Llwydcoed

For the historic electoral ward of the same name, seeLlwydcoed (electoral ward).

Llwydcoed
View from Llwydcoed towards Hirwaun
Llwydcoed Location withinRhondda Cynon Taf
Population	1,300
Principal area	Rhondda Cynon Taf
Preserved county	Mid Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ABERDARE
Postcode district	CF44
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Cynon Valley

Llwydcoedis a small village andcommunitynorth of theCwm Cynon,near the town ofAberdare,Rhondda Cynon Taf,Wales, with a population of 1,302 as of 2011 census.

History

The village initially developed in the Tregibbon area, where in 1801 workers' housing was built by Thomas ap Shencin ap Gibbon of Fforchaman Farm. Other early housing was built at Miner's Row, Founder's Row and Scales Houses. The names of these streets betray their early origins; the Scale family were among the founders of the works and remained partners until 1846.

Red Cow Pub

In the second half of the 19th century a new period of growth was instigated by the development of thecoal industryin the area. Matthew Wayne Esq. of the Gadlys Ironworks opened the Dyllas Colliery in 1840 and in 1849 Ysguborwen Colliery was sunk by Samuel Thomas and Thomas Joseph. Among the houses built in this period were those at Moriah Place, Horeb Terrace and Grey's Place. Exhibition Row was built in 1851 and was named Exhibition Row in honour of theGreat Exhibitionheld atCrystal Palacethat year.

Industry

The Aberdare Ironworks were established at Llwydcoed in the early nineteenth century and in 1823 were taken over byRowland Fothergill.Ownership later passed to his nephew,Richard.

Eightpublic houseswere open in Llwydcoed at this time. They were The Earl Grey, Fox and Hounds, Red Cow, Corner House, The Mason's, Miner's Arms, the Dynevor Arms and the Croes Bychan. At that time stop tap was midnight and a local essayist recounts the boisterous nature of the revelries.

"It is said that more beer was lost (wasted) when the furnaces, coal mines and iron-ore undertakings were being worked, especially at the start of the month, and on pay Saturday Night, than is being drunk now." (Unknown Author. 'A Glance at the History of Llwydcoed' Translated by D Williams and D L Davies.)

Government

Llwydcoed was one for many years anelectoral wardfor elections toGlamorgan County Councilfrom 1889 andAberdare Urban District Councilfrom 1894.

It is currently part ofAberdare West/Llwydcoedelectoral ward, for elections toRhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.Llwydcoed is also acommunityin its own right.

Transport

TheVale of Neath Railwaymainline fromNeathtoMerthyr Tydfilarrived in 1853, openingLlwydcoed railway stationin the same year. Taken over on grouping by theGreat Western Railwayin 1923, the line remained open until closure in 1962.

Landmarks

Llwydcoed War Memorial is anobelisk-typewar memoriallocated within the local park. It was unveiled in 1921.

St. James' Church, a Grade IIlisted building,is also known as the Red Church.

Bryncarnau Grasslandsis a site special scientific interest.

Notable people

• Abraham Matthews,one of the founders of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia was a Minister inHoreb, Llwydcoedchapel before leaving for South America.
• Stage and screen actorIoan Gruffuddwas born in Llwydcoed. Best known for playingReed RichardsinThe Fantastic Fourand for his role asHoratio Hornblower
• Griffith Rhys Jonesaka Caradog worked at the Aberdare Ironworks within Llwydcoed village. There is a statue of Caradog in Victoria Square in the heart of Aberdare.
• Roy Noble,radio presenter onBBC Radio WalesandBBC Radio Cymru,lives in Llwydcoed.
• StereophonicsdrummerStuart Cablelived in Llwydcoed for a number of years up until his death in 2010.

Bibliography

• Jones, Ieuan Gwynedd (1964)."Dr. Thomas Price and the election of 1868 in Merthyr Tydfil: a study in nonconformist politics (Part One)"(PDF).Welsh History Review.2(2): 147–172.

External links

• Llwydcoed Heritage Trail
• geograph.co.uk: photos of Lwydcoed and surrounding area