THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Agatha, consists of nave, chancel, side aisles, and a square tower with one bell. It was rebuilt in 1845, in the decorative style of English architecture, and exhibits some fine chiselling and ornamental workmanship. The interior is neatly pewed, and has a very chaste appearance. The living is a rectory, valued in the King’s book at £12. 13s. 4d., now returned at £394, in the patronage of the Bishop of St. Asaph, and enjoyed by the Rev. John Luxmore, M.A. The rectory, a neat stuccoed residence a short distance from the church, has been much improved by the present incumbent. The tithes are commuted for £380. The National School stands near the churchyard, and is supported by subscriptions and a small charge from the scholars: about sixty children are educated. There is a school for girls in the village. Fairs are held on April 1st, May 29th, and September 23rd, and are generally well attended. A coach leaves the Red Lion Inn for Shrewsbury and Welshpool daily.
On Llanymynech hill is an artificial cave of considerable length, called _Ogo_ (from the Welsh word _Ogof_, signifying a cave), supposed to have been worked by the Romans as a copper mine. It contains many sinuosities, and is generally about three yards wide, having many turnings and passages connected with each other. Some years ago, all the passages of this subterraneous labyrinth were explored by J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq., when none of the paths were found to extend more than two hundred yards from the entrance. The passages are cut through the rock, which is of limestone, whereon frequently appear the marks of chisels, and the various ramifications have no doubt been made in quest of the rich veins of ore. Subsequent to the Romans, it probably became either a place of refuge after battle, or a depository for the dead, for human skeletons, culinary vessels, hatchets, and Roman coins have been found in this cavern. A finger-bone was picked up with a ring on it. One of the skeletons had a curious battle-axe beneath his arm, and not far from it were the bones of a man, woman, a child, a dog, and a cat. Some time ago several Roman coins, mostly of Constantine, were found in the earth which was washed down the side of the hill. The water which drops in some parts of the cave is of a petrifying quality, and forms stalactites; the drops of water hanging on the points of each, catch the light of the candle, and give the surrounding space a glittering illumination extremely beautiful. It is probable that a battle has been fought here in disputing for this mine, or that the large entrenchments, that run parallel with the Clawdd Offa eastwardly, were made to defend it. Not far from this cave is a Cromlech, called the GIANT’S GRAVE. At the north-east end are four large stones, which formerly supported a fifth flat stone on their points, in form of a Brandart, called in Welsh _Trwbad_; but these are now thrown down. Towards the south-west proceed two rows of flat stones, six feet asunder, and thirty-six in length. On digging here a Druid’s celt was found, and several other things, with human bones, the teeth very perfect.