Banwen

infobox UK place
latitude= 51.7724
longitude= -3.6608
country = Wales
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly=
map_type=
official_name= Banwen
population=
unitary_wales= Neath Port Talbot
lieutenancy_wales= West Glamorgan
constituency_westminster= Neath
post_town= NEATH
postcode_district = SA10
postcode_area= SA
dial_code= 01639
os_grid_reference= SN855095

Banwen is a small village in Neath Port Talbot county borough in Wales. Banwen is part of the community of Onllwyn along with the village of Onllwyn itself and the adjacent parish of Dyffryn Cellwen. Banwen is in the Upper Dulais Valley, with views over the southern slopes of the Brecon Beacons.

History

It has often been suggested as the birth-place of Saint Patrick who recorded that he was born in the similarly named "banavem taburniae" somewhere on the west coast of Britain. It was clearly occupied in Roman times, sitting on the Neath-Brecon Roman road and next to the two Roman forts in Coelbren.

Copper, iron ore and tin were mined and crafted in early times, brickworks and opencast mining provided employment in later years. Now the big industries have gone but the village is slowly evolving.

Sport and leisure

Banwen is home to rugby union club Banwen RFC formed in 1947.

Stages of the Wales Rally GB are held at Walters Arena.

The Banwen Miners Hunt was founded in the village in 1962 following the demise of the West Glamorgan hunt. [ [http://www.banwenminershunt.co.uk/index_files/History.htm Banwen Miners Hunt] ] In the early days of the Hunt, the Duchess of Beaufort rode amongst the Banwen Miners. ["The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales". John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg631 ISBN 9780708319536]

External links

* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2764145 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Banwen and surrounding area]

References