Llantrisant Brynsadler New Mill Tonyrefail Contents

LLANTRISSANT or Llantrisant, is an ancient borough and small market town and extensive parish in the county of Glamorgan, hundred of Miskin, union and county court district of Pontypridd, rural deanry of Upper Llandaff, archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaff, distant (by rail) 181 miles, (by road) 170 miles, from London, 11 from Cardiff, 10 from Bridgend, 8 from Cowbridge, and 5 from Pontypridd, and is a station on the Great Western Railway.

The town takes its name from the church, originally dedicated to the three saints - St. Illtyd, St. Gwynno, and St. Dyfodwg, and is romantically situated on the road from Cowbridge to Merthyr, in a pass over a mountainous ridge between two lofty hills. The ascent to Llantrissant is steep, but the prospects become more striking as you advance, and are perpetually varied by the circuitous course of the road, till, on gaining the churchyard, you obtain a magnificent view of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Llantrissant Castle, of which only a small part now remains, was formerly a place of great renown: it is supposed to have been erected by Gwrgan ab Ithiel, Lord of Glamorgan, and to have been repaired, if not rebuilt, by Einon ab Collwyn after the invasion of Robert Fitzhamon, at the time of the Norman conquest : in the time of Edward I. the castle was undoubtedly in the possession of Gilbert de Clare, commonly called the Red Lord: it is difficult to ascertain when and by whom the castle was demolished; some have supposed it to have been destroyed by Llewellyn Bren in 1315, and others by Owen Glyndwr in 1404.

Llantrissant shares with Cowbridge and Cardiff in returning one member to Parliament.

The town obtained a charter, granted by the Earl of Warwick, in the reign of Henry VI. : that charter creates a municipal government, consisting of a portreeve, aldermen, and burgesses.

The town deives its chief support from the iron ore and coal works in its immediate neighbourhood; it is supplied with gas, and well drained.

The Town Hall and Market place are close to the remains of the castle, but the market, formerly held every Friday, is now discontinued.

Petty sessions are held at the Cross Keys Inn; the magistrates meet every alternate Friday.

There is an ancient camp about a mile from Llantrissant, supposed to be where the battle of Rhiwsaeson was fought, A.D. 873, in which the Welsh were victorious: about two miles south-east of the town are the remains of an ancient castle.

The church of Llantrissant, dedicated to the three saints - St. Illtyd, St. Gwynno, and St. Dyfodwg, is an old stone building, in the Norman style, and has a chancel, nave, porth and square tower, with 6 bells : it is about to be restored, at a costof #1,500, defrayed by public subscriptions. The register dates from the year 1727. The living is a vicarage, yearly value about #550, with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester, and held by the Rev. John Powell Jones, B.D. , of St. david's College, Lampeter.

There are two chapelries in this parish :-

St. John's chapel of ease, at Tonyrefail, is a neat stone building, and has a chancel, nave,porch, and bell turret, with 1 bell : the Rev. Thomas D. Jones is curate in charge.

The chapel of ease at Talygarn, is a plain stone building and has a porch and small bell turret, with 1 bell : the Rev. Thomas Jones is curate in charge.

There is a National school for boys and girls : the house is a handsome stone building, erected at a cost of #2,000, and there is also a British school.

The charities are about #25 yearly value.

Races are held near the town every year, and also fiars on the 13th February, 12th May, 12the August, and 29th October.

Crofta Hall, the seat of William Prichard, esq., J.P. ; Castella House, the seat of Edward Lloyd, esq.; Lanelay House, the seat of Major Vaughan Hannan Lee, J.P.; Miskin manor, the seat of Gwilym Williams, esq., and Talygarn House, the seat of George Thomas Clark, esq., J. P., are the principal residences.

The Marquis of Bute, who is lord of the manor, and the Earl of Shrewsbury are the principal landowners.

The soil is principally gravel; subsoil, various. The chief crops are wheat, barley and roots, with some pasturage.

The area of the parish is 16,669 acres; gross estimated rental, #43,037; rateable value, #35,218. The population of the parish in 1861 was 5,492; the town about 2,000.

POST OFFICE, Tonyrefail. - Thomas Lewis, sub-post-master. Letters arrive from Pontypridd at 9 a.m.; dispatched at 3 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Dinas.

POST OFFICE, Brynsadler. - Evan Thomas, sub-post-master. Letters arrive from Cardiff at 9.20 a.m.; dispatched at 4.55 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Llantrissant.

Corporation

County Magistrates.

Evan William, esq. Duffryn Ffrwd, chairman
David Davies, esq. Cwm, near Caerphilly
William Prichard, esq., Crofta Hall
Major Vaughan Hannan Lee, Lanelay house
Rev. David Watkins Williams, Fairfield, near Pontypridd

Clerk to the Magistrates, John Stockwood, solicitor, Cowbridge

Insurance Agents

Public Establishments

Public Officers

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Churches

Chapels

(Welsh), Llantrissant, Rev. Jenkin Jenkins
Oinon (Welsh), Tonyrefail, ministers various

Bryn Sadler, ministers various
Crossvane, ministers various
New Mill, ministers various
Llantrissant, ministers various
Tonyrefail, ministers various

Zoar (Welsh), Llantrissant, Rev. Caradoc Davies
Bethel (Welsh), Llantrissant, Rev. Dan Griffiths

Schools

Railway Stations

Carrier

[Transcribed by Phil Mustoe, 5th April 1998].

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