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According to the blue plaque on the wall outside Plymouth House ({{Coord|51.408791|-3.488876|type:landmark}}), the house is believed to have been formerly part of the monastery, perhaps functioning as a halled house for some time in the fifteenth century.<ref name="LMH"/> After its closure in 1539, it became the manor house of West Llantwit owned by Edward Stradling. Later owners include Lewis of the Van, the Earl of Plymouth and then Dr. J. W. Nicholl Carne, who renamed it after its previous owner some time in the 19th century.<ref name="LMH"/><ref>Blue plaque of Plymouth House, Llantwit Major Local History Society</ref>
According to the blue plaque on the wall outside Plymouth House ({{Coord|51.408791|-3.488876|type:landmark}}), the house is believed to have been formerly part of the monastery, perhaps functioning as a halled house for some time in the fifteenth century.<ref name="LMH"/> After its closure in 1539, it became the manor house of West Llantwit owned by Edward Stradling. Later owners include Lewis of the Van, the Earl of Plymouth and then Dr. J. W. Nicholl Carne, who renamed it after its previous owner some time in the 19th century.<ref name="LMH"/><ref>Blue plaque of Plymouth House, Llantwit Major Local History Society</ref>


====Court House===
====Court House====
From the blue plaque on the Court House ({{Coord|51.409519|-3.485348|type:landmark}}), it was formerly known as Ivy house when it was a town house from the 16th century. In the 18th century it was extended by Christopher Bassett. For some time it was owned by the Throckmorton family of [[Coughton Court]], [[Warwickshire]], descendants of one of the perpetrators of the [[Gunpowder Plot]].<ref name="LMH"/> Later owners included Daniel Durrell, headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School, and the benefactor of Tabernacle Chapel, Elias Bassett. It then fell to his niece and her husband William Thomas and became part of the Thomas family and at one time was owned by Illtyd Thomas, father of [[Mare Treveleyan]], an antiquarian.<ref name="LMH"/><ref>Blue plaque on Court House, Llantwit Major Local History Society</ref> The Thomases built the Town Hall clock to commemorate [[Queen Victoria]].
From the blue plaque on the Court House ({{Coord|51.409519|-3.485348|type:landmark}}), it was formerly known as Ivy house when it was a town house from the 16th century. In the 18th century it was extended by Christopher Bassett. For some time it was owned by the Throckmorton family of [[Coughton Court]], [[Warwickshire]], descendants of one of the perpetrators of the [[Gunpowder Plot]].<ref name="LMH"/> Later owners included Daniel Durrell, headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School, and the benefactor of Tabernacle Chapel, Elias Bassett. It then fell to his niece and her husband William Thomas and became part of the Thomas family and at one time was owned by Illtyd Thomas, father of [[Mare Treveleyan]], an antiquarian.<ref name="LMH"/><ref>Blue plaque on Court House, Llantwit Major Local History Society</ref> The Thomases built the Town Hall clock to commemorate [[Queen Victoria]].


Revision as of 18:23, 22 May 2014

Llantwit Major
East Street, Llantwit Major
Population13,366 
OS grid referenceSS975685
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLLANTWIT MAJOR
Postcode districtCF61
Dialling code01446
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Vale of Glamorgan

Llantwit Major (Template:Lang-cy: llan church enclosure + Illtud + mawr great)[1] is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the Bristol Channel coast. It is one of four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan and the third largest by population (13,366 (2001)) after Barry and Penarth, and ahead of Cowbridge, which lies about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to the northeast. The town centre of Llantwit Major lies about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of the centre of Bridgend, 10 miles (16 km) west of the centre of Barry, and about 15 miles (24 km) miles south-west of the centre of the Welsh capital of Cardiff which lies further to the east beyond Barry.

The town's name in Welsh, Llanilltud Fawr, is derived from the name of Saint Illtud, who came to the area from Brittany, Gaul. He founded the monastery of Illtud and the college attached to it, Cor Tewdws, which would grow into one of the most esteemed Christian colleges of the times. At peak it attracted over 2000 students, including princes and numerous eminent clergymen, some now revered as saints. Destroyed by the Vikings in 987, the monastery was rebuilt in 1111 and continued to be a centre of learning governed by Tewkesbury Abbey until it closed in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The 13th-century St Illtyd's Church, built near the ancient monastery, today is a Grade I listed building and one of the oldest parish churches in Wales.

The modern town of Llantwit developed rapidly in the 20th century to accommodate Royal Air Force personnel from the base built at nearby St Athan, but it retains its medieval cobbled streets and buildings of the 15th and 16th centuries. Llantwit Major railway station on the Vale of Glamorgan Line was reopened in June 2005. Collugh Beach is a popular surfing venue and has the remnants of an Iron Age fort and some of the finest examples of Jurassic-period fossils in Wales. The pebble beach and its dramatic clifftops are part of a 14 miles (23 km)-long coastline protected under the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, which stretches from Gileston in the east to Newton Point beyond Southerndown in the west.

History

Saint Illtud, who gives his name to the Welsh name of the town

Llantwit Major has been occupied for over 3000 years and archaeological evidence has shown it was occupied in Neolithic times.[2] The remains of an Iron Age fort lie in the beach area.[2]

Excavations at the Roman villa at Caer Mead have revealed that this area was occupied during Roman times for around 350 years; its bathrooms and the mosaic pavements date from the mid 2nd century AD.[3]

In the 5th century, after the withdrawal of the Roman legions, Saint Illtud came to the Hodnant valley from Brittany and founded the monastery of Illtud on the Ogney Brook, and a college, in close proximity to the current St Illtyd's Church, about a mile from the sea.[4] The exact date of its founding is unknown, but some sources indicate around the year 500 AD; the blue plaque on the church today also gives this date.[5][6] Because of its monastery and teaching centre it became a major centre for education and Celtic Church evangelism, attracting scholars from across Wales, Devon, Cornwall and Brittany and the wider world.[7] The college of Llantwit, known as the College or Seminary of Theodosius (Cor Tewdws in Welsh) or College of St. Illtyd, at its peak reputedly had seven halls, over 400 houses and over 2000 students,[8] including seven sons of British princes, and scholars such as St. Patrick, St. Paul Aurelian, the bard Taliesin, Gildas the historian, Samson of Dol, Paulinus, Bishop of Leon, and St. David is believed to have spent some time there.[9][10][11] According to documents, whilst Saint Patrick was a priest at the monastery he was abducted by Irish pirates, later becoming the patron saint of Ireland.[10] Samson was known to have been summoned by Dyfrig to join the monastery in 521 and he was briefly elected abbot before leaving for Cornwall.[12] King Hywel ap Rhys (d. 886) was buried at the monastery.

The college suffered during the invasions of the Saxons and the Danes and was destroyed by the Vikings in 987 and the Normans in the late 11th century.[5][6][10] However, in 1111, it is documented as being restored but likely in a lesser state than the original.[10] It is known to have continued to function as a monastic school until the 16th-century Reformation.[10] The ruins of the original school house are located in a garden on the northern end of the churchyard and the monastic halls were located in a place called Hill-head on the north side of the tithe-barn.[10] Although nothing of the original monastery remains, the present church was originally built between 950 and 1400 and its earliest existing secular buildings date from the 15th century.[4] The church and school became the property of Tewkesbury Abbey around 1130 after becoming part of the Norman kingdom of Glamorgan.

After the dissolution of the monasteries by king Henry VIII during the Reformation, it became independent from Tewkesbury in 1539.[13] St Donat's Castle, 1.5 miles (2.4 km)[14] to the west, was built in the 13th century.[15]

In the 20th century, Llantwit developed into a dormitory town and grew about 15 times in size to accommodate the Royal Air Force at St Athan.[4] Despite its modernization and rapid growth, it retains its pre-modern feel with its narrow winding streets, high walls, old town hall and gatehouse, and several inns and houses dated to the 16th century.[16] Llantwit Major railway station on the Vale of Glamorgan Line was reopened in June 2005.

Geography

Llantwit Major Beach panorama

Llantwit Major is located in southeast Wales and mid-west along the coast of the Vale of Glamorgan. The town can be accessed from the north directly by the B4268 road and indirectly by the B4270 road (St. Athan road) stemming from the A48 road,[5] and directly by the B4265 road which leads to Bridgend in the northwest and Cardiff Airport and Barry in the east. It is one of four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan and the third largest by population after Barry and Penarth, and ahead of Cowbridge, which lies about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to the northeast. The town centre of Llantwit Major lies about 9 miles (14 km) from the centre of Bridgend, 10 miles from the centre of Barry and about 15 miles (24 km) from the centre of Cardiff which lies further to the east.[17] Boverton is an eastern suburb of Llantwit.

A small stream, the [River Ogney], runs through the town and joins the streams [Hoddnant and Boverton Brook] which flow in from Eglwys Brewis in the northeast, these then merge and become the Afon Colhuw which meanders down the Colhuw meadows before discharging through an outfall into the sea. The Llantwit Major area is built on a range of different levels and the town itself is sloping. At the lower coastal level is the flat, glacial Collugh Valley, marked by steep cliffs on both sides, leading to a pebble beach.[18] The beach, located to the south of the town (51°23′48″N 3°30′03″W / 51.396667°N 3.500833°W / 51.396667; -3.500833), has the remains of an ancient old stone wall from the large Iron Age hill fort, Castle Ditches, which was once located here.[2] The steep cliffs at Llantwit which allow walks along the coast to St Donat's Castle and Atlantic College have undergone dramatic erosion in recent years with the result that, in many places, the rock structure has collapsed in piles, particularly on the eastern face.[2] The cliff path, once set approximately 100 yards (91 m) from the edge is now within metres of the nature pathway, causing the installation of extensive new barriers by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to prevent fatalities. The 14 miles (23 km) of coastline from Gileston in the east to Newton Point and in the west, passing through St Donat's and Southerndown is protected under the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.[2] Tresilian Bay is situated between Llantwit Major and St Donat's. Along this stretch of coast the cliff path winds through numerous valleys.[2] Llantwit Major beach has one of the finest sites in Wales for Jurassic fossils, including corals, giant brachiopods, gastropods and the bones of Ichthyosaurus. In the early 1990s the beach flooded with the tide rising beyond the beach wall and inundating the surrounding pasture in the valley, which is now used as a campsite.

The beach is a popular tourist destination during the summer months and has a campsite on the nearby fields. The beach has a snack bar and restaurant and associated amenities to cater for the increased public demand in recent years. The beach at low tide is an expansive rocky beach with a stretch of sand towards the far west, offering dramatic views of the Bristol Channel and the coastline of Somerset, England, with the landmak white roof of Butlins, Minehead. Llantwit Major is a popular surfing location in Wales, attracting a number of surfers all year round but particularly during the summer.[18] The beach has a lifeguard station funded by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, built in the late 1990s, functioning during the summer months.[18]

Economy and local government

The main road, Boverton Road. The Filco supermarket is on the right.
"The Precinct"

Llantwit Major is a small town which is largely dependent on local retail and earnings from further afield. The majority of the inhabitants commute to work elsewhere, especially Cardiff or Bridgend. During the summer months tourism is important to the town which has the "The Precinct", Rainbow Plaza and several pubs and restaurants. Of note are the Old Swan Inn, Old White Hart Inn, The Tudor Tavern, and the 17th century West House Country Hotel Heritage Restaurant.[19]

Llantwit Major has considerable renown in South Wales as a surfing location, although it is much less known than Porthcawl further down the coast. There is a surf shop in the town catering to surfers and several others selling items related to surfing fashion. During the summer months the local government often charges visitors to the beach for parking and further income is obtained from the beach cafe and organised walks.[20]

The Victorian Fair Day, established in 1983, is usually held in June on the Saturday nearest to the 22nd of the month, with a Victorian theme which attracts people from across southern Wales.[21] The town has several supermarkets including Somerfield and Filco, and a town library. At least three pharmacies and two banks (HSBC and Lloyds TSB) located in the central shopping area along Boverton Road.[17] The local artistic community supports a number of arts and crafts shops, some selling locally made pottery and other ceramics.

The town is governed by the Llantwit Major town council consisting of fifteen councillors. There are nine independent councillors and six representing the Conservative Party.[22] The current Mayor is Councillor Ralph Austin. It also comes under the administration of the Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority. Llantwit Major is twinned with Le Pouliguen, France.

Notable landmarks

Roman villa

The Roman villa at Caermead (51°25′09″N 3°29′56″W / 51.4192°N 3.4989°W / 51.4192; -3.4989) remains as faint earthworks in a field, near the 13th century parish church of St Illtud. The L-shaped courtyard villa was discovered in 1888. Records from 1893 suggest that one room was used as a praetorium, another as a workshop; and there was a 5th-century adjoining sacristy, simple in style, which featured a chancel, nave, and stone altar. Found remains included Brachycephalic and dolichocephalic skulls, as well as horse bones.[23] Fine mosaic floors a notable feature of the villa. The tesserae included blue and crystalline limestone, green volcanic stones, brown sandstone, and red-brick cuttings, encircled with a red, white, blue and brown border. A record from 1907 described the relics as Samian ware pieces; bronze coins of Maximinus Thrax, Victorinus, and Constantius Chlorus; as well as roofing materials.[24]

The site was again excavated between 1938 and 1948. It may have been first settled in the 1st century, but the first stone structure was not erected until a hundred years later. The site developed slowly and, it has been suggested, was even abandoned for a while during the 3rd century. By the 4th century, there was an L-shaped villa with a large, aisled building possibly for farm workers and a number of smaller agricultural structures almost enclosing a central courtyard. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales has associated collection records of the site, including drawings of other remains such as statues and tessellated pavement, as well as documentation of a 1971 excavation. An early-medieval-period cemetery is in evidence.[25] as are earthworks, traces of walling, a bank and a ditch. Pieces of pottery have been found.[26]

Listed buildings

Listed buildings in Llantwit Major and Boverton

The following are the listed buildings in Llantwit Major and Boverton. The listings are graded:

  • Parish Church of St. Illtud (I)
  • Churchyard cross, Church Street (II)
  • Churchyard walls and gates to St. Illtud’s Church, Burial Lane (II)
  • Mid well, Bakers Lane (II)
  • Circular walls and steps at West End Pond (II)
  • Batslays Farmhouse (II)
  • Boverton Park House (previously Boverton Place Farmhouse) (II)
  • Boverton Place (II)*
  • ‘The Causeway’ (previously No. 4. The Causeway and “Navron”) (II)
  • ‘Navron’ (previously No. 4. The Causeway and “Navron”) (II)
  • Walls surrounding garden to west of Boverton House (previously doorway and walls of garden to west of Boverton House) (II)
  • Boverton House and attached stable block (II)
  • Garden walls and railings of Boverton House (II)
  • Wall and gateway opposite Boverton House (II)
  • Cherry Tree Cottage (previously Nos. 1 and 2, Boverton Court Farm or Boverton Court Cottage) (II)
  • Tudor cottage (previously Nos. 1 and 2, Boverton Court Farm or Boverton Court Cottage) (II)
  • Orchard House (II)
  • The Town Hall (previously the Old Town Hall) (II*)
  • Former chantry/priest’s house, Burial Lane (II)
  • Chantry house, Hillhead (II)
  • Old Place or Llantwit Major Castle (II)
  • Forecourt wall of Old Place (II)
  • Old Plas Cottage, West Street (II)
  • Well opposite Downcross Farm, West Street (II)
  • Downcross Farmhouse, including front garden wall (previously Downcross Farm, West Street) (II)
  • Footbridge over stream, west entrance to St. Illtud’s Churchyard, Church of St. Illtud (II)
  • The gatehouse, Church Lane, (former porter’s room) (II*)
  • Dovecote, Church Lane (II*)
  • The Old Swan Inn public house (II*)
  • Tudor Tavern public house (II)
  • 1 Church Street (previously Nos. 1 and 1A, Church Street) (II)
  • Quaintways with attached garden wall (previously Ty Ny and southern wing of Quaintways, Colhugh Street) (II)
  • Ty Ny with attached garden wall (previously Ty Ny and southern wing of Quaintways, Colhugh Street) (II)
  • To-Hesg (previously Ty Hesg) Colhugh Street (II)
  • Old Rosedew House (previously Rosedew, Colhugh Street) (II)
  • Rosedew, Colhugh St (II)
  • Bethel Baptist Church, Commercial Street (II)
  • The Old House, Court Close (previously House to north-east of Pear Tree Cottage, High Street) (II)
  • Plymouth House, Plymouth Street (previously Plymouth House (including mounting block)) (II)
  • Garden Wall, gate, mounting block, and stables at Plymouth House (II)
  • Lodge to Dimlands, Dimlands Road (II)
  • Tyle House (II)
  • Bethesda’r Fro Chapel with attached mounting block, Eglwys Brewis Road (II)
  • Forecourt and graveyard gates, gatepiers and walls of Bethesda’r Fro Chapel, Eglwys Brewis Road (II)
  • Malta House, 1 Flanders Road (II)
  • 2 Flanders Road (II)
  • The Cottage with attached garden walls, 4 Flanders Road (previously Nos. 3 and 4, Flanders Road) (II)
  • Flanders Farmhouse, Flanders Road (II)
  • Garden wall and gate of Flanders Road (II)
  • Lower House (previously Lower House Farm) Flanders Road (II)
  • Great Frampton (II)
  • Barn and stable range at Great Frampton Farmhouse (II)
  • Court House, High Street (II)
  • Sunny Bank, with attached garden walls, High Street (II)
  • Outhouse at Sunnybank (II)
  • Ty Mawr or Great House, High Street (II*)
  • The Old Police Station, Hillhead (II)
  • Little Frampton Farmhouse (II)
  • Brooklands Cottage, Methodist Lane (II)
  • Summerhouse Fort, Summerhouse Camp (II)
  • Summerhouse Tower, Summerhouse Camp (II)
  • Fonmon Cottage (previously Fonmon House) Station Road (II)
  • War Memorial, (Formerly base of war memorial), The Square (II)
  • Telephone call-box, outside Old White Hart public house (II)
  • Pear Tree Cottage with attached wall and mounting block (previously Corner House and Pear Tree Cottage [including mounting block], Turkey Street) (II)
  • Corner House (previously Corner House and Pear Tree Cottage (including mounting block), Turkey Street) (II)
  • Rewley Court (previously Rawley Court), Turkey Street (II)
  • West Farm, West Street, (previously West Farmhouse and garden walls) (II)
  • Front Garden Wall to West Farm (II)
  • Walls to [detached] garden to West Farm on south-east side of West Street (II)
  • Hill Cottage, West Street (II)
  • Swimbridge Farmhouse, with attached garden walls, Westhill Street (II)
  • The Swine Bridge, Westhill Street (II)
  • Downs Farmhouse, Wick Road (II)
  • Circular pigsty, Downs Farm, Wick Road (II)
  • Windmill House (previously Frampton Windmill) Windmill Lane (II)
  • Old White Hart Inn public house, Wine Street (II)
  • The Old School, including attached walling, Wine Street (previously The Old Rectory, former presbytery and Llanilltud Fawr County Junior School)
  • Boverton Place
    Boverton Place
  • The Tudor Tavern
    The Tudor Tavern
  • Old White Hart Inn
    Old White Hart Inn
  • Blue plaque on The Old School wall
    Blue plaque on The Old School wall
  • Blue Plaque, Plymouth House
    Blue Plaque, Plymouth House
  • Blue plaque, Court House, High Street
    Blue plaque, Court House, High Street
  • Dovecote, Church Lane
    Dovecote, Church Lane
  • War memorial
    War memorial

St Illtyd's Church and monastery

Main articles: Illtud; St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major; and Cor Tewdws
The Church of St Illtyd, Llantwit Major
Interior of the church

The town grew up around Cor Tewdws, a monastery and divinity school, alternately named Caerworgorn, or Bangor Tewdws (College of Theodosius), or later Bangor Illtyd ("Illtyd's college").[9] Saint David, Saint Samson, Saint Paul Aurelian, Saint Gildas, Saint Tudwal, Saint Baglan and king Maelgwn Gwynedd are said to have studied at the divinity school.Cor Tewdws was destroyed in AD 446 and re-founded in AD 508 by St Illtyd as a centre of learning. The ruins of the school are in a garden on the north side of the churchyard; and the monastery was situated north of the tithe barn on Hill Head.[27]

The elongated church (51°24′29″N 3°29′16″W / 51.4081°N 3.4878°W / 51.4081; -3.4878), a conglomeration of distinct buildings, is divided into two areas by a wall, a 13th-century monastery church, and the Norman parish church. The eastern section contains interesting medieval wall paintings with religious themes, and a fine reredos. The western section, a Lady chapel, 40.5 feet (12.3 m) in length,[27] has an inscription to King Rhys ap Arthfael of Morgannwg who died in the mid-9th century.[9] The church contains a curfew bell and medieval priest effigies.[11] The older church is 64 feet (20 m) long; the newer church was built by Richard Neville.[9]

St. Illtyd's church predates the Age of the Saints in early Welsh Christianity and thus by its very existence provides evidence of continuity with sub-Roman Christianity. The churchyard contains three ancient relics, a pillar and two inscribed stones; one dates from Saint Samson's time. The grounds also include a 13th-century gatehouse, a monks' pigeon-house, ruined walls in a garden area, and mounds near the vicarage.[9]

Town Hall

Manorial records indicate that the Town Hall (51°24′27″N 3°29′05″W / 51.4076°N 3.4848°W / 51.4076; -3.4848) dates to the 15th century but it is often attributed to Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan, who died much earlier in 1295.[4] It then functioned as a manor and a meeting venue for the court to organise duties and collect rents and at weekends held fairs.[4] It was renovated in the late 16th century and over the years the lower floor functioned as a school, a slaughterhouse and a jail and the top floor a venue for church meetings, leased to Oddfellows in the 1830s.[4] Aside from fairs it also held plays, concerts and dances. It became a Grade: II* listed building on 22 February 1963.[28] It features a bell with the inscription, Sancte Iltute, ora pro nobis ("Saint Illtyd, pray for us").[29] It is reached by a flight of steps.[14]

Great House

The Great House

The Great House (51°24′44″N 3°29′17″W / 51.412361°N 3.488173°W / 51.412361; -3.488173), located along the road to Cowbridge, on the northern outskirts originally dated from the 14th century when it consisted of just a square central section, but significant additions have made it an excellent example of a Tudor "Ty mawr" (Great House). A northern wing with a stable and dovecot were amongst the added parts.[30] The house was occupied by the Nicholl family for centuries but by the 1920s it had been abandoned and fell into a heavily dilapidated state.[31] The building was bought and restored to its former glory in the 1950s.[30]

Dove cote and gatehouse

Covered by a domical vault,[32] the Dove Cote (51°24′23″N 3°29′21″W / 51.406414°N 3.48913°W / 51.406414; -3.48913) is a Grade II* listed tall 13th-century cylindrical column in a middle of the Hill Head field, which lies in close proximity to St Illtuds Church, next to the site of the old tithe barn, built for the monks at the St. Illtud's monastery.[33][34] Another site on Hill Head is the (13th–14th century) gatehouse, now belonging to St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major. Today these are the only remaining buildings which at one time belonged to Tewkesbury Abbey.[4] There is a plaque on the gatehouse, telling of its history.

The Old Place

"The Old Place"

The Old Place (51°24′28″N 3°29′23″W / 51.407665°N 3.489745°W / 51.407665; -3.489745) is a ruin of an Elizabethan manor house, built by Griffith Williams for his daughter and son-in-law Edmund Vann in 1596. It is often mistakenly called Llantwit Castle.[4] The Williams family were successful lawyers and part of the rising minor gentry who were loathed by the Seys of Boverton and the Stradlings of St Donats. Vann was fined over £1,000 for being involved in a scuffle in central Llantwit on a Sunday which led him to take on the Sey family and seek his revenge.[4]

Old Swan Inn

The Old Swan Inn

Records state that a building was located here from the 11th century and during medieval times it is believed to have been a monastic or manorial mint.[35] but the current Grade II* listed inn (51°24′30″N 3°29′10″W / 51.408341°N 3.486029°W / 51.408341; -3.486029) is dated to the 16th century, aside from restoration work; it was once thatched roofed. It was run for many years in Tudor times by the Raglan family. In the mid 17th century there is evidence that its owner Edward Craddock was again using it as a mint to "mint his own tokens as there was a shortage of coin at this time."[4] There are five other pubs and four restaurants in the town.

Plymouth House

According to the blue plaque on the wall outside Plymouth House (51°24′32″N 3°29′20″W / 51.408791°N 3.488876°W / 51.408791; -3.488876), the house is believed to have been formerly part of the monastery, perhaps functioning as a halled house for some time in the fifteenth century.[4] After its closure in 1539, it became the manor house of West Llantwit owned by Edward Stradling. Later owners include Lewis of the Van, the Earl of Plymouth and then Dr. J. W. Nicholl Carne, who renamed it after its previous owner some time in the 19th century.[4][36]

Court House

From the blue plaque on the Court House (51°24′34″N 3°29′07″W / 51.409519°N 3.485348°W / 51.409519; -3.485348), it was formerly known as Ivy house when it was a town house from the 16th century. In the 18th century it was extended by Christopher Bassett. For some time it was owned by the Throckmorton family of Coughton Court, Warwickshire, descendants of one of the perpetrators of the Gunpowder Plot.[4] Later owners included Daniel Durrell, headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School, and the benefactor of Tabernacle Chapel, Elias Bassett. It then fell to his niece and her husband William Thomas and became part of the Thomas family and at one time was owned by Illtyd Thomas, father of Mare Treveleyan, an antiquarian.[4][37] The Thomases built the Town Hall clock to commemorate Queen Victoria.

Knolles Place

The Old School

According to the blue plaque on the building (also known as "The Old School") (51°24′30″N 3°29′15″W / 51.408413°N 3.487469°W / 51.408413; -3.487469), it was built around 1450 by John Raglan (Herbert) and was then owned by Robert Raglan, from a family who had significant power in the area at the time and held many local administrative posts as stewards and priests. In the 17th century it became a vicarage for Stephen Slugg and functioned as a boarding school for primary school children between 1874 and 1975.[38]

Old police station

The old police station (51°24′25″N 3°29′14″W / 51.4069°N 3.4872°W / 51.4069; -3.4872)was built in the mid-1840s after the Glamorgan Constabulary was established in 1841, and was originally comprised a single-storey building, but was expanded in 1876 to include four bedrooms on the top floor. [4] It continued to function as a police station until 1928 when a new building opened nearer the town centre on Wesley Street.[4]

War memorial

This is located in the centre of Llantwit War Memorial (51°24′30″N 3°29′13″W / 51.40842°N 3.486894°W / 51.40842; -3.486894), between the Old Swan and the White Hart and has a Celtic cross. The memorial commemorates residents who lost their lives or went missing in World War I and World War II. There are 32 names listed for World War I and 26 names for World War II.

Bethel Baptist Church

Bethel Baptist Church

Bethel Baptist Church (51°24′31″N 3°29′06″W / 51.408714°N 3.485035°W / 51.408714; -3.485035) was erected in 1830 to provide for local Baptists and its first minister was a local shopkeeper named Jabez Lawrence. Christmas Evans, a one-eyed Welsh preacher of considerable renown was reported to have held services here.[4]

Boverton Place

Located in Boverton, Boverton Place (51°24′17″N 3°27′51″W / 51.404751°N 3.464059°W / 51.404751; -3.464059) is a former fortified manor house, now in ruins.[39] It was built at the end of the 16th century and served as the seat of Roger Seys, Queen’s Attorney to the Council of Wales and the Marches in the 1590s.[4] It remained in Seys family until the last heiress Jane Seys married Robert Jones of Fonmon who sold it to owners who let it fall into ruin. Its last occupants were mentioned in the census of 1861.[4]

Dimlands

Dimlands Lodge

Dimlands (or Dimland Castle or Dimland Lodge) (51°24′22″N 3°30′04″W / 51.406172°N 3.501055°W / 51.406172; -3.501055) is situated about a kilometre back from the clifftops of the Bristol Channel along the road to St. Donats. It was owned at one time by John Whitlock Nicholl Carne of the University of Oxford who moved there after his father's death. Dimlands was built by John Carne's father, Rev. Robert Carne, at the end of the 18th century, upon land left him by his father, Whitlock Nicholl of The Ham, sheriff for the county of Glamorgan in 1746. The property was held by the Nicholl family since the time of King Henry VII. The dwelling is of castellated Tudor architecture with blue lias limestone exterior, and Coombedown stone windows and cornices. The south-facing front is more than 130 feet (40 m) in length. The western coast of Cornwall and Lundy Island are visible from the turrets. The carved chimney in the dining room is made of Caen stone, and the chimney-piece in the drawing room is also. Other features are the Minton tile flooring, the large Tudor-style staircase, two sitting rooms, and the library, a newer addition. The Dimlands stables feature sharp-pointed gables, as well as a carved stone with the date of the original grant (1336).[40]

Education and sport

Llantwit Major Leisure Centre

Llanilltud Fawr Comprehensive School is the secondary school in the town. A fire gutted the building in October 1991 and a new building was constructed.[41] The school has roughly 1300 pupils and around 85 full-time staff. Immediately adjacent is Llanilltud Fawr primary school, one of four primary schools in Llantwit, the others being Eagleswell primary school, Ysgol Dewi Sant and St. Illtyd's primary school.

Facilities at the Llantwit Major leisure centre include a small swimming pool, large and small sports halls, the LifeStyle Fitness Studio, sunbed facilities, conference room and bar. The Llantwit Major Rugby Football Club, which played its first match against Cowbridge Rugby Football Club in 1889,[42] fields two senior, one youth (U/19) and eight mini/junior teams, and plays in Division Four of the Welsh Rugby Union leagues. Other sports clubs represent association football and cricket.

Cultural references

The town is fictionally portrayed in the late Glyn Daniel's novel Welcome Death (1954). Some areas of the town have been used in the recording of the recent series of Doctor Who[43] and The Sarah Jane Adventures (created by BBC Wales). The local tearooms were used in the 2007 making of Y Pris filmed by and shown on S4C.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis 1833
  2. ^ a b c d e f Renee, Rob (6 April 2006). "Llantwit Guide". BBC. Retrieved 27 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Rivet, Albert Lionel Frederick (1969). The Roman villa in Britain. Praeger. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Town history". Llantwit Major History.org.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2012. Cite error: The named reference "LMH" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Jones, Andrew (7 February 2002). Every pilgrim's guide to Celtic Britain and Ireland. Canterbury. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-85311-453-3. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  6. ^ a b Palmer, Martin; Palmer, Nigel (1 September 2000). The spiritual traveler: England, Scotland, Wales : the guide to sacred sites and pilgrim routes in Britain. Hidden Spring. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-58768-002-1. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  7. ^ Barber, Chris; Pykitt, David (1 November 1997). Journey to Avalon: The Final Discovery of King Arthur. Weiser Books. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-57863-024-0. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  8. ^ Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society (1908). Transactions – Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. The Society. p. 33. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e Newell, Ebenezer Josiah (1887). A popular history of the ancient British church: with special reference to the church in Wales. Society for promoting Christian knowledge. Retrieved 22 January 2012. Cite error: The named reference "Newell1887" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c d e f Hall, Samuel Carter (1861). The book of south Wales, the Wye, and the coast. pp. 252–. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  11. ^ a b Williams, Peter N. (March 2001). The Sacred Places of Wales: A Modern Pilgrimage. Wales Books. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-7596-0785-9. Retrieved 22 January 2012. Cite error: The named reference "Williams2001" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ Tristam (Brother.) (July 2003). Exciting holiness: collects and readings for the festivals and lesser festivals of the calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-85311-479-3. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  13. ^ "St Illtud's Galilee Chapel, St Illtud's Church, Llantwit Major". Illtuds Galilee Chapel. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  14. ^ a b Murray, John (1860). A handbook for travellers in South Wales and its borders, including the river Wye: With a travelling map (Public domain ed.). J. Murray. pp. 15–. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  15. ^ Plantagenet Somerset Fry (15 October 2005). Castles: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland : the Definitive Guide to the Most Impressive Buildings and Intriguing Sites. David & Charles. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-7153-2212-3. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  16. ^ Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons (1963). Parliamentary papers. HMSO. p. 170. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  17. ^ a b Maps (Map). Google Maps. {{cite map}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  18. ^ a b c "Llantwit Major Beach". Forces of Nature.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Welcome". Wethouse Hotel.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  20. ^ Dalton, Nick; Stone, Deborah (27 January 2009). Frommer's Wales With Your Family: From Cliff-top Castles to Sandy Coves. John Wiley & Sons. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-470-72320-3. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Explanation of Victorian Fair Day". Victorian Fair Day.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  22. ^ "Council". Llantwit Major Town Council. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  23. ^ Fryer, Alfred Cooper (1893). Llantwit Major: a fifth century university (Public domain ed.). E. Stock. pp. 87–. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  24. ^ Morris, A. (1907). Glamorgan: being an outline of its geography, history, and antiquities with maps and illustrations (Public domain ed.). J.E. Southall. pp. 157–. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Drawing of a mosaic at Caermead Roman Villa". Casgliad y Werin Cymru, The People's Collection Wales. 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  26. ^ "CAERMEAD ROMAN SITE;LLANTWIT MAJOR ROMAN VILLA". RCAHMW. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  27. ^ a b The art journal London (Public domain ed.). Virtue. 1860. pp. 217–. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  28. ^ "The Town Hall, Llantwit Major". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  29. ^ Newell, p. 116
  30. ^ a b "Buildings". Llantwit Major Local History Society. 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  31. ^ "Great House; Ty Mawr, High Street, Llantwit Major". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. 12 December 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  32. ^ Cambrian Archaeological Association (1903). Archaeologia cambrensis (Public domain ed.). W. Pickering. pp. 322–. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  33. ^ "Llantwit Major Grange; Associated Sites". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  34. ^ "Dovecot, Llantwit Major". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  35. ^ Thomas, Ruth (1977). South Wales. Arco Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0-668-04239-0. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  36. ^ Blue plaque of Plymouth House, Llantwit Major Local History Society
  37. ^ Blue plaque on Court House, Llantwit Major Local History Society
  38. ^ Blue plaque of Knolles Place, Llantwit Major Local History Society
  39. ^ Wade, Joseph Henry (1914). Glamorganshire (Public domain ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 174–. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  40. ^ Burke, John Bernard (1853). A visitation of the seats and arms of the noblemen and gentlemen of Great Britain (Public domain ed.). Colburn. pp. 218–. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  41. ^ South Wales Echo, October 1991
  42. ^ "The Major RFC in Wales UK Business Directory". Wales Directory. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  43. ^ "Who's that walking around Llantwit Major?". The Llantwit Major Gem. 11 March 2010. p. 11.
  44. ^ Punch. 1986. p. 94. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  45. ^ "Dafyyd Hewitt". Cardiff Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  46. ^ Lock, Joan (November 1980). Marlborough Street: the story of a London court. R. Hale. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-7091-8581-9. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  47. ^ Thomas, John David Ronald (24 June 1999). A history of the analytical division of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 1972–1999. Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-85404-449-8. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
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