Afon Twrch
Encyclopedia
The Afon Twrch is a river
which rises in the Black Mountain
in south Wales
. It forms the boundary between the counties of Powys
(former county of Brecknockshire
) and Carmarthenshire
and, downstream of Ystradowen, between Powys and Neath Port Talbot
county borough
.
The headwaters arise on the southern slopes of Bannau Sir Gaer (Carmarthen Fans) and Fan Brycheiniog
and are soon joined by the waters of the Twrch Fechan. The river flows south-west and then south and finally south-east for about 14km / 9 miles to its confluence
with the River Tawe
at Ystalyfera
. Significant tributaries include the Nant Gwys
and the Nant Llynfell.
The name derives from Welsh
'afon' / river and 'twrch' / boar. In common with other rivers sharing the same name, it is believed to refer to the burrowing or snouting action of the waters of the river. The river has also been associated with the legend of Twrch Trwyth
.
Settlements on the lower section of the river include Ystradowen
, Cwm-twrch-uchaf, Cwm-twrch-isaf and Gurnos
.
A colliery was established at Henllys Vale (OS grid ref SN762137) from which tramroads ran down the valley to Cwm-twrch-isaf. A tall brick chimney is the most impressive of the remains of several buildings associated with the former colliery. A bank of limekilns
is also located at this spot which can be reached by a half-hour walk along the recently improved line of the tramway or waggonway running upstream from Brynhenllys Bridge (OS grid ref SN 756125).
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
which rises in the Black Mountain
Black Mountain (range)
The Black Mountain is a mountain range in Mid and West Wales, straddling the county boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys and forming the westernmost range of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its highest point is Fan Brycheiniog at 802 metres or 2,631 ft. The Black Mountain also forms a part...
in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It forms the boundary between the counties of Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
(former county of Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
) and Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
and, downstream of Ystradowen, between Powys and Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot is a county borough and one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. Neath Port Talbot is the 8th most populous county in Wales and the third most populous county borough....
county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
.
The headwaters arise on the southern slopes of Bannau Sir Gaer (Carmarthen Fans) and Fan Brycheiniog
Fan Brycheiniog
Fan Brycheiniog is the highest peak in the Black Mountain region of the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. It is just inside the county of Powys, and also within the Fforest Fawr Geopark designated in 2005 in recognition of the area's geological heritage.The Beacons Way, a waymarked long...
and are soon joined by the waters of the Twrch Fechan. The river flows south-west and then south and finally south-east for about 14km / 9 miles to its confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with the River Tawe
River Tawe
The River Tawe is a river in South Wales. It flows in a principally south-westerly direction for some from its source below Moel Feity in the Old Red Sandstone hills of the western Brecon Beacons to the Bristol Channel at Swansea. Its main tributaries are the right bank Upper and Lower Clydach...
at Ystalyfera
Ystalyfera
Ystalyfera is a former industrial village in the upper Swansea Valley, on the River Tawe, about north-east of Swansea. It is an electoral ward and a community in the unitary authority of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, comprising a resident population of just over 3,000 people, approximately 60% of whom...
. Significant tributaries include the Nant Gwys
Nant Gwys
The Nant Gwys is a river flowing off the Black Mountain in Powys, Wales. Its tributaries Gwys Fawr and the Gwys Fach flow south from Banwen Gwyn and Bwlch y Ddeuwynt respectively and join forces to form the Nant Gwys proper which then flows for about 5km / 3mi to its confluence with the Afon Twrch...
and the Nant Llynfell.
The name derives from Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
'afon' / river and 'twrch' / boar. In common with other rivers sharing the same name, it is believed to refer to the burrowing or snouting action of the waters of the river. The river has also been associated with the legend of Twrch Trwyth
Twrch Trwyth
Twrch Trwyth is an enchanted wild boar in the Arthurian legend. The hunt for Twrch Trwyth by King Arthur was the subject of a popular stock narrative in medieval Welsh literature...
.
Settlements on the lower section of the river include Ystradowen
Ystradowen
Ystradowen is a small village in rolling rural countryside; its nearest town is Cowbridge which is approximately three miles to the south. Ystradowen is twelve miles west of Cardiff, located in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales....
, Cwm-twrch-uchaf, Cwm-twrch-isaf and Gurnos
Gurnos
Gurnos is a community of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, United Kingdom. It consists principally of the Gurnos Estate, a large housing estate established by Merthyr Tydfil Council in the early 1950s and expanded over many years...
.
A colliery was established at Henllys Vale (OS grid ref SN762137) from which tramroads ran down the valley to Cwm-twrch-isaf. A tall brick chimney is the most impressive of the remains of several buildings associated with the former colliery. A bank of limekilns
Limekilns
Limekilns, a village in Fife, Scotland, lies on the shore of the Firth of Forth.Unlike the neighbouring village of Charlestown, Limekilns is an extremely old settlement dating back to the 14th century. The oldest building in the village is without doubt The King's Cellar, a large and somewhat...
is also located at this spot which can be reached by a half-hour walk along the recently improved line of the tramway or waggonway running upstream from Brynhenllys Bridge (OS grid ref SN 756125).