Caerau, Bridgend

Coordinates: 51°38′06″N 3°39′22″W / 51.635°N 3.656°W / 51.635; -3.656 Caerau (English: Forts) is a former mining village in south Wales, located around 2 miles to the north of Maesteg in the Llynfi Valley, and is part of Bridgend County Borough. The community population taken at the 2011 census was 6,995.^[1] The township grew rapidly after the opening of Caerau Colliery in 1890. The colliery consisted of three shafts (North, South and No. 3 Pits) and employed 2,400 men at its peak in the early 1920s. The mine closed in 1977.

Buildings

Caerau once had 6 churches, although many of these fine buildings are in a state of disrepair, "Caerau Church" is still in use today. Caerau also used to have two cinemas called the "Coliseum", which was demolished in the 1970s and the "Cosy". There are many Public houses and Hotels around Caerau, The most popular being the "Blaenllynfi Hotel(Blan)", "Navigation" and "Station Hotel" there are also smaller establishments like the "British Legion". As of 2014 the Navigation have now closed. Caerau has a Nursery and Primary School. There is also a Clubhouse for the Bowling Green at Caerau Park.

General points of Caerau

Caerau has primary and nursery schools within the village. The old Caerau primary was over 100 years old when it was closed, and was destroyed by arson while the brand new Caerau Primary was being built. The new Caerau Primary School is a state-of-the-art "Eco Building" constructed from eco-friendly materials, there is also a complex ultra high efficiency heating system within the building.

There was a hotel In the outskirts of Caerau called "The Blaencaerau Hotel" the building was renovated in the 1980s and renamed "The Monkey Inn". The hotel was destroyed by arson soon after closure in 1990.

Transport

It is on the A4063 road between Croeserw and Maesteg.

The village has a regular bus link to connect with the Maesteg Railway at Maesteg railway station; the village used to have its own railway station.

Sport

Caerau FC football club play in the 1st division of the South Wales Amateur League (as of 2008-09). They play at the Athletic Ground at Humphreys Terrace, which is a little south of the village centre.

References

Bridgend County Borough
Bridgend County Borough Council
Communities	Brackla Bridgend Cefn Cribwr Coity Higher Coychurch Higher Coychurch Lower Cornelly Garw Valley Laleston Llangynwyd Lower Llangynwyd Middle Maesteg Merthyr Mawr Newcastle Higher Ogmore Valley Pencoed Porthcawl Pyle St Bride's Minor Ynysawdre
Towns and villages	Aberkenfig Bettws Blackmill Bridgend Bryncethin Brynmenyn Bryntirion Caerau Cefn Cross Coity Coychurch Coytrahen Cwmfelin Danygraig Garth Heol-y-Cyw Kenfig Kenfig Hill Laleston Litchard Llangan Llangeinor Llangynwyd Maudlam Maesteg Merthyr Mawr Nantymoel Newton North Cornelly Nottage Ogmore Vale Pantygog Pantyrawel Pen-y-fai Pencoed Pontycymer Porthcawl Price Town Pyle Sarn South Cornelly Tondu Tythegston Wild Mill Wyndham
Castles	Candleston Castle Coity Castle Ewenny Priory Kenfig Castle Llangynwyd Castle Newcastle Castle Ogmore Castle
Rivers	Ewenny River River Garw River Llynfi River Ogmore
Topics	Parliamentary constituencies Places Schools Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings SSSIs Scheduled Monuments Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs

External links

• Caerau First - Community Website