Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf

Mountain Ash
Welsh: Aberpennar

Mountain Ash Town hall
Mountain Ash
 Mountain Ash shown within Rhondda Cynon Taf
Population 7,374 (2011)
OS grid referenceST025915
CommunityMountain Ash
Principal areaRhondda Cynon Taf
Ceremonial countyMid Glamorgan
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town MOUNTAIN ASH
Postcode district CF45
Dialling code 01443
Police South Wales
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK ParliamentCynon Valley
Welsh AssemblyCynon Valley
List of places
UK
Wales
Rhondda Cynon Taf

Coordinates: 51°40′53″N 3°22′45″W / 51.68139°N 3.37916°W / 51.68139; -3.37916

Mountain Ash (Welsh: Aberpennar) is a town and community in the Cynon Valley, in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

At the 2001 census, Mountain Ash had a population of 7,039,[1]increasing to 7,374 at the 2011 Census.[2] The Mountain Ash geographical area incorporates and includes the districts and villages of Penrhiwceiber, Cefnpennar, Cwmpennar, Caegarw, Darranlas, Fernhill, Glenboi and Newtown and Miskin. Mountain Ash lies within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan.

History

Unlike other villages in the South Wales Valleys, it remained quiet, being only disturbed in 1818 by the construction of the Aberdare Canal. It became disused in the early 19th century, filled in to form the New Cardiff Road in 1933.[3]

The population of the village was 1,614 in 1841, rising to 11,463 in 1871 with the opening of local collieries. The 1851 census shows the construction of Duffryn Street and Navigation Street. By 1859 there were 12 public houses, some of the earliest being the Bruce Arms, the Junction Inn and the New Inn. By 1920, Kelly's Directory lists over 200 businesses within the village.[3]

The coal industry had started to decline post the First World War, but after the Second World War factory industries were introduced to offset the serious fall in local mining employment. By the end of the 20th century the last coal mines had closed, and many of the town’s factories had ceased operation as well. New light industries and service activities only partly mitigated the resulting economic hardship.

Mountain Ash along with the rest of the Cynon Valley and all the other South Wales Valleys was predominantly a Welsh speaking Valley up until the 19th century.

Religion

There were numerous nonconformist chapels at Mountain Ash. Of the Welsh language chapels only Bethania (Independent) remains open today. Bethlehem (Calvinistic Methodist) had closed. There was another Independent chapel at Bethel, Miskin.

Transport

The town is served by Mountain Ash railway station on the Aberdare branch of the Merthyr Line of the Arriva Trains Wales rail network. Further to Mountain Ash railway station, the village of Fernhill and Penrhiwceiber is also served by the Merthyr Line.

Bus services are operated by Stagecoach in South Wales.

Education

Mountain Ash is served by Mountain Ash Comprehensive School (formerly Mountain Ash Grammar School) (Welsh: Ysgol Ramadeg Aberpennar) for students aged 11–18. The comprehensive school is situated on the site of the former estate of Lord Aberdare, the main house, Dyffryn House, was still used by the school until its demolition in the 1990s. Opposite the site of the secondary school is the hospital Ysbyty Cwm Cynon which opened in 2012 replacing the old Mountain Ash General Hospital.

Local primary schools include:Our lady's R.C Primary School, Caegarw Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Caegarw), Glenboi Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Glen-boi), Darranlas Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Darren-las), Miskin Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Meisgyn), Penguelan Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Pengeulan) and Penrhiwceiber Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Penrhiwceibr).

Sport and culture

Guto Nyth Bran statue, Oxford Street

Mountain Ash has a rugby union team called Mountain Ash RFC. Rugby league club South Wales Scorpions also currently play their home matches in Mountain Ash.

Nos Galan (Welsh: Rasys Enwog Nos Galen), is an annual 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) running road race, run on New Year's Eve to commemorate the first race of Guto Nyth Bran. Started in 1958, it now attracts 800+ runners and 10,000 people to the associated street entertainment.[4]

In 1974, Mountain Ash RFC Singers Male voice choir were formed from a group of ex-players.

Mountain Ash hosted the National Eisteddfod in both 1905 and 1946.

In Literature

Mountain Ash served as the inspiration for the fictional town of Aberowen in Fall of Giants and the rest of the Century Trilogy written by Ken Follett.[5]

Notable people

See also Category:People from Mountain Ash, Wales

References

  1. ↑ "Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Rhondda Cynon Taf". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  2. ↑ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Mountain Ash". Rhondda Cynon Taff. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  4. ↑ "Wales stars help warm up Nos Galan runners". South Wales Echo. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  5. ↑ "Interview: Ken Follett on His Latest Historical Fiction Masterpiece, Fall of Giants". Gothamist. Retrieved 30 June 2013.

External links

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