Wikipedia
Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain is a village, community and post town in Powys, mid Wales, close to the border with Shropshire in England, about south west of Oswestry and north of Welshpool. It is on the A495 road and is at the confluence of the River Vyrnwy and the Afon Cain.
NLW3361174.jpg|View of Llansantffraid across the river ca. 1885 NLW3363423.jpg|The main road through Llansantffraid ca. 1885
Llansanffraid means "Church of Saint Bride" in the Welsh language, and ym-Mechain refers to its location in the medieval cantref of Mechain and distinguishes it from other places with the same or similar names.
The name is based on the story of St Bhrid, who is said to have floated across the Irish Sea on a sod of turf, or to have been carried to Scotland by two oystercatchers. The followers of St Bhrid possibly set up new settlements known by the Welsh as Llan Santes Ffraid, Church of (Lady) Saint Bhrid.
church, Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain NLW3361718.jpg|Church of St Ffraid ca. 1885 interior of the church, Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain (?) NLW3361761.jpg|Interior of Church of St Ffraid ca. 1885
In recent years the spelling of the village name, with or without a "t", has been a contentious issue (similar to that of the nearby Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog) and this has been recognised by Powys County Council providing a dual spelling of the village name on road signs in the locality.