Glynneath

Coordinates: 51°44′49″N 3°37′01″W / 51.747°N 3.617°W / 51.747; -3.617

Glynneath
Welsh: Glyn-nedd
Glynneath Town Hall
Glynneath  Glynneath shown within Neath Port Talbot
Population	4,368 (2001)
OS grid reference	SN8706
Community	Glynneath
Principal area	Neath Port Talbot
Ceremonial county	West Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NEATH
Postcode district	SA11
Dialling code	01639
Police	South Wales
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Neath
Welsh Assembly	Neath
List of places: UK • Wales • Neath Port Talbot

Glynneath (Welsh: Glyn-nedd), also spelt Glyn Neath, is a small town, community and electoral ward lying on the River Neath in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It was formerly in the historic county of Glamorgan. Glynneath ward covers only part of the community, with some 840 electors included in the neighbouring ward of Blaengwrach.

Industrialisation reached Glynneath when coal mining started in 1793, and rapidly expanded when the Neath Canal came to the village in 1775. Many features of the old canal still survive to the present time. ^[1]

There are waterfalls to the north east at Pontneddfechan near the Brecon Beacons and large parts of the rural area are heavily forested.

Notable buildings

The ruins of Aberpergwm House

Godfrey Avenue in Glynneath

Glynneath is home to the ruins of Aberpergwm House, once owned by Rhys ap Siancyn; the site now houses St Cadoc's Church (1809). Aberpergwm House became the home of the Williams family, Welsh gentry with a strong tradition of using the Welsh language over English. Their descendants include the last of the Welsh household bards Dafydd Nicolas and folksong collector Maria Jane Williams. The Williams' family motto y ddioddefws y orfu (He who suffers, triumphs) was adopted by Glamorgan County Council. The mansion itself was remodelled in 1876 but is now derelict and little of note remains of the building.

Sports and leisure

Glynneath once a year plays host to one of motor sport's most important challenges, the World Rally Championships (formerly known as the Lombard RAC rally or Rally GB). The British round of the Championship is probably the most important and toughest round of the series due to the ever changing weather conditions, a test of man and machine. Some of the biggest names in motor sport have taken part and failed to complete the British championship.

Glynneath also has an association with downhill mountain biking with the Welsh National Championships being held at Rheola. A huge following is now emerging within Glynneath.

Glynneath is home to Glynneath RFC, a rugby union club founded in 1889.

Notable residents

• Max Boyce, comedian and singer, closely linked to Welsh rugby culture.
• Julie Gardner, television producer, responsible for the successful relaunch of Doctor Who.
• Leslie Hardman, British Army chaplain and rabbi, who was among the liberators of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, was born in the town.
• Ruth Madoc, actress, best known for her role as Gladys Pugh in the television sitcom Hi-De-Hi!
• Siwan Morris, actress, who has appeared in the television series Belonging, Caerdydd, and Skins.

External links

• Glynneath information
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Glynneath and surrounding area
• Glynneath Chapels and Churchyards: monumental inscription transcripts and images

References

1. ^ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pp322 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6