Cefn Cribwr
Encyclopedia
Cefn Cribwr is a village about 5 miles (8 km) from the centre of Bridgend
in south Wales
. It has a population of approximately 1,546.
The village has good amenities including a shop, a Post Office
, a grocery store, pub, Chinese takeaway, garage, athletic club, sports ground at 'Cae Gof', two playground areas and six churches.
The new Bethlehem Life Centre (opened March 2005) offers a range of facilities to the village including children's and youth groups, a coffee shop/café, sports hall and Internet/computer facilities.
The community centre (opened 1924), locally known as the 'Green Hall' was originally conceived as a Miners' Welfare Hall and was supported by colliery owners and colliers. Many political meetings were held there. Labour politician and former Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald
spoke there in the closing weeks of the General Strike of 1926
. The Wesley Dramatic Society entertained, as did the members of Siloam Chapel who performed many dramas and concerts. The community centre today, is mainly used as the venue for the meetings of Cefn Cribwr Labour Party.
Bedford Park, found in Cefn Cribwr is now an area of 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of ancient woodland and meadows, glades and open spaces. It was once an area of intense industrial activity following the building of a blast furnace here in 1780 by the Birmingham Industrialist John Bedford
. He also sank pits to mine the raw materials of ironstone and coal as well as founding a forge and brickworks. The ironworks were never as successful as Bedford had hoped and began to decline after his death in 1791. Coal mining and brick making, however, continued throughout the 19th Century and industrial activity at Bedford Park ceased after World War I
.
Cefn Cribwr Ironworks in Bedford Park is now protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is one of the most complete of its kind in Britain. Many parts of the ironworks and related buildings can still be seen.
The community has several public footpaths and cycling routes which pass through the park following the line of the old Dyffryn
, Llynfi and Porthcawl
railway which linked the ironworks to the coast.
Bedford Park also has Waymarked Nature Trails, a children's play area, picnic area and a carpark with toilets and disabled facilities.
The first Bethlehem church was built in 1930, it was enlarged in 1952 by building around the existing old church; once the roof was finished, the first church was knocked down inside the newer second structure.
The new Bethlehem church life centre was built in 2005 - it can hold a congregation of around 300 people.
Calvary English Baptist Church
Built in 1907, Calvary is situated on Cefn Road on the opposite side to Cefn school. The building can hold a congregation of about 110. Calvary Baptist Chapel has a sister church in Aberkenfig.
St. Colemans Church
Originally built in 1924, and supported by the vicar of Pen-Y-Fai
, Rev. H.R. Protheroe and his parishioners. The church was used for meetings and entertainment. In 2007 weddings were allowed to take place here.
In September 2005, together with St. Theodore's church in Kenfig Hill - St. Colemans was pleased to share its new beginning with the appointment of a new Parish Priest.
Siloam Chapel
Built in 1827, this was the first chapel to be built in Cefn Cribbwr. It is the oldest of the six places of worship in the village. It is located at the top of Bedford Road and is set back off the road
The present day chapel is not the original as the structure was rebuilt in 1855. It is a large structure with a cemetery to the front and rear. The original congregation were Welsh speakers, many of whom were local miners.
Nebo Church
This is the second chapel to be built in Cefn Cribbwr and was built in 1849. It was rebuilt in 1868 and is a large structure. Both Nebo and Siloam are the only two places of worship in Cefn Cribbwr with cemeteries.
This church can be difficult to find, its entrance is small and the church is tucked away off the main road. There is a baptistry at the front of the church.
Wesleyan Chapel
Built in 1886, it took just thirteen weeks to build. It is believed to have been built by volunteer workers and its chosen site was midway between Cefn Cribwr and Kenfig Hill
alongside the main road overlooking the common.
The building is able to accommodate a congregation of between 120 and 150.
Sunday School Services
Cefn Cribbwr school was once used as a place for Sunday school services in the village.
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
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 has a population of approximately 1,546.
The village has good amenities including a shop, a Post Office
Post Office Ltd.
Post Office Ltd is a retail post office company in the United Kingdom that provides a wide range of products including postage stamps and banking to the public through its nationwide network of post office branches.-Structure:Post Office Ltd...
, a grocery store, pub, Chinese takeaway, garage, athletic club, sports ground at 'Cae Gof', two playground areas and six churches.
The new Bethlehem Life Centre (opened March 2005) offers a range of facilities to the village including children's and youth groups, a coffee shop/café, sports hall and Internet/computer facilities.
The community centre (opened 1924), locally known as the 'Green Hall' was originally conceived as a Miners' Welfare Hall and was supported by colliery owners and colliers. Many political meetings were held there. Labour politician and former Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
spoke there in the closing weeks of the General Strike of 1926
1926 United Kingdom general strike
The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted nine days, from 4 May 1926 to 13 May 1926. It was called by the general council of the Trades Union Congress in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening...
. The Wesley Dramatic Society entertained, as did the members of Siloam Chapel who performed many dramas and concerts. The community centre today, is mainly used as the venue for the meetings of Cefn Cribwr Labour Party.
Bedford Park, found in Cefn Cribwr is now an area of 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of ancient woodland and meadows, glades and open spaces. It was once an area of intense industrial activity following the building of a blast furnace here in 1780 by the Birmingham Industrialist John Bedford
John Bedford
John Bedford , iron worker and industrialist.He was born in Birmingham, England to John and Sarah Bedford and followed his father into the iron trade to become a japanner in 1748....
. He also sank pits to mine the raw materials of ironstone and coal as well as founding a forge and brickworks. The ironworks were never as successful as Bedford had hoped and began to decline after his death in 1791. Coal mining and brick making, however, continued throughout the 19th Century and industrial activity at Bedford Park ceased after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Cefn Cribwr Ironworks in Bedford Park is now protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is one of the most complete of its kind in Britain. Many parts of the ironworks and related buildings can still be seen.
The community has several public footpaths and cycling routes which pass through the park following the line of the old Dyffryn
Dyffryn
Dyffryn may refer to one of these places in Wales:*Dyffryn, Bridgend*Dyffryn Cennen, Carmarthenshire*Dyffryn, Ceredigion*Dyffryn, Neath Port Talbot *Dyffryn, Pembrokeshire*Dyffryn Gardens...
, Llynfi and Porthcawl
Porthcawl
Porthcawl is a town on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, 25 miles west of the capital city, Cardiff and 19 miles southeast of Swansea...
railway which linked the ironworks to the coast.
Bedford Park also has Waymarked Nature Trails, a children's play area, picnic area and a carpark with toilets and disabled facilities.
Places of worship in Cefn Cribwr
Bethlehem Church Life CentreThe first Bethlehem church was built in 1930, it was enlarged in 1952 by building around the existing old church; once the roof was finished, the first church was knocked down inside the newer second structure.
The new Bethlehem church life centre was built in 2005 - it can hold a congregation of around 300 people.
Calvary English Baptist Church
Built in 1907, Calvary is situated on Cefn Road on the opposite side to Cefn school. The building can hold a congregation of about 110. Calvary Baptist Chapel has a sister church in Aberkenfig.
St. Colemans Church
Originally built in 1924, and supported by the vicar of Pen-Y-Fai
Pen-y-Fai
Pen-y-Fai is a village in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales falling within the Bridgend electoral ward area.- Amenities :It has a population of about 2,000, one village shop, a chapel and All Saints parish church . It also has a pub, the Pheasant, and was once a village for employees of the...
, Rev. H.R. Protheroe and his parishioners. The church was used for meetings and entertainment. In 2007 weddings were allowed to take place here.
In September 2005, together with St. Theodore's church in Kenfig Hill - St. Colemans was pleased to share its new beginning with the appointment of a new Parish Priest.
Siloam Chapel
Built in 1827, this was the first chapel to be built in Cefn Cribbwr. It is the oldest of the six places of worship in the village. It is located at the top of Bedford Road and is set back off the road
The present day chapel is not the original as the structure was rebuilt in 1855. It is a large structure with a cemetery to the front and rear. The original congregation were Welsh speakers, many of whom were local miners.
Nebo Church
This is the second chapel to be built in Cefn Cribbwr and was built in 1849. It was rebuilt in 1868 and is a large structure. Both Nebo and Siloam are the only two places of worship in Cefn Cribbwr with cemeteries.
This church can be difficult to find, its entrance is small and the church is tucked away off the main road. There is a baptistry at the front of the church.
Wesleyan Chapel
Built in 1886, it took just thirteen weeks to build. It is believed to have been built by volunteer workers and its chosen site was midway between Cefn Cribwr and Kenfig Hill
Kenfig Hill
Kenfig Hill is a village in Bridgend County, South Wales. It is bordered by Pyle to the south-west, Cefn Cribwr to the north-east, North Cornelly to the south and Moel Ton-Mawr mountain to the north....
alongside the main road overlooking the common.
The building is able to accommodate a congregation of between 120 and 150.
Sunday School Services
Cefn Cribbwr school was once used as a place for Sunday school services in the village.