Cwmavon, Glamorgan
| Cwmavon Welsh: Cwmafan | |
| Glamorgan | |
|---|---|
 View across the Afan Valley | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 51°36’56"N, 3°46’18"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 6,538 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Port Talbot |
| Postcode: | SA12 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Neath Port Talbot |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Aberavon |
Cwmavon is a large village in the Afan Valley in Glamorgan. It had a population of 5,615 at the 2011 Census. In many ways it is a suburb of the nearby town of Port Talbot which is less than two miles to the south, but it is separated from the town by the local geography. The literal translation of Cwmafan from the Welsh language is 'Valley of the River Afan'.
Geography
The village is surrounded by hills, the biggest being Foel Fynyddau which stands 1,200 ft high and lies on the northern edge of the village. West of Foel Fynyddau is Mynydd-y-Gaer. The River Afan runs through the village from north-east to south-west. The area of Ynysygwas lies to the east of the village, Brynbryddan to the West and Pwllyglaw to the North.
History
The village has an industrial history with metalworking being particularly significant. There were large copper, iron and tin works as well as many coal mines close by. The metal ores, from as far away as Chile, were off-loaded in Port Talbot or Swansea docks and brought by rail to Cwmavon.
One notable event in the history of the town was in 1985 when the Ynys-y-Gwas bridge suddenly collapsed, cutting off water supply to the residents.[2] A resident of Maesteg, Paul Barry, was fortunate enough to escape unharmed from the incident, despite being on the bridge when it collapsed.[3]
Culture
Sports teams
The village is also home to several sporting grounds, the most prominent of these being the Welfare Ground, home to Cwmavon RFC. A second rugby pitch along with a football pitch, tennis courts and bowling green are located at "Parc Siencyn Powell".
Residents of note
- William Abraham, trade unionist and MP.
- Chris Needs is a BBC Radio presenter who grew up in Cwmavon.[4]
- Joseph John Richards, born between Cwmavon and Aberavon, became famous in the United States as a composer of march tunes and a bandleader.
- George Thomas, Viscount Tonypandy, was living at 62 Gower Street, Cwmavon, age 3, in the 1911 census.
- Lyn Jones, former Wales international rugby union player, later coach of the Ospreys.[5]
- Rees Richards, a Wales international at rugby union and rugby league was born in Cwmavon.
References
- ↑ "Ward population 2011". http://www.ukcensusdata.com/bryn-and-cwmavon-w05000558#sthash.FVknbDUw.dpbs. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ↑ BBC news report on recent bridge danger referring back to this event Accessed: 3.12.2012
- ↑ Wales Today News reports Accessed: 3.12.2012
- ↑ Profile of Chris Needs, BBC Radio Wales (2007-10-05). Accessed: 2008-06-08
- ↑ "ESPN Scrum - Lyn Jones". http://www.scrum.com/wales/rugby/player/11464.html. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Cwmavon, Glamorgan) |