Nantgarw
Encyclopedia
Nantgarw is a village
in the county borough
of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
, near Cardiff
.
From an electoral and administrative perspective Nantgarw falls within the ward of Taffs Well, a village some 2.5 miles south, but historically fell within the boundaries of Caerphilly
, which is a major town located less than 2.5 miles to the east.
The original village was destroyed by the development of the A470
trunk road, which was situated at the location of the current Nantgarw/A468
junction. Located close to the A470, Nantgarw is within easy reach of the town of Pontypridd
(5.5 miles to the northwest) and Cardiff City centre (around 7.5 miles further south).
, it is known for its porcelain
, produced in between 1813-1814, and later between 1817-1820 at the Nantgarw Pottery
, commemorated at the China Works Museum.
Nantgarw is the home of the Nantgarw tradition
of folk dancing.
After the building of the Glamorganshire Canal
, by the 1841 census of the 300 residents, about 60 owed their living to work associated directly with the canal. But the development of drift mines and the developed of the Taff Vale Railway
, meant that by 1875 the majority of the villages residents were colliers.
The development of the village stopped until the 1910 development of the Nantgarw Colliery, but various geographical problems resulted in a series of stalled developments of the colliery until post World War II
, when new workings and a coking coal plant were developed by 1951. A new village settlement was then built on the hillside behind the colliery.
Thomas Taylor of Pontypridd
began the development of Nantgarw colliery in May 1910, near the base of the Caerphilly Syncline seam. The sinking of the twin shafts in 1911 reached the coal seam at a depth of more than 850 yards in 1915, placing them 2000 ft below sea level and making Nantgarw the deepest pit to be sunk in the South Wales Coalfield
up to that time.
Having suffered from various geographical issues, Powell Duffryn
designed a development scheme in 1937, but work was suspended when World War II
broke out in 1939. A later project to re-open the colliery was approved by the Ministry of Fuel and Power in 1946, and after nationalisation in 1947, the National Coal Board
invested £5 million on modern surface constructions and modern mining methods. Having survived the mass pit closures of the 1960s, the geographical problems meant the closure of the mine working in 1974, and the unit merged with Windsor Colliery
, Abertridwr, Caerphilly from 1975. By 1979, the combined Nantgarw/Windsor Colliery employed around 650 men, producing over 4,000 tons of coal per week, making a profit of over £0.5 million.
The unit lost £7 million in 1981, employing: 142 on development; 131 on the coalface; 197 below the ground; 101 on the surface. In 1982 output declined steeply as a major coal seam at Windsor became unworkable, while in 1984 an overtime ban led directly to the 1984/5 UK miners strike
spreading to South Wales. Although profitable post the strike, both sites of the whole unit closed as part of the NCB regional review on 6 November, 1986.
Industrial Estate. All that now remains of Nantgarw colliery are two small concrete pyramid
s marking the sites of the two shafts, and a commemorative winding wheel
.
Parc Nantgarw is home to the headquarters of Cadw
(the Welsh equivalent of English Heritage
), and a large office for the newly relocated Santia Consulting. The social side of the estate provides a cinema
, indoor 10 pin bowling
and various restaurants.
Coleg Morgannwg
is a further education
college for adult learners. The college has a campus in Nantgarw.
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...
in the 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...
of Rhondda Cynon Taf, 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...
, near 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...
.
From an electoral and administrative perspective Nantgarw falls within the ward of Taffs Well, a village some 2.5 miles south, but historically fell within the boundaries 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...
, which is a major town located less than 2.5 miles to the east.
The original village was destroyed by the development of the A470
A470 road
The A470 is a major long-distance connective spine road in Wales, running from Cardiff on the south coast to Llandudno on the north coast. It covers approximately 186 miles , over a zig-zagging route through the entirety of the country's mountainous central region, including the Brecon Beacons and...
trunk road, which was situated at the location of the current Nantgarw/A468
A468 road
The A468 is a principal road from Newport to Nantgarw. The current route begins at the A467 in Bassaleg then passes through Rhiwderin, Machen, Trethomas, Bedwas and Caerphilly, terminating on the A470...
junction. Located close to the A470, Nantgarw is within easy reach of the town 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...
(5.5 miles to the northwest) and Cardiff City centre (around 7.5 miles further south).
History
Nantgarw lies on the River TaffRiver Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
, it is known for its porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
, produced in between 1813-1814, and later between 1817-1820 at the Nantgarw Pottery
Nantgarw Pottery
The Nantgarw Pottery was a noted pottery, located in Nantgarw on the eastern bank of the Glamorganshire Canal, north of Cardiff in the River Taff valley, Glamorganshire, Wales. It closed in 1920, when cigarettes replaced clay pipes...
, commemorated at the China Works Museum.
Nantgarw is the home of the Nantgarw tradition
Nantgarw tradition
Nantgarw tradition is a style of Morris dancing from the South and Valleys regions of Wales, specifically the small village of Nantgarw. The style encompasses both handkerchief and stick dances. The dances call for eight dancers in four pairs...
of folk dancing.
After the building of the Glamorganshire Canal
Glamorganshire Canal
The Glamorganshire Canal was a canal in south Wales, UK, running from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff. Construction started in 1790, and the 25 miles of canal was fully opened by 1794. Its primary purpose was to enable the Merthyr iron industries to transport their goods, and it later served the coal...
, by the 1841 census of the 300 residents, about 60 owed their living to work associated directly with the canal. But the development of drift mines and the developed of the Taff Vale Railway
Taff Vale Railway
The Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
, meant that by 1875 the majority of the villages residents were colliers.
The development of the village stopped until the 1910 development of the Nantgarw Colliery, but various geographical problems resulted in a series of stalled developments of the colliery until post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when new workings and a coking coal plant were developed by 1951. A new village settlement was then built on the hillside behind the colliery.
Nantgarw Colliery
Craig Yr Allt Colliery was situated south of Nantgarw village. However, whenever the Taff River flooded, water frequently entered its workings, and it was abandoned in 1878.Thomas Taylor 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...
began the development of Nantgarw colliery in May 1910, near the base of the Caerphilly Syncline seam. The sinking of the twin shafts in 1911 reached the coal seam at a depth of more than 850 yards in 1915, placing them 2000 ft below sea level and making Nantgarw the deepest pit to be sunk in the South Wales Coalfield
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
up to that time.
Having suffered from various geographical issues, Powell Duffryn
Powell Duffryn
PD Ports is a Middlesbrough-headquartered British ports operator.Formerly known as Powell Duffryn, it dug its first coal mine in South Wales in 1840, and later expanded into various sorts of manufacturing...
designed a development scheme in 1937, but work was suspended when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out in 1939. A later project to re-open the colliery was approved by the Ministry of Fuel and Power in 1946, and after nationalisation in 1947, the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
invested £5 million on modern surface constructions and modern mining methods. Having survived the mass pit closures of the 1960s, the geographical problems meant the closure of the mine working in 1974, and the unit merged with Windsor Colliery
Windsor Colliery
Windsor Colliery was a coal mine in the village of Abertridwr, Caerphilly.Opened in 1895, it amalgamated with the Nantgarw Colliery in 1974, and closed in 1986. Ty'n y Parc housing estate now occupies the site.-Development:...
, Abertridwr, Caerphilly from 1975. By 1979, the combined Nantgarw/Windsor Colliery employed around 650 men, producing over 4,000 tons of coal per week, making a profit of over £0.5 million.
The unit lost £7 million in 1981, employing: 142 on development; 131 on the coalface; 197 below the ground; 101 on the surface. In 1982 output declined steeply as a major coal seam at Windsor became unworkable, while in 1984 an overtime ban led directly to the 1984/5 UK miners strike
UK miners' strike (1984–1985)
The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement...
spreading to South Wales. Although profitable post the strike, both sites of the whole unit closed as part of the NCB regional review on 6 November, 1986.
Village today
The village declined after the 1969 construction of the A470 which destroyed the historic old village. After the closure of the Nantgarw/Windsor Colliery and Coking works 18 months after the miners strike, the site was developed as Parc Nantgarw, joined to the larger TrefforestTrefforest
Treforest is a village in the south-east of Pontypridd in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales situated in the Treforest electoral ward along with the village of Glyntaff , being part of the Pontypridd Community...
Industrial Estate. All that now remains of Nantgarw colliery are two small concrete pyramid
Pyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
s marking the sites of the two shafts, and a commemorative winding wheel
Headframe
A headframe is the structural frame above an underground mine shaft. Modern headframes are built out of steel, concrete or a combination of both...
.
Parc Nantgarw is home to the headquarters of Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
(the Welsh equivalent of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
), and a large office for the newly relocated Santia Consulting. The social side of the estate provides a cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, indoor 10 pin bowling
10 Pin Bowling
10 Pin Bowling is a bowling sports game, developed by Morning Star Multimedia and published by Majesco Sales. The game was released in North America and Europe in 1999 for the Game Boy Color.-Reception:The game received negative reviews...
and various restaurants.
Coleg Morgannwg
Coleg Morgannwg
Coleg Morgannwg is a further education college located at four main campuses across Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.The college's main campuses are located in Aberdare Nantgarw Pontypridd and Llwynypia The college also operates a number of outreach centres within local communities...
is a further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
college for adult learners. The college has a campus in Nantgarw.