The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to Rhoose

Where is Rhoose?

Rhoose – Y Rhws is a large village in the Vale of Glamorgan, near Barry. The wider area includes the villages of Fontygary, Penmark, Aberthaw and Porthkerry. It is set in a landscape known for quarrying and Lime and Cement Works. The coastal path cuts along its edge forming part of the route on the Welsh Coastal Path from Ogmore to Barry. Rhoose Point is marked as the most southern point on mainland Wales. To most people Rhoose is best known as the home of Cardiff Wales Airport.

History of Cardiff Wales Airport

Cardiff Wales Airport started life as an RAF training base during WWII. It was handed over for civilian use a in 1949 and grown over time to be the main airport in Wales. It replaced the earlier Cardiff Municipal Airport that was located on Pengam Moors in Splott (near the site of the modern day Tremorfa Park).

Many people stop just off the main road to Porthkerry village to view the planes taking off and landing. In 2016 the Iron Maiden Ed Force One Boeing 747 caused a stir when it landed in Cardiff as part of their Book of Souls World Tour. I remember an early primary school visit to the airport and the open air site nearby which along with examples of many small aircraft housed a replica of the interior of a Concorde, which we all took great delight in exploring. It is no longer exisits, as it closed in the 1990s, but there is South Wales Aviation Museum located in St Athan, which is definitely a day out for plane enthusiasts to enjoy.

Pottery and flint from prehistory have been found across the airfield. A Neolithic axe has been found near the airport and an Iron Age enclosure recorded atTredogan.

Pieces of Roman and Medieval pottery have been found spread over the wider area of Rhoose. Records describe the airport as the site of a former medieval church, although nothing remains now.

How Old is Rhws Primary School?

Rhws Primary School was built in 1931 and most likely designed by D Pugh Jones (Glamorgan County Education Architect). It is one of a series of Glamorgan Council schools from the period. The entrance has a stone with the inscription “RHOOSE COUNCIL SCHOOL” and above is a coat of arms with the date “1931”. It is listed due to it being an example of a little altered Council School from the 1930s.

Where was Rhoose Castle?

Not much is known about Rhoose Castle other than that it was the site of a fortified manor house. The manor was abandoned in 14th century. There are finds from nearby of a battle axe and a holy water sprinkler that have been linked to the site.

Rhoose Cement Works

Rhoose Cement Works is now covered by the more recent housing development near the coast. The site was open until 1987 demolished and later remodelled as Rhoose Point and housing estate. Nearby there was a lime kiln and quarry, now under the airport runway. Evidence of quarrying remains a dramatic feature of the coast path along Rhoose Point.

In 2000 a 4 metre high standing stone and stone circle were built at Rhoose Point. It was built by Blue Circle Industries PLC at the end of their quarrying activities.

Walks

You can easily get on to the coast path with a short walk from the station. The Vale Trail 4 and the longer South Wales Coast Path cover the area. The Vale Trail 4 is a pleasant coastal walk around 7 miles/11 km long starting at Limpert Bay Carpark (Aberthaw) and finishing in Barry Island (See Barry Blog). Nearby beaches, Porthkerry and Cold Knap, Barry or Barry Island are much better set-up for a visit with refreshment and facilities. The South Wales Coast Path is longer at around 21 miles /33.5km long – Ogmore-by-Sea to at Barry Island. 

Rhoose has its own station which makes it easily accessible from Cardiff.

There is a 9 mile Valeways Route that takes a circular route to Penmark.

For articles relating to areas near Rhoose see and Fontygary and Penmark.