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Nestling in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan is Llantwit Major. This is one place worth spending some time wandering around because it's packed with history, as Jo Barnes finds out

Llantwit Major has often been called the most beautiful of places' and just one visit to this town in the heart of the Vale makes you understand why.

This is a place steeped in history and, if you haven't been, I'd certainly recommend you do.

There is a medieval town hall, the ruins of a manor house, and a historic church as well as the foundations of a Roman villa. Six landmarks in the town are adorned with blue plaques which commemorate buildings steeped in historical interest.

The Town Hall, The Old White Hart, The Gatehouse (Tewksbury Abbey Grange), Knolles Place (The Old Presbytery), The Old Swan and The Great House now all have inscriptions set in a blue circular background underneath the Llantwit Major Coat of Arms.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council funded the plaques, while the Llantwit Major History Society undertook the research for each inscription.

The Town Hall's inscription reads: "The Town Hall was a Norman Manorial Courthouse for the holding of Courts left (Tenants) and Baron (Freeholders) for the Manor of Boverton and Llantwit Major. It was rebuilt under the Lordship of Jasper Tudor 1485 - 95; became a Guildhall in the time of Henry VIII, then the bailiff's house. It was then leased in part to the St Illtyds Lodge of the oddfellows society in 1845 and taken over by the first Parish Council in 1894.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council's Tourism Marketing Manager, Claire Evans, said: "The five other landmark buildings in Llantwit Major equally all have interesting descriptions that instantly let a resident or visitor to the area know some of the secrets of the past."

According to www.llantwitmajorvale.co.uk evidence has been found of domestic seaside settlement at Llantwit Major dating as far back as the Neolithic period.

For 350 years the area was ruled by the Romans. Roman villas have been found, with bathrooms and the mosaic pavements dating from the mid 2nd century.

But Llantwit came to the prominence after the Romans had left, with the foundation of a monastery by St Illtud in the late 5th century. This became a seat of learning as much as religion, attracting students from all over the world. It was reputed to have had seven halls, 400 houses and 2,000 pupils.

Today nothing solid remains to show where the monastery was sited or what it looked like.

It is thought the site of the monastery is just north of the present church of St Illtud.

St Illtud's church is a mixture of different periods strung out in line one behind the other. The Western (or old) church was the original parish church built on pre-Norman foundations.

A tall, slim tower was built onto the eastern end in the 13th century and was followed by a new Eastern (or monastic) church and chancel at the far western end of the original building. The now ruined Lady chapel (or Galilee), was added later.

There are traces of medieval wall paintings, and in the Western Church, a remarkable collection of carved Celtic crosses and carved memorial stones can be found.

Llantwit has grown considerably in recent years, but the winding narrow and high-walled streets of the town centre still preserve its ancient character.

The town also retains a number of fine old buildings, including a 15th century town hall, a medieval gatehouse and a circular dovecote near the church, and some 16th century inns and houses.

A mile to the south, near Colhugh Beach, there are ditches and earthworks belonging to an early Iron Age fort.

On the road to Cowbridge, on the northern edge of the town stands the magnificent example of a Tudor house Ty mawr or Great House.

The Great House is said to date from the 14th century and was occupied by various branches of the Nicholl family.

After the First World War the house was unoccupied and fell into a dilapidated and dangerous state. Luckily, it was bought and conserved and it still being lived in.

The town is not only full of historical buildings, it is also a bustling centre with shops selling everything you could need. There is a train station, a comprehensive school and a number of primary schools and community facilities for the people who lives in the town.

11:45am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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