Town History - Llantwit Major

• Perhaps the greatest period in the town's history occurred around 500 AD. Llantwit Major, then known as Llanilltud Fawr, established the first Christian College in Britain. Indeed, the Guiness Book of Records states that the oldest school in Britain was at Llanilltud Fawr.
  
• Legend has it that St David, St Gildas and Samson of Dol were pupils at this establishment. Even St Patrick is believed to have been educated here before he was abducted to Ireland and later became the patron saint.
  
• During the late 16th and early 17th century, Llantwit Major became a prosperous community. Among the many buildings still to be seen that were built in that period are the Old Swan Inn and the Old White Hart.
  
• St Illtud's Church, which was described by John Wesley in 1777 as "the most beautiful as well as the most spacious church in Wales", has a very long history. Christ has been worshipped here for about 1500 years, since Illtud established a church, monastery and school by the side of the Ogney Brook. It became the burial place of local kings and an important mission centre. It also contains one of the most significant collections of Celtic stones in Wales.