Llysworney has a population of some 240 living in approximately 100 houses. There is a 13th century church, historic pub, garage and a village pond with ducks and ducklings. Although a number of the properties in the village are “farmhouses” there is just one family currently resident where farming is their source of income. In times past there was a thriving rural community that supported a school, shops and various trades.

Today Llysworney is a combination of young families with commuting parents, professional people and retired couples. The village is situated two miles West of Cowbridge which is an attractive market town. Children from the village attend Colwinston for their primary education and Cowbridge for their secondary education. Both St. David’s Church in Wales Primary School and Cowbridge Comprehensive School feature prominently in the top sector of national educational league tables.

The village has been shaped by its natural geographical environment. It stands on limestone bedrock to the South side of the valley of the Stembridge Brook. There is a cobweb of narrow lanes and roads linking all parts of the village, most of them converging on the village pond.

The village stands on undulating land with houses in the valley bottom and on the slopes falling Westward towards the church and pond. The lanes converging on the pond are lined with stone walls and/or grass verges and the fields framing the village have hedgerows of thorn and hazel. Generally the fields around the village are used for stock grazing.

The earliest recorded entry for the village was in 1248 when it was the administrative centre for the West of Cowbridge. Dominated by agriculture until the 1940’s the village was a nucleus of farmsteads and cottages clustered around a water source - the village pond. The village grew substantially from the end of the Second World War with houses being built around farm holdings and in garden and orchard plots. The village pond and 13th century church still remain the focus of the village.

Llysworney was designated a conservation area in 1970 in recognition of its character as an historic village in the rural vale. It includes six listed buildings, the church, the sheep washery, Great House, the old Baptist Chapel (now a dwelling), the old school house (now a dwelling), and the milepost outside the Carne Arms pub.

There are several areas of formal and informal open space in the village around the pond and pound, the play area, the churchyard and the central verge running from the Great House to the pond. A fine crop of ducks live in and around the village pond. The ducks breed regularly. Residents pay for their upkeep. The ducks have been the focus of evening walks creating a tremendous sense of community responsibility and interaction for adults and children alike.

Community events are driven by the Llysworney Community Association. This consists of a volunteer group of some 10 members whose aim and objectives are to organise events in the village, encourage high standards of village welfare and care of all residents, foster a good sense of community and belonging, and to have fun. The Association meets once a month. In a typical years events include burns night, village walks, theatre trips, performing arts festival, treasure hunt, carols around the pond and church activities.

In addition to the Llysworney Community Association the village has other groups that are involved in community life. St. Tydfil’s Church has an active Parochial Church Council. The Women’s Institute and Mother’s Union are both energetic and well supported. There is the Llysworney Retired Gentleman’s Association. Also at the lowest but essential tier of local government Llysworney has four members of the Llandow Community Council. The Llandow Community Council represents three villages - Llysworney, Llandow, Colwinston - and is extremely hard working.

In 2000 an important event took place - the inauguration of the “Worney Wood” a large broad-leaved community woodland paid for and maintained by the Woodland Trust. The Llysworney Community Association was keen to initiate an environmental project for the millennium that would have promote biodiversity and nature conservation in addition to being educational. Many of the villagers became involved in planting trees and there is also a “time capsule” buried in the wood. As it matures Worney Wood will create habitats for all wildlife and flowers as well as the indigenous trees. It will be an asset to the village for many future generations.

If you would like more information on Worney Wood then visit the Woodland Trust Web Site at www.wt-woods.org.uk

Worney Wood is currently under review by the Woodland Trust. Comments on the proposed plans must be submitted by 16th May 2005. Although the plans can be viewed at Bridgend Library we have obtained a copy. If you would like a copy then please send an email request to Bryn Miles.