Pilleth
Encyclopedia
Pilleth is a small village south of Knighton in Powys
, Wales
. It is the site of the ancient church and holy well
of St. Mary’s which stands on Bryn Glas Hill overlooking the River Lugg
, as it makes it way to Presteigne
.
It is thought by historians that Pilleth has been a place of worship since the foundations of the early Celtic Christian
church. People would make pilgrimage
s to the holy well, reputed to have healing properties for the eyes in particular. The church was much frequented in the Middle Ages
, with the current structure dating mainly from the 13th century, the tower from the 14th century, and its single bell from circa 1450.
The church was greatly damaged during the 1402 battle, and a fire in 1894 destroyed much of the ancient woodwork, with surviving items transferred to other local churches. As a result of new cottages being built, the village began to grow again in late Victorian
times to a population of over 100. In 1909 Sir Walter Tapper
was engaged by local businessman Edward Whitehead, who installed a temporary roof and the stone steps on the southern side.
After the sword, breastplate and set of spurs reportedly belonging to Sir John Price were stolen in the 1990s, The Friends of Pilleth was formed to help raise funds for the restoration and ongoing maintenance of St Mary’s. A major programme of restoration was undertaken in 2002-2004, partly funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
and with support from the European Regional Development Fund
. The church is open for worship, with services usually at 3.00p.m. on the 4th Sunday in summer months.
Pilleth was also the location of one of the most important battles in Welsh history. On 22 June 1402 during the battle of Battle of Bryn Glas
, the Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr
defeated the English forces of Sir Edmund Mortimer
, Lord of the March; the Welsh force went on to sack and burn Leominster
.
The Battle of Pilleth was subsequently mentioned by Shakespeare in Henry IV, Part 1
. In the 19th century four redwood Wellingtonia trees
were planted after the discovery of a large burial ground.
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, 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...
. It is the site of the ancient church and holy well
Holy well
A holy well, or sacred spring, is a small body of water emerging from underground and revered either in a Pagan or Christian context, often both. Holy wells were frequently pagan sacred sites that later became Christianized. The term 'holy well' is commonly employed to refer to any water source of...
of St. Mary’s which stands on Bryn Glas Hill overlooking the River Lugg
River Lugg
The River Lugg , rises near Llangynllo, Powys. It flows through the border town of Presteigne, Wales then through Herefordshire, England, including the town of Leominster, south of which it is met by a tributary, the River Arrow, then to a confluence with the River Wye, which it joins at Mordiford,...
, as it makes it way to Presteigne
Presteigne
Presteigne is a town and community in Powys, Wales. It was the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, and is in the Diocese of Hereford...
.
Name
The earliest reference to Pilleth is in the Doomesday Book, where it is noted as Pilelei. There are various explanations as to the origins of the name:- Pwll-y-Llethr – translated from Welsh to The Pit on the Slope, which could refer to the healing well of the church of St. Mary
- Pill Lledd – translated to The Wide Refuge which could refer to a tunnel from the monastery at Monaughty to the well
Well and the church
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
church. People would make pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
s to the holy well, reputed to have healing properties for the eyes in particular. The church was much frequented in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, with the current structure dating mainly from the 13th century, the tower from the 14th century, and its single bell from circa 1450.
The church was greatly damaged during the 1402 battle, and a fire in 1894 destroyed much of the ancient woodwork, with surviving items transferred to other local churches. As a result of new cottages being built, the village began to grow again in late Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
times to a population of over 100. In 1909 Sir Walter Tapper
Walter Tapper
Sir Walter Tapper was a British architect known for Gothic Revivalist architecture. On his death in 1935 his son Michael Tapper completed some of his works....
was engaged by local businessman Edward Whitehead, who installed a temporary roof and the stone steps on the southern side.
After the sword, breastplate and set of spurs reportedly belonging to Sir John Price were stolen in the 1990s, The Friends of Pilleth was formed to help raise funds for the restoration and ongoing maintenance of St Mary’s. A major programme of restoration was undertaken in 2002-2004, partly funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
and with support from the European Regional Development Fund
European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund is a fund allocated by the European Union.-History:During the 1960s, the European Commission occasionally tried to establish a regional fund. Only Italy ever supported this, however, and nothing came of it. Britain made it an issue for their accession in...
. The church is open for worship, with services usually at 3.00p.m. on the 4th Sunday in summer months.
Battle of Bryn Glas
- For main article on the battle, see Battle of Bryn GlasBattle of Bryn GlasThe Battle of Bryn Glas, was fought on 22 June 1402, near the towns of Knighton and Presteigne in Powys...
Pilleth was also the location of one of the most important battles in Welsh history. On 22 June 1402 during the battle of Battle of Bryn Glas
Battle of Bryn Glas
The Battle of Bryn Glas, was fought on 22 June 1402, near the towns of Knighton and Presteigne in Powys...
, the Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
defeated the English forces of Sir Edmund Mortimer
Edmund Mortimer
-Members of the Marcher family of Mortimer:*Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Wigmore*Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, and his second son*Edmund Mortimer, son of the 3rd Earl*Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March...
, Lord of the March; the Welsh force went on to sack and burn Leominster
Leominster
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
.
The Battle of Pilleth was subsequently mentioned by Shakespeare in Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare's tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV , and Henry V...
. In the 19th century four redwood Wellingtonia trees
Sequoiadendron
Sequoiadendron giganteum is the sole living species in the genus Sequoiadendron, and one of three species of coniferous trees known as redwoods, classified in the family Cupressaceae in the subfamily Sequoioideae, together with Sequoia sempervirens and...
were planted after the discovery of a large burial ground.