Where is St Athan?
St Athan – Saint Tathan is a village located between the towns of Barry and Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan. It was once known as Llandathan in records beginning as early as 1291 with the local church dating to the 13th/14th century. It is annexed to the small village of Eglwys Brewis which in more recent years has been known nationally as a base for the Royal Air Force – RAF St Athan and later MOD St Athan. The area is a mix of residential and former army housing, at its old core is the Church of St Tathan and a couple of shops along with a local public house.
Is St Athan Old?
There is plenty of evidence for old prehistoric settlement in the area. This includes a Bronze Age Round Barrow, Bronze Age Beads from a necklace, Iron Age earthwork enclosures such as that at Castleton Woods and nearby Iron Age amber bead findspot. However, St Athan really begins to take shape in the Medieval period with the building of the church and nearby buildings such as West Orchard Manor and East Orchard Castle. There is an abandoned medieval settlement to its east and an impressive Medieval Coin Hoard found close to Eglwys Brewis House.
History of St Tathan’s Church

The church at St Athan is dedicated to Saint Tathan, who is said to have founded a church here in the 6th century. The church at St Athan is first mentioned in 1254. The present church was built in the 14th century. It consists of a chancel, embattled central tower, nave, north and south transepts, and a southern porch. The belfry originally contained four bells but now contains six, the oldest of which dates to 1653. The church’s medieval wall-paintings were destroyed during restoration and renovation in 1888. The church is home to two impressive tomb chests with effigies for members of the Berkerolles family of East Orchard Castle. The earlier tomb of Sir William Berkerolles and his wife, Phelice de Vere and later tomb of Sir Roger Berkerolles and his wife Katherine Turberville de Coity.
The churchyard is quadrangular, and the churchyard cross does not survive.
East Orchard Castle

East Orchard Castle was a manorial estate that included a chapel, barn and dovecote. Its main building phase is dated to the 14th century with later additions. The main house was dismantled in the 18th century.
History of the Church of St Brewis

Church of St Brewis in Eglws Brewis is first mentioned in 1254. The dedication to St Brewis (St Brice) may come from the settlement name. The settlement name is probably derived from the de Braose family.
The nave and chancel were built after the 13th century and the font is described as Norman. The pillar piscina, two stoups and a stone bench seat are also described as Medieval. Some of the windows date to the 16th century. The historic record describes a fine series of post-medieval texts and Royal Arms painted on the nave walls dating mostly to the 17th century. These have been painted directly on the early plaster/limewash surface and could possibly overlie earlier medieval paintings. The communion table is 18th century and the remaining internal fittings are Victorian or later. Restoration took place in 1900 with the appearance of the church left virtually unchanged.
The churchyard is shown on the tithe plan of 1841 as quadrangular. The modern boundary has rounded corners to its west.
The church is small and presently heavily overgrown with foliage. It is fenced off and the access gate appears to have been permanently sealed so it wasn’t possible to access.
History of RAF St Athan
Construction work began in January 1937, with the official opening of RAF St Athan airfield taking place on the 1st September 1938. Initially the base only had one runway, but another was added in 1939-40. Both runways were lengthened in 1944. In February 1939, St Athan became the home for 4 School of Technical Training with over 1500 staff and trainees, a number which soon doubled. In April 1940, a School of Air Navigation moved to St Athan from RAF Manston. During WWII the base had over 14,000 personnel. It was used for training ground and air crew and linked to the aircraft storage and maintenance facility at RAF Llandow. When the war ended, the two maintenance units remained, and the base continues with the important functions of repair, overhaul and storage for both the RAF and Royal Navy.
In 2006 the base was renamed Ministry of Defence St Athan or MOD St Athan. In March 2019 the airfield was taken over by the Welsh Government and Cardiff Airport, and transferred into the remit of the Civil Aviation Authority. The venture included the building of a business park.
St Athan War Memorial
The war memorial is located on a grass verge on the corner of the main turning into St Athan from the B4625. It was erected to commemorate those from St Athan, Flemingstone and Gilestone who lost their lives during WWI. The men who served and died in WWII were later added.

Does St Athan have a Railway Station?
St Athan was once linked by three train stations in the past, all along the Vale of Glamorgan Line. Gileston Railway Station, St Athan Railway Station (St Athan Halt) and St Athan Road Railway Station. These were all closed for passengers in the Beeching cuts of 1964. In 2021 discussions began to place a new station in the village and at present those discussions remain ongoing.
Walks
Whilst there are no set trail walks cutting through St Athan. It is possible to link up a circular route from public footpaths that cover the area.
For articles relating to areas near St Athan see Flemingston and Aberthaw.
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