| Banwen | |
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Banwen
Banwen shown within Neath Port Talbot |
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| OS grid reference | SN855095 |
|---|---|
| Principal area | Neath Port Talbot |
| Ceremonial county | West Glamorgan |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEATH |
| Postcode district | SA10 |
| Dialling code | 01639 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Neath |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Neath Port Talbot | |
Banwen is a small village in Neath Port Talbot county borough in Wales. Banwen is part of the community of Onllwyn along with the village of Onllwyn itself and the adjacent parish of Dyffryn Cellwen. Banwen is in the Upper Dulais Valley, with views over the southern slopes of the Brecon Beacons.
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It has often been suggested as the birth-place of Saint Patrick who recorded that he was born in the similarly named banavem taburniae somewhere on the west coast of Britain. It was clearly occupied in Roman times, sitting on the Neath-Brecon Roman road and next to the two Roman forts in Coelbren.
Copper, iron ore and tin were mined and crafted in early times, brickworks and opencast mining provided employment in later years. Now the big industries have gone but the village is slowly evolving.
Banwen is home to rugby union club Banwen RFC formed in 1947.
Stages of the Wales Rally GB are held at Walters Arena.
The Banwen Miners Hunt was founded in the village in 1962 following the demise of the West Glamorgan hunt.[1] In the early days of the Hunt, the Duchess of Beaufort rode amongst the Banwen Miners.[2]