Our History
Our History
To understand the history of The Six Bells, you first need to understand the history of Penmark itself...
An OS map of Penmark Village from 1898.
Back in the 11th century, after the Norman invasion of Wales, Penmark became part of a strategic chain of defensive settlements across the Vale of Glamorgan — alongside villages like East Orchard and Fonmon. By the 12th century, the Normans had built Penmark Castle, a stone stronghold designed to control the surrounding land and protect their newly claimed territory.
In the 13th century, just a short walk from the castle walls, St Mary's Church was constructed. It quickly became the heart of the village - hosting countless baptisms, weddings, and funerals through the centuries. Its six bells, which still ring out today, would eventually lend their name to the village inn.
You can learn more about St Mary's Church, Penmark on the Parish of Porthkerry Rhoose and Penmark website.
St Mary's Church, Penmark
By the 17th century, Penmark had settled into life as a thriving agricultural village.
Surrounded by farmland and woodland, it remained quiet and self-sufficient, even as nearby places like Barry, Rhoose, and Cardiff began to grow. Its small population and rural charm endured — and still do.
As for the castle, it didn't survive unscathed. During the early 15th-century uprising led by Owain Glyndîr, much of Penmark Castle was damaged or destroyed. Local tradition holds that stones from the ruined castle were reused in village buildings, including The Six Bells itself — meaning the pub may quite literally be built from the bones of Penmark's medieval past.
The ruins of Penmark Castle - west curtain wall
Though the exact date of construction isn't known, The Six Bells likely dates to the 18th or early 19th century, built to serve local farmers, travellers, and labourers. It wasn't the only inn in the village — The Red Cow Inn stood nearby, serving its own share of patrons before eventually closing its doors. But The Six Bells remained, becoming a true village institution — a place to gather, share stories, and raise a glass.
To learn more about Penmark Village, please visit the Village's website, at https://penmark.org.uk.
A photo of the Six Bells Inn sign, taken c. 1930
In 2025, we (Kyle and Becky) took over the Six Bells. After both working here previously, we were eager to get to know the pub a bit more closely, so looked into its history. We found that the amount of information we uncovered about its past was too exciting to keep to ourselves, so we made it our project to compile everything we know and share it here.
Around The Pub…
We've put together some information about some of the bits and pieces that are located around the pub, so that
people can learn more about their meaning and history.
Click the button below to see the page and what we have around the
pub.