Brynmawr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brynmawr | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 14,722 | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | Maps for SO185115 | |
| Administration | ||
| Principal area: | Blaenau Gwent | |
| Constituent country: | Wales | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Police force: | Gwent Police | |
| Ceremonial county: | Gwent | |
| Historic county: | Brecknockshire | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | EBBW VALE | |
| Postal district: | NP23 | |
| Dialling code: | +44-1495 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | Blaenau Gwent | |
| European Parliament: | Wales | |
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- See also Bryn Mawr (disambiguation) for other places with this name.
Brynmawr (sometimes hyphenated to Bryn-mawr in Welsh — meaning "big hill") is a market town in mid Wales. The town, nestled at the head of the South Wales Valleys, grew during the arrival of the mining and iron industries in the early 1800s . It was originally a small village settlement called Gwaen Helygen. With the expansion of the Nant-y-glo (meaning stream of coal) Ironworks housing was required for the workers and Brynmawr turned into a prosperous town. Today it has an estimated population of over 14,000 people, very few of whom speak Welsh.
Brynmawr is the highest town in Wales, approximately 1,350 feet above sea level, nestling high above the Clydach Gorge on the Heads of the Valleys road. It was originally a market town. Although the traditional Saturday market itself has diminished somewhat, the focal point of the town still remains the Market Square with its Market Hall, now a cinema and theatre proudly presenting films and productions from the local amateur operatic society. Around the Market Square, the trading community offers traditional, family oriented shops with a friendly and personal service. It also now has a large Asda supermarket on the old site of the Semtex factory which boosted the town's name and reputation over the last 50 years.
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