The Whitford Church inscribed stone dates from the Dark Ages. It reads 'HIC JACIT MULIER BONA NOBILI' which translates either as 'Here lies Bona wife of Nobilis' or 'Here lies the good wife'.

Whitford Church is intimately associated with three very renowned antiquarians, Thomas Pennant, Moses Griffith and Canon Ellis Davies.

Thomas Pennant, the 18th century traveller and writer, lived nearby in the now destroyed Downing Hall. He lies in an unmarked grave either in the churchyard or beneath the church. He and his family are commemorated with several plaques inside the church.

Moses Griffith was Thomas Pennant's illustrator and is buried in a marked grave together with a plaque next to the northern wall of the churchyard.

Canon Ellis Davies was the rector of Whitford Church from 1913 to 1951. His passion for prehistory and tireless fieldwork in the first half of the 20th century resulted in two pivotal books, 'Prehistoric and Roman Remains of Denbighshire' published in 1929 and 'Prehistoric and Roman Remains of Flintshire' published in 1949. The ancient sites identified in these books have provided the core roadmap for most of the archaeological research in North East Wales since then and will continue to do so for many more years. To quote Frances Lynch in Excavations at the Brenig Valley: 'The debt which those involved in the 1972/75 [Brenig] project owe to Ellis Davies cannot be overestimated'.

The stone also has close connections with two of the above. Thomas Pennant found and relocated the stone from nearby Caerwys to his abode at Downing Hall in the 18th century. Canon Ellis Davies brought it into the church in 1936 where it is mounted in the south west corner. A simple handwritten description, possibly by Ellis himself, hangs behind the stone.

Both these great antiquarians enjoyed this stone. Through the legacy of their personal care and custodianship we can enjoy it too.

Location: Whitford, Flintshire, Wales
Grid Ref: SJ146782