Church Heritage Cymru

Church Heritage Cymru 4799

  • Home
Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentAudit

St Nicholas, Trellech

Name:

The name or dedication of the church.

St Nicholas, Trellech
Record Type:

This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.

Parish Church
Church code:

A unique identification number given to every church.

4799
Diocese:

The name of the diocese in which the church is located.

Monmouth
Archdeaconry:

The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.

Monmouth
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Please enter a number

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.

This is a Grade I Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.

There is a Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites. 

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.

The church is in a Conservation Area

Please enter a number

Buildings At Risk Status

On Buildings At Risk Register?

The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales. 

This church is not on the Buildings at Risk Register
 **************

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).

Medieval

Exterior Image

View of west side of church
Caption:

The name/dedication of the church and its location.

View of west side of church
Description:

A brief description of the image

Year / Date:

The date the image was created.

August 2021
Copyright:

Details of any copyright are displayed here.

Originator:

The name of the person who uploaded the image.

Jonathan Perons

Summary Description

This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More  detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.

Trellech would appear to have gained its name from the three groups of Bronze Age Standing Stones. Archaeological excavations suggest that the village was the principal arsenal of the de Clare Family and an ironworks. Reference The Encyclopaedia of Wales

Visiting and Facilities

Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc. 

The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
 **************

Church Website

Church Website:

If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.

Work in progress - can you help?

Sources and Further Information

Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).

View information on worship and access at this church on the Church In Wales web site
RCAHMW (2004) Coflein http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/220997/details/ [Digital Archive/Document]
https://www.coflein.gov.uk/
GGAT (2016) Historic Environment Record http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?prn=GGAT00690g [Digital Archive/Data]
http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/her.html
Cadw (2001) Historic Wales Report http://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=2106 [Digital Archive/Document]
Cadw listed building description for St Nicholas, Trellech
Cadw (2001) Historic Wales Report http://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=2107 [Digital Archive/Document]
Cross in churchyard of St Nicholas, Trellech
Cadw (2001) Historic Wales Report http://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=24915 [Digital Archive/Document]
Lychgate of the church of St Nicholas, Trellech
S.Peel (2020/ 29/09) site Visit notes [Digital Archive/Document]
site Visit notes
Jonathan Perons (August 2021) View of west side of church [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
View of west side of church
Jonathan Perons (August 2021) View of Nave facing Chancel [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
View of Nave facing Chancel

This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.

Grid Reference: SO 500 055

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Church address

Address
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Nicholas Trellech MONMOUTH NP25 4PZ

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.

Sir Fynwy - Monmouthshire

Location and Setting

This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.

Trellech is 9km south of Monmouth on the B4293 and the church is in the centre of the village.

Reference
AA Route Planner 
OS Map 161
Cadw Listing Notice 2106

Church Plan

Work in progress - can you help?

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

This is a description of the ground plan of the church.

Work in progress - can you help?

Dimensions

If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.

Work in progress - can you help?

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.

Work in progress - can you help?

Description of Archaeology and History

A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.

With the exception of the south porch the church appears to be of one build, probably of the early C14, and is almost all in a simplified Decorated style, apart from the west window in the tower which has reticulated tracery. The only stylistically different feature is the priest's door which seems to have been reconstructed with a semi-circular head to match the outer arch of the porch. The relationship of the tower to the rest of the building is uncertain, the east end of the north wall is of one build with the north clerestory, but there is then a slight vertical offset, and on the south side a similar offset comes at the junction of the tower and the clerestory. This suggests that the tower may be an addition, but if this was the case, it will have replaced a sixth bay to the nave, since there is nothing to suggest that the aisles were lengthened. Alternatively the tower may have been an addition made during the course of building, since its windows are of comparable date with those in the rest of the church. The tower is recorded as having partially collapsed in a storm. The rebuilding, especially of the spire, may date from 1792 which date is on the weathercock. The porch is probably C17 or C18, presumably a replacement for an earlier one in the same position since the inner door is dated 1595, but this might have been reused from the blocked north door. The church had a major restoration in 1893, with changes in 1903, and another restoration in 1992 when it was re-roofed, re-floored and redecorated.
 

Exterior Description

A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.

The church is constructed from local sandstone grading into conglomerate, mainly red in colour, but tending to grey in some places, the same sandstone is also used for the dressings except for the north east, north west and south east windows of the chancel which have yellow sandstone dressings. The church consists of a nave with two aisles and a clerestory, separate chancel, a west tower and a south porch. The lower nave walls are covered entirely by the aisles which begin in line with the east gable and stretch almost to the west wall of the tower. The north aisle has five bays with single light windows with trefoil heads; the bays are separated by wide, stepped buttresses. The bay against the tower is wider and has a door with a 3-centred head. Corner buttresses, coped gables to a lean-to roof. The east wall has a 2-light window with quatrefoil over. The south aisle is similar except that the tower bay is blind and the second window bay has the south porch which is gabled and has a semi-circular headed archway, and square headed windows in the flanking walls. The most easterly bay of the aisle is also blind. The east wall has a 3-light window with sharply pointed lights stepped within the frame, only the central light has a trefoil head. The nave clerestory has five trefoil headed lights on either side. Coped gable with apex cross, the east wall above the chancel roof is blind. The west tower is square and in three stages with the aisle roofs coming well up the second stage and the nave roof well up the third. West door with 2-centred head and dripmould over, Victorian doors. Above this is a large 4-light reticulated window. An off-set goes round the tower above this and the third stage may be later, two tiers of slit windows on each face. Battlemented parapet on corbels. Octagonal spire with a 2-light gabled bell opening in-line with each face of the tower, roll at each angle of the spire. The spire carries a ball, and a weathercock dated 1792 at a height of 180' (164.6m). The chancel has a 2-light window with cusping on the south wall together with a plain single light one and the priest's door with a hollow chamfered round arch, both these are Victorian rebuilds. The north wall has another 2-light and a single light window as before. The east wall has a 3-light one with trefoil heads to the equal lights, and these are topped by a sexfoil flanked by trefoils. This window is very close in design to the east window of the Church of St Oudoceus at Llandogo. Coped gable with apex cross.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.

Work in progress - can you help?

Building Fabric and Features

Information about any important features and building fabric.

Work in progress - can you help?

Building Materials

If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.

Work in progress - can you help?

Interior Image

View of Nave facing Chancel
Caption:

The name/dedication of the church and its location.

View of Nave facing Chancel
Description:

A brief description of the image.

Year / Date:

The date the image was created.

August 2021
Copyright:

Copyright details.

Originator:

The name of the person who inputted the image.

Jonathan Perons

Interior Description

This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.

The whole of the interior is plastered and painted, and the floor was repaved in the 1992 restoration. Sharply pointed arcades of tall octagonal piers. Tall chancel arch which was heightened in 1893; which is similar to the taller tower arch. Photographs in the church show that the chancel arch had an almost triangular head springing from a point appreciably lower than the present arch, the mouldings appear to be the same as those used in the replacement arch. The nave ceiling is flat and coffered, with diagonal boarding above the ribs; it is four panels across. The aisle roofs are Victorian with arch braced principals on stone corbels between each window. The rere-arches of two of the north aisle windows are cusped. The chancel is ceiled with an 1893 painted waggon vault. The main door is dated 1595 (the date is painted on the inner face). It is of plank construction with decorative battens applied over long strap hinges, but it is covered on the outer face by a matchboard sleeve. The pews are 1893. The pulpit is said to be dated 1640 but was reconstructed in 1893. The choir stalls are 1903. The communion rail is early C18 with turned balusters. There are two fonts, one free-standing and early medieval, the other recut and later. There is an excellent C17 sundial dated 1689 in stone which once stood in the centre of the village and was removed from the school in 1895, and also a concrete cast of it. Coat-of-Arms of Charles II dated 1683 over the west door. The chancel windows on either side are a memorial to Henry Arden, vicar of Trellech 1887-94. The east window is a memorial to Henry Crompton Robert d1891. There are said to be three bells dated 1642, 1704, and 1704, plus three new ones, all installed in a new steel frame for 2000.
 

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings. 

Work in progress - can you help?

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecology

A description of the ecology of the churchyard.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

Work in progress - can you help?

Burial and War Grave Information

Records whether the church has been consecrated.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.

It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.

It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.

The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Parish Church

Churchyard Structures

Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
Setting Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.

Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.

Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.

Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community. 

Work in progress - can you help?

Church Renewables

Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.

Work in progress - can you help?

Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

"Seek Advice" Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Parish Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Parish Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Parish Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Parish Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Mary HeadingAdded QI inspectionWed 01 Apr 2026 15:38:40
Mary HeadingCreated asset source linkWed 01 Apr 2026 15:38:39
Administrator Monmouth Added QI inspectionTue 28 Jan 2025 15:59:10
Administrator Monmouth Created asset source linkTue 28 Jan 2025 15:59:10
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Burial and War Grave informationThu 28 Mar 2024 14:50:22
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionThu 28 Mar 2024 11:22:14
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionThu 28 Mar 2024 11:21:42
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Asset AddressThu 28 Mar 2024 11:18:20
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the National Park informationThu 28 Mar 2024 11:17:29
Jonathan PeronsAdded image of the interior of the buildingFri 24 Sep 2021 12:24:18
First Previous Next Last 
Page 1 of 3 (24 items)
Page size:
Site Map  | Privacy | T & C | © 2014 - 2026 Church in Wales  | Website by exeGesIS SDM | Rev. 2.2.9460.20480
  • Home
  • Login
  • Register