Samson's Cross - St Illtyd's Church - Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.
N 51° 24.474 W 003° 29.276
30U E 466063 N 5695299
St Illtyd's Church, one of the oldest parish churches in Wales, features a small collection of Celtic stones dating back to the 9th century. Situated in the picturesque and historic village of Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales.
Waymark Code: WMJZM1
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/22/2014
Views: 2
The church stands on the site of an earlier church that was founded in around 500AD by St Illtud. The present building was constructed in stages from about 1100 onwards.
The church has a small exhibition of Stone Artefacts and Celtic Stones, that used to stand outside the church. One of which is the so called 'Samson Stone' dated as being 10th century.
" ‘The Illtud Cross’ or Samson’s Cross stands at just over 6 feet high and dates from the 10th-century. Although only the base of the gritstone cross remains the decoration is very good, and there is interlacing and key-patternwork with inscriptions in the middle and at the top. The top inscription (front) reads: SAMSON POSUIT HANC CRUCEM PRO ANIMA EIUS or ‘Samson placed his cross for his soul’ and on the reverse side: ILTUTI SAMSON REGIS SAMUEL EBISAR or ‘for the soul of Illtud, Samson the King, Samuel and Ebisar’. Samuel was probably the carver of the cross. ." Text Source: (
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