Llanharry

Llanharry
Welsh: Llanhari
Llanharry
 Llanharry shown within Rhondda Cynon Taf
Population 2,919 (2001)[1]
OS grid referenceST005805
Principal areaRhondda Cynon Taf
Ceremonial countyMid Glamorgan
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Pontyclun
Postcode district CF72
Dialling code 01443 23
Police South Wales
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK ParliamentOgmore
Welsh AssemblyOgmore
List of places
UK
Wales
Rhondda Cynon Taf

Coordinates: 51°30′47″N 3°25′48″W / 51.513°N 3.430°W

Llanharry (Welsh: Llanhari) is a small village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

Historically Llanharry has been inextricably linked with iron mining as far back as the Roman period and Elizabethan era, and for a period in the 20th century it boasted the only iron mine in Wales.

Employment

St. Illtyd's Parish Church. Llanharry

Llanharry iron mine worked from the early 1900s but closed in 1976;[2] its main ore was goethite, which was used at the local ironworks. [3]

Since the closure of its mines and ironworks, Llanharry has been in economic decline, but this is an event that has occurred across most South Wales Valleys villages once dependent on heavy industry. Llanharry's proximity to the M4 motorway in Wales has allowed its residents opportunities to commute to work more easily rather than seeking work locally.

Llanharry contains a few small local amenities, such as a corner shop and a hairdressers.

Education

Llanharry is home to Llanharry Primary School, built 1935 and Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari Welsh medium secondary school which was built in 1974.

Transportation

Buses are the main transportation links servicing Llanharry. Between 1871 and 1951, the village was served by Llanharry railway station, but there is no longer any local rail connection.[4] The nearest station is now Pontyclun. The M4 motorway skirts the southern end of the village, but there is no direct local access to it.

Social life

At the centre of Llanharry is Saint Illtud's Church which was built in 1867.

There are presently two public houses in Llanharry; The Bear Inn and the Fox & Hounds. Llanharry also has its own working men's club.

Llanharry has a local football team, Llanharry AFC. They play their matches in the South Wales Amateur League Division One after winning promotion from Division Two during the 2006/2007 season. The team play in blue shirts, blue shorts and blue socks. They play their home games at the recreation ground in Llanharry. There is also a 2nd team who play in the Bridgend League.

Regeneration schemes

Llanharry benefits from the Llanharry Action for Change Project which uses funds, including money from the European Union, to support projects and improvements in the village.

Local politics

In terms of local politics Llanharry Community Council is responsible for representing the views of local people. The Council receives approximately £30 a year from every Band D home in the village, with the figure increasing or decreasing depending on the class of home.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Office for National Statistics
  2. ↑ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg500 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
  3. ↑ Glamorgan Archives: Glamorgan Haematite Iron Ore Mine, Llanharry records. Accessed 5 June 2014
  4. ↑ Chapman, C. (1984) The Cowbridge Railway. Oxford Publishing Company.