GM490

The Chantry House  

17/01/1996  

Designated  

Vale of Glamorgan  

Llantwit Major  

296619  

168684  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Chantry  

Medieval  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument consists of a chantry priest's house. A chantry is a chapel attached to, or inside, a church, endowed for the celebration of Masses for the soul of the founder. The house dates to the late medieval period and probably belonging to the Raglan chantry, which was established in the late 15th centrury. A document dated 1572 states that it was founded by Sir Hugh Ragland, and that its property included 'one house with a garden in the south side of the church yode of Lantwitt'. The building lies on the south side of the churchyard, with a small attached area of ground and a Garden of Remebrance. The house has two storeys, comprising a hall with a chamber above. Originally it probably had a small two-storey service range at the entry end. There are fireplaces in the entry end wall at both levels, a latrine and stair in angles. The window in the gable wall of the solar have two lights, with cusped quatrefoil heads. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the organisation and practice of medieval Christianity. The site forms an important element within the wider medieval landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, layout, building techniques and functional detail. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.