Merthyr Dyfan
Encyclopedia
Merthyr Dyfan or Dyfan is a northeastern suburb district
of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan
, in south Wales
, formerly an independent medieval village and reputedly the oldest Christian site in Wales. It is also a traditional parish and a formal electoral ward of the Vale of Glamorgan. It borders Colcot
to the west, Buttrills
to the southwest and Gibbonsdown
to the southeast. Its main roads are Merthyr Dyfan Road, a hilly road leading down from the A4050 road
(Port Road) which leads into Wenvoe
and Cardiff
and Skomer Road which divides it with Gibbonsdown and eventually also leads to the A4050 road. Merthyr Dyfan contains an old parish church, Barry Rugby Club, Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School
and the Master Mariner Pub and Holm View Leisure Centre, although the latter two could be considered part of northern Gibbonsdown.
ordered two priests, St Dyfan and St Fagan to this area. The name, "Merthyr" is derived from the latin word "Martyrium" which means "burial place", testimony to the fact that St Dyfan was buried at the church. In the sixth century, St Teilo, the founder of Llandaff Cathedral
in Cardiff
, was made a patron saint of the church along with Llandaff. The current church is Norman, built in the early thirteenth century, and was consecrated by Bishop William de Burgh
of Llandaff in 1250. The church fell into neglect during the Reformation
period but was fully restored in the late 19th century. In 1970 it underwent renovation; the windows were reglazed and the church was re-roofed in Welsh slate, amongst other things.
The village of Merthyr Dyfan grew up during the medieval period. The centre of the original village and church is located in what today is the southwestern-most part of Merthyr Dyfan district. It was originally located at between 53 metres and 68 metres above sea level.The centre of the medieval village was excavated by a local man, G. Tyley, between 1968 and 1978. In 1969 he excavated and examined an old corn-drying kiln at the site. The Merthyr Dyfan Chapel is located near the Barry Cemetery to the south, which is really in the district of Buttrills
.
Housing development grew up along Merthyr Dyfan hill, north of the original village in the early 1950s, and the area to the northwest became a council estate, Colcot. Further extensive development took place between the 1960s and the 1980s, with the building of Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, and housing estates to the east and southeast (Lundy Park). Holm View Leisure Centre was built around 1990 and regularly stages children's parties with a bouncy castle for hire.
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
, in south 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...
, formerly an independent medieval village and reputedly the oldest Christian site in Wales. It is also a traditional parish and a formal electoral ward of the Vale of Glamorgan. It borders Colcot
Colcot
Colcot is a northern district of Barry near Wenvoe in the Vale of Glamorgan 11 miles outside Cardiff in South Wales.-History & Amenities:Colcot Primary School was built in 1952. Nearby areas include Highlight Park and Brynhill Golf Course....
to the west, Buttrills
Buttrills
Buttrills is a northwestern-central district of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, in south Wales. It is also a formal electoral ward of the Vale of Glamorgan...
to the southwest and Gibbonsdown
Gibbonsdown
Gibbonsdown, colloquially known as 'Gibby', is a housing estate situated in the north east area of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Gibbonsdown borders Merthyr Dyfan to the northwest and Cadaxton to the southeast.-Crime:...
to the southeast. Its main roads are Merthyr Dyfan Road, a hilly road leading down from the A4050 road
A4050 road
The A4050 road connects Barry, Vale of Glamorgan with Culverhouse Cross on the outskirts of Cardiff, Wales. It is approximately long.Wenvoe village lies along the road....
(Port Road) which leads into Wenvoe
Wenvoe
Wenvoe is a Welsh village between Barry and Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Nearby is the Wenvoe Transmitter near Twyn-yr-Odyn and the HTV Wales Television Centre at Culverhouse Cross in the suburbs of Cardiff.-History:...
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and Skomer Road which divides it with Gibbonsdown and eventually also leads to the A4050 road. Merthyr Dyfan contains an old parish church, Barry Rugby Club, Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School
Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School
Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, also referred to as Bryn Hafren School, is located in Merthyr Dyfan on the outskirts of the town of Barry near Cardiff, in Wales and was opened in 1971...
and the Master Mariner Pub and Holm View Leisure Centre, although the latter two could be considered part of northern Gibbonsdown.
History
The Merthyr Dyfan parish church is built on what is reputed to be the oldest Christian site in Wales and dates back to around 180 A.D. when Pope EleutheriusEleutherius
Eleutherius, Eleutherus or Eleuterus may refer to:Saints*2nd century Pope Eleuterus *Eleutherius of Rocca d'Arce *Eleutherius of Nicomedia...
ordered two priests, St Dyfan and St Fagan to this area. The name, "Merthyr" is derived from the latin word "Martyrium" which means "burial place", testimony to the fact that St Dyfan was buried at the church. In the sixth century, St Teilo, the founder of Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, was made a patron saint of the church along with Llandaff. The current church is Norman, built in the early thirteenth century, and was consecrated by Bishop William de Burgh
William de Burgh
William de Burgh, founder of the de Burgh/Burke/Bourke family of Ireland, d. 1206.-In Ireland:He arrived in Ireland in 1185 and was closely associated with Prince John....
of Llandaff in 1250. The church fell into neglect during the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
period but was fully restored in the late 19th century. In 1970 it underwent renovation; the windows were reglazed and the church was re-roofed in Welsh slate, amongst other things.
The village of Merthyr Dyfan grew up during the medieval period. The centre of the original village and church is located in what today is the southwestern-most part of Merthyr Dyfan district. It was originally located at between 53 metres and 68 metres above sea level.The centre of the medieval village was excavated by a local man, G. Tyley, between 1968 and 1978. In 1969 he excavated and examined an old corn-drying kiln at the site. The Merthyr Dyfan Chapel is located near the Barry Cemetery to the south, which is really in the district of Buttrills
Buttrills
Buttrills is a northwestern-central district of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, in south Wales. It is also a formal electoral ward of the Vale of Glamorgan...
.
Housing development grew up along Merthyr Dyfan hill, north of the original village in the early 1950s, and the area to the northwest became a council estate, Colcot. Further extensive development took place between the 1960s and the 1980s, with the building of Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, and housing estates to the east and southeast (Lundy Park). Holm View Leisure Centre was built around 1990 and regularly stages children's parties with a bouncy castle for hire.