Glynneath

Glynneath
Welsh: Glyn-nedd

Glynneath Town Hall
Glynneath
 Glynneath shown within Neath Port Talbot
Population 4,278 (2001)[1]
OS grid referenceSN8706
CommunityGlynneath
Principal areaNeath Port Talbot
Ceremonial countyWest Glamorgan
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town NEATH
Postcode district SA11
Dialling code 01639
Police South Wales
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK ParliamentNeath
Welsh AssemblyNeath
List of places
UK
Wales
Neath Port Talbot

Coordinates: 51°44′49″N 3°37′01″W / 51.747°N 3.617°W / 51.747; -3.617

Glynneath (Welsh: Glyn-nedd), also spelt Glyn Neath, is a small town, community and electoral ward lying on the River Neath in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It was formerly in the historic county of Glamorgan. Glynneath ward covers only part of the community, with some 840 electors included in the neighbouring ward of Blaengwrach.

Industrialisation reached Glynneath when coal mining started in 1793, and rapidly expanded when the Neath Canal came to the village in 1775. Many features of the old canal still survive to the present time.[2]

There are waterfalls to the north east at Pontneddfechan near the Brecon Beacons and large parts of the rural area are heavily forested.

Notable buildings

The ruins of the Grade II listed Aberpergwm House
Godfrey Avenue in Glynneath

Glynneath is home to the ruins of Aberpergwm House. Once owned by Rhys ap Siancyn, Aberpergwm House became the home of the Williams family, Welsh gentry with a strong tradition of using the Welsh language over English. Their descendants include the last of the Welsh household bards Dafydd Nicolas and folksong collector Maria Jane Williams. The Williams' family motto y ddioddefws y orfu (He who suffers, triumphs) was adopted by Glamorgan County Council. The mansion itself was remodelled in 1876 but is now derelict and little of note remains of the building.

St. Cadoc's Church, in the grounds of Aberpergwm House, was built as a chapel in the 17th century, rebuilt in 1808-1809 for the Aberpergwm Williams family and extended in 1836-41. It is a Grade II* listed building.[3]

Rheola House, a Regency house designed c.1812 by the eminent architect John Nash, is also Grade II* listed.[4]

Sports and leisure

Glynneath used to host one of motor sport's most important challenges, the British round of the World Rally Championship (formerly known as the Lombard RAC rally or Rally GB). The British round is probably the most important and the toughest round of the series due to the ever changing weather conditions, a test of man and machine. Some of the biggest names in motor sport have taken part and have failed to complete the British round. Unfortunately fewer stages had been used due to the rally moving to the north of wales and the only stage that was used was Rheola, which passed though Walters Arena but, due to costs using the arena were spiralling out of proportion, the WRC chose to go further a field, which unfortunately had a detrimental affect on the small community's economy.

Glynneath also has an association with downhill mountain biking with the Welsh National Championships being held at Rheola. A huge following is now emerging within Glynneath.

Glynneath is home to Glynneath RFC, a rugby union club founded in 1889.

Notable residents

Twin Town

Glynneath is twinned with:

The town twinning supports football matches between the two towns, and a visit by Glynneath Male Voice Choir.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. ↑ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pp322 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
  3. ↑ "Church of Saint Cadoc, Glynneath". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Rheola House, Glynneath". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
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