The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to Llanblethian

Llanblethian Overview

Llanblethian is a small village attached to Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. It is set in an area with strong evidence of prehistoric settlement. Local flint finds, a Bronze Age Ring Cairn, Caer Dynnaf Iron Age Hillfort and Roman coin finds all point to use of the land before the present village took shape. In the Medieval period St Quentin’s Castle was built overlaying part of the earlier hillfort. The local church dedicated to St John the Baptist also dates from the Medieval period

Caer Dynnaf Hillfort

Caer Dynnaf is a large hillfort located on the top of Llanblethian Hill, it has been partly built over by possible medieval building and more modern private gardens. It has three ramparts that form the defensive enclosure and an entrance to the west. There is evidence to show it was occupied, with Roman walls overlaying a small pit containing a piece of Iron Age pottery. A nearby 4^th century roman coin hoard indicates the area may well have been in use throughout the Roman period.

St Quentin’s Castle

St Quentin’s Castle is first mentioned 1234 and is believed to have been established around 1102. The stone castle was probably built by Gilbert de Clare in the early 14th century. In the centre of what was once a large fortress is an earthen mound with the remains of a thick-walled building on top of it, which may be all that’s left of an earlier keep. The twin towered gatehouse still stands and makes quite an impression. It was ruinous by 1741.

The site is free to visit with a small car park next to the site. For more information on times and access click here. For more information on castles to visit in the Vale of Glamorgan click here.

St John the Baptist Church

The church at Llanblethian is first mentioned in 1173 and is believed to be of pre-Norman foundation. Medieval architecture of nearly all periods are represented, and the church was restored in 1896. There is little information about the history of the church between the end of the Middle Ages and the 19th century. The earliest datable feature is a 12th century window in the chancel. The font is Medieval, and Medieval painted wall plaster was found during restoration work in 1986 but was not preserved. All the other internal fittings are Victorian or later.

The churchyard is now quadrangular, but the tithe map of 1841 shows it as having curved on it east and south sides.  There is a restored cross on the village green immediately to the south of the church; only the socket stone and base of the shaft are medieval. These are likely to have originally come from the churchyard.

Walks

There is a the IoIo Morganwg Walk taking in St Hilary and Cowbridge. For articles relating to areas near Llanblethian see Llantwit Major and Cowbridge.