Ystradgynlais
Encyclopedia
Ystradgynlais is a town
on the River Tawe
in south west Powys
; it is the second largest town in Powys
, Wales
. The town grew around the iron
-making, coal-mining
and watch
-making industries.
Up until the mid 18th century most of the Swansea valley was thickly wooded and sparsely populated.
In the 1600s there were only a couple of houses by the church and a pub (now the rectory). In 1801 there were only 993 residents in Ystradgynlais living in only 196 houses. The first documented written evidence of iron working in the area was at Ynyscedwyn and is of a deed of release dated 1729. By 1750 there were only 7 furnaces in south Wales, one of which was at Ynyscedwyn.
The first written evidence of coal workings in the area was in 1780 in Wauclawdd. Most of the coal dug up in the area was sent to the blast furnaces of the iron works.
By 1790 the full extent of the mineral resources in the valley were known and it was realised that to exploit these to the full transport would have to be essential. A bill was passed in 1793, which allowed the construction of the Swansea valley canal. This means of transport remained the only mode of transport for 60 years.
The greatest increase in population was from 1821-41 which co insides with the coming of George Crane and the development of the Ynyscedwyn iron works. By 1870 however the industrial development was in decline due to the various economical factors.
Although coal mining carried on in the area a few light ones have replaced the heavy industries
Ystradgynlais hosted the 1954 National Eisteddfod, which is an annual Welsh
festival
of literature
, music
, and song
.
The century-old award-winning Ystradgynlais Public Band competed in the 2005 National Eisteddfod.
Ystradgynlais is one of the few areas within old Brecknockshire
, which has a high proportion of Welsh-speakers, indeed, according to the 2001 census, over half of all the Welsh-speakers within Brecknock district live in Ystradgynlais itself.
National Cycle Route 43
passes though this village.
Ystradgynlais's Parc-yr-Orsedd has a monument to the fallen heroes of both World Wars from Ystradgynlais, Abercrave, Cwmtwrch, Cwmgiedd, Glyntawe and Coelbren.
Dan-Yr-Ogof caves are a short journey from the town centre, passing Craig-Y-Nos
castle and Henrhyd Waterfall.
Ysgol Maesydderwen is the secondary school with an impressive history of former pupils and consistancy of high examination results.
Ystradgynlais is also home to the Miners Welfare Hall, which hosts plays to a cinema. It also has a number of traditional pubs.
, Rowan Williams
, grew up in Ystradgynlais.
The Polish
painter Josef Herman
spent 11 years living and painting in Ystradgynlais.
It is the hometown of the Torchwood
and Belonging actress Eve Myles
. Grownups actor Steve Meo attended Maesydderwen Comprehensive School in the town.
Composer Caleb Bedville was born in Ystradgynlais and lived there prior to emigrating to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
It's the home of Ystradgynlais F.C.
and Ystradgynlais RFC
, which was established in 1890; they hold a fierce rivalry with Ystalyfera RFC
and Abercrave RFC
. Players who represented their contries whilst playing for Ystradgynlais and notable players: Vernon Cooper
, Anthony Buchanan, Steve Bayliss representing Wales; Jonny Koloi for Tonga, and Stan Wright
for the Cook Islands.
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...
on the River Tawe
River Tawe
The River Tawe is a river in South Wales. It flows in a principally south-westerly direction for some from its source below Moel Feity in the Old Red Sandstone hills of the western Brecon Beacons to the Bristol Channel at Swansea. Its main tributaries are the right bank Upper and Lower Clydach...
in south west Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
; it is the second largest town in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, 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...
. The town grew around the iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
-making, coal-mining
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,...
and watch
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
-making industries.
Up until the mid 18th century most of the Swansea valley was thickly wooded and sparsely populated.
In the 1600s there were only a couple of houses by the church and a pub (now the rectory). In 1801 there were only 993 residents in Ystradgynlais living in only 196 houses. The first documented written evidence of iron working in the area was at Ynyscedwyn and is of a deed of release dated 1729. By 1750 there were only 7 furnaces in south Wales, one of which was at Ynyscedwyn.
The first written evidence of coal workings in the area was in 1780 in Wauclawdd. Most of the coal dug up in the area was sent to the blast furnaces of the iron works.
By 1790 the full extent of the mineral resources in the valley were known and it was realised that to exploit these to the full transport would have to be essential. A bill was passed in 1793, which allowed the construction of the Swansea valley canal. This means of transport remained the only mode of transport for 60 years.
The greatest increase in population was from 1821-41 which co insides with the coming of George Crane and the development of the Ynyscedwyn iron works. By 1870 however the industrial development was in decline due to the various economical factors.
Although coal mining carried on in the area a few light ones have replaced the heavy industries
Ystradgynlais hosted the 1954 National Eisteddfod, which is an annual Welsh
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...
festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, and song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
.
The century-old award-winning Ystradgynlais Public Band competed in the 2005 National Eisteddfod.
Ystradgynlais is one of the few areas within old Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
, which has a high proportion of Welsh-speakers, indeed, according to the 2001 census, over half of all the Welsh-speakers within Brecknock district live in Ystradgynlais itself.
National Cycle Route 43
National Cycle Route 43
National Cycle Network, Route 43 is part of the National Cycle Network and the Celtic Trail, which connects Swansea with Builth Wells. Most of the route is still awaiting development...
passes though this village.
Ystradgynlais's Parc-yr-Orsedd has a monument to the fallen heroes of both World Wars from Ystradgynlais, Abercrave, Cwmtwrch, Cwmgiedd, Glyntawe and Coelbren.
Dan-Yr-Ogof caves are a short journey from the town centre, passing Craig-Y-Nos
Craig-y-Nos
Craig-y-Nos may refer to:*Craig-y-Nos Castle, a country house in Powys*Craig-y-Nos School, and independent primary school near Bishopston, Swansea...
castle and Henrhyd Waterfall.
Ysgol Maesydderwen is the secondary school with an impressive history of former pupils and consistancy of high examination results.
Ystradgynlais is also home to the Miners Welfare Hall, which hosts plays to a cinema. It also has a number of traditional pubs.
Notable people
The Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, grew up in Ystradgynlais.
The Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
painter Josef Herman
Josef Herman
Josef Herman, also known in Wales as Joe Bach , was a highly regarded Polish-British realist painter who influenced contemporary art, particularly in the United Kingdom . His work often had subjects of workers and was inherently political...
spent 11 years living and painting in Ystradgynlais.
It is the hometown of the Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
and Belonging actress Eve Myles
Eve Myles
Eve Myles is an award winning Welsh actress of stage and screen. She is best known to Welsh audiences for her portrayal of Ceri Owen in the BBC Wales drama Belonging, and to audiences worldwide for her role as Gwen Cooper in the science fiction show Torchwood, a spin-off from Doctor Who.-Personal...
. Grownups actor Steve Meo attended Maesydderwen Comprehensive School in the town.
Composer Caleb Bedville was born in Ystradgynlais and lived there prior to emigrating to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
It's the home of Ystradgynlais F.C.
Ystradgynlais F.C.
Ystradgynlais FC are a Welsh football club based in the Swansea area and are a member of West Wales Football Association.-History:After a mixed time playing in the Welsh League between 2004 and 2009, they now currently play in the Neath Premier League...
and Ystradgynlais RFC
Ystradgynlais RFC
Ystradgynlais Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Ystradgynlais, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is also a feeder club for the Ospreys...
, which was established in 1890; they hold a fierce rivalry with Ystalyfera RFC
Ystalyfera RFC
Ystalyfera Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Ystalyfera in south Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is also a feeder club for the Ospreys...
and Abercrave RFC
Abercrave RFC
Abercrave Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team from Abercraf, which was founded in 1894. Abercrave currently have a Senior XV who play in the WRU Division Five South West league and is a feeder club for the Ospreys....
. Players who represented their contries whilst playing for Ystradgynlais and notable players: Vernon Cooper
Vernon Cooper
Vernon Cooper is a former Welsh rugby union footballer, who played for the Scarlets in the Celtic League. Cooper has also played for Wales. His usual position was at lock....
, Anthony Buchanan, Steve Bayliss representing Wales; Jonny Koloi for Tonga, and Stan Wright
Stan Wright
Stan Wright born 29 September 1978 is a Cook Island international rugby union player and his current club is Stade Francais in France....
for the Cook Islands.