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Llandough juxta Penarth - Gazetteers

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A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis 1833

"LLANDOUGH-(LLAN-DOCH), or LLAN-DOCHE-PENARTH, a parish in the hundred of DINAS-POWIS, county of GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, 4 miles (S. W.) from Cardiff, containing 119 inhabitants.

This place is supposed by some writers to have been the site of an ancient monastery, founded in the fifth century for twelve monks, or canons, and dedicated to the Holy Trinity, by St. Cyngarus, which was afterwards amply endowed by Paulentus, at that time King of Gwent. St. Cyngarus, who is also called Docuinus, and who, according to Bishop Tanner, came into this part of the country about the year 474, has by other writers been identified with the British saint Dochdwy, who is said to have accompanied Cadvan into Wales in the early part of the Sixth century; and the parish church, which is dedicated to that Saint, has consequently been regarded as the original church of the monastery. But this conjecture is not supported by any satisfactory authority, nor has it been confirmed by the discovery of any remains of the conventual buildings which may naturally be supposed to have belonged to such an establishment.

The village is pleasantly situated on a finely wooded eminence, on the west bank of the Ely, about a mile above its fall into Penarth harbour, overlooking a large level tract, which is intersected by the rivers Ely and Taf, and commanding an extensive and interesting view of the surrounding country, which abounds with richly varied scenery. The exhalations from the marshes below are unfavourable to the health of the inhabitants, who are consequently subject to attacks of ague. Limestone is the prevailing substratum of the parish.

The living is a discharged rectory, with the rectory of Leckwith and the vicarage of Cogan annexed, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaf, rated in the king's books at £ 8. 8. 4., and in the patronage of the Marquis of Bute. The church, a very ancient structure, is evidently of a period anterior to the introduction of the English style of architecture, though some windows of that character have been inserted : it is neatly fitted up, and kept in good repair. In the churchyard is the shaft of an ancient circular cross, ornamented with scrolls and tracery, but without any legible inscription.

A National School, in which from fifty to sixty children are gratuitously instructed, is supported at the joint expense of the Marquis of Bute and the rector of the parish : a neat school-house, with apartments for the mistress, has been erected by subscription, aided by a grant from the parent society in London.

Cogan Pill, the ancient family seat of the Herberts, a branch of the family of that name near Swansea, has been converted into a farm-house, the grand hall having been appropriated as a barn : the Herberts of this county were ancestors of the Earls of Pembroke and Warwick.

At a short distance from the church, to the South-east, is a Small circular mound, commanding the entrances of the rivers Ely and Taf, and probably an outpost for the defence of those rivers, communicating with those at Whitchurch, Romney Bridge, and Cardiff.

The average annual expenditure for the maintenance of the poor is £42. 15."

A Topographical Dictionary of The Dominion of Wales by Nicholas Carlisle, London, 1811.

"LLAN DOCH, in the Cwmwd of Is Caeth, Cantref of Brenhinol (now called the Hundred of Dinas Powys), County of GLAMORGAN, South Wales: a discharged Rectory, with the Vicarage of Cogan, and the Rectory of Llech Wedd, valued in the King's Books at £8..8..4: Patron, The Marquis of Bute: Church dedicated to St. Dochdwy. The Resident Population of this Parish, in 1801, was 90. The Money raised by the Parish Rates, in 1803, was £67..7..7, at 8s. 6d. in the pound. It is 4 m. W. b. S. from Caerdiff. This Parish contains 800 acres of cultivated Land. It is situate upon the River Elay. The present worthy Rector very obligingly adds, "In the Church-yard, West of the Church, are the remains of a very curious ancient monument, vulgarly Supposed to be the remains of a Cross. The ancient Family of the Herberts of the County of Glamorgan, the ancestors of the Earls of Pembroke and of Warwick, lived at Cogan Pill in this Parish. The House is now much dilapidated. William Herbert, Esq., of Cogan Pill, was Sheriff in the year 1552; whose relation, Sir George Herbert of Swansea, was the first Sheriff for the County of Glamorgan in the year 1541." It is now the property of the Marquis of Bute.- According to the Diocesan Report, in 1809, the yearly value of this Benefice, arising from Tythes, and Rent of Glebe, was £136..8..3.- "Cungarus, or, as he was also called, Docuinus, having settled one Monastery in Somersetshire, is said to have come into this County about A. D. 474, and to have built another here, in some place now unknown, for Twelve Monks or Canons, which was dedicated to The Holy Trinity, and endowed by Paulentus, king of Glamorgan."- Tanner's Not. Mon.

[Last Updated : 5 Feb 2005 - Gareth Hicks]