Font-y-Gary explained

Country:Wales
Official Name:Font-y-Gary
Coordinates:51.3853°N -3.3654°W
Static Image:The Fontygary Inn, Rhoose - geograph.org.uk - 1058789.jpg
Static Image Width:250px
Static Image Caption:The Fontygary Inn
Unitary Wales:Vale of Glamorgan
Lieutenancy Wales:South Glamorgan
Constituency Welsh Assembly:Vale of Glamorgan
Constituency Westminster:Vale of Glamorgan
Postcode Area:CF
Os Grid Reference:ST051661

Font-y-Gary, also Fontygary, Fontegary or Fontygari (Welsh: Ffont-y-gari), is a village adjacent to Rhoose, 3 miles south-west of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, on the coast of south Wales. To the north is Fonmon and Fonmon Castle. The origin of the name is uncertain but in 1587 it was documented as "Fundygary".[1]

Font-y-Gary is located near Cardiff International Airport. There is little in the village itself apart from the Font-y-Gary Holiday and Leisure Park and caravan site and stoney beach.[2] On Sundays there is a car boot sale on the holiday park site, as well as the club and shop. There is also a disused quarry in the vicinity between Font-y-Gary and Aberthaw.

In 1928 Font-y-Gary was noted for being a favorable picnic spot,[3] and in 1943 Font-y-Gary was described as a "pleasant summer resort with a delightful beach for bathing, edged with rugged cliffs which form a delightful background – and a convenient undressing place for bathers."[4] The shingle beach and cliffs are distinct and there is a large cave called Font-y-Gary Cave.[5] The scene is of the view from the top of the cliffs in the photos below. Actress Susan George frequently holidayed at the caravan park as a child.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mills, Anthony David. A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 12 May 2012. 6 November 2003. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-852758-9. 530.
  2. Web site: Fontygary Holiday and Leisure Park. Vale of Glamorgan Council. 12 May 2012.
  3. Book: Gas world. January 1928. Benn Bros. 575.
  4. Book: Evans, Cyril James Oswald. Glamorgan: its history and topography. 1943. W. Lewis (printers) ltd..
  5. Book: Geological Survey of Great Britain. The geology of the South Wales coal-field .... 1904. Printed for H.M. Stationery off., by Wyman and sons, limited. 105.
  6. Book: Country life. 2008. Country Life, Ltd.. 58.