Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for LLANTRISAINT

LLANTRISAINT, a small town, a parish, and a subdistrict, in Cardiff district, Glamorgan. The town stands on a hill range, above the river Ely, near the South Wales and the Ely Valley railways, 10 miles NW by W of Cardiff; commands an extensive prospect of the vale of Glamorgan; presents a picturesque and somewhat continental appearance; underwent much improvement, with addition of many new houses, in 1866-7; was chartered by Edward III.; is nominally governed by a constable, a portreeve, 12 aldermen, and other officers; unites with Cardiff and Cowbridge in sending a member to parliament; is a seat of petty sessions; and has a post office‡ under Pontypridd, a station on the South Wales railway, two chief inns, a vestige of an ancient castle, a town hall and market-house, a church, four dissenting chapels, two public schools, and several charities. The castle dates from the time of Edward I., does not make any figure in history, and now possesses interest only for the charming views which it commands. The church is dedicated to Sts. Dyfodwg, Illtid, and Wonno; and is Norman, spacious, and good. The dissenting chapels are Independent, Baptist, Calvinistic Methodist, and Wesleyan. New school buildings were erected in 1867, with capacity for 400 children. A weekly market was formerly held on Friday, but has been discontinued; fairs are held on 13 Feb., 12 May, 12 Aug., and 29 Oct.; and trade is carried on in connexion with neighbouring mines and mineral works. Pop. in 1851,1,007; in 1861,1,493. Houses, 311. The parish contains also the villages of Cymmer, Craigddu, Dinas, and Storehouse. Acres, 16,669. Rated property, £19,629. Pop. in 1851,4,181; in 1861, 5,492. Houses, 1,094. The increase of pop. arose from the opening of new coal mines, and the extension of the iron manufacture. The property is much subdivided. The manor belongs to the Marquis of Bute. Castellau House belonged formerly to the Trahernes, and belongs now to the Smiths. Llantrisaint House, Miskin, Garth Hall, Treferig, and Tirmabelis are chief residences. Iron and lead ores abound; and the hæmatite iron mines of Cornel and Mwyndy, about a mile from the town, are worked in the manner of a quarry. The Ely Valley railway runs from the Llantrisaint station of the South Wales northward to Dinas. The Llantrisaint and Taff Vale railway, authorized in 1861, runs from the South Wales, past Llantrisaint, to the Taff Vale line at LantwitVardre; and sends off one branch to the Ely Valley, and another to Llantrisaint Common. The Taff Vale railway runs along the N, past Cymmer, and up the valley of the Rhondda. Traces exist of ancient British camps. A second church, called St. John's, a modern edifice, is in the parish. The head living is a vicarage, and that of St. John is a p. curacy, in the diocese of Llandaff. Value of the vicarage, £546; * of the p. curacy, £92. Patrons of the former, the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester; of the latter, the Rev. R. Prichard. The chapelry of Talygarn and part of that of Glyntaff also are in the parish. Sir L. Jenkins, the judge and secretary of state, was a native. -The sub-district contains also six other parishes. Acres, 33,225. Pop. in 1851,10,713; in 1861,12,904. Houses, 2,600.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a small town, a parish, and a subdistrict"   (ADL Feature Type: "cities")
Administrative units: Llantrisant AP/CP       Llantrisant SubD       Cardiff RegD/PLU       Glamorgan AncC
Place: Llantrisant

Go to the linked place page for a location map, and for access to other historical writing about the place. Pages for linked administrative units may contain historical statistics and information on boundaries.