History of Dinas Powys
Dinas Powys – Dinas Powis is a small town between Cardiff and Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. The core of the town was designated a conservation area in 1971. It is a town I visited often in my teenage years to meet with friends, unknowingly exploring its history on long summer walks in the fields and woods surrounding the town. Like a lot of towns and villages in the Vale of Glamorgan, Dinas Powys didn’t really start to boom until the railway came along with the docks at Cardiff, Barry and Penarth. The town is on the Vale of Glamorgan Line which stills serves the town today.
Early industry in the area appears in the form of quarrying and a brickworks. The local brickworks at Dinas Powys was called ‘Gwalia Brickworks’ and opened in 1898 . It was in operation for 50 years before it closed and it was demolished a few years later in 1956.

The main modern town centre is found a little way back from the busy Cardiff Road. It is based around an old square or twyn, which is all that remains of the old village green. Here you will find a small cluster of shops, cafes and two historic public houses – the 16th century Star Inn and the later built Three Horseshoes. The Three Horseshoes is the birthplace of Thomas Essile David (b.1820 d.1891) a Welsh poet and Bard.

Local Sports Clubs
The town is home to Dinas Powys Rugby Football Club, Dinas Powys Cricket Club and Dinas Powys Golf Club. Dinas Powys Cricket Club and Dinas Powys RFC both formed in 1882. Dinas Powys Golf Club opened in 1914. The local Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1901 and was linked in the early days to the Bowling Club.
Historic Sites in Dinas Powys
Dinas Powys has a wealth of history and archaeology set into its landscape. The first evidence of prehistoric use comes in the form of Neolithic flint/stone tools and arrowhead finds showing use and movement across the local landscape. Evidence for a Bronze Age barrow, Roman building and Medieval settlement have been found on Dinas Powys Common. The earthworks of an Iron Age Hillfort in local woods are said to overlay an earlier area of Neolithic and Bronze Age activity and there is a Norman castle near Cadoxton River. The churches and chapels span past decades when religion was a focal point of everyday life. These include Ebenezer Methodist Chapel 1760 rebuilt 1839 & 1896, St Mary’s Catholic Church 1922 and St Peter’s Church 1927.
Dinas Powys Hillfort
Dinas Powys Hillfort is a small promontory Iron Age fort crowning the highest northern spur of an isolated hill and associated Ty’n-y-Coed earthworks to its south. The site was extensively excavated in 1954-9 by Leslie Alcock. Finds included Neolithic/Bronze Age flints and Iron Age, Roman and Medieval material. The site appears to have been abandoned in the late Roman period but used again in the early Medieval period (with evidence for metal working) until it was abandoned for a final time in the 7th or 8th century.

Visiting Dinas Powys Hillfort
Some impressive bank and ditch earthworks remain though they might be heavily overgrown. The site is free to visit and can be accessed via Cwm George and Casehill Woods, both managed by the Woodland Trust. For access and parking information click here.
Dinas Powys Castle
Dinas Powys Castle is hidden in its own little wooded area, near Lettons Way. It can be viewed from a footpath that runs near Cadoxton River. The remaining walls stand tall and are impressive. The suggestion is that the site was in use before the stone castle was built and that the banks and ditches predate the 12th century building of the tower and other later stone features. The castle was built probably in the late 12th century and was held by the de Sumeri family (also seen as Somery). The last of the male line of the family died out in 1321 after which the manor was divided and the castle neglected.

It has been suggested that the keep may have suffered at the hands of Owain Glyndwr as part of his campaign at the start of the 15th century. The castle was described as a ruin by the early 16th century. Coins from the 13th to 15th century have been found at the site.
Near the castle is a house named ‘Old Mill’ which is said to incorporate the remains of a 15th century mill.
St Peter’s Church

St Peter’s Church is located near the Cadoxton River and the Norman castle site. The church was designed in 1927 by architect J. Coates Carter. The foundation stone was laid in 1929 and the church consecrated in 1930. Records state that much of the masonry came from the old Cyfarthfa Ironworks (Merthyr).
Beauville Castle
On the outer fringes of the wider area of to the north west of Dinas Powys are the remains of an old mansion. Beauville Castle was built sometime before 1695 and was once home to the Howel family. Late 20th century excavations revealed mortared foundations, a mix of 13th to 17th century pottery and roofing material believed to belong to the former castle mansion. Nothing visible of the site remains today.
Walks
“The Warlow Walk” – Wenvoe – Dinas Powys Circular. Choice of a 4 or 6 mile route taking in both Wenvoe and Dinas Powys.
Vale Trail 6 – Salmon Falls Walk. Choice of 3 or 5 mile walk in a figure of 8 starting and ending in Dinas Powys.
For articles related to areas near Dinas Powys see Sully, Penarth and Barry
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