LLANHARAN, a parish, in the union of BRIDGEND-AND-COWBRIDGE, hundred of COWBRIDGE, county of GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, 6
miles (N. by E.) from Cowbridge; containing 306 inhabitants. This parish is situated under the southern declivity of a
ridge of hills, and on the road from Bridgend to Llantrissent, Merthyr-Tydvil, and Cardiff; and is bounded on the north by
Peterstonesuper-montem, on the south by Llanihd, on the east by Llantrissent, and by St. Bride's Minor on the west. The
surface is undulated and hilly, and the high grounds command good views, comprehending the Bristol Channel, and the
adjacent country intersected by the river Ely; the soil in many parts is gravelly, and in others peaty and boggy, and moat
kinds of agricultural produce are raised. Llanharan House is a handsome modern mansion, pleasantly situated under the
shelter of a lofty ridge of hills, with a south-eastern aspect: the grounds are richly wooded, and present an agreeable
irregularity of surface, embracing also much pleasing scenery; and from the upper part of the house are obtained extensive
and interesting prospects. Llanelay is a good residence of a mixed style of architecture, situated on the bank of the
river Ely, and sheltered on the north by the lofty hill of Garth; Craig Matthew, a venerable ancient structure, was
formerly the seat of the Matthews, and afterwards of the Gibbons. The parish abounds with mineral wealth, and several of
the inhabitants are employed in the collieries, which are chiefly worked for the supply of the immediate vicinity:
limestone is found in great quantities, and lead and iron ores have been discovered; on the estate of It. H. Jenkins,
Esq., magnesian limestone in one place lies above the coal, which rises again beyond it to the south. The living is a
rectory, consolidated with the rectory of Lien-lid: the church, which is dedicated to St. Julius and St. Aaron, is 34 feet
long and 15 wide, and contains about 90 sittings, many of which are free. Mrs. Mary Lougher, early in the last century,
left £60 to the poor of the parish, of which only £15 are now available; £100 were recently bequeathed by the late Mr.
Gibbon, of Newton House, near Cow-bridge, and £120 by the late Dr. Hoare, Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, now
producing £6 per annum, paid by his nephew R. H. Jenkins, Esq.: the income arising from these bequests, £12. 1., is
annually distributed among the poor. At Llanharan House is a valuable collection of Welsh manuscripts, formed by Llewelyn
Sion, an eminent bard of Glamorgan, illustrative of the system of bardism, preserved in the Gorsedd Morganwg, in which he
presided in 1580.