St Athan Village

History

The name by which the village is known today is St Athan and as such is a corruption.  In ecclesiastical spheres, a saint is indicated by “S”.  However, in the civil spheres a saint is indicated by “ST”. From this illusion, it is not difficult to understand why S. Tathan has become St. Athan by the displacement of the full stop.  The Welsh name for the village is Llandathan, thereby indicating Tathan as correct, not Athan.

Tathan, according to the story, came from Ireland and was driven up the Bristol Channel by winds until becoming grounded in the shallows off the shore at Portskewett.  The governor of the city gave him hospitality and later Tathan founded a school and monastery. Tathan was buried in what is now the vicarage orchard at Caerwent. The remains of “Irish Tathan” were ‘translated’ to the South Aisle of Caerwent Church and now repose under a slab recording this fact.

An ancient story tells of a second Tathan - Tathan the Younger - whose body is believed to be buried at S. Tathan Parish Church.  Unfortunately, the exact site of his remains is not known and the story cannot be verified.

Finally, there is the interesting story concerning the granddaughter of Meuric ap Tewdric, of Trebeferad - now known as Boverton. Her name was Braust and after many adventures and tragedy, she retired from court to live a holy life at Llantwit Major, taking the name of Tathana. Her latter days were spent in a mud hut on the banks of the River Thaw, near the Old Mill, this side of the bridge.  Tathana was buried in St. Athan Church.  At that time, the village was known as Llandathan and the Church was referred to as Tathana’s.  This latter fact has been verified by the records: Taxatio 1291 and Valor Ecclesiasticus 1535, where the Church is referred to as Sancta Tathana.

Copyright 2006. stathanvillage.co.uk.  All rights reserved.