Ewenny

Ewenny
Ewenny Location within theVale of Glamorgan
Population	768 (2011)
OS grid reference	SS906771
Principal area	Vale of Glamorgan
Preserved county	South Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Bridgend
Postcode district	CF35
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Vale of Glamorgan
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Vale of Glamorgan

Ewenny(Welsh:Ewenni) is a village andcommunity(parish) on theRiver Ewennyin theVale of Glamorgan,Wales.

Over the years the village has grown into the neighbouring village ofCorntownto such an extent that there is no longer a clear boundary between the two. The nearest town of significant size isBridgend,2 mi (3.2 km) away. Corntown is within the community.

In 1987, scenes from theDoctor WhoepisodeDelta and the Bannermenwere filmed in the village.

History

Ewenny Priory

The village grew around thePrioryandChurch.TheNormanchurch ofSt. Michaelwas built in the 12th century by one of the NormanknightsofGlamorgan,William de Londres. His son Maurice founded the adjacentBenedictineprioryin 1141 when he granted the church to theabbeyofSt. PeteratGloucester,together with the churches ofSt Brides Major,St. Michael atColwinstonand themanorat Lampha.

The priory is widely regarded as one of the finest fortified religious buildings inBritain. Over the centuries the priory has sustained some damage, but nonetheless it is still inhabited by its current owners, the Turbervill family. The priory is not open to the public but the attached Church is still in use today.

Potteries

Ewenny Potteryand showrooms, the oldest working pottery in Wales

Records show that the pottery industry has existed in the area since 1427. This is probably because the materials required for the production of pottery are readily available in this area, including a local red earthenware,glazematerials, stone to build thekilnsandcoalto fire the pots in the kilns. There have been fifteen potteries in the Ewenny area at one time or another, all small family concerns.

The village is home to theEwenny Pottery,founded in 1610 and the oldest working pottery in Wales. The business is run by the descendants of the pottery's original founders, the Jenkins family. The pottery is currently run by Alun Jenkins, son of Thomas Arthur Jenkins.

The Legend of the White Lady

Close to Ewenny Priory is an area of land known as White Lady's meadow and White Lady's Lane. It is said that the area is haunted by theY Ladi Wenor the White Ladyghost.Few details are available about the ghost, but it is generally believed that she committed some terrible misdeed in the past and now her spirit must roam the earth in penance. There is a similar legend associated withOgmore Castle.As these two locations are within a couple of miles of each other it is likely that the legends are related, or inspired by each other.

Other Points of Interest

The nearby Coed-y-Bwl nature reserve, more locally known as the "Daffodilwoods "has around a quarter of a million ‘wild’ daffodils. The reserve was established in 1971 and in 1975 received aPrince of Walestrust award. The daffodils were planted in the early 19th century by Mrs Nicholl ofMerthyr Mawr.

ARomanbridgeis situated near the reserve.

Governance

Ewenny has acommunity councilwhich elects or co-opts eight community councillors.Until 2022 the community was part of the county ward ofLlandow/Ewennyfor elections to theVale of Glamorgan Council.It was transferred to the St Brides Major ward as a result of recommendations from theLocal Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.

See also

• List of monasteries dissolved by Henry VIII of England

References

• Description of the Priory provided by Bridgend County Council
• History of the village
• Ewenny Pottery
• The Village website

Images

• Priory interior
• Priory Exterior
• St. Michael's Church
• The Village Shop
• Ewenny River

External links

• Geograph.co.uk,photos of Ewenny and surrounding area
• grid referenceSS906771