The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to St Andrews Major

St Andrews Major History

St Andrews Major – Saint Andras is a small village between Wenove and Dinas Powys in the Vale of Glamorgan. The earliest evidence for occupation are the Neolithic stone axeheads found in Coed yr Eglwys at St Andrews Quarry and the scatters of prehistoric flints in fields to the north of the village. There are traces of Roman and Medieval occupation in the wider landscape. A more recent addition to the village is St Andrews Major Golf Club which opened in 1993.

Coed yr Eglwys or St Andrews Quarry

The remains of the quarry are located to the south east of St Andrew’s Church. It first appears on the 1898 Ordnance Survey Map. It is the site of two Neolithic axe head finds. The quarry is now disused and filled with water. It is located on private land and not possible to view.

St Andrews Major Parish Church

St Andrew’s Church first appears in the documentary sources in 1254. The church is constructed mainly from the local lias limestone. The earliest parts of the church are dated to the Medieval and include the north and south walls of the chancel and the south wall of the nave. The porch and the tower are estimated to date no earlier than the late 15^th century or 16^th century. The church was restored in parts during the 19^th century although little remains in the records. The chapel was rebuilt in 1921.

The font is Medieval and is described as Norman. All other internal fittings are Victorian or later. There is a ring of five bells by William Evans of Chepstow, dated 1747.

The churchyard cross is made up of 5 rebuilt steps, an old Medieval cross base and a newer upper shaft and cross head. In the churchyard is a monument to the Welsh poet and Bard Thomas Essile David   (b.1820 d.1891)

The old Rectory was built nearby in around 1500 but has since been converted to stables and a new rectory built near the original in around 1828.

Walks

Listed as Walk 3 on Dinas Powys Community Council page as a local walk from Dinas Powys to St Andrews.

For articles related to areas near St Andrews Major see Dinas Powys,  Sully and Penarth