Tresilian Bay has a fascinating history
Llantwit Major History Society
AS Spring begins, many people will enjoy a walk along our lovely Heritage Coastal path and one feature between Llantwit and Dunraven is Tresilian Bay, with its notorious cave and well-positioned house.
Possibly, it was named after the third or fourth Century Celtic Prince Silian. Marie Trevelyan records a small chapel in the private wood, not now visible.
The house is built on very old foundations and was once an inn reputed to be a meeting place for smugglers. In 1841, it was recorded as an inn with a ‘bathing lodge’. Later in the mid-19th Century, it became a private residence for the Stradling-Carnes, and later was let to tenants.
Some were the Morell family (ship owners from Cardiff), a farmer David Williams followed by Owen and Barbara Crawshay (nee Carne and their daughter Sylvia, who are buried in St Donats Churchyard. (This is recorded in the society’s new History Village Postmaster book).
In WW2 in about 1940, it was rumoured that Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia given House Protection there. Later, the Shaw family rented it, as did Barbara Woodhouse, the dog trainer of BBC fame. In 1953, Eric and Pamela Jones (Popular Plastics, Bridgend) bought the house and grounds and the family have occupied it ever since.
These are interesting features of this walk but tides are tricky, so please check the board at Llantwit Major beach before attempting.
The cave is 85 yards long and was once known as Reynard’s cave. It was once thought to have a tunnel leading to St Donats Castle but this is not substantiated. It has an arch (see photo below) some way below the roof called ‘Dwynwenna Bow of destiny’. An unmarried person who succeeds in throwing a pebble over the arch 3 times will be married within the year. Every failure is a delay of a year.
It was noted for clandestine marriages and in 1750 one was between Cecil Powell the heiress of Llandow and grandaughter of Edward Turberville of Sutton who married one of the Pictons of Pembrokshire. They had 12 children, one of whom was General Sir Thomas Picton of Waterloo fame (killed 1815 in battle and the subject of current controversy) This is recorded in the Llantwit Church register.
The cave is now quite unstable and dangerous – and the tide comes in and around it very fast!
Please note that the History Archive Room at Old School, Wine Street, will not be open on Good Friday, 7th April, but is open every other Friday 3pm to 5pm.
Happy Easter.
HM
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