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Glamorgan

Victorian map of Glamorgan How much do you know about the historic county?



  • Glamorgan is the most populous of the old Welsh counties with around 1,220,000 people

  • It is the second largest in size after Carmarthenshire

  • It includes the cities of Cardiff and Swansea, the industrial valleys, and the Vale of Glamorgan

  • The name Glamorgan was introduced by the Normans, who took possession of the principality of Morgannwg in 1091

  • The county was officially created by Henry VIII in 1536 and survived as a political unit until 1974

  • Glamorgan was then divided into three council areas - Mid, South and West Glamorgan - which survived until 1996

  • The name appears on the present day political map of Wales courtesy of the Vale of Glamorgan council

  • Glamorgan is the only Welsh team in cricket's County Championship

    Thanks to GeogData for statistics from the National Gazetteer of Wales


  • your comments

    We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.

    Hywel George
    You think Glamorgan started when the Normans came, they were here before 1091.

    Steve Maitland Thomas from Porthcawl
    The name Glamorgan probably derives from 'Gwlad Morgan' or 'Land of Morgan'. Until Tudor times, Margam was called 'Morgan', in honour of the great king who had held his court there. Finds of rare imported 5th century cone beakers confirm a wealthy elite living in Margam after the fall of the Roman Empire in Britain. Nearby in Porthcawl, legends tell of a Welsh prince who lived in the abandoned Roman villa at Dan-y-Graig. He had a son named Glywys, after whom nearby Clevis Hill is named. Coincidentally, this was also the name of the man who was said to have drawn Wales together when the Romans left, and is acknowledged to be the first Welsh prince.

    Do you know any fascinating facts about the old county of Glamorgan? Let us know and we'll publish them here.

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