Llangynwyd
Encyclopedia
Llangynwyd is a village
2 miles to the south of Maesteg
, in the county borough
of Bridgend
, Wales
. It was part of the medieval cwmwd of Tir Iarll
.
gave the population as 2,843. The village is the site of Llangynwyd parish church, the ruins of Llangynwyd castle and one of the oldest pubs in Wales.
Llangynwyd Church was founded in the 6th century by Saint Cynwyd. All that remains of the original structure is the stone socket of a wooden cross, which can be seen in the wall above the entrance. The church was rebuilt in the 13th Century and has since been restored several times. The square tower dates from the 15th century and was completely restored in 1893.
The old village of Llangynwyd, "Top Llan", is also home to the legend of the Maid of Cefn Ydfa
.
It is also one of the places in Wales that celebrates the New Year, or Calennig
, with the Mari Lwyd
: a horse's skull draped in a white sheet with flowers.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
2 miles to the south of Maesteg
Maesteg
Maesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 17,859, but it is now at an estimate of 20,000....
, in the county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
of Bridgend
Bridgend (county borough)
Bridgend is a county borough in the historic county of Glamorgan, south Wales. The county borough has a total population of 130,000 people, and contains the settlements of Bridgend, after which it is named, Maesteg, and the seaside town of Porthcawl...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It was part of the medieval cwmwd of Tir Iarll
Tir Iarll
Tir Iarll , is the traditional name of an area of Glamorgan, Wales, which has long had a particular resonance in Welsh culture....
.
History and amenities
The 2001 censusUnited Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
gave the population as 2,843. The village is the site of Llangynwyd parish church, the ruins of Llangynwyd castle and one of the oldest pubs in Wales.
Llangynwyd Church was founded in the 6th century by Saint Cynwyd. All that remains of the original structure is the stone socket of a wooden cross, which can be seen in the wall above the entrance. The church was rebuilt in the 13th Century and has since been restored several times. The square tower dates from the 15th century and was completely restored in 1893.
The old village of Llangynwyd, "Top Llan", is also home to the legend of the Maid of Cefn Ydfa
Ann Maddocks
Ann Maddocks was a Welsh maid who according to tradition was forced to marry against her wishes and died pining for her true love...
.
It is also one of the places in Wales that celebrates the New Year, or Calennig
Calennig
Calennig is a Welsh word meaning "New Year celebration/gift," though literally translates to "the first day of the month," deriving from the Latin word kalends. The English word "Calendar" also has its root in this word.-Celebrations in Cardiff:...
, with the Mari Lwyd
Mari Lwyd
The Mari Lwyd , also Y Fari Lwyd, is a Welsh midwinter tradition, possibly to celebrate New Year , although it formerly took place over a period stretching from Christmas to late January...
: a horse's skull draped in a white sheet with flowers.