Llanmaes

Llanmaes (more usually Llanfaes in Welsh) is a small village in the Vale of Glamorgan near the market town of Llantwit Major.

Amenities

It has an old attractive public house called the Blacksmith's Arms Inn. It has one long road going through the middle of the village, linking Llantwit to Cardiff.

Llanmaes has a long history for such a humble village. In fields adjacent to the coast road lie remains of a Roman fort and the Churchyard holds one of the largest and oldest Celtic crosses in South Wales (Much restoration work has been carried out both to the cross and the church). The church also holds many pre-reformation murals that have escaped damage and were recently exposed during renovations.

Also along this section of the village (Which is liable to flooding but holds the oldest, most picturesque cottages and houses) lies the remains of the keep to the Norman castle, which is now in some state of disrepair and lies behind a modern house. Much of the village consists of relatively modern detached housing along the main Llantwit Major road. Thankfully the delectable Village green has be preserved, across from the Villages' only remaining pub, "The Blacksmiths Arms" - the old smithy building lies opposite the pub, hence the name. The original Red Lion pub and quaint post-office/village shop building, now both private dwellings, can be seen in the older part of the village.

What ties the whole village, with its village hall and strong community spirit together, is the winding, bubbling Llanmaes Brook, which flows through the heart of the village before bending East and draining away towards Eglwys Brewis.

Finally, Llanmaes House is a grand, white-washed Georgian building sited near the church, communal playing fields and children's playground and is of much historical interest.

The village has won the Vale of Glamorgan Best Kept Village competition on six occasions.^[1]

References