Merthyr Mawr facts for kids
Merthyr Mawr is a small village and community in Bridgend, Wales. It's about 2.5 miles from the center of Bridgend town. The area is west of the Ewenny River and includes the village of Tythegston and a large area of sand dunes called Merthyr Mawr Warren. It's part of the historic county of Glamorgan.
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Exploring Merthyr Mawr's Landmarks
Merthyr Mawr has some interesting old buildings and places to visit.
Merthyr Mawr House
Merthyr Mawr House is a large mansion built in the early 1800s. It sits in a huge park that is very important for its history and design. Inside this park, you can find an ancient hillfort called Chapel Hill Camp. There's also a ruined chapel from the 1400s, St Roque's Chapel, which holds some very old carved stones.
The Village and Church
Merthyr Mawr village was mostly built for the people who worked at Merthyr Mawr House. Many of the cottages still have their original thatched roofs, which are roofs made of straw or reeds. They also have lovely, well-kept gardens. At the end of the village is St Teilo's Church. It was built in the mid-1800s on a much older church site. You can see a collection of ancient stones from the churchyard and nearby areas displayed in a special shelter.
Nearby Attractions
Right next to the village are the famous Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes. These are some of the biggest sand dunes in Wales! On the edge of these dunes, you'll find Candleston Castle, an old castle ruin. Did you know that Mike Young Productions, a children's cartoon studio, is also located in Merthyr Mawr?
The River Ogmore flows right through the village. There's a famous old bridge over it, sometimes called the "sheep dipping bridge," where sheep used to be washed. Not far away is Island Farm, a former prisoner-of-war camp. The Ewenny River forms the southern border of the area. On the other side of the Ewenny River are the villages of Ewenny and Ogmore-by-Sea, along with the historic Ogmore Castle.
Ancient Sites and Protected Monuments
Merthyr Mawr has many ancient sites, showing that people have lived here for a very long time, even since the Stone Age! Thirteen of these sites are "Scheduled Monuments." This means they are legally protected so they won't be disturbed or damaged.
Prehistoric Burial Sites
- Tythegston Long Barrow: This is a very old burial site from the Neolithic period (New Stone Age). It's a chambered tomb inside a long mound of earth.
- Mynydd Herbert Round Barrow: This is a burial mound from the Bronze Age. It's a pile of stones about 2 meters high, possibly cleared from nearby fields.
Ancient Forts and Settlements
- Chapel Hill Camp: This is a small hillfort from the Iron Age. It's an old defended settlement on a low hilltop. The ruins of St Roque's chapel are inside this old fort.
- Merthyr Mawr Warren: This large area of sand dunes has revealed many prehistoric burial sites and other ancient finds. People have found things here especially when sand and gravel were being removed.
- Cae Summerhouse Camp: This was a settlement site that was used a lot during the Roman times (1st to 4th century AD). It was a defended area where people lived.
Historic Crosses and Chapels
- Merthyr Mawr Pre-Norman Stones: These are a collection of old stone pillars, slabs, and crosses found locally. They are from the early medieval period and are now kept in a shelter at St Teilo's churchyard.
- Cross in Tythegston Churchyard: This is an 11th-century sandstone cross slab. It's set in a new base in St Tudwg's churchyard in Tythegston.
- St Roque's Chapel: This is a ruined medieval chapel. It's located inside the Chapel Hill Camp, within the park of Merthyr Mawr House.
- Conbelani Stone: This is an inscribed pillar cross that was originally found by the river. Another cross pillar, called the Goblin Stone, is also kept in the ruined St Roque's Chapel.
- Merthyr Mawr Churchyard Cross: This is an octagonal cross pillar from the 14th century. It still has part of its original top piece and stands on three sandstone steps.
Old Bridges and Castles
- Candleston Castle: This is a lightly fortified manor house from the 14th century. It overlooks the Merthyr Mawr Warren and was lived in until the 1800s.
- New Inn Bridge: This is an old stone bridge in the area, near Bridgend. It has four arches and is thought to be from the 1500s or even older. It has two openings that were used for washing sheep, which is why it's also called the 'Dipping Bridge'.
Merthyr Mawr Warren: A Special Nature Reserve
The sand dune system known as Merthyr Mawr Warren is a protected National Nature Reserve. It has the tallest sand dunes in Wales! This area is very important because it's home to many different kinds of plants and animals, including some rare plants. As mentioned before, many archaeological finds have also been made here.
