Pontrhydyfen
Pontrhydyfen
| |
---|---|
Y Bont Fawr Aqueduct | |
Location within Neath Port Talbot | |
Population | 830 |
OS grid reference | SS793942 |
Principal area | |
Preserved county | |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | PORT TALBOT |
Postcode district | SA12 |
Dialling code | 01639 |
Police | South Wales |
Fire | Mid and West Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
UK Parliament | |
Pontrhydyfen (or Pont-rhyd-y-fen) is a small village in the
History
The industrial history of Oakwood began in the 1820s, when the first blast furnace was lighted for the Pontrhydyfen Iron Works[3] and coalmaster John Reynolds built the aqueduct to power it.[4] By 1877 local Ordnance Survey maps show the site of the iron works as ruins,[5] but there are continued historical references to the two blast furnaces at Pontrhydyfen until 1902.[3]
George Yates' Map of the County Glamorgan shows Coal mining just south of Oakwood on the West slopes of Moel y Fen and Mynydd Bychan by 1799.[6] By 1875 maps show a range of collieries including: Craig (SS 788933), Graiglyn (SS 788935) & Wernavon (SS 791936) on the south-east slopes of Foel Fynddau, each serviced by tramways, and Craig-y-fedw (SS 787947) on the east slope of Mynydd Hawdref[7] and then by 1914 maps show Oakwood Colliery (SS 799941) just to the south-east of Rhyslyn Carpark.[8]
There are several viaducts around the village. The nine-arch Pontrhydyfen viaduct built in 1898 was the last railway bridge built in the valley.
By 1897 there were three quarries on Moel y Fen, 1 on Mynydd Hawdref (just west of Efail-fach), 2 on east slopes of Foel Fynyddau, 2 on the south slopes of Mynydd Pen-Rhys and 1 in the vicinity of Penhydd-fach.[10]
Notable people
Pontrhydyfen was the birthplace of actor Richard Burton,[11] Broadway theatre and musical star Ivor Emmanuel who was also in Zulu,[12] international opera singer Rebecca Evans,[13] singer and songwriter Geraint Griffiths,[14] and actor Mark Frankel. The Richard Burton Appreciation Society is based in the village.[15]
Visitor destination
Due to its location close to Afan Forest Park, the area is a gateway for Mountain biking. The valley offers the best places for mountain biking in South Wales and is consistently ranked highly within the best in the UK.[16][17] There are paths for walking from the village that lead to the Penrhys Trail.
There are also 3 local pubs in the area. These being the Colliers, The Miners and the Blue Scar.
References
- ^ "Custom report - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics".
- ^ "Pontrhydyfen RFC". pontrhydyfen.rfc.wales/. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Pontrhydyfen Iron Works". gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Afan Valley Then & Now. Retrieved 13 March 2020
- ^ "Ordnance Survey Map (1874–77)". maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ "George Yates' Map of the County Glamorgan (1799)". The National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey Map of Glamorgan Sheet XXV. N.E. (Revised 1897)". The National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey Map of Glamorgan Sheet XXV. N.E. (Revised 1914)". The National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ a b Wales Online – An iconic Welsh aqueduct has been painstakingly restored by Gemma Parry. Retrieved 9 April 2020
- ^ "The National Library of Scotland – Ordnance Survey Map of Glamorgan Sheet XXV. N.E." maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ The Official Richard Burton Website. Commissioned by Onward Productions. Retrieved 1 April 2020
- ^ BBC's Phil Carradice (2013) The life and times of Ivor Emmanuel. Retrieved 1 April 2020
- ^ BBC Website. Wales Music Biography Rebecca Evans. Retrieved 1 April 2020
- ^ BBC Lleol. De Orllewin Cantorion Geraint Griffiths. Retrieved 1 April 2020
- ^ Facebook Group. The Richard Burton Appreciation Society. Retrieved 1 April 2020
- ^ "Proviz Sports. 2019. Top 15 Mountain Bike Trails in the UK 2020". www.provizsports.com. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Afan Forest Park". naturalresources.wales. Retrieved 13 March 2020.