Leckwith

Leckwith (Welsh: Lecwydd) is a small village in the Vale of Glamorgan, just west of Cardiff. Historically, the parish of Leckwith also included land on the east side of the river Ely that is now part of Cardiff itself. This area is also commonly known as Leckwith.

For the area of Cardiff, see Leckwith, Cardiff.

Leckwith

The Green, Leckwith
Leckwith
Location within the Vale of Glamorgan
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCARDIFF
Postcode districtCF11
Dialling code+44-29
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

Etymology

The name Leckwith is an anglicisation of the Welsh Lecwydd, with the common replacement of Welsh <-dd> by English <-th> (as in Gruffudd>Griffith). Lecwydd probably derives from the personal name Helygwydd (possibly the name of a local holy man or Welsh saint). The change from <-gw-> to <-cw-> may be compared to that in the personal name Tecwyn (<Tegwyn).[1]

Since at least the nineteenth century Lecwydd sometimes appears in Welsh as Llechwydd or Llechwedd. These forms have been linked to the common Welsh noun llechwedd (hillside, slope), which has been taken to refer to Leckwith Woods, which rise up steeply from the river Ely.[2] Linguistically, however, there is no relationship between Lecwydd and llechwedd, and the connection is probably a result of folk etymology. This explanation of the name Lecwydd is still sometimes seen, however.[3]

Landmarks

The old stone triple-arched Leckwith Bridge crosses the River Ely to the east. It is Grade II* listed[4] and dates from before 1536.[5] The historic church of St. James, rebuilt in the nineteenth century, like several others around Cardiff, was abandoned and fell into ruin in the second half of the twentieth century.

Politics

Leckwith is part of the Michaelston-le-Pit and Leckwith community together with the neighbouring village of Michaelston-le-Pit. The two villages elect a community council.[6]

References
  1. Gwynedd O. Pierce, The Place-names of Dinas Powys Hundred. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1968 ISBN 0-7083-0338-2, pp. 49–52.
  2. For example, Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, vol. 2 (London, 1840). See also Owen Jones, Cymru: Yn Hanesyddol, Parthedegol a Bywgraphyddol (London: Blackie & Son, 1875), p. 188.
  3. Cardiff Council, Ely Valley Cross Boundary Walks: Trelai Park to Leckwith Woods.
  4. "Old Leckwith Bridge (partly in Canton Community), Canton". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  5. Leckwith Old Bridge, Leckwith, Cardiff, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  6. Michaelston-le-Pit & Leckwith Community Council, Michaelston-le-Pit & Leckwith Community Council website]. Retrieved 9 September 2017.


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