Tresilian Bay facts for kids
Tresilian Bay, sometimes spelled Tresillian Bay, is a beautiful bay in southeast Wales. It's located on the Bristol Channel, between Llantwit Major and St Donats. A small river called Nant Tresilian flows through a valley and into the sea at the bay's pebble beach.
This area is part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast. It's known for its tall limestone cliffs, which have many hidden caves and small valleys. A special white building called Tresilian House stands at the end of the valley, right by the beach. You can also spot an old pill box (a small concrete fort) on the nearby cliff.
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Discover Tresilian Bay's Past
Legends and Old Stories
Tresilian Bay gets its name from Prince Silian. People say he had his court here way back in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Long ago, the bay was a popular spot for smugglers and pirates. They used to visit an inn that was once located here.
It's believed that the cliffs around the bay hide many secret passages and tunnels. These were likely used by the smugglers and pirates to hide their treasures or escape.
There's a famous legend from the 15th century. It tells of a pirate named Peter from Brittany. Sir Henry Stradling (who lived from 1423 to 1476) is said to have drowned Peter in a cave west of the bay. Sir Henry was getting revenge because Peter had kidnapped him before. Some people say that on cold winter nights, when the moon is full, you can still hear Peter's cries in the wind.
Tresilian House Through Time
Even though the area has old stories, maps from 1799 don't show a building at Tresilian Bay. However, records from soon after that time do mention one. In 1800, the owner of the St Donats estate rented out the property.
For a while, Tresilian House was a hotel. Later, it became a private home, often lived in by important families and farmers. At one point, Owen Crawshay lived there. He was the son of Tudor Crawshay, a well-known person in Glamorgan.
In 1862, Dr. John Whitlock Nicholl Carne, who owned the St Donats estate, closed the road to Tresilian House to the public.
The "Bow of Destiny" Cave
Near Tresilian Bay, there's a special cave with a curved roof. It's known as the "bow of destiny." Couples sometimes visit this cave and throw pebbles at the rock. The legend says that the number of tries it takes to hit the rock tells them how many years they should wait to get married.
Images for kids
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Tresilian Bay at low tide
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Caves along Tresilian Bay
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An old pill box on the cliff
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View towards Nash Point from Tresilian Bay
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The coast near Tresilian Bay
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Cliffs and a herring gull at Tresilian Bay
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Tresilian Bay and its caves during a very low tide
