Llantrithyd and St Illtyd's Church
Like St Hilary, Llantrithyd has a beautiful church - St Illtyds, which hosts the glorious Bassett family tomb.
The Bassetts of Llantrithyd were a junior branch of the Bassetts of Beaupré, a family settled in Glamorgan since the 13th century. Thomas Bassett had acquired Llantrithyd by marrying its heiress, and the estate was to pass to his son John.[i]
John acted as Surveyor of Lands to Catherine Parr, the 6th and final wife of Henry VIII. This position gave him the opportunity of acquiring lands for himself on favourable terms, and in November 1545 he bought the manor of Peterson-super-Ely in Glamorgan. He had earlier acquired the manors in Bonvilston (1542) and Michaelston (1543). Today Llantrithyd Place, built in 1546 by John Bassett, lies derelict by St Illtyds church.
John Basset was born in 1507 and died in 1554. He married twice. He had two sons and two daughters by his first marriage to Alice and one daughter Elizabeth by his second marriage. Elizabeth inherited the house on the death of her mother Elizabeth Bassett and it was she (Elizabeth Mansel) who built part of the magnificent monment in Llantrithyd church to commemorate her parents.
The tomb was constructed around 1550. The two figures kneeling in prayer above the tomb are those of John Basset and his second wife Elizabeth (d. 1596). The figures on the coffin tomb, the man in armour lying next to his wife, both with their hands together in prayer, are Anthony Mansel (died 1604) and his wife Elzabeth Basset Mansel (died 1607).
Around the base are images of their seven children most of whom predeceased their parents. Their names and dates of death are shown on stone plaques to the left of the altar – Elizabeth 1567, Edward 1573, Mary Aubre (1570), Anne 1570, Ryce 1583, William 1573, Cissil (no date).[ii]
Close investigation of the sanctuary floor shows some tomb stones dedicated to some of the children. Touchingly, some of these request prayers were for the souls of the departed child, an unusual departure for a family who would have officially embraced the reform tradition. Praying for the departed would very much have been seen as a practice associated associated with the old religion.
Here is the link to the Friends of St Illyd's Church.
St Hilary
The Bassett Family also resided in St Hilary. The name first appears in a document dated 1376 when a John Basset is described as ‘ of St Hilary & Bewerpere (Beaupre)’.
Thereafter the names of Bassett and Beaupre are inextricably linked. It is unclear whether the Bassetts were the first occupants of Beaupre house but it owes its remodelling and rebuilding from the 14th and 16th century to the Bassett family.
The Thomas Bassett effigy in St Hilary church is dated 1423.[iii]
Beaupre passed in an almost unbroken line of succession until the 18th century.
St Hilary Churchyard
In the graveyard the sandstone chest on a plinth in railings is in memory of Richard Basset of Beaupre who died 8 November 1849. He was the last heir of the ancient family of Basset of Beaupre. His wife Frances Bassett who died 1865 lies alongside him.
There is a plaque in the church and a grave dedicated to Major William Bassett of Beaupre who died in 1871.
The white marble cruciform copestone on a double plinth surrounded by ralings is sacred to the memory of Major Willian West James Basset of Beaupre, late of the 94th regiment and 74th Highlanders. He died in October 1871. He was the only son of William Bruce KH and nephew of Captain Richard Basset K.A from whom he inherited the estate. His infant daughter Ela…Jane Mansel Bruce lies beside him.
There is a stained glass window in the south wall of the nave. It is memory of her brother Richard Basset/of her son William West James Bassett and of her sister Georgiana Anne Monsell Basset of Beaupre by Isabella Bruce.[iv]
References & Acknowledgements
[i] The History of Parliament John Bassett 1513 - 1551
[ii] Newsletter of Cowbridge History Society (2021)
[iii] St Hilary: a History of the Place and it’s People (2000) Hilary M. Thomas
[iv] Monumental Inscriptions St Hilary Church. Glamorgan Family History Society
Landed families of Britain & Ireland Bassetts of Beaupre
Monica Dennis May 2025