Skenfrith

Skenfrith (Welsh: Ynysgynwraidd) is a small village in Monmouthshire, south-east Wales. It is located on the River Monnow, close to the border between Wales and England, about 6 miles (9.7 km) north-west of Monmouth.[1]

Skenfrith
Skenfrith from the air, showing the castle and River Monnow
Skenfrith is located in Monmouthshire
Skenfrith
Skenfrith
Location within Monmouthshire
OS grid referenceSO457201
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townAbergavenny
Postcode districtNP7
Dialling code01600
PoliceGwent
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

History and amenities

The Welsh placename Ynysgynwraidd, from which the English name derives, means "island of Cynfraeth", possibly a local 6th century leader.

Skenfrith Castle is 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 in ruins.

St. Bridget's Church, Skenfrith

St. Bridget's Church, Skenfrith was first mentioned in 1207, and was reconstructed and enlarged in the 14th century. The church has a squat tower and large buttress. The whole is listed Grade1. The interior has a Jacobean pew and the tomb of the last governor of the Three Castles.[2] 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.[3]

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 2007 Pub of the Year, for the whole of Great Britain.[4]

Skenfrith was used as the location for the fictional village of "Upper Leadworth" in the Doctor Who episodes "Amy's Choice", broadcast on 22 May 2010 and the related Doctor Who Confidential episode "Arthurian Legend". In the episode quoted Skenfrith was labelled as the village which time forgot.[5]

In 2022 Skenfrith became a community.[6]

Friends of St. Bridget's

There is an active secular charity, the Friends of St. Bridget's, Skenfrith, which supports the repair and maintenance of the church and has raised funds, in particular for the recent conservation project and new display and conservation of the pre-reformation cope. Patrons include the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent Simon Boyle, Sara Fulgoni and Sir Roy Strong.[7]

References
  1. AA Book of British Villages. Drive Publications Limited. 1980. p. 355. ISBN 9780340254875.
  2. Skenfrith at Britainexpress.com
  3. Leaflet, The Skenfrith Cope, Church of St. Bridget, Skenfrith
  4. The Bell at Skenfrith
  5. Campbell, Mark; Newman, Kim (April 2011). Doctor Who: The Episode Guide. ISBN 9781842436608.
  6. "The Monmouthshire (Communities) Order 2021". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  7. "Friends of St. Bridget's, Skenfrith". friendsofstbridgetsskenfrith.co.uk/. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
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