Editing Cowbridge (section)

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Llanblethian, Nr Cowbridge - geograph.org.uk - 856571.jpg|thumb|Llanblethian (June 2008)]]
The town centre is arranged on its [[medieval]] plan, with one long street divided into "[[burgage plots]]". It is one of very few medieval [[walled town]]s in Wales, and substantial portions of the walls, together with the south gate, are still standing. On 13 March 1254, Cowbridge received its first borough charter from [[Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester|Richard de Clare]],<ref>''The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales''. John Davies, [[Nigel Jenkins]], Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg174. {{ISBN|978-0-7083-1953-6}}</ref> the Lord of Glamorgan. Richard de Clare was one of the most powerful Barons of the day, having huge estates stretching across much of south Wales and also lands in southeast England.

The [[Cowbridge town wall|town walls]] were built sometime in the latter half of the 13th century.<ref name="GG">{{cite web|url=http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?watprn=GGAT00248s|title=Cowbridge Town Wall |publisher=The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> From 1243, de Clare was actively extending his authority in Glamorgan. In 1245, he seized the manors of Llanblethian, Ruthin and Talyfan from Richard Siward, and the lordships of [[Miskin]] and Glynrhondda from Hywel ap Maredudd. In Llanblethian he founded the town of Cowbridge and in Miskin he founded the castle and town of [[Llantrisant]]. The largely medieval church of the Holy Cross was initially a [[chapel of ease]] to the parish church at Llanblethian. In 1307 [[Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford|Earl Gilbert de Clare]], grandson of Richard de Clare, began work on the stone fortifications of [[St Quintins Castle]] in Llanblethian.

The [[Battle of Stalling Down]] was fought near Cowbridge between an English army, serving [[Henry IV of England]] and a combined force of French and Welsh soldiers under [[Owain Glyndŵr]] in 1403.  Details of the battle, its exact site and its outcome are scant, but the site has been recognised by [[Cadw]] for possible inclusion in a Register of Historic Battlefields in Wales.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/battle-sites-set-official-status-1834514 Wales Online, "Battle sites set to get official status", 19 May 2011]. Accessed 18 August 2013</ref>