeological Trust, has revealed a linear crop mark across the village which may be evidence of a cursus – part of some ceremonial complex, possibly dating from the Neolithic period. An area north of the village, around Glandy Cross, has been revealed by Dyfed Archaeological Trust, as the most important group of early prehistoric monuments in South West Wales with more than 20 major late Neolithic and Bronze Age sites. Near Llandissilio the Bronze Age is recalled by a circular mound at Penyrardd, the farm name Crugyderi and field names like Parc Carreg Llwyd. While a hillfort at Casgwyn – Castell Gwyn – with a U shaped enclosure, and possibly another at Pantycadno, are visual evidence of the Iron Age. Aerial photography suggests that there were other defended enclosures in the locality during this period.
Inscribed Stones
There are four of these stones, one being just a fragment. They all have a Latin inscription, with the one commemorating Clutonix, son of Paulinus Marinus of Latium, probably being the oldest which dates from the late 5th or early 6th century. Much interest has been taken in the significance of the word ‘Latium’, but discussion as to whether it refers to part of Italy or a location in Wales of Ireland, is still unresolved.
Evolenggus, son of Litogenus, is referred to on the next stone, with the inscription “He lies here”. This stone is thought to date from the late 6th century. Only the letters RIAT are legible on the third stone, which is possibly a fragment of a pillar stone. An outline ring cross of ‘Maltese’ form may be seen on the fourth, this is dated later than the others from between the 7th and 11th centuries.
These stones have been built into the outside wall of the church, the Maltese cross in the external southwest angle and the others in the south wall of the nave. This is not their original position since the church is a relatively modern structure. The stones are diabase from the Preselis – similar to the ‘blue’ stones of Stonehenge. Inside the church is a further inscribed stone brought here from Egremont when that church was demolished.