About Neath and District
Neath – A
Place in History
The derivation of the name Neath is
thought to come from a Celtic word ‘nida’ meaning bright/shining
referring to water or, alternatively, from ‘nid’ the name of a
Celtic river deity.
The town of Neath was founded in the Middle Ages, having a
history dating back to the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages.
The Romans and Normans established themselves in Neath, building
roads, leaving behind buildings and a wealth of artefacts which are
evidence of their past presence. Other remnants of the Celts are
found within the area in the form of defensive hill forts.
Historically, Neath has an ancient stone Castle, built early in
the 13th century and a Cistercian Monastery at Neath Abbey (now
ruins) founded in 1147 by Sir Richard de Granville.
Neath and the Industrial Revolution
Industrial growth began in the 16th Century with copper and iron
smelting and continued into the 17th and 18th Century as coal
became suitable for smelting.
Industrial take-off occurred in the late 19th Century as canals
and then railways, together with the area’s accessibility and
technological developments, made it a world centre in metals
manufacture and coal mining.
The
ironworks and coal mines have created the wealth of the area and
produced a skilled and enterprising workforce.
Today this pattern of industry has been changed to new,
purpose-built factories. The development of modern industrial
estates has diversified the economy of the Neath area and provided
new employment opportunities. The decline in the coal mining
industry has enabled the extensive reclamation schemes to remove
the last traces of coal tips and industrial dereliction.
Neath – a beautiful
place to live
A partly
pedestrianised, landscaped town centre in Neath, has transformed
the face of Neath into a pleasant residential area, making Neath
and district a beautiful place to live, work and visit.
Few areas can offer such a variety of attractions as Neath.
They vary from those of purely natural appeal to those which are
man-made. It is this combination of enterprise and natural beauty
which makes Neath an attractive place to live.
A wide range and variety of housing now exists. Geographically,
Neath is part of a predominantly upland County Borough and is dissected by the river
valleys of the Dulais and Neath which both flow NE-SW to Swansea
Bay and feed the waterfalls of the Vale of Neath.
These two valleys are separated from each other by ridges of
high forest or moorland. A narrow coastal strip extends around
either side of the lower reaches of the Neath River. At the upper
end of the Vale of Neath lay the foothills of the Brecon Beacons
National Park.
Neath &
Dulais
Neath, having always been an industrial area is also an area of
extreme contrasts.
Neath boasts two beautiful valleys – Neath, known locally as
“waterfall country” and Dulais, where there is an abundance of
natural beauty and magnificent countryside, some of the finest in
Wales with attractions for walkers and those in pursuit of other
leisure activities.
Tonmawr & Pontrhydyfen
In the neighbouring valley, Tonmawr and Pontrhydyfen lie just
above Cimla and border the Afan Valley or “Little Switzerland”,
which, as it is known locally, is beauty in itself.
Tonmawr and Pontrhydyfen are both former coal mining
communities. However, despite the removal of the coal legacy, tiny
terraced villages, unique in character and part of the coal
development remain.
Villages like Pontrhydyfen are reminders of its past life. The
valleys’ once extensive rail network, so important in the
industrial revolution, remain.
Pontrhydyfen borders the Afan Forest Park which has marked walks
and more than thirty miles of cycleways.
Crynant, Seven Sisters, Onllwyn & Banwen
The Dulais Valley consists of the communities of Crynant, Seven
Sisters, Onllwyn and Banwen, with
areas including Cilfrew, Aberdulais, Tonna, Clyne,
Resolven, Cwmgwrach and Glynneath, where settlement is concentrated
making up the Vale of Neath.
In addition, there is considerable settlement at Cimla and at
Tonmawr and Pontrhydyfen in the valley above Cimla. Cimla borders
the Gnoll Estate Country Park and is also
within easy reach of the town centre.
The valleys are blessed with areas of natural unrivalled beauty
and places of scientific interest.
Waterfalls
The Vale of Neath is, of course, most famous for its waterfalls. The National Trust’s
impressive falls at Aberdulais, set in a picturesque gorge
alongside the River Dulais, is one of the most famous waterfalls in
the Vale of Neath.
Another waterfall which is easily accessible is at Melincourt
just outside Resolven.
A car park at the entrance to the village of Clyne marks the
start of a 15-minute walk to see the 80-feet high falls, which are
a Nature Reserve owned and managed by the Glamorgan Wildlife
Trust.
For over 200 years travellers from all over the world would have
come to the Vale of Neath to paint, photograph, film and view these
famous waterfalls. There is a splendid drawing of Melincourt
Waterfall by Turner at the British Museum.
The waterfall at Aberdulais has also been the subject of a
drawing by Turner as well as by many other artists.
Pelenna Valley
Woodland walks and strolls can be found throughout the Pelenna
valley and the Vale of Neath, in forest or country park settings
and of course amongst the famous waterfalls in “waterfall country”
in the Vale of Neath. Pelenna Mountain Centre, situated in a
spectacular location in the hills above Tonmawr, offers a range of
outdoor pursuits and courses, etc. and is now a major
attraction.
Visitors to the district cannot avoid being aware of the
forests. The Forestry Commission has
been very active in the Welsh valleys so that they are one of the
most afforested parts of the country. However, the forestry is not
just growing timber. The forests are part of the countryside and
foresters do their utmost to fit them into the landscape in
acceptable forms. The peace and quiet of a woodland walk is
available to all on foot. On the edge of the Neath district is the
old Pontrhydyfen Station. Fork left past the aqueduct and there are
two way marked walks through the woods.
Canals
The Neath and Tennant Canals, made famous by the novelist
Alexander Cordell, consist of a 21-mile stretch of waterway going
from Glynneath to Swansea.
Several miles of the Neath Canal above Resolven have been
tastefully restored and it is now navigable for canoes and small
craft.
The canal is once again regarded as a tourist attraction and it
is possible to take a relaxing barge trip through the backbone of
Neath or walk along the landscaped towpath to see the locks and
aqueducts, restored bridges and canal basins at both Resolven and
Aberdulais.
Country Parks
There are Country Parks at The Gnoll and Aberdulais Basin. The
Gnoll Estate Country Park is decked in
history and is now recognised as the most important 18th Century
landscaped garden in Wales, with many interesting features such as
cascades, tranquil lakes, ponds, bridges and towers to walk and
stroll around. A children’s playground, golf course, trails and
footpaths provide additional attractions. The entire area is within
easy striking distance of Neath town centre and provides a haven
for many local people.
Neath is a thriving market town which has a special, unique
character all of its own, famed for its passionate support of rugby
and renowned for its hospitality and the welcome it offers
visitors. The town offers a wide range of shopping to suit all
tastes, with its General Market which dates back to Victorian
times, this busy market offers a refreshing mix of old and new.
Victoria Gardens is by far the most genteel spot in town and was
created in 1898 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen
Victoria’s reign.
Within the confines of the Gardens there is a fine Victorian
Bandstand and also a circle of standing stones (the Gorsedd Stones)
which were erected for the National Eisteddfod held in Neath in
1918. Also within the town is a Conservation Area, which houses
some of Neath’s oldest buildings.
Education, Sports and Recreational Facilities
Neath is well provided with a range of educational facilities
from pre-school playgroups to 6th Form and Higher Education
College. There is a range of primary schools serving the local
communities of the area, including the Dulais and Neath
Valleys.
Rugby, commonly known as Wales’ ‘other religion’, is played in
the centre of Neath at The Gnoll grounds. Neath’s ‘All Blacks’ rugby team
is one of the top sides in Wales and regularly supplies players for
Wales’ national team. Most villages have their own rugby side and
local rivalry provides some exciting games. Cricket is also played
at The Gnoll in the Summer. Neath has a wide range of modern
sporting, fitness and leisure facilities on offer at various sport
and leisure complexes and an outdoor athletics track.
Neath Fair, held in the second week of September, is the oldest
and largest fair of its kind in Wales. For four days the whole of
the town is taken over by stalls and amusements.
Transport – getting
around
The M4 runs to within a mile of Neath town centre, while the
A465, which connects Neath town centre with the Vale of Neath and
the valleys, has been radically improved.
Neath has a mainline railway
station that links South Wales to London Paddington and all
stations in between. The area also has an efficient bus network.
The valleys of Neath which are cantered around a revitalised
town centre have a wide range of housing to suit those in need of
accommodation, which is situated in the above mentioned
locations.
To view the homes currently available for rent, just click on
the gallery link on this website or
click on the area of your choice on the clickable map.
References
- "Neath Port Talbot County Borough Guide" Published by Burrows
Communications Limited, Publicity House, 106 Stafford Road,
Wallington, Surrey SM6 9AY
- "Waterfall Walks in the Vale of
Neath" Published by Neath Port Talbot Council, Printed by A.
McLay & Co. Ltd
- "Neath & Pontardawe Area Guide 2003" Published by Magazines
& Specialist Publications, The Western Mail & Echo Ltd
- "Neath Port Talbot Area Guide 2004" Published by Magazines
& Specialist Publications, The Western Mail & Echo Ltd
- "Neath Official Borough Guide" by George Eaton M.A. D.P.A
Borough Archivist and Past-President of the Neath Antiquarian
Society, Revised 1986, Designed and Published by The British
Publishing Company Limited.
- "Neath Borough Guide", The British Publishing Company Ltd,
Gloucester 1992
- "What's on - 2003" Print & Graphics Section, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
- "Neath Port Talbot Street Guide" Published by Burrows Communications Limited
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Last Updated: 13.05.2008 at 16:14