Aberdare
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Aberdare (Welsh: Aberdâr) is an industrial town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff in the traditional county of Glamorgan, in south Wales, situated (as the name implies) at the confluence of the Dar and Cynon rivers. The population at the (1991) census was 31,619. It is 4 miles S.W. of Merthyr Tydfil and 24 miles N.W. of Cardiff. From being, at the beginning of the 19th century, a mere village in an agricultural district, the place grew rapidly in population owing to the abundance of its coal and iron ore, and the population of the whole parish (which was only 1486 in 1801) increased tenfold during the first half of the century. It has since declined, owing to the loss of most of the heavy industry.
Ironworks were established at Llwydcoed and Abernant in 1799 and 1800 respectively, followed by others at Gadlys and Aberaman in 1827 and 1847. These have not been worked since about 1875. Prior to 1836, most of the coal worked in the parish was consumed locally, chiefly in the ironworks, but in that year the working of steam coal for export was begun, pits were sunk in rapid succession, and the coal trade, which after 1875 was the chief support of the town, soon reached huge dimensions. There were also several brickworks and breweries. During the latter half of the 19th century, considerable public improvements were made to the town, which became, despite its neighbouring collieries, a pleasant place to live. Its institutions included a post-graduate theological college (opened in connection with the Church of England in 1892, until 1907, when it was removed to Llandaff).
Aberdare, with the ecclesiastical parishes of St Fagan's (Trecynon) and Aberaman carved out of the ancient parish, had twelve Anglican churches, one Roman Catholic church (built in 1866 in Monk Street near the site of a cell attached to Penrhys Abbey) and at one time had over fifty Nonconformist chapels. The services in the majority of the chapels were in Welsh. The urban district includes what were once the separate villages of Aberaman, Abernant, Cwmaman, Cwmbach, Cwmdare, Llwydcoed, Penywaun and Trecynon. There are several cairns and the remains of a circular British encampment on the mountain between Aberdare and Merthyr. Hirwaun moor, 4 miles to the N.W. of Aberdare, was according to tradition the scene of a battle at which Rhys ap Tewdwr, prince of Dyfed, was defeated by the allied forces of the Norman Robert Fitzhamon and Iestyn ab Gwrgan, the last prince of Glamorgan.
The Coliseum is Aberdare's main arts venue, containing a 600-seat auditorium and cinema. It was built in 1938 using miners' subscriptions.
The town is served by Aberdare railway station, the terminus of the Merthyr Line - Aberdare branch.
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[edit] Education
Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun is a Welsh Secondary School in Penywaun, Aberdare. It is a Mixed school of Non Denominational religion.
Aberdare is also home to Aberdare Boys' Comprehensive School, Aberdare Girls' School, Blaengwawr Comprehensive School and St. John the Baptist (Church in Wales) High School, which is a voluntary funded school and draws pupils from across the valleys.
Aberdare Boys Grammar School was located in Aberdare. Situated in Trecynon, it was called the Aberdare Intermediate School when it opened in 1896. It was also a mixed school at that time. There were 80 such schools in Wales in 1896, rising to 101 by 1920. The change of name to "Grammar" followed the 1944 Education Act. In 1964, the school relocated to Cwmdare Road. It ceased to be a grammar school in 1978, when the buildings were used to house the new Aberdare Boys' Comprehensive School. Brief details about the old Girls' Grammar School can be found on the Boys' Grammar School website.
[edit] Twin cities/towns
- Montelimar, France
- Slagelse, Denmark
[edit] Trivia
- Aberdare was the birthplace of the Second World War poet Alun Lewis, and a plaque commemorating him is to be found, including a quotation from his poem, The Mountain over Aberdare.
- Aberdare is the home of the rock band Stereophonics, who originated from the small village Cwmaman.
- Hometown of guitarist Mark Parry of Vancouver rock band The Manvils .
- Stage, TV and Hollywood actor Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four, King Arthur) was born in Llywdcoed, Aberdare.
- Aberdare hosted the National Eisteddfod in its first year, 1861, 1885 and again in 1956.
- Famed anarchist-punk band crass played their last live show for striking miners in Aberdare.
[edit] External links
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
