Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Town Walls
Cowbridge with Llanblethian, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Defence
- Date of designation
- 5 December 1963
- Locality
- Cowbridge
- Community
- Cowbridge with Llanblethian
- Unitary authority
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.46154, -3.45137
- Cadw reference
- 13181
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
On E side of The Butts, from rear of Mason's Arms, to bastion at SW angle, thence along N side of Town Mill Road.
History
Earl Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan, is thought to have directed in 1266 the building of protective walls round the boroughs of Cowbridge, Neath and Cardiff. The oldest parts of the present walls in Cowbridge probably date from early C14, and face The Butts; it is not certain how far the walls facing Town Mill Road are original. Rose Cottage and adjoining garden walls have almost certainly been built on the line of the walls, and probably incorporate the Town Walls in their own walling or foundations.
Exterior
Stone rubble, about 3.5 metres high on average, formerly apparently rising to about 7.6 metres and with an internal wall walk. The walls in the Butts are castellated and have a bastion at their SW angle, circular in plan, with polygonal upper storey and was probably used as a summer-house in the post-medieval period. Doorway through to gardens, to S of Mason's Arms; facing gardens, inner retaining wall to walkway which is turfed. To E of bastion, walls pierced by 2 doorways, a round-headed one to W, and to E, doorway with Tudor head, and to N, facing gardens, stone rubble gate piers with moulded copings.
The walls extend to W, as garden walls on footing of medieval walls (See separate entry under Town Mill Road).
Nearby in the register
- NW Garden Wall to Rose Cottage and SW Garden Walls to Old Hall & Grammar School Garden at SEDomesticunder 1 mi
- Rose Cottage, including forecourt garden wallsDomesticunder 1 mi
- SE Wall To former Grammar School GardenEducationunder 1 mi
- South Gate (Porth y Felin)Domesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.