South Wales

Coordinates: 51°41′N 3°23′W / 51.683°N 3.383°W / 51.683; -3.383
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the area of the United Kingdom. For the Australian state, see New South Wales.
Map of one definition of South Wales, combining common definitions of South East and South West Wales, including Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, which may also be considered West Wales. Areas shaded light red are historically considered South Wales, but may be considered Mid Wales today. Other definitions of the region exist.

South Wales (Welsh: De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards to include Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. In the western extent, from Swansea westwards, local people would probably recognise that they lived in both south Wales and west Wales.[1] The Brecon Beacons National Park covers about a third of south Wales, containing Pen y Fan, the highest British mountain south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia.

Pen y Fan
2,907 ft (886 metres)
17-18th century map of South Wales with Monmouthshire considered in this map to be part of England.

A point of some discussion is whether the first element of the name should be capitalised: 'south Wales' or 'South Wales'. As the name is a geographical expression rather than a specific area with well-defined borders, style guides such as those of the BBC[2] and The Guardian[3] use the form 'south Wales'. In a more authoritative style guide, the Welsh Government, in their international gateway website, Wales.com, state that it should always be capitalised.[4] It is always capitalised on motorway signs.

History

Between the

Marcher Lords
.

The Laws in Wales Acts 1542 created the Court of Great Sessions in Wales based on four legal circuits. The Brecon circuit served the counties of Brecknockshire, Radnorshire and Glamorgan while the Carmarthen circuit served Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Monmouthshire was attached to the Oxford circuit for judicial purposes. These seven southern counties were thus differentiated from the six counties of north Wales.

The Court of the Great Sessions came to an end in 1830, but the counties survived until the Local Government Act 1972 which came into operation in 1974. The creation of the county of Powys merged one northern county (Montgomeryshire) with two southern ones (Breconshire and Radnorshire).

There are thus different concepts of south Wales. Glamorgan and Monmouthshire are generally accepted by all as being in south Wales. But the status of Breconshire or Carmarthenshire, for instance, is more debatable. In the western extent, from

Black Mountains are generally considered to be in Mid Wales. The valleys and upland mountain ridges were once a very rural area noted for its river valleys and ancient forests and lauded by romantic poets such as William Wordsworth as well as poets in the Welsh language, although the interests of the latter lay more in society and culture than in the evocation of natural scenery. This natural environment changed to a considerable extent during the early Industrial Revolution when the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire valley areas were exploited for coal and iron. By the 1830s, hundreds of tons of coal were being transported by barge to ports in Cardiff and Newport. In the 1870s, coal was transported by rail transport networks to Newport Docks, at the time the largest coal exporting docks in the world, and by the 1880s coal was being exported from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
.

The

the Midlands, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall and even Italy came and set up homes and put down roots in the region. Very many came from other coal mining areas such as Somerset, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire and the tin mines of Cornwall such as Geevor Tin Mine, as a large but experienced and willing workforce was required. Whilst some of the migrants left, many settled and established in the south Wales Valleys between Swansea and Abergavenny as English-speaking communities with a unique identity. Industrial workers were housed in cottages and terraced houses close to the mines and foundries in which they worked. The large influx over the years caused overcrowding which led to outbreaks of Cholera, and on the social and cultural side, the near-loss of the Welsh language
in the area.

The 1930s inter-war

UK miners' strike (1984–85), and the last 'traditional' deep-shaft mine, Tower Colliery
, closed in January 2008.

Despite the intense industrialisation of the coal mining valleys, many parts of the landscape of South Wales such as the upper Neath valley, the Vale of Glamorgan and the valleys of the River Usk and River Wye remain distinctly beautiful and unspoilt and have been designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. In addition, many once heavily industrialised sites have reverted to wilderness, some provided with a series of cycle tracks and other outdoor amenities. Large areas of forestry and open moorland also contribute to the amenity of the landscape.

View north into Cwm Llwch from Corn Du, in the Brecon Beacons

Industrialised areas in the 19th and 20th centuries

iron works, cable factory, engine sheds and sidings and many others. The town was also the birthplace of Joseph Parry, composer of the song Myfanwy
.

The

Heads of the Valleys towns, including Rhymney, Tredegar and Ebbw Vale, rose out of the industrial revolution, producing coal, metal ores and later steel
.

Aberfan: The Merthyr Vale colliery began to produce coal in 1875. Spoil from the mine workings was piled on the hills close to the village which grew nearby. Tipping went on until the 1960s. Although nationalised, the National Coal Board failed to appreciate the danger they had created. In October 1966, heavy rain made the giant coal tip unstable, resulting in the Aberfan disaster. The recent dumping of small particles of coal and ash known as 'tailings' seems to have been partly responsible. A 30-foot-high (9 m) black wave tore downhill across the Glamorganshire Canal and swept away houses on its path towards the village school. 114 children and 28 adults were killed.

The

Tylorstown Colliery
. An enquiry found that the pit involved had not been properly inspected over the previous 15 months.

Ebbw Vale, the valley of the Ebbw River which stretches from the town of Ebbw Vale to Newport, includes the mining towns and villages of Newbridge, Risca, Crumlin, Abercarn and Cwmcarn. The Carboniferous Black Vein coal seams in the area lay some 900 feet (275 metres) below the surface and the mining activity associated with it was responsible for many tragic subsurface explosions, roof collapses and mining accidents.

Now the Valleys' heavy industrial past is overprinted with urban regeneration, tourism and multi-national investment. Large factory units, either empty or turned over to retail use, bear witness to the lack of success in replacing older industries.

Language

The native language of the majority of people in South Wales is English, but there are many who also speak Welsh. In western parts of Glamorgan, particularly the Neath and Swansea Valleys, there remain significant Welsh-speaking communities such as Ystradgynlais and Ystalyfera, which share a heritage with other ex-anthracite mining areas in eastern Carmarthenshire, as much as with the Glamorgan valleys.

The local

Wenglish', and are often used with comic effect.[6] The dialect is found in such coastal towns as Barry, as featured in the BBC comedy series, Gavin & Stacey
.

Welsh is now a compulsory language up to

Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg in Church Village
.

A significant number of people from ethnic minority communities speak another language as their first language, particularly in Cardiff and Newport. Commonly spoken languages in some areas include Punjabi, Bengali, Arabic, Somali and Chinese, and increasingly Central European languages such as Polish.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a vigorous literary and musical culture centred round eisteddfodau.[7][8][9] Despite a few timid attempts to emulate this literature in English, it can be argued that few writers seem to connect with either the landscape or the literary tradition.[10] The one exception, to some extent, can be considered to be Dylan Thomas.[11]

Culture

Religion

The South Wales landscape is marked by numerous chapels, places of worship (past and present) of the various Christian

Methodist movement, especially at Groeswen and Watford near Caerphilly, which both received frequent visits from John Wesley[14][15] The largest denomination, however, became the Calvinist Methodists (later the Presbyterian Church of Wales
), whose distinctive grey stone chapels can be seen in many parts.

These were mainly

Roman Catholic community, despite systematic persecution, survived in the 17th to 19th centuries, especially in Brecon and among minor gentry such as the Vaughans of Welsh Bicknor, on the Monmouthshire–Herefordshire border.[18][19] Among members of foreign origin of later urban Catholic congregations were the Bracchi, Italians in the café and catering trades often from Bardi in the Apennines.[20][citation needed
]

Post-war diversity has brought

Pentecostal congregations. These often add a strongly international element into local life, such as the "Pont" twinning project between Pontypridd and Mbale, Uganda, and the creation of "Fairtrade" relationships with primary producers worldwide.[citation needed
]

Industry today

The former heavy industries of coal and iron production have disappeared since the economic struggles of the 1970s, with the closures of that decade continuing sharply into the 1980s, and by July 1985 just 31 coal pits remained in the region.[21] Further closures left the region with just one deep mine by the early 1990s,[22] and this finally closed in January 2008, by which time it had transferred to private ownership after being sold off by the National Coal Board.[23]

These industries have since largely been replaced by

service sector
industries.

The cities along the

Admiral Insurance, Legal & General and the Welsh-based Principality Building Society. A large number of telephone call centres are located in the region and in particular in the Valleys area. Merthyr Tydfil is home to the principal UK call centre for German mobile telephone company, T-Mobile. Many jobs are also provided in small-scale and family businesses.[24]

One site of note on the M4 corridor is Port Talbot Steelworks – the largest steel producer in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe.[25]

The television and film sectors are fast becoming a major industry in South Wales. In 2021, the Welsh screen sector saw a turnover of £575 million.[26] Prominent film studios have been established in Cardiff (Wolf Studios Wales, Seren Stiwdios, Enfys Studios) as well as Bridgend (Dragon Studios) and Swansea (Bay Studios).[27]

Railways

London Paddington with Class 800s
. Most services in South Wales are operated by
Valley Lines
.

Media

Radio stations include:

The Welsh national media is based in Cardiff where the

ITV
have their main studios and offices.

Gallery

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for South Wales.

References

  1. ^ "People", Culture, Wales, UK: The BBC.
  2. ^ BBC Academy, 'Grammar, spelling and punctuation'. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  3. ^ The Guardian, 'Guardian and Observer style guide: C '. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  4. ^ Wales.com, 'Language and style guidance'. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. ISBN 978-0-7083-2545-2
    . Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  6. ISBN 0905928458
    .
  7. ^ Scorpion, ed. (1877), Cofiant Caledfryn, Bala.
  8. ^ Rhys, Beti (1984), Dyfed: Bywyd a Gwaith Evan Rees 1850–1923, Dinbych: Gwasg Gee
  9. ^ Walters, Huw (1987), Canu'r Pwll a'r Pulpud: Portread o'r Diwylliant Barddol Cymraeg yn Nyffryn Aman, Barddas: Cyhoeddiadau.
  10. ^ Menai, Huw (1928), "Hills of the Rhondda in Autumn", in Rees-Davies, Ieuan (ed.), Caniadau Cwm Rhondda: Detholiad o Delynegion, Sonedau a Chaneuon Cymraeg a Saesneg, London: Foyle's Welsh Depot, The rust has gathered on the plough, The tide of Autumn here is high, The hills are at their reddest now ....
  11. ^ Davies, Aneurin Talfan (1955), Crwydro Sir Gâr, Llandybie: Llyfrau'r Dryw, pp. 104ff.
  12. ^ Vaughan-Thomas, Wynford (1983) [1976], Portrait of Gower, London: Robert Hale, pp. 84–85
  13. ^ Jenkins, John Gwili (1931), Hanfod Duw a Pherson Crist: Athrawiaeth y Drindod a Duwdod Crist, yn bennaf yn ei pherthynas â Chymru, Liverpool: Gwasg y Brython.
  14. ^ Evans, Beriah Gwynfe (1900), Diwygwyr Cymru, Caernarfon: the author
  15. ^ Wesley, John (1903), Journal (abridged ed.), London{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).
  16. ^ Diocesan Yearbook, Llandaff, c. 1977.
  17. ^ "Complete list of parishes and clergy". Crockford's Clerical Directory. London: Church House Publishing. 2000–2001..
  18. ^ Cusack O'Keefe, Madge (1970), Four Martyrs of South Wales and the Marches, Archdiocese of Cardiff.
  19. ^ A Mill Hill Father (1969) [1955], Remembered in Blessing: The Courtfield Story, London: Sands & Co, Until the 1890s Courtfield and Welsh Bicknor parish were part of Monmouthshire, and hence in South Wales.
  20. ^ Popular accounts, Cardiff: St Fagans Museum
  21. ^ "1984 strike", Events, UK: Agor.
  22. ^ "Welsh coal mines". Welshcoalmines.co.uk.
  23. ^ "Wales", News, UK: The BBC, 25 January 2008.
  24. ^ Business analysis with the former INDIS, Mid Glamorgan industrial information unit
  25. ^ [1] [dead link]
  26. ^ "That's a wrap on another busy year for film and TV in Wales | GOV.WALES". 27 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Studio and build spaces". 8 March 2023.

51°41′N 3°23′W / 51.683°N 3.383°W / 51.683; -3.383

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Wales&oldid=1219444174"