Welcome to the website for the Llantrisant Town Trust.
The Trustees are responsible for the enrolment of Freemen, the management of the Commons of Cymdda and Graig, and for maintaining the traditions of the Freemen of Llantrisant.
FREEMEN OF LLANTRISANT
Since the Charter of 1346 there have been Freemen of Llantrisant.
While many of the original rights bestowed on the Freemen in respect of trade and self government have been lost over the years, Freemen still enjoy the right to graze cattle or horses on what is known as Llantrisant Common.
Today, there are over 2,500 Freemen across the world, and, since 2022, daughters and granddaughters of Freemen have been admitted onto the Freemen’s Roll at the annual Court Leet ceremony held in Llantrisant Guildhall. The Guildhall is the administrative home of the Freemen and the Llantrisant Town Trust.
Eligibility to be enrolled as a Freeman is passed down from grandparent or parent to child, and where a child marries, it is possible for a son-in-law to be enrolled as a ‘Petticoat Freeman’.
To be eligible for enrolment, a person must have attained their 21st birthday before the annual Court Leet ceremony. The date of the next Court Leet can be found on the events page .
An application form to enrol new Freemen can be downloaded or submitted here.
If you would like assistance in completing the enrolment paperwork, a member of the Enrolments Team will be available on several Friday afternoons at The Guildhall, Castle Green, Llantrisant to provide advice and guidance. The dates will be advertised by the Guildhall and on our Forthcoming Events page. Advice can also be sought by contacting the Clerk at clerk@llantrisant.net .
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LLANTRISANT COMMON
The largest parcel of land owned by the Freemen is the Cymdda, better known as Llantrisant Common, which covers 274 acres.
Freemen of Llantrisant are, subject to a small fee, eligible to graze cattle or horses on Llantrisant Common.
To help with the land management, the Trust has introduced electric collars for the cattle. This allows them to be contained within, or excluded from, certain areas of the Common.
Because of the way the Common has been managed over many centuries, with the exclusion of sheep, an interesting and diverse flora has developed. This has resulted in the Common being declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and consequently it is managed in close liaison with Natural Resources Wales.
Click here to apply to graze cattle or horses on the Common.
Click here to report an issue / incident on the Common.
THE COURT LEET
The Court Leet is an ancient ceremony that takes place at the Guildhall in May each year.
It is held to welcome new applicants to the Freemen’s Roll.
At the ceremony, all successful applicants are officially enrolled by the Clerk and Llantrisant Town Trust.
Following this special occasion, a Court Leet Dinner is held, where more than a hundred Freemen gather to celebrate their ancient traditions and unique history.
The date of the next Court Leet can be found on the events page.
‘A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.’
TRUSTEES
The Charity Commission allowed for the establishment of Llantrisant Town Trust in 1889 to protect the lands and rights of the Freemen.
On 31st January 1890, the first meeting of Llantrisant Town Trust was held in the Guildhall.
Today there are thirteen Trustees, most of whom are elected by the Freemen at the Annual General Meeting to serve on the Town Trust for a period of five years.
Of the thirteen Trustees, three are Community Council representatives, and one Trustee is appointed by the Cambrian Archaeological Society.
Current Trustees:
Gareth Alexander
John Dickason
Cary Grother
Dr. Thomas Grother
James Hooker
Martin Hooker
Cllr. Ron Hunt
David John
James McKenzie
Cllr. David Nicholas
Susan Owen
Cllr. Ellie Townsend Jones
Elinor Williams
Clerk to the Trustees: Huw M Evans
Learn all about old Llantrisant at our dedicated history website: www.history.llantrisant.net
BEATING THE BOUNDS
Beating the Bounds is one of Llantrisant’s great traditions.
The event takes place every seven years and welcomes well over ten thousand visitors to the old town, who revel in the wonderful atmosphere and sense of tradition. The seven-mile walk follows the boundary of the ancient borough of Llantrisant and has taken place for hundreds of years.
Will you join us in 2031?
