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LLANTRISANT'S ancient tradition of the Freemen has survived through the mists of time. More than 650 years since the first were enrolled, it remains as significant today as it did in medieval times. The Freemen are the guardians of 290 acres of common land. But exactly how did the Freemen gain their rights' The answer is found in a charter issued by the Lord of Glamorgan, Hugh le Despenser, in 1346. The long-held belief that it was granted due to the courage shown by the Llantrisant longbow men at Crecy is untrue, since the battle took place five months later. Although tales of chivalry from a bygone age, when longbow men from the town fought the French at Crecy, continue to spark the imagination. But those gallant veterans of the war were probably bestowed the honour of Freemanship on their return, becoming the first of the Borough of Llantrisant. Tradespeople in the community petitioned Despenser for a charter to allow them to trade freely within their own town. Other traders wanting to sell their goods at the weekly markets would pay a toll to the Lord. So both parties benefited from the Charter, which outlined a boundary line for the freedom of trading.
Beating the Bounds 1946
Of course, Despenser also needed to win favour with the archers of the town if recruits were needed for the king's army. This created a new borough, which existed until 1889, and gave Freemen a measure of self government, their own courts of law and control of markets and fairs as well as grazing rights over the common. Today, a Freeman must be 21 years old or older and is only enrolled if he is either the son, or son-in-law, of a current Freeman. For centuries, two other methods of securing the benefits were by gift or by being an apprentice for more than four years to a Freeman. Now there are more than 2,000 Freemen and it remains an institution of which its members are justifiably proud. Llantrisant Town Trust was founded in 1889 to manage the Freemen's lands.
Llantrisant Town Trust, 1900
The 1346 Charter created a whole new borough ruled by a Court Leet of 12 jurors. The chief officer was the Constable of the Castle, along with Sergeant of the Mace,
Llantrisant Town Mace
Overseers of the Common, Portreeve, Steward, Overseers of the Market and Aldermen. Although, records show, there were times when their work was anything but honourable!
Confirming charter of 1424
In 1883 the Municipal Corporations Act dissolved the borough and a new body was needed to manage the Common, the smaller Common near Brynteg (Cymdda Bach), the Graig and the Town Pump. Llantrisant Town Trust was formed and today it manages around 300 acres of land. In the 1950s the freehold of the Commons was bought by them for '500 from the Marquis of Bute. Later, the Trust bought the former Taff Vale Railway line from British Rail and then the Castle Green and the 18th Century Town Hall. But ownership is vested in the Charity Commission, ensuring that not even the Trust would could sell it. The Countryside Council for Wales made the Common a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Trust meets every month at the Guild (Town) Hall and holds an annual Court Leet ceremony to enrol the new Freemen followed by a dinner.
The Guildhall
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FAMOUS FREEMEN To date, the list of famous Freemen have included Lord Lieutenants of Glamorgan, Members of Parliament, High Court Judges, international rugby players and even the Lord Mayor of London. Every one of them went through the same initiation process of becoming a Freeman as we do today. Let's take a look at some of the most notable Freemen of the past century:
Sir Cennydd George Traherne K.G., G.C.St.J., T.D., M.A., J.P, (1910-1995)
Born in December 1910 at Coedarhydyglyn, near Cardiff, he was educated at Wellington and Brasenose College, Oxford and trained as a barrister. In 1934 he married Olivera Rowena Binney. He served with the Royal Artillery and in 1942 was seconded to the miltary police. Later he was Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal in the 2nd Army and was early into France on D-Day. Unsuccessfully standing as a Tory candidate for Pontypridd in the 1945 elections, he was the Commissioner for South Wales Scouts and Chairman of the Cardiff Branch of St John's Ambulance. He was made a Freeman in May 1935 and a Trustee of the Town Trust in 1955. He became Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan from 1952 to 1985, providing the link between Buckingham Palace and South Wales. He was knighted in 1964 and in 1970 was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter ' the first Welshman to achieve this honour.
Sir Brandon Meredith Rhys Williams of Miskin Manor (1927-1988)
The son of former Liberal MP Sir Rhys Rhys Williams (a junior member in Lloyd-George's cabinet) and economist Lady Juliet Rhys Williams, the 6ft 4ins Brandon was educated at Eton and Bolton Technical College and served in the Welsh Guards. He was made a Freeman in 1956 and served for many years on the Town Trust. Until 1962 he worked for ICI and for almost nine years was a management consultant for the Spastics Society. In 1968, as a Conservative candidate, he won the South Kensington by-election and remained in the forefront of social reform, for pensions, child benefit and tenants of flats. In 1972 he joined the first British delegation in the Strasbourg Parliament and served as a MEP for London South-East from 1979 to 1984. His many public offices include chairman of the National Birthday Trust, vice-presdent of the London Choral Society and president of the Welsh Guards Association in East Glamorgan. He was married to Lady Caroline and the couple had two daughters named Miranda and Eleanor and a son, Gareth, who succeeded him to the baronecy. Sir Brandon sold Miskin Manor a few years prior to his death at the age of 60, and lived in Groesfaen.
Evan John (1839-1931)
Born in High Street, he was the only child of William John, a magistrates clerk, and his servant, Leah. Evan and his wife, poet Julia lived in Castle House, Church Street. A Justice of the Peace at the age of 21, he became a senior magistrate for Glamorgan. In 1861 he was made a Freeman and became the first clerk of the new Town Trust in 1889. His close friend, pharmacist Robert Drane designed the Town Trust crest. Devoted to the study of insect life, Evan was encouraged by the Cardiff Naturalists Society to study local butterflies and moths. His most striking discovery was a new moth, introduced to the British list as Xylina Conformis, found in Llantrisant. Made a Fellow of the Entomological Society of London, he was the principal collector of the extinct Mazarine Blue butterfly and kept an uncut hayfield on the outskirts of the town in the effort to preserve the species.
Sir David Evans 1849-1907 Born in 1849 at Glanmychydd Farm, in 1866 his uncle, head of a firm of merchants at Watling Street, appointed him as a partner. In 1870, Sir David became a candidate for the seat of Cordwainer in the Court of Common Council. Elected Alderman of the City of London, in 1885, he was made Sheriff of London and, in 1891, became Lord Mayor. In July 1892, he was made a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. He was one of the first trustees of the new Town Trust in 1889 and died in August 1907, aged 58.
* See section on Sir David Evans on this website.
To view a List of all the freemen click here .
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