Someone on the Powys list sent this info to me. Some more of our line....
Enjoy,
Emily
Bore Da i chi, Emily,
Here's a little more info for you:-
Christianity clearly took a root in the valley of the upper Conwy, since the
name Ysbyty Ifan (John's Hospital) refers to an importance which this place
had, quite out of proportion to its size and quietness today.
Towards the end of the 1180's the Knight's of St. John of Jerusalem
established a hospice for travellers crossing these otherwise inhospitable
moors. Pilgrim routes were inevitably punctuated by such hospices as that
found at Ysbyty.
There is nothing to see of it's foundation now, but a visit to the church
will reveal the importance of this site in history. Some alabaster effigies
(now in a poor state) commemorate one of the areas great families. Rhys ap
Meredith lies there, beside his wife and son. He was Henry Tudor's standard
bearer at the battle of Bosworth and was felled by Richard 111. The son that
lies beside him (sadly headless now) became chaplain and cross bearer to
Cardinal Wolsey.
The right of sanctuary provided by the knights at the hospice was extended
by
Llywelyn the Great to include most of the upper Conwy and the hospice
rose
to
prominence as a famous centre of hospitality during the middle ages
This
role
degenerated in the C15, however, when the immunity from the King's
laws
which
went with the right of sanctuary was abused, and Ysbyty came a refuge
for
lawbreakers.
I might be able to get a couple of photos out for you with my camera, but I
think that is all I can ferret out at the moment.
Been lovely talking to you. All the best on your travels and with your
research
God Bless Elsbeth