Baglan | |
Baglan
Baglan shown within Neath Port Talbot |
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OS grid reference | SS746924 |
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Principal area | Neath Port Talbot |
Ceremonial county | West Glamorgan |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | PORT TALBOT |
Postcode district | SA12 |
Dialling code | 01639 |
Police | South Wales |
Fire | Mid and West Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
EU Parliament | Wales |
UK Parliament | Aberavon |
Welsh Assembly | Aberavon |
List of places: UK • Wales • Neath Port Talbot |
Baglan is a village in Wales. The village is named after Saint Baglan (earliest reference is to 'Bagelan' and dates from 1199)[1]. Baglan is also the name of a community which is coterminous with the village and an electoral ward, in the administrative region of Neath Port Talbot county borough. In 2001, the population of the Baglan electoral ward was 6,654.[2]
Baglan is located on the side of a steep hill and is surrounded by two main hills, Mynydd-y-Gaer (to the north) and Mynydd Dinas (to the east). The moors and Baglan Bay are to the SW. The village contains a number of historical buildings such as Baglan House, St. Catharine's Church, and St. Baglan's Church. The first St. Baglan's Church is now a shell after a fire in 1954. St. Catherine's Church was designed by Welsh architect John Prichard, an exponent of the neo-Gothic style and dedicated in 1882. Baglan House was one of the seats of the Villiers family, earls of Jersey.[3]
To the south east of the village lie industrial areas called Baglan Moors and Baglan Bay.
The village has a railway station, Baglan railway station on the South Wales Main Line with trains to Cardiff Central railway station & Swansea railway station, served by Arriva Trains Wales, with through services (i.e. non stop) served by First Great Western.
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The earliest evidence of settlement here dates back to the Bronze Age with there being a tumulus called Twyn Disgwylfa on Mynydd Dinas and a round barrow within the hillfort of Buarth-y-Gaer[4]. There are also Iron Age hillforts on the surrounding hill called Mynydd-y-Gaer [5]. The Roman road (Via Julia) very possibly passed through the village, although the statement that there was once a Roman milestone at the junction of Old Road and Albion Road Approach is erroneous (the milestone in question is actually from Pyle)[6]. Later, a Dark Age (Early Christian period) church was founded here, as can be seen from a few local Early Christian stones, especially the Cross of Brancu (dated 9th - 10th century) which is in the vestry of St Catherine's church. The inscription on the Cross of Brancu(f) could be a dedication to Brancuf[7], or reads as Brancu f(ecit)[8]. i.e. was made by Brancu or may be Brancu followed by a chi-rho monogram[9]. (the name Brancu is preceded by a simple Latin cross in any case). According to tradition the church was founded by the aforementioned St Baglan.
In the medieval period, the church (dedicated to St Baglan) was rebuilt seemingly on the same site[10]. The church burnt down in 1954 although ruins still exist at the top of the churchyard of St Catharine's church. There were two medieval castles within the parish boundary[11]. The first is a motte castle on Mynydd Dinas called 'Castell Bolan'. The motte is now covered in trees (and not readily accessible) and is much closer to the village of Cwmafan than to the village of Baglan. The other is closer to Baglan and is known by the name 'Plas Baglan'. This is sited above the Baglan Brook and is heavily overgrown (and not readily accessible). Although more usually thought of as a manor house than a castle, it is a "strongly fortified site, a castle rather than a moated site ... a masonry castle that existed by the 13th century"[12]. It did, however, become a manor house and had literary associations in the 15th & 16th centuries. Several house platforms from the medieval period also exist on the hills behind the village[13].
Baglan is home to four sporting associations; Baglan Rugby Football Club, Baglan Football Club, Baglan Cricket Club and Baglan Bulldogs boxing club.
Baglan is home to the Harmonelles Jazz Band (formerly known as the Baglan Blue Peters) winners of the 2007 world jazz band championships (division 2).
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