Rhigos

Rhigos is a village in the north of the Cynon Valley, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. For postal reasons it comes under the town of Aberdare, although it is some 7 miles from Aberdare town centre.

The village lies just off the old Aberdare road that was the main link between Aberdare and Glyn Neath before the A465 road was extended.

The town centre of Glyn Neath is only 2 miles away. Rhigos lies at the apex of the Cynon Valley and The Vale of Neath

The hamlets of Cefn Rhigos and Cwm-Hwnt lie to the west of the main village.

One of the village's social hubs is the Rhigos RFC Rugby Club House. The rugby union team play in Division Five, South Central, of the Welsh Rugby pyramid.

There is one shop located in the village, which is a newsagents. This newsagents (Post Office) is run by the Dinwoodie Family whom called it " Dinwoodie's Goodie's". There are also two other pubs located within Rhigos; "The Plough" and "The New Inn", Rhigos is also the home of the rugby Legend Dai Morris.

The scenery is spectaluar overlooking farms and fields such as Cwm Hwmt Farm and the fields Tony's Pond and Pullman's Field.

Industry

The Rhigos Colliery closed in 1965. It was a drift mine. [Thomas, Michael: "The Death of an Industry", page 93. Colben system PTE. Ltd, 2004] It was known locally as "The Pandy" and previously as "British Rhondda".

The Tower Colliery which was located on the Rhigos Mountain, Craig-y-llyn, which was famously the subject of a worker's buy-out closed in 2008. The closure of "Tower Colliery" saw the last of the deep mines in Wales come to an end.

Notable people

Academic Kevin Morgan was born and raised in the village. He Chaired the Yes for Wales Group which campaigned successfully in the Welsh devolution referendum, 1997. He is currently Professor of European Regional Planning [ [http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/cplan/contactsandpeople/stafflist/m-r/morgan-kevin-professor-overview.html Professor Kevin Morgan ] ] at Cardiff University.

Rhigos has had a wealth of rugby talent throughout the years, most notably Dai Morris who played for Wales as a Flanker in the old "Glory days" of the 1970s

References

External links

* [http://www.rhigosrfc.co.uk/ Rhigos RFC]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2742707 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Rhigos and surrounding area]