Llantwit Major Roman Villa, for example, is thought to have been built on a site occupied since the British Iron Age.

[9] Local folklore says that the nickname of "Golden Mile"[10] (the area shown on old maps as being between Twmpath Farm and the main village, or the northern edge of the village's original common) arises either from Fitzhamon's forces lining up to receive their payment along a section of the A48 adjacent to Colwinston, or from Civil War troops gathering in the same location for payment;[11] another theory is that the name originated because of yellow gorse plants growing along the old road at this point.

[12] William de Londres was granted the lordship of Ogmore (which included Colwinston) by Fitzhamon, and also established Ewenny Priory in 1141 under the Benedictine Abbey in Gloucester.

[20] By 1539 English law had been extended to cover Wales and the County of Glamorgan was formally established as an administrative unit.

Even into the 17th century, John Lloyd, a local priest under the protection of the Turbevilles at Penlline, was arrested and hanged, drawn and quartered on the Heath at Cardiff in 1679 at the height of the hysteria caused by the 'Popish Plot'.

Colwinston thus became the property of Sir Edward Mansel, 4th Baronet, of Margam when he married Martha Carne.

Agriculture was supported by other trades including the Sycamore Tree Inn (recorded back to at least 1840, the building is post-medieval),[23] a forge and blacksmith, baker, shoemaker, post office and horse breaker.

A "National" school, supported by the (then) Church of England, was established in 1871, in the building now known as Ty Colwyn, with 27 children on the original register.

[26] In addition to the Anglican church, several Nonconformist chapels existed in the village, and were popular with Welsh-language speakers.

[27] In 1865, a village branch of the Philanthropic Order of True Ivorites was established, based at the Sycamore Tree Inn, conducting its business in Welsh.

This provided a vehicle for villagers with independent incomes to save, and then possibly to buy, their own properties.

[28][29] The 1811 A Topographical Dictionary of The Dominion of Wales by Nicholas Carlisle said of the village:[30] COLWINSTON, or, TRE COLLWYN, in the Cwmwd of Maenor Glynn Ogwr, Cantref of Cron Nedd (now called the Hundred of Ogmore),County of GLAMORGAN, South Wales: a discharged Vicarage, valued in the King's Books at £6 6s.8d.

According to the Diocesan Report, in 1809, the yearly value of this Benefice, arising from Vicarial Tythes, and Augmentation, was £111 18s.0d.The population of the village began to grow away from its agricultural origins, with some emigration to the South Wales coalfields by those seeking industrial employment, whilst the need for intensive labour on farms was reduced by machinery and the village population declined.

[31] Gradually ‘modern’ features eventually found their way to the village, including mains water in 1935, and electricity and telephone (in the form of a public kiosk) from 1946 onwards.

Other properties are owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council for the school, the Village Hall and the remaining social housing.

The main fabric of the village was thus set until 2016 when the developer Redrow plc built 64 new homes on land now known as Heol Cae Pwll (completed in 2018), increasing the population to over 600.

Community representatives pointed to regular flooding and said that "adding 64 homes to a village with 130 at the moment can only increase that risk".

The village has gained a local and national reputation in recent years for its community spirit and activities.

The church underwent a substantial restoration in 1879, and again in 1971 following a fire which badly damaged the chancel, destroying the brass tablets either side of the altar displaying the Ten Commandments.

A vestry, kitchen and toilet were built on the north side of the church, the interior and exterior walls were lime washed and the roof repaired at a cost of £350,000.

[40] The Old Parsonage, a thatched house dating to the 16th century at the crossroads and opposite the southeast corner of churchyard, has a Gothic or Tudor arch and the building is "one of only two in Glamorgan with a latrine in the form of a small closet at the side of the fireplace.

[41] The Sycamore Tree Inn, a public house run by Brains Brewery, can be dated to 1650 or earlier.

However, the village lost four men in World War II, one of whom was Agatha Christie's son-in-law, Colonel Hubert Prichard.

The major social event of the year is the annual village fete, usually held during the first or second week in July.