History
The oldest monument in Coity is a burial chamber near Coed Parc Garw woodland. It consists of a large megalith, tilted upwards and supported by other smaller stones. [3]
The oldest remaining building in Coity is Coity Castle. Now ruinous, but according to John Newman, "(after Caerphilly) ... the most impressive ruined medieval castle in Glamorgan", Coity Castle was built c. 1100 by Payn Turberville. [4] Turberville was one of the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan, and the construction of Coity Castle was part of Robert Fitzhamon's strategy to subjugate the region. [5] The castle remained in the hands of the Tuberville family before passing to Sir Lawrence Berkerolles by 1380. In 1404 Sir Lawrence found himself under siege at Coity by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr, and again in 1405. [5] A few years later ownership of the castle was successfully challenged by William Gamage through a court action. The castle remained in the Gamage family who lived at Coity, and in 1584 Barbara Gamage married Robert Sidney, who took ownership. Sidney did not live at the castle, but family members continued to live there until the 18th century. By the time the castle passed to the Earl of Dunraven in 1833, it was ruinous and was placed into state guardianship in 1929. [5] The castle is listed as a grade 1 building, as it is an example of medieval defensive architecture in Wales. [6]
In the 14th century, a church was founded at Coity and dedicated to Saint Mary. The church also underwent 16th-century alterations and was again restored in 1860 by John Prichard and John Pollard Seddon. The church is listed as a grade 1 building as it retains its 14th-century form and character due to 19th-century restorations. [7] The church stands to this day and has several key important features, including an Easter Sepulchre (c. 1500). [4] There is also a war memorial located outside St. Marys church, which commemorates the residents of Coity were either killed or missing during both the first sand second world wars the memorial contains 13 names from the first world war and 8 names from the second world war. [8] Other places of worship included Gilead Welsh Independent Chapel, which saw rebuilding in 1890.
Another historical building in Coity is Tŷ Mawr. A late-16th-century building, with lower wings added in the 19th century. The building also underwent mid 20th-century alterations. It is a grade 2 listed building due to it being a great example of 16th-century Glamorgan architecture. [9]
Bridgend & Coity Golf Club (now defunct) first appeared in 1928. The club disappeared following WW2. [10]
As of 2001, the community of Coity Higher had a population of just 835, which includes the larger village of Litchard. A large housing development, first proposed in the 1990s is seen by some residents of Coity as threatening the smaller village. [11]
Governance
At the local level, Coity is a ward electing community councillors to Coity Higher Community Council. [13] Because of the tenfold increase in number of houses in Coity, the size of the community council increased from May 2022, with Coity's representation increasing from two, to six councillors. [14]
Between 1999 and 2022 Coity was the name of an electoral ward to Bridgend County Borough Council, covering Coity, electing one county councillor. [15] Councillor Ella Dodd, elected as a Labour councillor in 1995, represented the ward as an Independent since 2004. [15] [16]
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough of Wales, 20 miles (32 km) west of Cardiff and 20 miles (32 km) east of Swansea. The town is named after the medieval bridge over the River Ogmore. The River Ewenny also flows through the town. The population was 49,597 in 2021. Bridgend is within the Cardiff Capital Region which in 2019 had a population of approximately 1.54 million.
Llantwit Major is a town and community in Wales on the Bristol Channel coast. It is one of four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan, with the third largest population after Barry and Penarth, and ahead of Cowbridge. It is 4+1⁄2 miles (7.2 km) from Cowbridge, 9 miles (14 km) from Bridgend, 10 miles (16 km) from Barry, and 15 miles (24 km) from Cardiff. It had a population of 9,530 in 2021.
Ewenny is a village and community (parish) on the River Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.
Whitchurch is a suburb and community in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is approximately 3 miles north of the centre of the city on the A470 road and A4054 road. It falls within the Whitchurch & Tongwynlais ward. The population of the community in 2011 was 14,267.
St Athan is a village and community in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales. The village and its parish church are dedicated to Saint Tathan. The church dates to the 13th–14th century, though an earlier church was dated to the Norman period. The village and the adjacent dormitory village of Eglwys Brewis are known primarily for the MOD St Athan RAF base. There are two pubs in the village, as well as a football team at St Athan Football Club and the St Athan Golf Club. The community includes West Aberthaw.
Nottage is a small village part of Porthcawl in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. It is also the name of an electoral ward to the town and county councils.
St. Brides Major is a village within the community also called St Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales.
Coity Castle in Glamorgan, Wales, is a Norman castle built by Sir Payn "the Demon" de Turberville, one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan supposed to have conquered Glamorgan under the leadership of Robert FitzHamon, Lord of Gloucester. Now in ruins, it stands in the community of Coity Higher near the town of Bridgend, in the County Borough of Bridgend. Very close to the castle is the battlemented parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, which dates from the 14th century.
Cornelly is a community and electoral ward in Bridgend County Borough, South Wales. As of 2011 the population of the Cornelly ward was 7,059.
Pennard is a village and community on the south of the Gower Peninsula, about 7 miles south-west of Swansea city centre. It falls within the Pennard electoral ward of Swansea. The Pennard community includes the larger settlements of Southgate and Kittle. the population as of 2011 was 2,688.
Flemingston is a small village in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. It is located 8.5 miles (13.7 km) northwest by road from the town centre of Barry. It contains the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, the ruins of Flemingston Court, and Flemingston Manor or Grange, all of which are listed buildings. Historically, the parish of Flemingston was a sub-manor of Aberthaw or St Athan.
Coity Higher is a community in Bridgend County Borough, south Wales. It contains the north western suburbs of Bridgend which includes the villages of Litchard and Coity. The southern boundary of the community adjoins the community of Brackla, while the northern border is defined by the M4 motorway. Notable buildings and landmarks within the community include Coity Castle, Parc Prison, the 14th century Church of St Mary, Pendre Hospital, Ty Mawr House and a burial chamber. At the 2001 census, the community's population was 835, being re-measured at 6,078 t the 2011 Census.
Laleston is a village and a community in Bridgend County Borough, south Wales, directly west of Bridgend town centre. The village takes its name from the Norman Lageles family who settled in the area. Buildings of note in the village include St David's Church, which still possesses features dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, the Great House which was built in the early 16th century and Horeb Welsh Presbyterian Church (1831).
Newcastle Higher is a community in Bridgend County Borough, South Wales. Located north west of Bridgend town centre it is made up of the townships of Pen-y-fai and Aberkenfig and straddles the M4 motorway. The Pen-y-fai community is home to several notable buildings, including the Glanrhyd Hospital, Court Colman Hotel, Smyrna Baptist Chapel and All Saints Church. Aberkenfig is home to the Len Evans Centre, Aberkenfig Welfare Hall and Aberkenfig Mosque to name but a few. Both communities have war memorials in honour of those local residents who served and lost their lives in WW1 and WW2.
Newcastle is an area and electoral ward of the town of Bridgend, Wales. The area includes the medieval Newcastle Castle. The ward elects councillors to Bridgend Town Council and Bridgend County Borough Council.
Oldcastle is an area and electoral ward of the town of Bridgend, Wales, to the south of the town centre. The ward elects councillors to Bridgend Town Council and Bridgend County Borough Council.
Caerau is an electoral ward in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. It covers part of the town of Maesteg. The ward elects two councillors to Bridgend County Borough Council.
Litchard is a village and residential district north of Bridgend, Wales. It is also an electoral ward in the Coity Higher community, as well as a former ward to Bridgend County Borough Council.
