Llanymynech lies on the border between Shropshire and Montgomeryshire.  As it was not at the time in England, it does not appear in Domesday.  Llanymynech is a wholly Welsh name which means ‘church of the monks’ for which no simple explanation offers itself.  The name has not appeared to have had many variations and occurs as Llanemeneych in 1254 and Llanymenych in 1310.

Above Llanymynech, Llanymynech Hill has been a source of minerals for centuries.  Lead and copper was mined in the area in Roman times, and the hill may have been the source of lime for the construction of Viroconium.  Llanymynech may possibly be identified with the Roman township of Mediolanum.

Llanymynech Hill was the main source of limestone for north-west Shropshire and had been described as ‘the Magazine of Limestone for a vast track of country’ in 1773.  The opening of the Llanymynech branch of the Ellesmere Canal in 1796 meant that the transportation of this limestone became much easier.  Llanymynech stone for fluxing was exported to ironworks in Coalbrookdale and Staffordshire.

The rockmen, as quarrymen were called at Llanymynech, account for 45 entries in the 1861 census.  This number had shrunk to 33 in 1871 and to 21 in 1881.  This may be due to a decreased demand for lime for fluxing in the iron industry. 

Alternative sources of revenue were sought, and found in an increased demand for slaked lime for building and agricultural purposes.  The demand from the latter industry had grown dramatically, and the capacity of the local lime-kilns was increased in order to meet it. 

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