Top Historic Sights in Brecon, United Kingdom
Explore the historic highlights of Brecon
St Mary's Church
St Mary"s Church is a parish church in Brecon. It appears to have been built as early as the latter end of the 12th, or beginning of the following century, but the present structure is not of that early date. The eastern window of the chancel is Gothic of the middle age, and the prevailing style of its architecture indicates that it was not erected till after the year 1015. None of its decorations or pillars date to ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
Brecon Cathedral
Because of the characteristic round shape of its churchyard, the Brecon cathedral is thought to be on the site of an earlier Celtic church, of which no trace remains. A new church, dedicated to St. John, was built on the orders of Bernard de Neufmarché, the Norman knight who conquered the kingdom of Brycheiniog in 1093. He gave the church to one of his followers, Roger, a monk from Battle Abbey, who founded a priory on t ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
Usk Bridge
Usk Bridge (Pont-Yr-Wysg) in Brecon is the town"s oldest route over the River Usk. The river was fordable at Brecon and the date of construction of the original bridge here is uncertain. The existing stone bridge was built in 1563 and replaced an earlier bridge that was washed away in the floods of 1535. It was widened in 1794 by bridge builder Thomas Edwards. During the 20th century it was widened further with the ...
Founded: 1563 |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
Brecon Castle
Brecon Castle was built by the Norman Lord Bernard de Neufmarché in 1093, and was frequently assaulted by the Welsh in 13th and 15th centuries. The castle"s ownership changed numerous times. It began falling into ruin when Henry VIII executed the last dukes of Buckingham, who at the time controlled the castle. It was renovated and made into a hotel in the early 19th century. Numerous renovations were carried ...
Founded: 1093 |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
St David's Church
St. David"s Church, or Llanfaes Church, consists of a chancel, nave, and a tower at the west end in which are six bells. In the aisle and chancel there used to be several stones to the memory of departed. There is a tablet in the church to the memory of the Rev. Theo. Evans, of Llangammarch, who afterwards became vicar of St. David"s. This church was last restored in 1859, at a cost of £1,500, and contains a me ...
Founded: 1859 |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
St Bilo Church
St Bilo"s church is dedicated to a local saint named Bilo, or Beilo, daughter of Brychan. The dedication was recorded as early as the 13th century, but curiously, the church was known for many years as St Milburga"s, after the daughter of a 7th century Mercian king and abbess of Wenlock. There must have been a Norman church here, for a reused lintel shows Norman carving motifs, but the building is almost entirel ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
Pen-y-crug Hill Fort
Pen-y-crug is a hill in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Welsh name signifies "top of the mound". It slopes are moderately gently on three sides; only to the west do they steepen somewhat. Its flat trig point adorned summit at 331m overlooks the valley of the River Usk to the south. To the southeast are panoramic views over Brecon whilst eastwards are the Black Mountains and south the Brecon Beacons. The h ...
Founded: Iron Age |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
St David's Church
St David"s parish church in Llanddew dates from around the 13th century and has a cruciform shape, with a central tower. At one time, there were monastic buildings at the church, and the monks would go around the local area preaching and giving communion. The manor belongs to the Bishops of Saint Davids, who formerly had a residence or bishop"s palace there, of which some ruins still remain. These incorporate a ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
St Cynog's Church
St Cynog"s Church in Defynnog contains an ancient stone with Ogham inscriptions. Though most of the attractive building we see today is 15th century, the origins of St Cynog"s go back to at least the Norman period if not earlier. There is 11th century stonework in the north vestry wall, and the font and holy water stoup may be 11th century or possibly even pre-Norman. The richly carved font is inscribed with Ru ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom
St Matthew Church
The first church at Llandefalle was probably established around 500 AD and was dedicated to St Maelog, and you can often find the current church mentioned with that dedication. That first church was rebuilt in stone around 1300 AD, and was substantially rebuilt in the late 15th century. Unlike many churches in the area it largely escaped Victorian restoration, so retains its 15th century character throughout, with the ex ...
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Brecon, United Kingdom