Maesteg

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Coordinates: 51°37′N 3°39′W / 51.61°N 3.65°W / 51.61; -3.65

Maesteg
Maesteg in 2005.jpg
A view over Maesteg
Maesteg is located in Wales2
Maesteg

 Maesteg shown within Wales
Population 20,685 (2001, includes Llangynwyd).
OS grid reference SS855915
Principal area Bridgend
Ceremonial county Mid Glamorgan
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MAESTEG
Postcode district CF34
Dialling code 01656
Police South Wales
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament Ogmore
List of places: UK • Wales • Bridgend

Maesteg (English: Fair Field) is a town in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales, lying at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with the county boroughs of Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 20,685.[1]

Historically a part of Glamorgan, the growth of the town started with the opening of ironworks in the 1820s and 1830s.[2] Once a coal mining area, the last pit closed in 1985, and since then Maesteg has become a dormitory town for the steel works at Port Talbot.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

The war memorial in Maesteg town centre.

The earliest settlement in the Llynfi Valley is at the Bwlwarcau Iron Age Hillfort near to Llangynwyd village which is around 2 miles to the south west of Maesteg Town centre. This places earliest human settlement in the area around Maesteg to more than 2,000 years ago.

Immediately surrounding the Maesteg Area is significant evidence of settlement in the Bronze Age, which reaches back further in time, to nearly 4,000 years ago, in Carn Llechart, Crug yr Afan and Carn Bugail, there is also evidence of Neolithic settlement in this area of South Wales, in Penmaen Burrows in the Gower peninsula, and Maesteg is also close to where the Red Lady of Paviland was found in the Gower, where the oldest remains of humans have been found in the United Kingdom, dating from 26,350 years ago +/- 550 years; so there is significant evidence that the area around Maesteg has seen anthropological contact for a very long time.

Closer to modern times, the Romans established a settlement at present day Bridgend, and it could be assumed that they visited the Llynfi Valley as they also established a settlement at Neath, although the road that connected them was to the south of the Llynfi Valley as the topography is somewhat treacherous between Maesteg and Neath.

[edit] Industrial history

The origins of the present-day community in the Llynfi Valley date from the late 1820s when the area’s considerable coal and iron-ore resources were developed on an industrial scale for the first time. In 1828 a fifteen-mile horse-drawn railway was completed between a new harbour at Porthcawl and Garnlwyd in the Llynfi Valley. This was the Dyffryn Llynfi and Porthcawl Railway (DLPR); it was extended to the Coegnant district near the head of the valley in 1830.[4] The railway opened-up the district and prompted the formation of an iron company which began building a works on Maesteg Uchaf Farm, near the site of the present-day town centre, in 1826. The company took its name from the farm and, by 1831, two furnaces were in blast and the first rows of workers’ housing had been completed near the Maesteg Ironworks. At about the same time one of the first zinc smelters in Wales was set up on Coegnant Farm near the northern terminus of the DLPR.[5]

In 1839 work on a second, larger, ironworks commenced at Nantycrynwydd Farm on a site now largely occupied by the Tesco store and adjoining car park. The works, which became known as the Llynfi Ironworks (or ‘The New Works’) was started by the unsuccessful Cambrian Iron and Spelter Company and was bought by the ambitious Llynvi Iron Company in 1845. The Cornstores section of the Maesteg Sports Centre and the adjoining base of a blast furnace remain as links to the Llynfi Works and the valley’s significant nineteenth century iron industry. The two ironworks, with associated collieries and new housing, transformed what was an area of scattered farms with a population of about 400 in 1821 into a growing township with a population of 4,000 by 1841.

The Cambrian/Llynfi Works attracted the investment capital of a number of prominent figures from the early Victorian period including the poet William Wordsworth, who was a Cambrian shareholder in the early 1840s, Sir Felix Booth, the gin distiller, and the writer and radical politician, Dr John Bowring.[6] Bowring invested heavily in the Llynfi Works in the mid 1840s and, for a number of years, that part of the valley around his works was known as Bowrington. During his association with the Maesteg district he campaigned in Parliament for a decimal system of coinage and was largely responsible for the introduction of Britain’s first decimal coin, the florin or ‘two shilling piece,’ (now the ten pence piece). John Bowring lost his capital in the trade depression of the late 1840s although the iron company continued trading. After his Llynfi venture, John Bowring became British Consul in Canton, China, and was Governor of Hong Kong 1854-59.

The iron industry in Maesteg continued, with varying degrees of success, until wrought iron making was replaced by the manufacture of cheaper, mass produced steel during the 1870s. In its heyday, after the opening of the broad-gauge, steam-hauled Llynfi Valley Railway in 1861, the Llynfi Works had a reputation for producing high-quality iron. In the mid-Victorian period there was a flourishing export trade to southern Italy and Turkey for example, rails were exported to the USA and Llynvi ‘Navy Quality’ No.3 Cable Iron was highly regarded by the makers of Admiralty-tested anchor chains.[7] However, as the Llynfi site could not be adapted for the production of steel, iron making ceased in the Maesteg area in 1885.

During the mid 1880s with the closure of the Llynfi Works and its associated collieries, the Maesteg district, with a population of about 10,000, faced an uncertain future. Fortunately, the local coal industry began to expand with the formation of North’s Navigation Collieries Ltd in 1889. The colliery company was led by the remarkable Colonel North, the ‘Nitrate King’ and, some years later, in 1900, another company led by Sir Alfred Jones of the Elder Dempster shipping line also developed collieries in the valley. Due to the expansion programme set in motion by the two mining companies, two of the local, former iron company collieries were modernised (Coegnant and Garth) and two new large collieries were sunk at Caerau and St John’s (Cwmdu). Because of the development of the coal industry, the local population increased from about 10,000 in 1891 to almost 30,000 in 1921.

During the years 1890 to 1925 the valley gained a Worldwide reputation as a producer of Admiralty-grade steam coal, high quality coking coal and what was regarded as the best house coal in south Wales. By the early 1920s there were over 7,000 miners at work in the valley. However, as the area depended to such a large extent on the coal export trade, it was seriously affected by the trade depression of the years 1928-1938.[8] During that period of acute poverty and large-scale unemployment, the population of the Llynfi Valley decreased by almost a third as many left the district to seek employment in the new light industries growing up in areas such as west London and the Midlands.

For many years after the Second World War the local coal industry employed well over 2,000 workers and new jobs were created in local Government-built factories and in new industries in the Port Talbot and Bridgend journey-to-work areas. Due to the buoyant coal industry and the success of the new factories during the years 1950-75, the population of Maesteg and district stabilised at about 20,000, roughly the figure today. With the creation of more jobs in the Bridgend and Port Talbot districts, the Llynfi Valley gradually became a residential area, a process which speeded up with the terminal decline of the coal industry during the period 1977 to 1985.

Today, the valley faces another employment crisis, just as it did in the 1880s and the 1930s, with the closure of two local factories in 2007/8 which were the largest employers in the district.

Llynfi Valley Metal-Working Centres

Name In Production Maximum Workforce
Coegnant Spelter (zinc) Works 1830-47 95 in 1839
Maesteg Iron Works 1828-1860 561 in 1841
Llynfi Iron Works 1839-1885 2,000 in 1870
Llwydarth Tinplate Works 1868-1900 470 in 1886

Llynfi Valley Collieries

Name Sinking Commenced Year of Closure Maximum Workforce[9]
Garth 1864 1930 1,007 in 1907
Oakwood (Davis's Pit) 1868 1928 495 in 1899
Coegnant 1881 1981 2,182 in 1914
Caerau 1890 1977 2,432 in 1922
Maesteg Deep 1868 1930 671 in 1910
St John's (Cwmdu) 1908 1985[10] 1,479 in 1920

[edit] Transport

[edit] Railway

Maesteg has three railway stations, all on the Maesteg Line. Services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales and run directly to Cardiff Central via Bridgend. The services usually continue to Cheltenham Spa via Newport and Gloucester. The terminus station is Maesteg, the other two stations are the most recently built Maesteg Ewenny Road, and Garth station which serves the Garth and Cwmfelin villages situated just outside Maesteg. There is a bus service that replaces a withdrawn rail service from Maesteg to Caerau.

In the past, there were other railway stations in Maesteg. Llangynwyd Station used to lie on the Maesteg line a few miles east of where Garth Station is today, and Maesteg (Neath Road) which was on the old Port Talbot Railway Line but these are now closed.

The original Maesteg Railway Station was situated a few metres west of the terminus that is there today. Remains of the original station are still there behind the Somerfield Store, including the platforms and the bridge joining the two platforms. The old track was removed in 2007 during the land reclamation project.

[edit] Buses

Maesteg Bus Station is situated to the rear of the Town Hall. First Cymru operate the majority of the services from this station. Services run to Bridgend, Swansea via Port Talbot, Caerau Park, Llangynwyd and Cymmer. There are no bus services to Cardiff from Maesteg but passengers can change at Bridgend to access a service to Cardiff.

[edit] Education

Maesteg has six English-language state primary schools: Cwmfelin Primary, Plasnewydd Primary, Blaencaerau Primary, Nantyfyllon Primary, Llangynwyd Primary and Garth Primary. There is also a Catholic primary school, St. Mary's and St. Patrick's, and a Welsh-medium school, Ysgol Cynwyd Sant. One of the two comprehensive schools located in Maesteg is Maesteg Comprehensive School, which recently relocated to a new site. The new school cost £17,000,000. The second comprehensive school is a Welsh-medium school, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd. The Welsh-language school is located on the same premises as Maesteg Comprehensive School was previously. The pupils of Ysgol Cynwyd Sant continue their education at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, and the pupils of St. Mary's and St. Patrick's pursue their secondary education in Archbishop McGrath Catholic Comprehensive School, located in Tondu, a few miles to the south.

Plasnewydd School is a primary school near the Maesteg town centre. It is one of the biggest primary schools in the Llynfi Valley, with just over 400 pupils. Plasnewydd is now an eco-school. The headteacher is N. Watkins.

Cwmfelin County Primary School's headteacher is Mrs. D. Hiley.

Garth Primary School's headteacher has not yet been chosen, since the last headmistress, Mrs. O'Hallaron, left. The school is a eco-school, after earning its green flag several years ago, being the first in the Llynfi Valley, and also the first in Bridgend County Borough.

[edit] Religion

The largest religion in the valley is Christianity,[11][12] the majority of denominations being non-conformist.

[edit] Music and art

Maesteg has a tradition of music and theatre. There are many local groups providing music styles from the traditional male voice choir music to the more modern rock band, Funeral for a Friend, who originally hail from Maesteg.

Maesteg has a rich tradition of Singing, especially in choirs. At present, there are three male voice choirs: Cor Meibion Maesteg A'r Cylch (Maesteg and District Male Voice Choir), Cor Meibion Glerwyr Maesteg Gleemen Male voice Choir, and Cor yr Hen Blwyf (the Old Parish Choir, The Largest being Cor Meibion Maesteg, with membership exeding 50. There are also two ladies choirs: Cor merched Cwm Llynfi (Llynfi Valley Ladies Choir) and Harmony Ladies Choir. There are two mixed Choirs, Noteworthy mixed choir and Allegro, a youth Choir performing contemporary music.

Maesteg Children's Choir hosts many concerts throughout the year, and Curtain Up Youth Theatre has been performing musicals since the turn of the millennium, giving children of the valley a chance to showcase their talents. Maesteg Amateur Operatic Society recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a production of 'The King and I.' The society continues to flourish with talents from all ages eager to perform, ranging from 16 to founder members, who are still active, at 80 and above.

Artist Christopher Williams was born in Maesteg in 1873. Six of his paintings are on display in Maesteg Town Hall.

[edit] Sport

Maesteg is home to Maesteg Park A.F.C. a football (soccer) team founded in 1945[13] and affiliated to the Football Association of Wales. There are four Welsh Rugby Union teams in Maesteg. The older is Maesteg RFC founded in 1877, while Maesteg Harlequins RFC were formed in the 1920s. Other rugby union teams from the area include Nantyffyllon RFC, and Maesteg Celtic RFC who recently gained promotion to join Nantyffyllon and Maesteg Harlequins in division three.

[edit] Notable people from Maesteg and District

  • Philip Boswood Ballard (1865-1950), pioneering educational psychologist.
  • Allan Bateman, Wales and British Lions, rugby union and rugby league player.
  • Dave Bowen (1928-1995), Arsenal and Wales, footballer and football manager.
  • Jason Cook, European boxing champion.
  • Matthew Lee Davies, Funeral for a Friend (lead vocalist)
  • Ray 'Chico' Hopkins, Wales and British Lions, rugby union and rugby league player.
  • George Jeffries (1889-1972), founder of the worldwide Elim Pentecostal Church.
  • Sian Lloyd, ITV weather presenter.
  • Sir Rhys Hopkin Morris, (1888 - 1956), politician, stipendiary magistrate, first director of the Welsh Region B.B.C.
  • Sir William Beddoe Rees MP (1877-1931), Welsh chapel architect, town-planner and politician.
  • David Emlyn Thomas (1892 - 1954), politician and trade unionist
  • Islyn Thomas (1912-2002), U.S.-based author, engineer and industrialist.
  • Thomas Llyfnwy Thomas (1912-1983), U.S.-based vocalist and T.V. personality.
  • Christopher Williams (1873-1934), leading artist, portrait painter.
  • John J. Williams, Wales and British Lions, rugby union player and international athlete.

[edit] Media

As part of Bridgend county borough, the local radio station is 106.3 Bridge FM. Bridge FM is the most-listened-to radio station in Bridgend county borough. The breakfast-time presenter, Lee Jukes, has close ties with the Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir, and is also a patron of Maesteg Amateur Operatic Society. There are also newspapers: The Glamorgan Gazette (a weekly) has its main office in Bridgend, but prints news related to Maesteg. There is also The Gem (formerly The Recorder), a free weekly, printed in Cowbridge, and The Llynfi News, a free monthly paper, based in Maesteg.

[edit] References

Text document with red question mark.svg
 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (August 2008)
  1. ^ 2001 Census, (including Llangynwyd)
  2. ^ The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press 2008.
  3. ^ Paxton, J. (1999) The Penguin Encyclopedia of Places. 3rd edition. London: Penguin.
  4. ^ D.L.P.R., Brynmor James (Kenfig Hill 1987)
  5. ^ History of Llangynwyd Parish, T.C. Evans (Cadrawd), (Llanelli 1887)
  6. ^ The Cambrian Iron and Spelter Company: a Memorial 8 June 1843 (National Archives, PRO C54/12916)
  7. ^ Parliamentary Papers, Report of the Select Committee on Anchors, March 1860, p.50 (HMSO, 1860)
  8. ^ The Coal Industry in the Llynfi Valley, David Lewis (Stroud, 2006)
  9. ^ Figures from: Mines Dept., List of Mines
  10. ^ The last deep mine in the Llynfi Valley
  11. ^ Religion statistics for Maesteg East Bridgend County Borough Website
  12. ^ Religion statistics for Maesteg West Bridgend County Borough Website
  13. ^ Maesteg Park team profile WelshPremier.com

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maesteg"