Abandoned Medieval Church - Satellite Oddity - Margam - Wales.
N 51° 33.889 W 003° 43.860
30U E 449331 N 5712890
Capel Mair - Hen Eglwys (Cryke Chapel)- An abandoned medieval church established in c1470 to serve the needs of local peasants/yeoman who didn't have right to worship in the Abbey itself. Located on the Cistercian way, at Margam, South Wales.
Waymark Code: WMJ6Y2
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/04/2013
Views: 9
The Medieval Capel Mair - Hen Eglwys (Old Church) is located in a prominent position on Graig Fawr hillside, North of Margam Abbey.
Accessed by a steep heavily wooded footpath through Cwn Bach forest.
The small medieval church is overlooking Margam Abbey, Swansea Bay, and the Towns of Baglan and Port Talbot.
Capel Mair - "This little chapel, dedicated to St Mary, was built by the monks of Margam for the benefit of their tenants. The style of the west window dates it to about 1300 but the east window is in the Perpendicular style of the fifteenth century. The chapel is in a roughly circular enclosure, suggesting that it may be on the site of an older church, and some burials (unfortunately not dated) have been found in the enclosure. After the Reformation, it was used by local Catholics, who worshipped here in secret." text source: (
visit link)
There are several trails in the area and this trail is the
'Monastic Trail' - (Purple waymark 2.5 miles Some steep sections.)
"This trail takes you around the back of the iron age hillfort and then up to the remains of the medieval church Hen Eglwys You pass Fish Pond on this walk so remember some bread to feed the ducks!" text source: (
visit link)
The Church is a British Listed building.
Description: Hen Eglwys AKA Capel Mair.
Grade: II*
Date Listed: 11 December 1952
Cadw Building ID: 14155
OS Grid Coordinates: 280124, 186518
Latitude/Longitude: 51.5643, -3.7297
Location: Margam, Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot SA13 2TA
Locality: Margam
County: Neath Port Talbot
Country: Wales
Postcode: SA13 2TA
Text Source: