Cowbridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cowbridge | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 3,616 | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | Maps for SS995745 | |
| Administration | ||
| Principal area: | Vale of Glamorgan | |
| Constituent country: | Wales | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Police force: | South Wales Police | |
| Ceremonial county: | South Glamorgan | |
| Historic county: | Glamorganshire | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | COWBRIDGE | |
| Postal district: | CF71 | |
| Dialling code: | 01446 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | Vale of Glamorgan | |
| European Parliament: | Wales | |
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Cowbridge (Welsh: Y Bont-faen) is a market town in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. It is one of very few medieval walled towns in Wales, and substantial portions of the walls, together with the south gate, are still standing. The town charter was awarded in 1254 by Richard de Clare. The largely medieval church of the Holy Cross was initally a chapel of ease to the parish church at Llanblethian.
The town centre is still arranged on its medieval plan, with one long street divided into "burgage plots". However, the town goes back further, to a Roman settlement of which many remains have been found during archaeological excavations. It is identified by some scholars as the site of the Roman fort of "Bovium", partly because of its name. However, the town's Welsh name, Y Bont-faen, literally means "the stone bridge". The river Thaw or Ddawan flows through the town.
The 18th century antiquary, Iolo Morganwg, inventor of the present-day rituals of the National Eisteddfod of Wales kept a bookshop in the High Street, the location of which is now marked with a plaque inscribed with the words 'Y Gwir yn erbyn y Byd' in Welsh and ogham script. It was just outside the town that he held the first meeting of the Gorsedd, an assembly of bards, in 1795. Cowbridge Grammar School was founded during the 17th century and had close links with Jesus College, Oxford through its founder, Dr Leoline Jenkins. Its famous pupils included the poet, Alun Lewis, and the actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins. The indie band 'The Automatic' are also from Cowbridge. The old grammar school eventually became a comprehensive school, and the original buildings, having for some time lain derelict, are about to undergo refurbishment for an alternative use.
Cowbridge Museum is located in the town hall, a building dating back perhaps as far as the Elizabethan era, which served as a prison until 1830, when it was converted to replace the former Guild Hall, demolished at that date. The main street contains a number of Georgian houses, including the former town houses of important local families such as the Edmondes and Carnes.
Cowbridge contains the following inns: the Bear Hotel, the Horse and Groom, the Edmondes Arms, the Mason's Arms, the Duke of Wellington and the Vale of Glamorgan. The last-named is located at the premises of the former Vale of Glamorgan Brewery.
Closely attached to the town of Cowbridge is the village of Aberthin. Aberthin contains the following inns; The Hare and Hounds and The Farmers Arms
