It grew significantly from the 1880s with the development of Barry Docks, which, in 1913, was the largest coal port in the world.

It may derive from the sixth-century Saint Baruc who was buried on Barry Island where a ruined chapel was dedicated to him.

[14] In Roman times farmsteads existed on the site of Barry Castle and Biglis and there were verbal reports of discovery of a cemetery including lead coffins with scallop-shell decoration.

[15] The main feature of the area at this time was the island in the Bristol Channel, separated from the mainland by a tidal estuary.

Early in the 14th century the castle was strengthened by the addition of a large hall and gatehouse on its south side, the ruins of which are all that survive today.

By now Barry had grown into a village and port with its own church and watermill but in the 14th century its population was drastically reduced by the Black Death and the consequences of the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr.

[23] By 1622 the pattern of fields, where enclosure was almost complete, around Barry village was pretty much as it was to remain until the growth of the modern town.

Whitehouse Cottage, the oldest existing inhabited house in modern Barry, dates from the late 1500s with the east end of the building added in around 1600.

[24] By 1871 the population of Barry was over 100, with 21 buildings, the new estate-owning Romilly family being involved in the buildup of the village but it remained a largely agricultural community.

[26] Behind the docks rose the terraced houses of Barry which, with Cadoxton, soon formed a sizeable town.

The railways which had played a major part in the development of the dock helped make Barry Island a popular resort.

Barry Memorial Hall on Gladstone Road was inaugurated in November 1932, and obtained its name to honour those locals who lost their lives in World War I.

Dai Woodham owned the Woodham Brothers Scrap yard and he allowed rail preservation organisations to buy back the locomotives at the scrap value, allowing around 200 of the 300 locomotives to be saved for future generations, although during the years of storage many were vandalised or looted by souvenir hunters.

When interviewed just before his death, Woodham was reluctant to take full credit for this and pointed out that the town of Barry with its redundant sidings was the major factor in allowing these locomotives to be saved.

Barry Docks and the adjoining industrial area form the largest employment centre in the town.

The docks can handle vessels up to 23,000 tonnes and the first-class tidal position close to the deep-water channel of the Severn Estuary, allows for scheduled sailings.

In the park is the former Barry Railway Company viaduct with 13 arched spans standing 110 ft high.

Established by David Davies, the docks now link up the gap which used to form Barry Island.

The camp closed in 1996 after Majestic had a disagreement with the local council, who refused an entertainments licence unless work was carried out to improve the now 30-year-old site.

From the 1536 Act of Union, Glamorgan was represented in parliament by one member, from the constituency of Glamorganshire, elected by the freeholders in the county.

[31] It was replaced by the Vale of Glamorgan constituency which Sir Herbert Raymond Gower (Conservative) won at the 1983 general election.

The area covered by the borough comprised Barry, Cadoxton-juxta-Barry, Merthyr Dyfan and parts of Penmark, Porthkerry and Sully.

The local unitary authority, created in 1995, is the Vale of Glamorgan Council which has its administrative headquarters in Barry.

As with the rest of the British Isles and Wales, Barry experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters, and often high winds.

The nearest official weather observation station is at Cardiff Airport near Rhoose, about 3 miles (5 km) west of the town centre.

[50] Primary education (5–11) in Barry is provided by a number of community, Welsh-language, and faith-based schools spread throughout the town.

The A4050 road connects Barry to Culverhouse Cross Interchange and the rest of west Cardiff.