a.
The sad remains of a medieval chapel in the middle of a pasture field east of Chapel Farm. Little survives beyond a L shaped section of wall footings, partly overgrown tumbled stones some of which are carved and the jambs of a narrow doorway. The longest and most visible stretch of wall is about 6m in length with the remains of a doorway approximately 0.6m wide in the middle. One of the carved jambs of this door has toppled but the other is apparently in situ. The stones of the shorter stretch of wall which is about 4m in length are mostly overgrown. In the internal corner of the L is a heap of grass covered, tumbled stone.
Scattered around the site are several carved stones. In front of the 2 jambs is a section of the curved arch of the doorway. The mouldings are graceful with little sign of weathering. Another smaller carved section of the door lies nearby. At the external corner of the L is a piece of window tracery. At least 2 other pieces of carved stone were noted with one other possibility which may be greatly weathered.
Apparently Capel Aeddan was founded in the 12th century by Aeddan ap Gwaerthfoed, Lord of Gosmount and Clytha. This Aeddan 'took the cross' from Baldwin in 1188 when the archbishop was touring Wales with Giraldus Cambrensis. The story as interpreted by Sir Richard Colt Hoare is as follows : "a certain nobleman of these parts came to the archbishop, who was proceeding towards the castle of Usk, and humbly begged pardon for having neglected to meet him sooner. Being questioned whether he would take the cross he replied 'That could not be done without the advice of his friends'. The archbishop then asked him 'Are you not going to consult your wife'. He modestly answered with a downcast look ' When the work of a man is to be undertaken the counsel of a woman ought not to be asked' and instantly received the cross' (1806, 89. quoted in Bradney 1911, 114).
It is not clear when the site was abandoned but it has been suggested that some of the stone may have been incorporated into Chapel Farm (1580 and 1620). According to a quote on the O.S. record card it was long used as a sheep house (see beolow). The plans and sketches reproduced by R.E. Kay who visited the site in the 1960s show that the site has not changed except for the disturbed door jamb and the possible removal of the carved stone on the eastern side of the site.
John Latham RCAHMW 21 July 2015 (from E P Dillon NT report "Clytha")

b.
A chapel dedicated to St Aythan, thought to have been founded soon after 1188, represented by a stony heap, about 10m by 8.0m, which includes architectural details: said to have been long used as a sheep-house, OS County series (Monmouth. XIII.10 1882) shows the angle of a building, or structure in this location.

Associated with:
Possible medieval settlement (Nprn86827).

(source Os495card; SO30NE8)

J.Wiles 17.12.04