Medieval Cadoxton

Originally a stone’s throw from the high tide mark of the Bristol Channel, Cadoxton as a medieval village was surrounded by agricultural land, and consisted of a handful of farms, all owned as part of larger manorial lands

Cadoxton was originally a larger and more important settlement than Barry, its much smaller neighbour. At that time, Barry was just a cluster of agricultural working family homes, and along with Cadoxton and Merthyr Dyfan formed part of a larger managed area, owned and handed down through aristocratic families as far back as the Norman conquest, and further.

St Cadoc’s Church, or ‘the old village church’ as it’s known today, is of Norman construction in its present form, built around 1200AD, but stands on the grounds of an older site, believed to date back as far as 800AD.

Cadoxton Court, built high on bedrock rising above surrounding moors and farmland, was built for the ruling Lords of Cadoxton, to deal with local land ownership affairs and local civil matters. Cadoxton Court Dovecote is the only remaining building from the original walled court complex, built specifically to provide roosting and nesting for birds, and thus providing a plentiful supply of eggs, meat and feathers for the court.

Watch this film to see a guided tour of the Hidden History of Cadoxton organised by Valeways. A Cadoxton walking leaflet is also available which follows this route for anyone who would like a self-guided walk.