Llandderfel village is located on the B4402, 3.3 miles (5.4km) north east of Bala. The river Dee runs just to the south of the settlement. The village is named after the church dedicated to St Derfel. First mentioned in 1254, the church became famous as the cult centre of St Derfel (or Derfyl Gadarn), whose feast day is April 5th.

The first edition of the twenty-five-inch Ordnance Survey maps, published in 1887, shows a small settlement that had grown to the east and the west of the church. Amenities in Llandderfel included a sawmill, a school, the church and two chapels: an Independent chapel and a Calvinistic Methodist chapel.

In the twenty-first century, the church and the Methodist chapel remain open as places of worship, although the Independent chapel and the sawmill had closed. The school building is occupied by Scanwell.

Sources: historic ordnance survey maps, Google maps

M. Ryder, RCAHMW, 19th January 2021