| Llantwit Major | |
| Welsh: Llanilltud Fawr | |
East Street, Llantwit Major |
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Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major shown within the Vale of Glamorgan |
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| Population | 13,366 |
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| OS grid reference | SS975685 |
| Principal area | Vale of Glamorgan |
| Ceremonial county | South Glamorgan |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LLANTWIT MAJOR |
| Postcode district | CF61 |
| Dialling code | 01446 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Vale of Glamorgan |
| Welsh Assembly | Vale of Glamorgan |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Vale of Glamorgan | |
Llantwit Major (Welsh: Llanilltud Fawr -- 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. A small stream, the Afon Col-huw, runs through the town.
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The town is governed by the Llantwit Major town council consisting of fifteen councillors. The current Mayor is Cllr Ralph Austin. It also comes under the administration of the Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority. Llantwit Major is twinned with Le Pouliguen, France.
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 Illtud 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 centre 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 plaque on the gatehouse, telling of its history. Historians have recently suggested that this plaque may have been erected after a grain-related incident involving local peasant Benjamin Kirkham that later resulted in his expulsion from the town. These plaques also appear on many other buildings in the town which hold historical significance.
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 at the Cor Tewdws, the divinity school. 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 thus by its very existence provides evidence of continuity with sub-Roman Christianity .
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 four primary schools in Llantwit, the others being Eagleswell primary school, Ysgol Dewi Sant 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). Some areas of the town have been used in the recording of the recent series of Doctor Who [2] and The Sarah Jane Adventures (created by BBC Wales). The local tearooms were used in the 2007 filming of Y Pris filmed by and shown on S4C.
Facilities at the Llantwit Major leisure centre include a small 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.