Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
South Gate (Porth y Felin)
Cowbridge with Llanblethian, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 5 December 1963
- Locality
- Cowbridge
- Community
- Cowbridge with Llanblethian
- Unitary authority
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.46116, -3.45050
- Cadw reference
- 13183
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
At S end of Church Street.
History
In 1266 Earl Gilbert de Clare Lord of Glamorgan, is thought to have directed the building of protective walls round the boroughs of Cowbridge, Neath and Cardiff. Present gate possibly dates from early C14; later repairs in, eg, 1805 and 1862. The town walls of Cowbridge originally had 4 gates (to N, S, E, W); the S gate (Porth y Felin) is the only survivor; E and W gates demolished mid C18; position and fate of N gate uncertain. The South Gate was originally vaulted with an upper floor or garderobe reached by a now blocked arch in inner E face of the gate.
Exterior
Gate of stone rubble six metres high, roughly 6.2 metres deep and six metres wide. North side has pointed double archways, roughly 3.3 metres wide, with segmental arch on south face, flanked by buttresses which probably date from C19 restorations.
Reason for designation
Graded II* as extremely rare example of Medieval town gate in Glamorgan. Group value with town walls and adjacent listed buildings.
Scheduled Ancient Monument, Cadw No Gm136.
Nearby in the register
- South GateGatehouseunder 1 mi
- The Boot House at Grammar SchoolEducationunder 1 mi
- Rose Cottage, including forecourt garden wallsDomesticunder 1 mi
- SE Wall To former Grammar School GardenEducationunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.