Llanelieu

Llanelieu is a small settlement and former civil parish in Powys, Wales on the northern edge of the Black Mountains within the Brecon Beacons National Park. It lies within the historic bounds of Brecknockshire. The settlement is now part of the Community of Talgarth. The nearest town is Talgarth some to the west.The settlementPrehistoric settlement of the area is evidenced by Ffostyll Long Cairns, two neolithic burial chambers just to the north of Ffostyll Farm.St Ellyw's ChurchSt Ellyw's Church is the main feature of the scattered settlement as well as being the source of its name (Llan-Ellyw). Saint Ellyw is said to have been one of the many saintly offspring of Brychan, legendary 5th-century king of Brycheiniog who ruled from nearby Talgarth. The church of St Ellyw dates from the 13th century and, unusually, escaped Victorian modernization so that it preserves many of its medieval features. It is now redundant, but is cared for as a Grade I listed building.Near the church is a veteran yew that was believed to have been used as the parish stocks in the 17th and 18th centuries. Natural holes in the tree took the miscreant's arms which were then secured by an iron bar. The tree was subject to restoration in 2010.