Brynmawr

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly=
map_type=
official_name= Brynmawr
latitude= 51.79619
longitude= -3.18320
unitary_wales= Blaenau Gwent
lieutenancy_wales= Gwent
constituency_westminster= Blaenau Gwent
post_town= EBBW VALE
postcode_district = NP23
postcode_area= NP
dial_code= 01495
os_grid_reference= SO185115
population= 5,599 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5939069&c=Brynmawr&d=14&e=16&g=420541&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1213863999682&enc=1 Office for National Statistics 2001] ] :"See also Bryn Mawr (disambiguation) for other places with this name."Brynmawr (sometimes hyphenated to "Bryn-mawr" in Welsh — meaning "big hill") is a market town in Blaenau Gwent, south Wales. The town, sometimes cited as the highest town in Wales, is situated at 1,250 to 1,500 feet above sea level and nestled at the head of the South Wales Valleys. It grew during the arrival of the coal mining and iron industries in the early 1800s.

It was originally a small village settlement called Gwaen Helygen, and lay in the former county of Brecknockshire. With the expansion of the Nantyglo (meaning stream of coal) Ironworks housing was required for the workers and Brynmawr turned into a prosperous town. Although coal mining has declined, a large mining museum is nearby at Big Pit.

Today Brynmawr has an estimated population of over 6000 people. At the 2001 Census 5.75% of the 16-65 age group spoke Welsh, but the proportion of children (3-15) able to speak Welsh was much higher at 30.54%. [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/Report_on_the_Welsh_language.pdf] The town has the only Welsh-medium primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr, in Blaenau Gwent with 310 pupils ranging from nursery to year 6.

Commerce and local economy

Although the traditional Saturday market itself has diminished somewhat, the focal point of the town still remains the Market Square [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/365586] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/365589] and with its Market Hall, now a cinema and theatre proudly presenting films and productions from the local amateur operatic society. Around the Market Square, the trading community offers traditional, family orientated shops with a friendly and personal service. It also now has a large Asda supermarket on the old site of the Semtex factory [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/365566] which boosted the town's name and reputation over the last 50 years. Also there a selection of units being built on the same site as the Asda store. The site has now been named as 'Lakeside Park'. The shops include Farm Foods, Home Bargains, Halfords, Peacocks, Richel Stewarts and a family restaurant. Brynmawr now has its own radio station on 97.3 FM in Lakeside Park - BRfm - with the boast "Best Radio for miles".

port and leisure

Brynmawr RFC is the local rugby union club which is presently affiliated to the Llanelli Scarlets.

ee also

*Brynmawr Furniture
*Brynmawr Experiment
*Brynmawr Rubber Factory

External links

* [http://www.brynmawrscene.net/ A community website for local residents.]
* [http://www.brfm.co.uk Brynmawr Radio website]
* [http://www.francisfrith.com/search/wales/gwent/brynmawr/photos/brynmawr_photos.htm Old photos of Brynmawr]
* [http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/6466 Aerial photograph of Brynmawr]

References