Llanharan

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name= Llanharan
constituency_welsh_assembly=Ogmore
map_type=
official_name= Llanharan
latitude= 51.53
longitude= -3.43
population= 3421 (2001) [ [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5939151&c=llanharan&d=14&e=16&g=419250&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=75 Llanharan Ward] 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics: National Statistics. UK government. Retrieved 10 August 2007.]
unitary_wales= Rhondda Cynon Taff
lieutenancy_wales= Mid Glamorgan
constituency_westminster= Ogmore
post_town= Pontyclun
postcode_district = CF72
postcode_area= CF
dial_code= 01443
os_grid_reference= ST012818
OldMapsYear=
OldMapsEasting=
OldMapsNorthing=
OldMapsCounty=

Llanharan ( _cy. Llanharan) is a small village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. Llanharan thrived during the British industrial revolution, with several tin and coal mines in the location providing employment to the town's residents. With the decline of heavy industry in the South Wales Coalfield, Llanharan has been in economic decline, though its proximity to the M4 motorway offers its residents easy commutable access to most of South Wales.

The most recognisable features of Llanharan are its historic town square, Llanharan House and Church of St Julius and Aaron.

Landmarks and notable buildings

Llanharan House

On the outskirts of Llanharan, overlooking the village, sits Llanharan House. It was built in 1750 by Rees Powell and stayed with the Powell family until 1795 upon which it was purchased by Richard Hoare Jenkins. Hoare Jenkins was a High Sheriff of Glamorgan and he was involved in the suppression of the Merthyr Rising of 1831, and is recorded as stating he found the execution of Dic Penderyn as the most difficult of his civic duties. Around 1800 some major improvements were made to the house with the addition of a three-storey circular stair hall which includes a dramatic geometrical staircase. [Glamorgan County History, Volume VI, Glamorgan Society 1780-1980; Prys Morgan, University of Wales Press, Cardiff (1988)pg. 402] Following the death of Hoare Jenkins in 1856 the house and the estate was passed to a Colonel John Blandy-Jenkins. Following his death in 1915 Colonel Blandy-Jenkins's wife kept the house until 1953.

Llanharan house has a strong historical connection with fox hunting. This Welsh pack was named "The Llanharan" and was established by Richard Hoare Jennkins in 1805, though the pack was renamed the Llangeinor during the period when Mr John Blandy Jenkins was the squire. ["Foxhounds of Great Britain and Ireland and their Masters and Huntsmen", written by Sir Humphrey F. de Trafford, published in 1905.] The Llangeinor is now based in Coity near Bridgend.

Llanharan House is a Grade II listed building. [ [http://www.gardenhistory.org.uk/ukpg/place.asp?PlaceID=LLANHARA United Kingdom Database of Historic Parks and Gardens] ]

The Church of St Julius and Aaron

The local parish church is the Church of St Julius and Aaron whose interior was redesigned in its present form by neo-gothic architect John Prichard around 1856 ["Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire & South Wales", 1895] , with work completed by 1859. The restoration work was financed by the Jenkins family of Llanharan House. ["The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales". John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg500 ISBN 9780708319536]

Llanharan Town Square

Llanharan Town square consists of several historical stone buildings situated by the local river the Ewenny Fach.

Employment

Prior to the British industrial revolution, Llanharan was a small agricultural village, and this was reflected in the 1851 census where a population of 330 people living in 62 buildings was recorded. In 1850 the South Wales Railway had opened a station in Llanharan making it a strategic location for surrounding industries. Later employment came form the near by iron mines in Llanharry and Pontyclun. Towards the end of the 19th century an additional 80 houses had been built and Llanharan had a population of over a thousand.

With the discovery of coal an attempt to sink two mine shafts began in 1873, but the work was eventually abandoned. The Powell Duffryn Company restarted the sinking to the steam coal seams in 1922, employing 192 men at this work in 1923. In 1945 Llanharan North and South pits employed a total of 855 and 775 respectively.

From 1900 until the Powell Duffryn colliery closed in 1962 the area westward along the Bridgend Road became the commercial heart of a relatively flourishing mining village that survived even the depression years.

Since the 1970s the residents of Llanharan have become more reliant on commuting to work as local employment reduces. Local amenities have also closed over the years including Llanharan's cinema, railway station and library.

Education

There are two Primary Schools presently serving the community of Llanharan, they are Dolau Primary School and Llanharan Primary School.

Transportation

Llanharan is served by many buses and also Llanharan railway station, which reopened in December 2007 after 43 years of closure. The main road running through Llanharan is the A473 Bridgend Road, linking Bridgend to its West and Talbot Green to its East.

Social life

Llanharan town square is dominated by a public house called The High Corner which dates back to roughly 1700. Outside the High Corner is an original red telephone box.

As of 2007 Llanharan Rugby Football Club play they matches in the Welsh Rugby Union Division One East League. The club formed in 1891 and was awarded membership to the WRU in 1919. Llanharan RFC play in black shirts and shorts with three light blue horizontal hoops across the chest. Their nickname, the "Black and Blues", is taken from their colours.

Welsh Springer Spaniel

It is thought that the breed of dog, the Welsh Springer Spaniel, either found its origins or was historically successfully bred in Llanharan. Some breeders speak of the “Llanharan Spot”, if one describes the red point in the middle on the head of the Welsh. The Llanharan Spaniel makes up part of the Llanharan RFC club badge.

Notes

External links

* [http://webapps.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/heritagetrail/taff/llanharan/llanharan.htm Heritage Trail:Llanharan]
* [http://www.llanharanrfc.org.uk/ Llanharan Rugby Football Club]
* [http://www.churchplansonline.org/show_full_image.asp?resource_id=05066.tif Ground plans of St. Julius & St. Aaron (1859)]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2767376 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llanharan and surrounding area]
* [http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk Welsh Coal Mines - research the local pits histories]