Llangynwyd
Llangynwyd | |
Welsh: Llangynwyd | |
![]() St Cynwyd's Church, Llangynwyd ![]() Llangynwyd Village |
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![]() ![]() Llangynwyd |
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Population | 3,032 (ward.2011)[1] |
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OS grid reference | SS866888 |
Community | Llangynwyd Middle |
Principal area | Bridgend |
Ceremonial county | Mid Glamorgan |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | MAESTEG |
Postcode district | CF34 9xx |
Dialling code | 01656 |
Police | South Wales |
Fire | South Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
EU Parliament | Wales |
UK Parliament | Ogmore |
Welsh Assembly | Ogmore |
Coordinates: 51°35′13″N 3°38′17″W / 51.586881°N 3.637943°W
Llangynwyd is a village 2 miles to the south of Maesteg, in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales. It was part of the medieval commote (Welsh: cwmwd) of Tir Iarll.
History and amenities
The village is the site of Llangynwyd parish church, the ruins of Llangynwyd castle and one of the oldest pubs in Wales (the Old House, dating from 1147.)
The placename Llangynwyd refers to the hilltop village with a church dedicated to St Cynwyd, a sixth-century chief, the son of Cynfelyn. The church was founded by St Cynwyd in the 6th century. All that remains of the original structure is the stone socket of a wooden cross, which can be seen in the wall above the entrance. The church was rebuilt in the 13th century and has since been restored several times. The square tower dates from the 15th century and was completely restored in 1893. The church has the biggest private cemetery in Europe.
The old village of Llangynwyd, "Top Llan", was the home of the legendary Maid of Cefn Ydfa, featured in the song "Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn". It was also the home of the poet Wil Hopcyn, said to have written it. The antiquary T. C. Evans was born in the parish.
The village still celebrates the New Year, or Calennig, with the Mari Lwyd: a horse's skull draped in a white sheet with flowers.
Today the "old" village of Llangynwyd is commonly referred to as "Top Llan" and the more recent and much larger adjoining village is simply called "Llangynwyd"
Education
The village has a primary school "Llangynwyd Primary School" (built in 1911), and is home to Bridgend's first Welsh language medium school, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd.
References
- ↑ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 11 April 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Llangynwyd. |
- Llangynwyd Middle Community Council
- Llangynwyd Village Hall run by the Llangynwyd Community Association
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llangynwyd and surrounding area
- BBC Wales feature on the Legend of the Maid of Cefn Ydfa
- Llangynwyd at GENUKI.org.uk
- History of Llangynwyd Parish (1887), Thomas Christopher Evans