St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan

St Nicholas
Welsh: *Sain Nicolas*
St Nicholas Welsh: Sain Nicolas;
	St Nicholas Location within the Vale of Glamorgan
Area	0.2450 km2 (0.0946 sq mi)
Population	654 (2021 Census)
• Density	2,669/km2 (6,910/sq mi)
• Cardiff	1.74 mi (2.8 km)
Principal area	Vale of Glamorgan;
Preserved county	South Glamorgan;
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CARDIFF
Postcode district	CF5
Dialling code	01446, 02920
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Vale of Glamorgan;
	List of places UK Wales Vale of Glamorgan 51°27′42″N 3°18′42″W / 51.4616603°N 3.3117505°W

St Nicholas (Welsh: Sain Nicolas) is a village situated in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Cardiff and 6 miles (9.6 km) east of Cowbridge. According to the 2021 census, the village had a population of 654 residents. St Nicholas forms part of the larger community of St Nicholas and Bonvilston.

The village is bisected by the A48 road, with notable landmarks such as the parish church^[2] and a primary school^[3] situated to the north of the road. The surrounding area consists largely of agricultural fields and lies within the Dyffryn Basin and Ridge Slopes Special Landscape Area.^[4]

Amenities

St Nicholas has no shops or pubs; the nearest amenities can be found in the nearby villages of Bonvilston and Culverhouse Cross.

The village is located approximately a 15-minute drive from Cardiff city centre to the east^[5] and a 10-minute drive from the market town of Cowbridge to the west.^[6] It is also connected to Barry via the A4226, commonly known as Five Mile Lane, which branches off from the A48.

Public transport services the village through the X2 route, with eastbound destinations including Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff Bay, and Cardiff city centre, and westbound destinations such as Bonvilston, Cowbridge, Bridgend, and Porthcawl.

History

Evidence of human settlement in St. Nicholas dates back to Neolithic times, with significant archaeological findings at Tinkinswood, located less than a mile to the south.

The modern village has evolved from an agricultural community, with land historically divided among three prominent families: the Earl of Pembroke, Miles Button of Dyffryn, and Rice Meyrick of Cottrell. This division is still reflected in the village's layout today.

During the 20th century, the village saw considerable development, particularly to the south by the Cardiff Rural District Council. The growth of Cardiff and the construction of the A4232 link road increased St. Nicholas's appeal as a commuter village.

On 6 October 2016, a controversial planning application by Redrow Homes was approved, permitting the construction of 100 new homes. An additional 17 homes were later included by Waterstone Homes, with construction beginning in the summer of 2017. The development effectively doubled the village's size. That same year, the village church hall was sold.