Llan-fawr

View over Pilleth. Unpleasant, expensive, fierce signs have recently appeared here now but you can get down to Pilleth via an attractive iron gate in the corner of the church yard which is quite a special place.

A very attractive ascent to the high ground above Pilleth. Upper Graig is ruined.

A very attractive old gate. I have attempted to exclude the intrusive NO-tice that has recently cropped up here.

The unsealed road is a good one and there is parking available at the church.

The approach to St Mary’s Church, Pilleth

The South aspect of St Mary’s Church, Pilleth

The approach steps to St Mary’s Church, Pilleth

A modern memorial to the fallen of the Battle of Pilleth, 1402, at St Mary’s Church

The East window of St Mary’s Church, Pilleth

The restored interior of St Mary’s Church, Pilleth

A view East over Pilleth Court from St Mary’s Church

Headstones of the Green-Price family at St Mary’s Church, Pilleth

Headstones of the Green-Price family at St Mary’s Church, Pilleth and the River Lugg valley when winter returned in March 2023 - see previous picture from one month before - Link

The valley of the River Lugg viewed from Pilleth Church and looking towards Whitton in March 2023

The church is located on the site of the Battle of Pilleth (1402). Looking at the steepness of the hill on which the church is located you can easily appreciate how the renegade Glyndower won this battle. Glyndowers forces were ensconsed high up on the hill with reserves hidden around the right flank (as seen from this location). Sir Edmund Mortimer - descendant of Sir Roger Mortimer, the Earl of March (captor of Edward II) - stupidly decided to attempt a fight whilst climbing the hill. It could only have one result. Mortimer was captured and later married Glyndower's daughter. Although fought during the reign of Henry IV, the Mortimers arguably had a stronger claim to the throne than both the House of Lancaster and the House of York. As an aside as I was leaving the site I heard the news that Birmingham City FC had just been relegated from the Premiership (2011). As a Englishman I felt sad for the lose of the battle all those years ago, as a ex-season ticket holder at Aston Villa my mood somewhat changed on hearing the radio.

The Memorial stone was placed in the churchyard by a group of Wellingtonians during the 1870's. The bones of those that fought and fell in the battle are still occasionally found on the hillside. Remains of many of the fighters lie beneath the area located by the stone. The battle was fought between the local militia raised by Sir Edmund Mortimer and the insurgents of the renegade Owen Glyndower. The next time we hear of Glyndower is when he invaded England (aided by the French) and met a proper army commanded by Henry IV at Abberley valley near Great Witley, Worcs. With both sides having command of high ground on either side of the valley neither wanted to move into the lower part of the valley. After several days standoff the forces of Glyndower dissipated and he left the field never to be heard of again.