Vale of Glamorgan

The Vale of Glamorgan (Welsh: Bro Morgannwg [ˈbroː mɔrˈɡanʊɡ]) is a county borough in Wales. The Vale of Glamorgan has an agricultural industry and is the southernmost unitary authority in Wales. The Vale of Glamorgan, sometimes known locally as "the Vale", has a rich history and geography.

The Vale has several notable attractions including Barry Island Pleasure Park (known for the BBC sitcom, Gavin & Stacey), the Barry Tourist Railway, Porthkerry Park, St Donat's Castle, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park and Cosmeston Medieval Village. It is also the location of Atlantic College, one of the United World Colleges.

The largest town is Barry. Other towns include Penarth, Llantwit Major and Cowbridge. There are many villages in the county borough. The Vale of Glamorgan was revealed to be the wealthiest area in Wales in a 2003 survey conducted by Barclays Bank that measured disposable income.

Geography

The Vale of Glamorgan has been a county borough (unitary authority) since 1996: before that it was part of South Glamorgan county. The largest centre of population is Barry. Other towns include Cowbridge, Dinas Powys, Llantwit Major and Penarth, but much of the population inhabits villages, hamlets and individual farms. The area is low-lying, with a greatest height of 137 metres (449 ft) above sea level.

Glamorgan

Glamorgan or, sometimes, Glamorganshire (Welsh: Morgannwg [mɔrˈɡanʊɡ] or Sir Forgannwg [ˈsiːr vɔrˈɡanʊɡ]) is one of the thirteen historic counties of Wales and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval petty kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved counties of Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and West Glamorgan. The name also survives in that of Vale of Glamorgan, a county borough.

Although initially a rural and pastoral area of little value, the area that became known as Glamorgan was a conflict point between the Norman lords and the Welsh princes, with the area being defined by a large concentration of castles. After falling under English rule in the 16th century, Glamorgan became a more stable county, and exploited its natural resources to become an important part of the Industrial Revolution. Glamorgan was the most populous and industrialised county in Wales, and was once called the "crucible of the Industrial Revolution," as it contained the world centres of three metallurgical industries and its rich resources of coal.