The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to Wenvoe

Where is Wenvoe?

Wenvoe – Gwenfô is a village and community between Barry and Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and it began life centuries ago, as a farming community.  In the last 100 years Wenvoe has doubled in size and with even more recent housing developments is slowly merging with the outer belt of the Cardiff suburbs. It has a core with local amenities and good bus links to Cardiff. The village originally developed around the parish church of St. Mary, which can be traced back to the 12^th century, although the earliest written mention of a church in Wenvoe was 1064.

St Mary’s Church

St Mary’s Church was originally built in the 12^th century. Its tower originally stood north of the chancel but in 1699 it was rebuilt at the west end. The church was heavily restored in the mid-19th century, and most of what now can be seen is from this date. The churchyard gateway was built in 1930 in memory of Laura Jenner, the last inhabitant of Wenvoe Castle.

At St Mary’s church you will find monuments to the families linked to Wenvoe Castle. The Thomas family 17^th and 18^th century and the Birt and Jenner families of the later 18^th and 19^th century. In the churchyard you will also find a rebuilt churchyard cross.

Wenvoe Golf Club

Wenvoe Golf Club  is located at Wenvoe’s western edge, close to Barry. At nearby Goldcliff in 2005 excavations took place and uncovered prehistoric evidence. The current clubhouse is on the site of a former castle which was built in the early 1700’s.

The buildings and land forming the golf course were owned by the Thomas family. In 1774 they were forced to sell land, property and Wenvoe Castle. Peter Birt, who made his fortune from coal and canals in Yorkshire, bought it and immediately set about clearing the site, rebuilding in its place a mansion house. The Birt family married into the Jenner family who later became involved in the creation of the golf course. In 1910 a serious fire which destroyed almost all of the mansion house with only the East Pavilion, the Stables and Archway Tower remaining intact. The remaining building now forms part of the clubhouse for the golf course which opened in July 1936.

Walks

For a 7.9 mile Cardiff Ramblers circular Wenvoe walk starting at St Mary’s click here

For blogs that cover the area near Wenvoe see Dinas Powys, St Nicholas and St Andrews Major