Hide

Llangynwyd

hide
Hide

"LLAN GYNWYD FAWR, in the Cwmwd of Tir yr Hwndrwd, Cantref of Cron Nedd (now called the Hundred of Newcastle), County of GLAMORGAN South Wales: a discharged Vicarage valued in the King's Books at £19..5..0: Patron, The Right Hon. Lord Vernon: Church dedicated to St. Cynwyd. The Resident Population of this Parish, in 1801, was 806. The Money raised by the Parish Rates, in 1803, was, £438..7..2 1/2. It is 7 m. N. b. E. from Bridgend. This Parish contains about 10,000 acres of Land, of which about one-third is uninclosed. It is situate near the rise of the River Lynfi, which afterwards joins the Ogwr. This Parish abounds with Coal, and Iron ore. According to the Diocesan Report, in 1809, the yearly value of this Benefice, arising from Tythes only, was £149..13..11. Near the Village is an old Cromlech, partly demolished, which is called The Old Church; and the Field, in which it stands, is called Old Church Field. Here Edward the Second found a retreat in his adversity". From: A Topographical Dictionary of The Dominion of Wales by Nicholas Carlisle, London, 1811

Hide
topup

Bibliography

References to Llangynwyd and Maesteg in the British Library

Here is a substantial reading list of books which relate to Glamorgan, either county or parish.

Richards, Brinley. M.A The History of the Llynfi Valley. Cowbridge, 1982.  Contents listing by Daniel Verkys.

Keen, Richard. Ogmore, Llynfi & Garw Valleys in Old Photographs . Index by Huw Daniel

topup

Cemeteries

The Glamorgan Family History Society have produced a set of microfiche containing Monumental Inscriptions for the following burial grounds :-

  • Parish Church of St. Cynwyd

Visit their website for information on how to purchase.

topup

Churches

There are more than 30 churches identified in this place. Please click here for a complete list.
topup

Church History

Chapels Database - a list of all known non-conformist chapels or other non-Anglican religions in the parish

See Welsh Chapels and Churches for photographs of various churches/chapels in this parish

See John Ball's site Welsh Churches and Chapels Collection for a photograph/data re St Cynwyd's Church

Extract from the 1851 Religious Census relating to the parish and church

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Boy outside Llangynwyd Church.
  • Llangynwyd Church interior
  • The churchyard in the parish of Llangynwyd near Maesteg is reputed to be the largest private graveyard in the whole of Europe. The church burial records go back to the 18th Century. The church is dedicated to St Cynwyd a sixth century chief, the son of Cynfelyn. ..... The church was rebuilt in the 13th century and has been restored several times.
topup

Church Records

For full and up-to-date details of their holdings see the sites of Glamorgan Record Office and/or West Glamorgan Archives

See Bap/Mar/Bur data on  FreeReg

The church is dedicated to St. Cynwyd, is in the Benefice of Llangynwyd with Maesteg, and the diocese of Llandaff. Details of the present incumbent of this benefice can be found at the Church in Wales website. The church can be located at grid reference SS857888.

Anglican Parish Register Deposits
BaptismsMarriagesBurialsBannsBishops TranscriptsDeposited
1662-1769, 1849-19011662-1753, 1851-19091662-1769, 1856-1902-1721, 1723-1837GRO
1662-18491662-18511662-18561847-18631721, 1723-1882NLW

GRO - Glamorgan Record Office, Cardiff
NLW - National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Llangynwyd Ecclesiastical Parish records         "........ including registers of baptisms, 1662-1901; marriages, 1662-1909; burials, 1662-1902; records relating to churchwardens, 19th century-20th century"

Modern Parishes & Chapels of Ease :-

Non Conformist Registers Held at the Public Record Office, London
ChapelBaptismsMarriagesBurialsOS Map Ref
Bethesda, Congregational1807-1837--SS 85738891

The following Religious Institutions are covered in the Mormon International Genealogical Index (IGI) :-

  • Llangynwyd, St. Cynwyd - Christenings (BT's), 1813-1875
  • Llangynwyd, Bethesda Independent - Christenings, 1807-1837
  • Maesteg - Christenings (BT's), 1845-1875
topup

Description & Travel

You can see pictures of Llangynwyd which are provided by:

topup

Directories

Transcript of complete name listing for Maesteg, with the parishes and villages of Cwmdu, Baidan, Bettws, Llangeinor, Llangynwyd, Nantyfyllon and Spelter, from Slaters Directory for 1880.

topup

Gazetteers

The transcription of the section for Llangynwyd from The National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

Description of parish from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1833) by Samuel Lewis.

topup

Historical Geography

Some of the hamlets, towns and villages within this parish

topup

History

Description of Llangynwyd Castle at www.castlewales.com by Jeff Thomas (OS Map 170 SS 852887 R2)

Aerial photograph of Bwlwarcau Iron Age hill fort, Llangynwyd, 1999 - on the People's Collection Wales site (use search box)

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Photograph of Llangynwyd Village taken in the early 1900s.
  • Llangynwyd Castle, a section of the Gallery in South Wall. This is a medieval ringwork castle with 12th and 13th century phases. A Norman structure reconstructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 1260s.
topup

Language & Languages

Richard Giffith Thomas from south-east Wales talking in a Llangynwyd dialect - on the People's Collection Wales site

topup

Maps

This diagram shows the position of this parish within the county of Glamorgan - click on this to see a full size diagram of the county

 

image

Parish map (Kain/Oliver)

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SS862905 (Lat/Lon: 51.602177, -3.645101), Llangynwyd which are provided by:

topup

Military History

WWI Honor Roll in Abergwynfi, from a posting to the Glamorgan mailing list

topup

Names, Geographical

Places, villages, farms etc within Llangynwyd parish as shown on the online parish map from the CD of Historic Parishes of England and Wales: an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata [computer file]. (Kain, R.J.P., Oliver, R.R.). (Extracted by Rina Callingham)

  • Llangynwyd Higher [58] : - Abergwynfi, Argoed, Blaencaerau Fm., Blaencaerau Inn, Bryn Siw'rnai, Bwlch Garw, Caerau, Cefn yr Argoed, Coal Level, Coedcae isaf, Collieries, Craig Walter, Daren y Bannau, Dyffryn, Foel Dyffryn, Foel Fawr, Foel Trawsnant, Gelli, Hendre Owen, Hosp., Mynydd Bach, Mynydd Caerau, Mynydd y Gelli, Nant Dyrye, Nant-y-bar Street, Nant y Fedw, Pen-y-castell, Rhiw Gynwyd, Spelter, Standing Stone, Taren Forgan, Ty-Derwen, Ty Nant
  • Cwmdu [59]; - Blaen-cwmorrwyn, Bryn-defaid, Brynmawr, Caer-Emi, Cemetery, Cwmcerwyn, Cwmdu, Bryn-y-rhyg, Daren Garth, Garn Wen, Garth Hill, Garth, Glan Llynfi, Golf Course, Gwilym Hywel, Hosp., Lluest-wen, Llwydarth, Maesteg, Moel Sychbant, Nantyffyllon, Old Coal Levels, Pant y Ffald, Pentre, School, Tor-cerryg, Troedyrhiw Garth Sta., Waun Lluest-wen
  • Llangynwyd Middle [60] ; - Bryn-Cynan, Bryndwyarch fach, Castle, Cwm Felin, Foel-fach, Gelli-siriol, Gilfach, Llangynwyd, Llangynwyd Sta., Llwyn Gwladys, Maes-cadlawr, Moel Troed-y-Rhiw, Nant Bryn-Cynan, Nant y Gadlys, P Bwlwarran (camp), Pont Rhyd y cyff, Reservoir, Ty'n-y-waun, Waun Gilfach, Waun y Gilfach
  • Llangynwyd Lower [61]; - Aberbaiden, Baiden, Camp, Cefn Ydfa, Coytrahen, Cwmriscan, Entrenchments, Gelli-las-fawr, Inn, Mynydd Baiden, Mynydd Ty-talwyn, Pentwyn, Tondu Ho., Weir.
topup

Newspapers

topup

Occupations

Avon Colliery, Abergwynfi on the Welsh Coal Mines site

Coal mines that were in production at various times in the Llynfi Valley in the period 1840-1985. A list by David Lewis

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Welsh Road Man in Llangynwyd.
  • George y Beddau was the Grave Digger at Llangynwyd Church.
  • Tree Cutters photographed between 1904 and 1910 near Llangynwyd
  • Gladys who sometimes worked at the Woolen factory near Llangynwyd. Before the First World War.
topup

Population

The Population of Llangynwyd was as follows, and a more detailed breakdown is available.

1841 - 4,1551851 - 5,4791861 - 7,0021871 - 8,9441881 - 9,7821891 - 10,560
topup

Public Records

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Llangynwyd Burial Board records      "........ minutes, 1874-1904; cash book, 1883-1906; register of fees, 1883-1904; and receipts of grants of grave space, 1886-1892."
    "The Llangynwyd Burial Board (Glamorgan) was formally constituted in 1874, but it was not until 1883 that the Board opened a cemetery, situated in Maesteg, ....................."
  • Llangynwyd Civil Parish records     " ........ including vestry minutes books, overseers' rate books, valuation lists, parish council minutes books, bonds, removal orders, filiation orders, depositions, settlement, order for selection of overseers, 1742-1974; copy of tithe plan and apportionment, c1840 [copied 1980]
topup

Schools

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Cwmdu and Llangynwyd School Board records             " ........ comprising of minute books, 1894-1901; Ledger, 1902-1903; Letter book, 1894"

 

topup

Social Life & Customs

Mari Lwyd and Llangynwyd - on Folk Wales

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Woman in Llangynwyd.
  • Collecting calennig in Llangynwyd
  • Woman Carrying water in Llangynwyd. 1915
  • The 'Mari Lwyd' in the Llangynwyd area
  • Photograph of children playing in Llangynwyd Village, taken in the early 20th century.
  • Children playing marbles in Llangynwyd, Glamorgan, around 1906.