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Cowbridge

Cowbridge is a small market town in the Vale of Glamorgan, about 15 kms west of Cardiff

2004 was the year that Cowbridge that celebrated 750 years of its Charter.

The very handsome tankard made specially for the occasion is seen here. It was made locally. Well, in Cardiff!

A brief history...

The Romans built a small fort here in the 1st century which developed into a township by the 4th century. Recent archaeological digs have turned up many Roman relics as well as the foundations of various Roman structures including a bath house. It is thought that Cowbridge might have a claim to being the missing Roman fort of Bovium. [see below]

In 1254 one Sir Richard de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan granted the town it's first charter. He had built the township more or less as a business venture, renting out the plots of land and leasing them on fixed rents to 'responsible' citizens for business or residential premises. The east and west sides of the town proved quite popular and by 1266 Cowbridge had walls around it with four gates, although the North gate appears to have been used mainly for cattle.

Had the intrepid photographer been around in mediaeval times, the picture below would have been obscured by the Guild Hall which stood in the middle of the high street.

Cowbridge was the last recipient of a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1886, thus was then able to appoint its own Councillors and Mayor. This tradition has continued in spite of the local Government re organisation of 1974.

When the railways came to Victorian Britain, Cowbridge did not welcome the thought of the iron way. The main line took a big loop around the Vale to the North, roughly parallel with the M4 motorway of today. Had it been built through the town, either very deep cuttings or a huge viaduct would have been necessary, because of the hills that rise 100 metres on either side of the town. That makes me think that commuters would have had a fair way to go even to get to a station. There were two minor spur lines that linked the town from north and south but went the way of Dr. Beeching long ago!

Several well known personalities have connections with the town, David Lloyd George was a Freeman of the town. Iolo Morganwg, historian and poet had a shop here. Sir Leoline Jenkins endowed the towns grammar school and was the cause of the schools long association with Jesus College Oxford. One Edward Stirling (The Thunderer of the Times) lived in Llanblethian and his son, John, went to school in Cowbridge at the Eagle Academy. 

Cowbridge became known for it's fairs, but by the mid 1960's it also had the doubtful reputation of having long traffic queues, being as it was on the main route to west Wales from Cardiff and the east. The bypass to the north of the town put paid to all that, but for a time to the unhappiness of local traders who feared that the town was finished. The M4 motorway has long since bypassed the area in a large loop to the North, but I think it is fair to say that the town has maintained stability of its business community, partly through it being popular as a dormitory for Cardiff. 

In 1991 Cowbridge was twinned with CLISSON in the department of Loire-Atlantique, near Nantes in France. Each year exchange visits occur between various sporting, cultural and youth groups. Clisson is also a very picturesque town, situated on the banks of the Sevre in the heart of the Muscadet wine producing region. The tourist office at Clisson (tel:+33 40 54 02 95) will be happy to assist in enquiries about the many opportunities for holiday activities in the area. In 2004 the town celebrated its 750th anniversary of being granted its first charter. The chairman of the French twinning committee was also present.

 

And this is Cowbridge. Well, the centre of the High Street with the Town Hall and War Memorial. 

 

street1.jpg (62980 bytes)

Take a look around this small town situated on the River Thaw or check out HRH Prince Charles' visit to Cowbridge in 2004.

Or the annual Food and drink festival...

 

Below, I will list e-mails from people seeking (or giving) information about the town and its inhabitants. If you think you can help, please e-mail me by the link at the top of the page. Thanks.

 

I was interested to read the comment on the following

It is thought that Cowbridge might have a claim to being the missing Roman fort of Bovium.

thought it might be of interest to you that the Roman fort of Bovium was at Boverton. Llantwit Major (Bovium being Latin for Boverton) as supported by the  Swansea Museum and other sources, please see link
Kind Regards
 
Russell Downe
My grandfather, TJ Yorwerth, was, I am given to understand, Mayor of the Borough on more occasions than anyone. It was he who presented Lloyd George with the Freedom and he himself, was a recipient of that honour. I have a framed photograph of the presentation to Lloyd George and the actual scroll received by my relative.

I was only young when my grandfather died, so would be most grateful for any information you may have about him. I am aware that following his death, my father and aunt, established the TJ Yorwerth Memorial challenge Bowl for the best dairy cow at The Cowbridge Show. Does this still take place? [Now the Vale of Glamorgan Show]

My uncle, the Rev. WM Yorwerth, also lived in Cowbridge. He was a Cahlian [captain?] to the Navy and in 1936 was presented with a bust of Nelson, made from copper from Nelson's flagships, for charitable work by the British Sailors Association. This, I now own.
Dean Yorwerth
I looked at your site and enjoyed it very much. I used to visit Cowbridge as a child. We had relatives who had a small grocers shop in the town. I believe that back in the early 1900s it was owned by David Hopkin Davies and his wife Lydia. Later I think their daughter Mabel married a George Caines and took over the shop. I think at one time George Caines was involved in the local council and served a year as Mayor.
I would like to ask a favour. You are knowledgeable about Cowbridge so could you suggest someone I could contact to make enquiries about the Davies / Caines families.
 
Many thanks.
Alwyn Martin

more Cowbridge Cowbridge 750 HRH Prince Charles Food and Drink Fest!