Bedlinog
Encyclopedia
Bedlinog is a small village
located in the Taff Bargoed Valley 10 km north of Pontypridd
, 10 km west of Caerphilly
and 10 km south east of Merthyr Tydfil
in south-east Wales
. It is currently in the south of the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
area, but until 1974 was part of Gelligaer Urban District Council in the county of Glamorgan
.
It has a population of around 1,400 people. The combined population of Bedlinog and Trelewis
has been recently recorded as approximately 3,140. Previously, it was surrounded by coal mines and nearly all jobs were related directly to this industry, but all the mines are now closed. Unemployment is high but the increasing prosperity and growth of Cardiff
, only half an hour south by car, has created many commuter jobs and a feeling of optimism for the future.
The village is sometimes seen as being isolated, but it is only a 30 minute drive from Cardiff, 45 minutes from Swansea
and 45 minutes from Newport
. The village is surrounded by steep, rolling green hills, from the top of which the Severn Estuary
and the coast of Devon
can be clearly seen.
In the past, Bedlinog was also nicknamed "Little Moscow
" owing to the relatively high concentration of communists in the village. During the 1930s communists from the village volunteered to travel to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War
. The Welsh socialist ethic still remains in the village, as well as in neighbouring Trelewis
from where similar communist volunteers fought in the same civil war.
The village is home to professional darts player Barrie Bates
Bedlinog has a thriving Welsh language community which since the establishment of Cymdeithas Gymraeg Beddllwynog in 2005 has seen over 150 local people learn Welsh. There are six Welsh classes held in the village, a Ti a Fi (parent and toddler group), a Meithrin (Welsh medium nursery) and Bedlinog is home to the Bedroc festival, a major event in the Welsh language calendar which is held over a weekend in June every year, which has played host to acts like Dafydd Iwan
, Tebot Piws, Frizbee, Heather Jones, Bryn Fôn
and Jess.
club is Bedlinog RFC
, founded in 1971 and a member of the Welsh Rugby Union
.
There is a public tennis court, a bowling green, a large games field for rugby union and cricket, two pubs and three working men's club
s. There is also a football field at Coed-yr-Hendre at the top of the village.
One of the largest climbing centres in Europe less than a mile down the valley was closed briefly in 2008, but re-opened in October 2010.
Former PDC World Championship Quarter-finalist Barrie Bates
lives in the village.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located in the Taff Bargoed Valley 10 km north of Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
, 10 km west of Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
and 10 km south east of Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
in south-east 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 is currently in the south of the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is the governing body for Merthyr Tydfil, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.-Political makeup:Elections take place every four years. The last election was 1 May 2008.- Current composition :-Electoral divisions:...
area, but until 1974 was part of Gelligaer Urban District Council in the county of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
.
It has a population of around 1,400 people. The combined population of Bedlinog and Trelewis
Trelewis
Trelewis is a small village in the Taff Bargoed Valley of south-east Wales, currently located in the southern part of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council area...
has been recently recorded as approximately 3,140. Previously, it was surrounded by coal mines and nearly all jobs were related directly to this industry, but all the mines are now closed. Unemployment is high but the increasing prosperity and growth of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, only half an hour south by car, has created many commuter jobs and a feeling of optimism for the future.
The village is sometimes seen as being isolated, but it is only a 30 minute drive from Cardiff, 45 minutes from Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and 45 minutes from Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
. The village is surrounded by steep, rolling green hills, from the top of which the Severn Estuary
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
and the coast of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
can be clearly seen.
In the past, Bedlinog was also nicknamed "Little Moscow
Little Moscow
Little Moscow was a term used to describe towns and villages in capitalist societies whose population appeared to hold extreme left-wing political values or communist views...
" owing to the relatively high concentration of communists in the village. During the 1930s communists from the village volunteered to travel to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. The Welsh socialist ethic still remains in the village, as well as in neighbouring Trelewis
Trelewis
Trelewis is a small village in the Taff Bargoed Valley of south-east Wales, currently located in the southern part of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council area...
from where similar communist volunteers fought in the same civil war.
The village is home to professional darts player Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates is a darts player currently residing in Bedlinog, Mid-Glamorgan. He plays in the Professional Darts Corporation and is a regular on the circuit. His nickname is "Batesy"....
Bedlinog has a thriving Welsh language community which since the establishment of Cymdeithas Gymraeg Beddllwynog in 2005 has seen over 150 local people learn Welsh. There are six Welsh classes held in the village, a Ti a Fi (parent and toddler group), a Meithrin (Welsh medium nursery) and Bedlinog is home to the Bedroc festival, a major event in the Welsh language calendar which is held over a weekend in June every year, which has played host to acts like Dafydd Iwan
Dafydd Iwan
Dafydd Iwan , is a Welsh folk singer and politician. He was the president of Plaid Cymru .Dafydd Iwan Jones was born in Brynaman in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and is the elder brother of politician Alun Ffred Jones. He spent most of his youth in Bala in Gwynedd before attending the University of...
, Tebot Piws, Frizbee, Heather Jones, Bryn Fôn
Bryn Fôn
Bryn Fôn is a Welsh actor and singer-songwriter .- Biography :Fôn attended Ysgol Gynradd Llanllyfni and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle before going on to study physical exercise and environmental studies at college. He began his career in entertainment by taking part in the opera Dic Penderyn in 1977...
and Jess.
Sport and leisure
The local rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club is Bedlinog RFC
Bedlinog RFC
Bedlinog Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the village of Bedlinog, South Wales. The club was formed in its present state in 1971 by a local youth club, which was at the time organised by Welsh international Steve Fenwick. Currently the club consists of three teams; 1st's, development,...
, founded in 1971 and a member of the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
.
There is a public tennis court, a bowling green, a large games field for rugby union and cricket, two pubs and three working men's club
Working men's club
Working men's clubs are a type of private social club founded in the 19th century in industrial areas of the United Kingdom, particularly the North of England, the Midlands and many parts of the South Wales Valleys, to provide recreation and education for working class men and their families.-...
s. There is also a football field at Coed-yr-Hendre at the top of the village.
One of the largest climbing centres in Europe less than a mile down the valley was closed briefly in 2008, but re-opened in October 2010.
Former PDC World Championship Quarter-finalist Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates is a darts player currently residing in Bedlinog, Mid-Glamorgan. He plays in the Professional Darts Corporation and is a regular on the circuit. His nickname is "Batesy"....
lives in the village.
Arts and Entertainment
In 1973 Cult BBC TV series Porridge was filmed at the mountains of Bedlinog where the prison van breaks down after Fletcher Ronnie Barker urinated in the van's petrol tank.External links
- Old Merthyr Tydfil: Bedlinog - Historical Photographs of Bedlinog.
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Bedlinog and surrounding area