St Mary's Church, Medieval church in Llanfair Kilgeddin, Wales
St Mary's Church is a stone building beside the River Usk in Llanover, Wales, with walls decorated by ornamental panels. The interior features intricate sgraffito panels depicting religious and natural themes while preserving medieval architectural elements.
The original church structure dates to 1301 and underwent major reconstruction in 1875 under architect John Dando Sedding. That renovation work preserved medieval elements while introducing new structural features to strengthen the building.
Artist Heywood Sumner created sixteen detailed sgraffito panels in 1888 that weave together local landmarks and natural elements into religious art themes. These handcrafted works define the interior space today and tell stories through their fine lines and intricate patterns.
The building is maintained by the Friends of Friendless Churches organization and remains accessible to visitors interested in exploring medieval architecture. Set aside time to examine the crafted wall details and take in the interior layout at a leisurely pace.
The walls display a rare use of the sgraffito technique, where multiple layers of colored plaster are applied and then scratched back to reveal patterns. This crafted method, applied by Sumner in 1888, creates visual depth that engages viewers from both near and far.
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