Ordnance Survey maps published before the 1950s show
Llantwit Fardre village to be located around St Illtud
Parish Church. Today however, the area surrounding the
church is known as Upper Church Village whilst Llantwit
Fardre is located just over a mile southwards. St Illtud
Parish Church is on a site that has been used for worship
since the fifth century although the present building only
dates from the sixteenth century. The tower dates from
1636; the register from 1632, whilst the bell was cast
during the nineteenth century. It was restored and rededicated
in 1974.
Right: Upper Church Village showing the church
The 1875 Ordnance Survey map shows Llantwit Fardre to
be a small village consisting of a parish church surrounded
by a public house and a few cottages. The censuses preceding
the map publication show the village's development to be
very gradual. Indeed, it appears that between 1841 and
1861 the number of households remained constant whilst
the population fluctuated. The census of 1841 shows a total
population of 34 in 9 households, including a butcher,
carpenter, mason, schoolmistress, sexton and two publicans.
Ten years later we see that 14 miners inhabit the village.
