Cwmbach

Coordinates: 51°42′26″N 3°24′46″W / 51.707222°N 3.412778°W / 51.707222; -3.412778

Cwmbach
Welsh: Cwmbach
View from Cwmbach: Wales' first Co-Operative store was opened in this street
Cwmbach  Cwmbach shown within Rhondda Cynon Taf
Population	4,283
Principal area	Rhondda Cynon Taf
Ceremonial county	Mid Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Cynon Valley
List of places: UK • Wales • Rhondda Cynon Taf

Cwmbach is a village and community near Aberdare, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, United Kingdom. Cwmbach has a population of 4,283.^[1] Cwmbach means 'Little Valley' in Welsh (Cwm = valley, Bach = little)

Cwmbach like most of the Cynon Valley was a quiet isolated area before the coming of industry. Its rural calm was first disturbed by the building of the Aberdare canal which opened in May 1812, with traffic passing through the area now known as Cwmbach in order to reach the canal head further to the north or join with the Glamorganshire canal to the south. Originally opened for trade with the iron industry of the Aberdare region, the canal found itself ideally situated when in 1837 the first export steam coal pit was sunk in Cwmbach.

The Cwmbach Male Choir was formed in 1921 and were the first choir to sing at Cardiff Arms Park prior to an international rugby match. Local history being that they were formed at a local cricket match held in June 1921. A number of the crowd watching the game became uninterested in the play and began to sing hymns and part songs. This led to the suggestion that a Male Voice Choir be formed. From this a meeting was held at the Cwmbach Hall and Institute and the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir became a reality. The choir has shared a concert platform with some world famous artists, including Paul Robeson, Sir Geraint Evans, Stuart Burrows, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Constance Shacklock, Patricia Kern and the internationally renowned guitarist John Williams.

In Cwmbach, the first Cooperative Society shop in Wales was established in 1860 in Bridge Road. The building was demolished in 1977.

The poet Harri Webb lived in Cwmbach for a number of years (until the mid 1990s).

The rugby union player Dafydd Lockyer hails from Cwmbach, and currently plays for Pontypridd RFC.

References

1. ^ "Area: Cwmbach (ward)". Office for National Statistics. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6177204&c=cwmbach&d=14&e=16&g=419145&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1296307930843&enc=1&dsFamilyId=75. Retrieved 29 January 2011. 

External links

• Heritage Trail: Cwmbach
• Cwmbach Male Choir