View From Llantwit Major Beach Across The Bristol Channel
Llantwit Major (Welsh: Llanilltud Fawr -- llan church enclosure + Illtud + mawr great) is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the Bristol Channel coast.
Local government
The town is governed by a town council consisting of fifteen councillors. It also comes under the administration of the Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority. Llantwit Major is twinned with Le Pouliguen, France.
Notable buildings
Notable buildings in the parish include a Roman villa at Caermead which remains as faint earthworks in a field, the 13th century parish church of St Illtyd and a 15th century town hall. The once mint (coin) for the town is now an attractive (once thatched) 15th century public house, called the Old Swan Inn, in the center of the town. Also, at Hill Head, near St. Illtud's Church, lies a 13th Century dovecote next to the site of the old tythe barn built for the monks at the, once St. Illtud's, monastery. Another site on Hill Head is the (13th Century) gatehouse, now belonging to St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major. There is a historical plaque on the gatehouse, telling of its history. This plaque is also on many other historic, notable buildings in the town.
St Illtyd's Church and monastery
- Main articles: Illtud and St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major.
The town grew up around a monastery or 'llan', founded in the 5th century by Saint Illtud as a centre of learning. Saint David, Saint Samson, Saint Paul Aurelian, Saint Gildas, Saint Tudwal, Saint Baglan and king Maelgwn Gwynedd are said to have studied there. It has often been called "the oldest university in the world". The present church on the site largely dates from the 13th and 15th centuries and contains interesting medieval wall paintings and a fine reredos. There are also a number of important early Christian sculptured stones, three with inscriptions. One is the memorial to King Rhys ap Arthfael of Morgannwg who died in the mid-9th century. Another may date from Saint Samson's time. St. Illtyd's church thus predates the Age of the Saints in early Welsh Christianity and provides evidence of continuity with Christianity in the context of the Roman province.
Amenities
Llantwit Major School, formerly known as Llanilltud Fawr Comprehensive School, is the secondary school in the town. Immediately adjacent is Llanilltud Fawr primary school, one of three primary schools in Llantwit, the others being Eagleswell primary school and St. Illtyd's primary school. The school has roughly 1300 pupils with around 85 full time Staff.
There are also six pubs and four restaurants in the town. Of the pubs, three virtually surround the town's War Memorial, being in plain view of each other.
Llantwit Major railway station on the Vale of Glamorgan Line was re-opened in June 2005.
The town is fictionally portrayed in the late Glyn Daniel's novel 'Welcome Death' (1954).
Llantwit Major Leisure Centre
Sport and leisure
Facilities at the Llantwit Major leisure centre include a medium sized swimming pool, large and small sports halls, the LifeStyle Fitness Studio, sunbed facilities, conference room and bar. The Llantwit Major Rugby Football Club runs 2 senior, 1 youth (U/19) and 8 mini/junior teams and plays in Div 4 of the Welsh Rugby Union leagues.
Surfing
Llantwit Major Beach is a popular surfing spot on the Welsh coast and is served by Lifeguards . The beach has the remains of a stone wall which was built during Roman times as well as the nearby remnants of an Iron Age hill fort. The beach itself is mostly rocky, but has several large areas of sand and is accessed through a Single track road along an attractive Glacial valley.
External links
Coordinates: 51°24′22″N 3°28′30″W / 51.40623, -3.47503
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