- Hirwaun
infobox UK place
country = Wales
static_
static_image_caption = Hirwaun War Memorial
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly=
official_name= Hirwaun
population= 4000
unitary_wales=Rhondda Cynon Taff
lieutenancy_wales=Mid Glamorgan
constituency_westminster= Cynon Valley
post_town= ABERDARE|postcode_district = CF44
postcode_area= CF |dial_code= 01685
map_type=
os_grid_reference= SN966055Hirwaun (Welsh meaning : 'Long Meadow') is the name of an
electoral ward , a community, and avillage at the northwest end of theCynon Valley in theSouth Wales Valleys . The village of Hirwaun is four miles from the town ofAberdare , and comes underAberdare for postal reasons. According to the 2001 census, Hirwaun has apopulation of around 4,000 people.History and Background
Hirwaun has an industrial background centering on the Hirwaun
Ironworks . The ironworks was in already existence during the late 18th century and passed through a succession of owners before being purchased in 1819 byWilliam Crawshay of Cyfarthfa, in whose family it remained until closure in 1859. The ironworks'blast furnace s required coke, which spurred an increase in localcoal mining activities. Even after the ironworks closed, coal mining continued. Following the miners' strike however, the only deep coal mine left in Wales isTower Colliery , which was closed down, bought by its workers and reopened.During the Merthyr Rising of 1831 the
red flag that later came to representsocialism was raised on Hirwaun Common for the first time. Originally a white sheet dipped in a bucket of sheep's blood, the symbol has had an enduring appeal worldwide. TheBrecon Beacons National park lies just on the northern edge of the village.Unlike most
South Wales Coalfield villages, Hirwaun consists of a vast array of differentarchitectural housing styles, often cheek-by-jowl in small blocks. This is due to development to satisfy different needs at different times, with muchgentrification taking place in the last few decades. Currently the patch of green land known as HirwaunCommon is being built on, a development of modern family homes being built. Hirwaun hence has a discontinuous, hotch-potch feel to it that marks it out as unusual in theSouth Wales Valleys .The tower blocks
Hirwaun made local news in May 2004 when its two '60s built tower blocks were demolished by
dynamite detonation. Their demise marked the end of a major landmark in theCynon Valley .t Lleurwg's Church
Saint Lleurwg 'sparish church is situated in the centre if the village and is part of the ecclesiastical Parish of Hirwaun. It was opened by theBishop of Llandaff in July 1858.The sister church in the parish is dedicated to
Saint Winefred and is inPenywaun .Notable people
*
Entrepreneur Ian Jindal [ [http://www.ianjindal.com/bio.html Ian Jindal's home page: business, publishing: strategy, implementation ] ] former Head of Online Operations (1998-2000) at theBBC References
External links
* [http://www.hirwaun.net/ Hirwaun Online]
* [http://www.hirwaunroyalbritishlegion.org.uk Hirwaun Royal British Legion]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2738784 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Hirwaun and surrounding area]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/cardiffarms Cardiff Arms Hotel dating back to the 1400's]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.