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About us & our site |
Our Community Website group comprises:
www.stbridesmajor.co.uk
We began by
publishing pages and photographs of the local area for family, friends and local
residents. The information we gathered increased very quickly and by 2001 we
had set up St. Brides Major Community website.
Soon after, in response to requests from villagers, details were added for Dunraven, Southerndown, Ogmore Village
and Ogmore-by-Sea, followed a short while later by information on
Castle-upon-Alun, Heol-y-Mynydd, Norton and Pont-yr-Brown.
Daffodils planted by St. Brides Major Community Council
Information about the Parish of St. Brides Major
In 1920 Glamorgan County Council granted permission to divide the Parish into three Wards (St. Brides Major, Ogmore-by-Sea, Southerndown) which is why our Web Site Banner names these three villages. However, we have not forgotten other areas and hamlets such as Castle-upon-Alun, Heol-y-Mynydd, Norton, Ogmore and Pont-y-Brown. Following administrative and boundary changes over the years, the Community Council now has two Wards (St. Brides Major & Southerndown, and Ogmore-by-Sea) and is in the Vale of Glamorgan Council area. Nearby villages of Ewenny, Merthyr Mawr and Wick are also mentioned frequently because of the bonds of family, friendship and community. The Benefice (Parish) of Ewenny and St. Brides Major is in the Diocese of Llandaff of the Church in Wales/yr Eglwys yng Nghymru. There is an Evangelical Church in Ogmore-by-Sea.
We are very lucky to be living in a picturesque part of South Wales, much of it overlooking the sea at Ogmore and Southerndown, with wonderful views, dramatic landscape and beautiful, sandy coastline. The 12th century Ogmore Castle stands at the confluence of the River Ewenny and River Ogmore which then flow to the sea via Newton Bay. Whilst in the countryside, the area is close to all amenities and is equidistant from the cities of Cardiff and Swansea. Nearby in Bridgend are major road (M4 motorway & A48) rail (Swansea to London Paddington main line) and bus links (National Express Coach stop) as well as Cardiff Airport/Maes Awyr Caerdydd at Rhoose.
The difference between high and low tide
(tidal range) in this locality along the Bristol Channel is reputed to be
the greatest in Europe and second greatest in the world, with sea levels
rising around 15 metres/49 ft at Avonmouth. In the area of
the Second Severn Crossing the current can have a rate of up to eight
knots.
During violent storms the crashing waves at Dunraven Bay,
Southerndown, cause spray to
reach the top of the cliffs – something very hard to imagine when the tide
is out as far as Trwyn y Witch (Witches Point) but to see this captured
wonderfully with incredible footage of the waves battering the cliffs in
the storms of January, 2014, visit
Left photo: Ogmore by Sea beach looking towards the shore
NAVIGATING OUR SITE: The main page
of each section has links
Young sheep having a rest at the roadside in Heol-y-Mynydd
YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS:
Dates for the diary, news, local history, details of meetings, groups, organisations, clubs or in fact almost anything that could be of interest to people of the
area are welcomed and can be sent to us via the feedback form on the "contact us"
link in the right hand margin or may be handed in to the village Post
Office in St. Brides Major who have kindly agreed to pass them on.
If you have
any contributions which need to be sent
using ordinary e-mail with attachments, eg photographs or
pictures, contact us and we will
send you a link by return.
The editors and owners of this web site reserve the right
to remove, alter, or refuse to include, any link or contribution.
Don’t forget to sign the Guest Book (it’s nice to see who visits us
- even compliments are welcome!!); place yourself on our Guest Map; or use our Forum page for discussion of local topics of
interest. Please do not abuse these services or they may be withdrawn.
St Brides
Major Sports Field looking towards St. Bridget's Church
We would like to thank everyone who has kindly provided us with
photographs and/or information, including: Joan Kinsbrook; James Heard; Tom Potts for copies of his
pen & ink paintings; Peter Vincent; Rev. M. Komor; Vale of Glamorgan Council;
Three Golden Cups. We acknowledge the
useful data and facts found in Mr. S. W. Bevan’s book © St. Brides
Major, Southerndown & Ogmore-by-Sea and additional material
supplied by his daughter. Thanks also to St. Brides Major
Daffodils planted by St. Brides Major Community Council
Information has been gathered from various sources in good faith. It is
possible there are errors or omissions – whilst we are happy to correct
these we cannot be held responsible for any mistakes as accuracy cannot be
assured. Inclusion or mention of services, businesses, products, etc.,
does not imply that they are recommended or endorsed. You are advised to
check details of opening season and times, costs, particulars, fitness for
particular purpose/s, availability, etc. We cannot be held liable for
damages, lost profits, etc., and disclaim all warranties/guarantees.
It is good practice to run anti-virus
programme/s as well as to check sites, pages and before downloading material; we
cannot be held responsible for any losses or disruption to your computer,
software, systems or data.
Photographs and articles throughout this site are subject to copyright and
should not be stored, displayed or reproduced in any form whatsoever
without written permission from the web site owners and copyright
holder/s. We have indicated the name of the copyright holder for
many photographs except where we have been asked not to publish these
details but in some instances (e.g. old postcards) we have not
been able to ascertain this information. Web site design and content including text and graphics
subject to copyright. ©
Soaring seagull at Ogmore-by-Sea
Right photo: Witches Point at Southerndown Beach, Dunraven Bay
