Mountain Ash, Wales
Encyclopedia
Mountain Ash is a town
and community
in Rhondda Cynon Taf, deep in the South Wales Valleys
of Wales
. Mountain Ash is situated in the Cynon Valley
and has a population of 7,039. Mountain Ash lies within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan
.
Mountain Ash also contains the outlying villages of Penrhiwceiber
, Cefnpennar
, Cwmpennar
, Darranlas, Fernhill
, Glenboi
and Newtown and Miskin.
The Afon Cynon
runs past Mountain Ash.
, it remained quiet, being only disturbed in 1818 by the construction of the Aberdare Canal
. It became disused in the early 19th century, filled in to form the New Cardiff Road in 1933.
The population of the village was 1,614 in 1841, rising to 11,463 in 1871 with the opening of local collieries. The 1851 census shows the construction of Duffryn Street and Navigation Street. By 1859 there were 12 public houses, some of the earliest being the Bruce Arms, the Junction Inn and the New Inn. By 1920, Kelly's Directory
lists over 200 businesses within the village.
The coal industry had started to decline post the First World War, but after the Second World War factory industries were introduced to offset the serious fall in local mining employment. By the end of the 20th century the last coal mines had closed, and many of the town’s factories had ceased operation as well. New light industries and service activities only partly mitigated the resulting economic hardship.
Mountain Ash along with the rest of the Cynon Valley
and all the other South Wales Valleys
was predominantly a Welsh
speaking Valley up until the 19th century.
on the Aberdare branch of the Merthyr Line
of the Arriva Trains Wales
rail network. Further to Mountain Ash train station, the village of Fernhill
and Penrhiwceiber
is also served by the Merthyr Line.
Bus services are operated by Bebb (a company owned by Veolia) and Glamorgan Bus Services.
(formerly Mountain Ash Grammar School (Welsh
: Ysgol Ramadeg Aberpennar ) for students aged 11-18. The comprehensive school
is situated on the site of the former estate of Lord Aberdare, the main house, Dyffryn House, was still used by the school until its demolition in the 1980s. Opposite the site of the secondary school
is the site for the Community hospital that aims to serve the Cynon Valley which is currently under construction.
Local primary schools include:Our lady's R.C Primary School, Caegarw Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Caegarw), Glenboi Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Glen-boi), Darranlas Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Darren-las), Miskin Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Meisgyn), Penguelan Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Pengeulan) and Penrhiwceiber Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Penrhiwceibr).
Mountain Ash has a football and a rugby team called Mountain Ash RFC
.
Nos Galan
, is an annual 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) running
road race
, run on New Year's Eve
to commemorate the first race of Guto Nyth Bran
. Started in 1958, it now attracts 800+ runners and 10,000 people to the associated street entertainment.
In 1974, Mountain Ash RFC Singers Male voice choir were formed from a group of ex-players.
Mountain Ash hosted the National Eisteddfod in both 1905 and 1946.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and community
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
in Rhondda Cynon Taf, deep in the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
of 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...
. Mountain Ash is situated in the Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley , is a famous former coal mining valley within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. The Cynon Valley lies between the other mining Valley of Rhondda and the iron industrial Valley of the Merthyr Valley. Its main towns are Aberdare located North of the Valley and Mountain Ash located...
and has a population of 7,039. Mountain Ash lies within the historic county boundaries 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...
.
Mountain Ash also contains the outlying villages of Penrhiwceiber
Penrhiwceiber
Penrhiwceiber is a former Welsh coal mining village and community deep in the South Wales Valleys of Wales. Penrhiwceiber is situated in the Cynon Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, it lies 1 mile south of the town of Mountain Ash...
, Cefnpennar
Cefnpennar
Cefnpennar is a small rural village north of the coal mining town of Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff, in Wales. It is approximately 1 mile from Mountain Ash town centre and a bus runs daily...
, Cwmpennar
Cwmpennar
Cwmpennar is a small village in Mountain Ash which is situated in the Cynon Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales.It lies opposite an ex coal mining pit. Cwmpennar is part of the CDWA Cefnpennar District Welfare Association....
, Darranlas, Fernhill
Fernhill, Wales
Fernhill is a village near Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.The village is served by Fernhill railway station on the Merthyr Line - Aberdare branch.The Welsh translation for 'Fernhill' is 'Brynrhedyn' but is never in use.-External links:*...
, Glenboi
Glenboi
Glenboi is a village located 1 mile North of the town Mountain Ash in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, WalesThe English translation of Glenboi is Wood Valley , "Glen" meaning a "small valley" and "boi" meaning "wood"...
and Newtown and Miskin.
The Afon Cynon
River Cynon
The River Cynon is a river in South Wales and is one of the larger tributaries of the River Taff.It arises within Cwm Cadlan in the Brecon Beacons National Park as the Nant Cadlan and is supplemented by a number of small streams arising from springs in the Carboniferous Limestone and Twrch...
runs past Mountain Ash.
History
Unlike other villages in the South Wales ValleysSouth Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
, it remained quiet, being only disturbed in 1818 by the construction of the Aberdare Canal
Aberdare Canal
The Aberdare Canal was a canal in Glamorganshire, Wales which ran from Aberdare to a junction with the Glamorganshire Canal at Abercynon. It opened in 1812, and served the iron and coal industries for nearly 65 years...
. It became disused in the early 19th century, filled in to form the New Cardiff Road in 1933.
The population of the village was 1,614 in 1841, rising to 11,463 in 1871 with the opening of local collieries. The 1851 census shows the construction of Duffryn Street and Navigation Street. By 1859 there were 12 public houses, some of the earliest being the Bruce Arms, the Junction Inn and the New Inn. By 1920, Kelly's Directory
Kelly's Directory
Kelly's Directory was a trade directory in the United Kingdom that listed all businesses and tradespeople in a particular city or town, as well as a general directory of postal addresses of local gentry, landowners, charities, and other facilities. In effect, it was a Victorian version of today's...
lists over 200 businesses within the village.
The coal industry had started to decline post the First World War, but after the Second World War factory industries were introduced to offset the serious fall in local mining employment. By the end of the 20th century the last coal mines had closed, and many of the town’s factories had ceased operation as well. New light industries and service activities only partly mitigated the resulting economic hardship.
Mountain Ash along with the rest of the Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley , is a famous former coal mining valley within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. The Cynon Valley lies between the other mining Valley of Rhondda and the iron industrial Valley of the Merthyr Valley. Its main towns are Aberdare located North of the Valley and Mountain Ash located...
and all the other South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
was predominantly a 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...
speaking Valley up until the 19th century.
Transport
The town is served by Mountain Ash railway stationMountain Ash railway station
Mountain Ash railway station is a railway station serving the town of Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is located on the Aberdare branch of the Merthyr Line...
on the Aberdare branch of the Merthyr Line
Merthyr Line
The Merthyr Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from central Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. The line is part of the Cardiff urban rail network, known as the Valley Lines...
of the Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
rail network. Further to Mountain Ash train station, the village of Fernhill
Fernhill, Wales
Fernhill is a village near Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.The village is served by Fernhill railway station on the Merthyr Line - Aberdare branch.The Welsh translation for 'Fernhill' is 'Brynrhedyn' but is never in use.-External links:*...
and Penrhiwceiber
Penrhiwceiber
Penrhiwceiber is a former Welsh coal mining village and community deep in the South Wales Valleys of Wales. Penrhiwceiber is situated in the Cynon Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, it lies 1 mile south of the town of Mountain Ash...
is also served by the Merthyr Line.
Bus services are operated by Bebb (a company owned by Veolia) and Glamorgan Bus Services.
Education
Mountain Ash is served by Mountain Ash Comprehensive SchoolMountain Ash Comprehensive School
Mountain Ash Comprehensive School is a comprehensive school that is situated in the town of Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales...
(formerly Mountain Ash Grammar School (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...
: Ysgol Ramadeg Aberpennar ) for students aged 11-18. The comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
is situated on the site of the former estate of Lord Aberdare, the main house, Dyffryn House, was still used by the school until its demolition in the 1980s. Opposite the site of the secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
is the site for the Community hospital that aims to serve the Cynon Valley which is currently under construction.
Local primary schools include:Our lady's R.C Primary School, Caegarw Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Caegarw), Glenboi Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Glen-boi), Darranlas Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Darren-las), Miskin Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Meisgyn), Penguelan Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Pengeulan) and Penrhiwceiber Primary School (Ysgol Gynradd Penrhiwceibr).
Sport and Culture
Mountain Ash RFC
Mountain Ash RFC is a Welsh rugby union team from the town of Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley, South Wales. Mountain Ash RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.-Early history:...
.
Nos Galan
Nos Galan road race
Nos Galan , is an annual running road race, run on New Years Eve in Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley of South Wales.-History:Nos Galan celebrates the life and achievements of Welsh runner Guto Nyth Brân...
, is an annual 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
road race
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
, run on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
to commemorate the first race of Guto Nyth Bran
Guto Nyth Brân
Griffith Morgan , who was known better by his Welsh name, Guto Nyth Brân was an athlete. Many of Guto's running feats have since become merged with legend, and were disseminated by poets and authors such as I.D...
. Started in 1958, it now attracts 800+ runners and 10,000 people to the associated street entertainment.
In 1974, Mountain Ash RFC Singers Male voice choir were formed from a group of ex-players.
Mountain Ash hosted the National Eisteddfod in both 1905 and 1946.
Notable people
- See also :Category:People from Mountain Ash, Wales
- Guto Nyth BranGuto Nyth BrânGriffith Morgan , who was known better by his Welsh name, Guto Nyth Brân was an athlete. Many of Guto's running feats have since become merged with legend, and were disseminated by poets and authors such as I.D...
- Pennar DaviesPennar DaviesWilliam Thomas Pennar Davies was a Welsh clergyman and author.Born simply William Thomas Davies, in Mountain Ash , the son of a miner, he took the name "Pennar" "as a sign of his identification with the native culture of Wales"...
, clergyman and author - Howard CollinsHoward CollinsHoward Collins is a Welsh master of Kyokushin karate based in Sweden. He holds the rank of 7th dan and the title of Shihan. Collins learned directly from Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin karate, and was a prominent competitor in world karate tournaments through the 1970s...
, a prominent karate instructor - Elaine Morgan (writer)Elaine Morgan (writer)Elaine Morgan OBE is a Welsh writer for television and also the author of several books on evolutionary anthropology, especially the aquatic ape hypothesis: The Descent of Woman, The Aquatic Ape, The Scars of Evolution, The Descent of the Child, The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis, and The Naked Darwinist...
, BAFTA award-winning author - Haydn MorrisHaydn MorrisHaydn Morris is a former Cardiff, and British and Irish Lions international rugby union wing three-quarter....
, international rugby union wing three-quarter - Mark BrakeMark BrakeMark Brake is an author and freelance academic. He was formerly a professor of science communication at the University of Glamorgan.- Education :Brake was born at Mountain Ash, Wales, UK...
, author, broadcaster and communicator of science - Richard "Dickie" WilliamsDickie WilliamsRichard "Dickie" L. Williams was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at club level played rugby union for Mountain Ash RFC, and Bristol RUFC, and at representative level played rugby league for Great Britain, and Wales, and at club level for...
, rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer