Cwmaman
Encyclopedia
Cwmaman is a former coal mining
pit village near Aberdare
, South Wales
. The name Cwmaman is Welsh language
for "Aman Valley" (the River Aman being the main river
flowing through the village). For postal purposes, it comes under Aberdare
.
There is an array of parallel roads in the east part of the village. Burns Street and Spencer Street (along with the other streets collectively known as 'Poet's Corner') are amongst the steepest in the United Kingdom
.
The band Stereophonics
comes from Cwmaman.
The village is also home to the war poet
, Alun Lewis
, and a plaque in what is now Llanwonno Road marks the house where he once lived.
Cwmaman Public Hall & Institute is a community-owned enterprise: it consists of a concert room, theatre
/ cinema
and fitness suite.
The local St. Joseph's Church was renovated in 2007. This work included the installation of solar panels on one side of its roof with the aim to sell back energy to the National Grid.
On 14 December 2007, in association with Jo Whiley
and her BBC Radio 1
Live Lounge Tour, the Stereophonics
returned to their home village of Cwmaman to play an exclusive acoustic gig in the Cwmaman Working Men's Club, the venue where the band first performed.
An annual music festival is held in Cwmaman, namely The Cwmaman Music Festival, at the last weekend of September every year. The festival, which started in 2008, has attracted such artists as Alabama 3
, Mike Peters
, Killing for Company as well as many unsigned artists of all genres.
Cwmaman is a Communities First
area and thus it is officially recognised as needing Welsh Assembly support to assist the community solve problems of social disadvantage.
The Cwmaman Communities First Partnership was established in October 2001 aiming to bring individuals, voluntary groups, and public and private sector organisations in the community together to help create a better future for the area.
Many innovative environmental projects have taken place including the hosting of an environmental festival centred around St Joseph's Church, holding a sculpture
exhibition, the development of a community woodland walk, and establishing a Cwmaman Sculpture Trail.
A range of sculptors have contributed to projects in the village, including Robert Koenig
, Dai Edwards, Tom Harvey, Godfrey Phillips, Paul Clarke, Dave Lloyd, Dominic Claire and Peter Boyd.
project in 2007.
Cwmaman Institute is at the heart of its community, which is demonstrated by the sheer range of groups and societies that it accommodates, housing over 40 societies in total. The history and culture of Cwmaman is unique and the community is desperate to share their stories with the world online. With a brand new digi-lab at St Joseph's Church, which will also employ a part-time IT worker, it is training and expertise that the group urgently needs, and will attain through participating in the Community Archives Wales
project.
).
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
pit village near Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. The name Cwmaman is Welsh language
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...
for "Aman Valley" (the River Aman being the main river
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...
flowing through the village). For postal purposes, it comes under Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
.
There is an array of parallel roads in the east part of the village. Burns Street and Spencer Street (along with the other streets collectively known as 'Poet's Corner') are amongst the steepest in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Culture
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
comes from Cwmaman.
The village is also home to the war poet
War poet
A War poet is a poet writing in time of and on the subject of war. The term, which is applied especially to those in military service during World War I, was documented as early as 1848 in reference to German revolutionary poet, Georg Herwegh.-Crimean War:...
, Alun Lewis
Alun Lewis
Alun Lewis , was a poet of the Anglo-Welsh school, and is regarded by many as Britain's finest Second World War poet.- Education :...
, and a plaque in what is now Llanwonno Road marks the house where he once lived.
Cwmaman Public Hall & Institute is a community-owned enterprise: it consists of a concert room, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
/ cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
and fitness suite.
The local St. Joseph's Church was renovated in 2007. This work included the installation of solar panels on one side of its roof with the aim to sell back energy to the National Grid.
On 14 December 2007, in association with Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
and her BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
Live Lounge Tour, the Stereophonics
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
returned to their home village of Cwmaman to play an exclusive acoustic gig in the Cwmaman Working Men's Club, the venue where the band first performed.
An annual music festival is held in Cwmaman, namely The Cwmaman Music Festival, at the last weekend of September every year. The festival, which started in 2008, has attracted such artists as Alabama 3
Alabama 3
Alabama 3 are a British band mixing rock, dance, blues, country, and gospel styles, founded in Brixton, London, in 1995. In the United States, they are known as A3, allegedly to avoid any possible legal conflict with the country music band Alabama...
, Mike Peters
Mike Peters (musician)
Mike Peters is a Welsh musician, best known as the lead singer of The Alarm. He currently lives in Dyserth, North Wales with his family. After The Alarm split up in 1991, Peters wrote and released solo work, which he has been releasing under the name "The Alarm" since 2000...
, Killing for Company as well as many unsigned artists of all genres.
Regeneration and the community
Communities First
Communities First is a programme designed to increase participation and develop the capacity of Welsh communities to make decisions and run projects. The programme was established by the Welsh Government’s Department for Social Justice and Regeneration in 2002...
area and thus it is officially recognised as needing Welsh Assembly support to assist the community solve problems of social disadvantage.
The Cwmaman Communities First Partnership was established in October 2001 aiming to bring individuals, voluntary groups, and public and private sector organisations in the community together to help create a better future for the area.
Many innovative environmental projects have taken place including the hosting of an environmental festival centred around St Joseph's Church, holding a sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
exhibition, the development of a community woodland walk, and establishing a Cwmaman Sculpture Trail.
A range of sculptors have contributed to projects in the village, including Robert Koenig
Robert Koenig (sculptor)
Robert Koenig is an English sculptor, who specialises in wood sculpture and is a prominent exponent of the art of woodcarving using the traditional tools of mallet and chisel.-Early life:...
, Dai Edwards, Tom Harvey, Godfrey Phillips, Paul Clarke, Dave Lloyd, Dominic Claire and Peter Boyd.
Community Archives Wales
The St Joseph's Heritage Group, based in St Joseph's Church, Cwmaman, joined the Community Archives WalesCommunity Archives Wales
Community Archives Wales is a website of digital content created and maintained by a number of community heritage groups from across Wales...
project in 2007.
Cwmaman Institute is at the heart of its community, which is demonstrated by the sheer range of groups and societies that it accommodates, housing over 40 societies in total. The history and culture of Cwmaman is unique and the community is desperate to share their stories with the world online. With a brand new digi-lab at St Joseph's Church, which will also employ a part-time IT worker, it is training and expertise that the group urgently needs, and will attain through participating in the Community Archives Wales
Community Archives Wales
Community Archives Wales is a website of digital content created and maintained by a number of community heritage groups from across Wales...
project.
Politics
Cwmaman forms part of the Aberaman South electoral ward. It is currently represented by Councillor Howard Davies (Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
).
Notable people
- Kelly JonesKelly JonesKelly Jones is a Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist and the lead singer of the band Stereophonics. Influenced by classic rock bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and the Sex Pistols, Jones is noted for his strong, gravelly voice, which has been described as "whisky" vocals...
- Stereophonics lead singer - Stuart CableStuart CableStuart Cable was a Welsh rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.- Early life :...
- Broadcaster and musician - Richard JonesRichard Jones (Stereophonics)Richard Jones is the bassist and backing vocalist for the Welsh rock band Stereophonics, playing alongside Kelly Jones and Javier Weyler. Jones grew up in Cwmaman, an old mining village in South Wales...
- Stereophonics bassist (no relation to Kelly of same band) - Alun LewisAlun LewisAlun Lewis , was a poet of the Anglo-Welsh school, and is regarded by many as Britain's finest Second World War poet.- Education :...
- Poet - Tyrone O'SullivanTyrone O'SullivanTyrone O'Sullivan OBE , is a Welsh former National Union of Mineworkers Branch Secretary, and current Chairman of Goitre Tower Anthracite Ltd., the owners of Tower Colliery.-Biography:...
- Chairman of Tower CollieryTower CollieryTower Colliery is the oldest continuously working deep-coal mine in the United Kingdom, and possibly the world, and the last mine of its kind to remain in the South Wales Valleys...
lived in Cwmaman for many years