Aberdare
Posted by Lewis on the 14th May 2013
Aberdare Understanding Urban Character from Cadw
Aberdare enjoyed a meteoric rise from a small village with medieval origins to a full-blown town over the course of a few decades in the mid-nineteenth century. Its rapid growth was fuelled by the iron industry and coalmining, and when they came to an end, they left behind a remarkably complete industrial town. A commercial and civic core is surrounded by a series of well-planned residential areas built on former fields. Each area has a dominant style of building and a distinctive character. In the town centre, the commercial buildings display their own style, including an unusual tradition of boldly decorated render. The residential streets have seen considerable change in recent years, but the distinctive styles adopted by different landowners at different times can still be seen, and there is some unusual detail.
The study provides information to support a Townscape Heritage Initiative focussed on the town centre, as well as planning and regeneration activity in the wider area.
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/docs/cadw/publications/urban_character_aberdare...
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Interesting, although I've only rushed through it. There's a terrific old map on page 38, the number of railway lines is astonishing. I'd love to get a copy of that.
Perhaps Coco can point out the location of his beloved workhouses.
Tegvan in trecynon was a workhouse I think, if you want to look at the old maps of Cynon Valley go to Aberdare Library
We had quite a few copies of different parts of the valley they are interesting
Coco has probably acquired the contract to turn it back into a workhouse.
St Tydfil Hospital Merthyr, and Tegfan Trecynon were both Union Workhouses run privately under the same managment. There were many smaller ones, these usually became Children's Homes, while the bigger ones became Hospitals.
The poor Law of 1834 modified the system. Then the Welfare State was introduced and the good old days were gone.
I wonder if Coco is related to Thomas Powell, the coal owner who opened up the famous four foot seam of dry steam coal to the world. It was rumoured that at one point during the 19th century he was the richest man in the world. You can see from Coco's writings that he shares many of the atributes of Powell.
With the maps of Aberdare it is hard to see how influential Thomas Powell was in the development of coal in the Cynon Valley. He opened six collieries and the company he help to creat eventually went on to own the majority of the collieries, not only in the Cynon Valley but most of the South Wales coalfield.