Brynmawr

Brynmawr
Brynmawr Brynmawr shown within Blaenau Gwent
Population	5,599 ^[1]
OS grid reference	SO185115
Principal area	Blaenau Gwent
Ceremonial county	Gwent
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	EBBW VALE
Postcode district	NP23
Dialling code	01495
Police	Gwent
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Blaenau Gwent
List of places UK Wales Blaenau Gwent

Coordinates: 51°47′46″N 3°10′59″W / 51.796°N 3.183°W / 51.796; -3.183

Until 1957 there was a railway station which had been opened a hundred years before by the London and North Western Railway

See also Bryn Mawr (disambiguation) for other places with this name.

Brynmawr (pronounced /brɪnˈmaʊər/ brin-MOWR, Welsh: [brɨnˈmaur], sometimes hyphenated to Bryn-mawr, from Welsh Brynmawr, meaning "big hill") is a market town in Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. The town, sometimes cited as the highest town in Wales, is situated at 1,250 to 1,500 feet above sea level at the head of the South Wales Valleys. It grew with the development of the coal mining and iron industries in the early 19th century.

History

Prior to the Industrial Revolution Brynmawr was a small village settlement called Gwaun Helygen (Cors Helygen in Modern Welsh, meaning "marsh of the willow" in English), and lay in the former county of Brecknockshire. With the expansion of the Nantyglo Ironworks housing was required for the workers and Brynmawr turned into a prosperous town. Although coal mining has virtually ceased, a large mining museum has been established at Big Pit in nearby Blaenavon.

Population

Brynmawr has an estimated population of over 6,000 people. At the 2001 Census 5.75% of the 16-65 age group spoke Welsh, but the proportion of children (ages 3–15) able to speak Welsh was much higher at 30.54%.^[2] The town had the only Welsh-medium primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr, in Blaenau Gwent with 310 pupils ranging from nursery to year 6 until 2010, when the school re-located to a brand new, purpose-built building in Blaina.

Commerce and local economy

The town centre's primary shopping areas are contained within Beaufort Street and on Market Square which is also the focal point of the town where many events are hosted. The former Market Hall is now a cinema and theatre presenting films and productions from the local amateur operatic society. The business community offers many traditional, family orientated and independently run shops with friendly and personal service.

Places of interest

Parc Nant y Waun is a nature reserve incorporating 22 hectares of grassland, mires and reservoirs which was officially opened in 2007.^[3] Home to a many wildlife species, it includes a picnic area, an outdoor classroom, and an angling club.^[4]

Sport and leisure

Heavy frost at the park, December 2008

Brynmawr RFC is the local rugby union club which is affiliated to the Newport Gwent Dragons. Brynmawr has a 350 seat cinema (The Market Hall Cinema) which is the longest continually running cinema in Wales. The Market Hall opened in 1893 and has recently been renovated.

Notable people include Adrian Street, professional wrestler, singer song-writers Huw and Tony Williams and singer Marina Diamandis.

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Brynmawr.