- Llantwit Major
infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name= Llanilltud Fawr
constituency_welsh_assembly=
map_type=
official_name= Llantwit Major
unitary_wales=Vale of Glamorgan
lieutenancy_wales=South Glamorgan
constituency_westminster= Vale of Glamorgan
post_town= LLANTWIT MAJOR
postcode_district = CF61
postcode_area= CF
dial_code= 01446
os_grid_reference= SS975685
population= 13,366Llantwit Major (Welsh: Llanilltud Fawr -- "llan" church enclosure + "
Illtud " + "mawr" great) is a small coastaltown and community in theVale of Glamorgan ,Wales , lying on theBristol Channel coast.Local government
The town is governed by a
town council consisting of fifteen councillors. It also comes under the administration of theVale of Glamorgan unitary authority . Llantwit Major is twinned withLe 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 a15th century town hall . The oncemint (coin) for the town is now an attractive (oncethatched )15th century public house , called the Old Swan Inn, in the center of thetown . Also, at Hill Head, near St. Illtud's Church, lies a13th Century dovecote next to the site of the oldtythe barn built for the monks at the, once St. Illtud's, monastery. Another site on Hill Head is the (13th Century )gatehouse , now belonging toSt 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.t Illtyd's Church and monastery
:"Main articles:
Illtud andSt Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major ".The town grew up around amonastery or 'llan', founded in the5th century by SaintIlltud as a centre of learning.Saint David , Saint Samson, SaintPaul Aurelian , SaintGildas ,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 Christiansculptured stones , three with inscriptions. One is the memorial to KingRhys ap Arthfael ofMorgannwg 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 FawrComprehensive School , is thesecondary school in the town. Immediately adjacent is Llanilltud Fawrprimary 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 fourrestaurant s in the town. Of the pubs, three virtually surround the town'sWar Memorial , being in plain view of each other.Llantwit Major railway station on theVale of Glamorgan Line was re-opened inJune 2005 .The town is fictionally portrayed in the late
Glyn Daniel 's novel 'Welcome Death' (1954).port and leisure
Facilities at the Llantwit Major
leisure centre include a medium sizedswimming 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 theWelsh Rugby Union leagues.urfing
Llantwit Major Beach is a popularsurfing spot on the Welsh coast and is served byLifeguards . Thebeach has the remains of a stone wall which was built during Roman times as well as the nearby remnants of anIron Age hill fort . The beach itself is mostly rocky, but has several large areas of sand and is accessed through aSingle track road along an attractiveGlacial valley .External links
* [http://www.llantwitmajorvale.co.uk/ Official Website]
* [http://www.llantwit-major.net/ Llantwit Major.net]
* [http://www.llantwitmajortowncouncil.gov.uk/ Llantwit Major Town Council]
* [http://www.llantwitfirst.com/ Llantwit First Independents]
* [http://www.llantwitschool.org.uk/ Llantwit Major School]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2735637 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llantwit Major and surrounding area]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/llantwitmajor/ BBC Wales feature on Llantwit Major]
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