Community hub
0 subscribers8 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Aberbargoed.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Aberbargoed
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Key Information
Aberbargoed (Welsh: Aberbargod) is a town in the County Borough of Caerphilly, Wales. Aberbargoed once contained the largest ever colliery waste tip in Europe,[2] although this has now been reclaimed and turned into a country park. The town is within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.
Toponymy
[edit]Aber refers to a "confluence" or "mouth" of a river and bargod is a "border".[3]
Mining
[edit]Coal mining operations in Bargoed Colliery started in 1897 when the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company started to sink the shaft. In 1901, the "Ras Las" nine-foot seam was discovered at a depth of 625 yards. The north and south shafts were completed. In November 1903, Sir Alfred Thomas, MP for East Glamorgan, started the engines to raise the first four trams of coal. By 1910, the pit was employing 1,943 miners and was the largest coal mine in the Rhymney Valley. On 10 December 1908, it broke the world record for production when a ten-hour shift produced 3,562 tons of coal. It further broke its own record on 23 April 1909 when 4,020 tons were raised in a ten-hour shift. Bargoed Colliery closed on 4 June 1977. By this time, only 360 men were employed there.
Population
[edit]The population of Pont Aberbargoed was 351 in the census of 1851. Aberbargoed reached a peak in 1961 of 5,157, and had dropped to 3,882 according to the 1991 Census.[4]
Modern day
[edit]The coal-mining waste tip that lay between Bargoed and Aberbargoed once towered to a height of 400 feet in the 1970s. The local school had a Plant a tree in '73 campaign in an attempt to make it more pleasurable on the eye. The tip has now been levelled and the area has been reclaimed with walkways. The colliery has gone and is now home to an ambulance station and various small industries. There are also developments with a new retail outlet in the area where the tip once stood.
The large tip at Bedwellty is still there, but has been grassed over and now looks much like the surrounding countryside. Aberbargoed now has an extensive area of grasslands that are protected due to the finding of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly, Euphydryas aurinia in the marshy area north of where Bedwellty School once stood. Recently the A469 Bargoed bypass was constructed through the park.
Notable people
[edit]- Sir Harold Josiah Finch, politician
- Geoff Eales, jazz pianist and composer, was born in Aberbargoed
- Luke Evans, actor and singer
- Listed on the War Memorial in the middle of the village is the name of Glyndwr Michael. His body, given the fictional name of "Major William Martin", was used in "Operation Mincemeat", a deception operation by British intelligence agencies during World War II to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily.
References
[edit]- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ "the largest ever man made colliery waste tip in Europe". www.caerphilly.gov.uk. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ^ "Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru". Archived from the original on 29 July 2014.
- ^ "Population figures from 1991 census". www.welshicons.org. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
Bibliography
[edit]James, Paul (2002). The History of Bargoed, Gilfach and Aberbargoed in Photographs, Vol. 3. Old Bakehouse Publications. ISBN 1-874538-64-6.
Gelligaer Historical Society (1972). Gelligaer. Gelligaer Historical Society.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aberbargoed.
- Aberbargoed Electoral Ward Web Page Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- NHS Wales's Aberbargoed Hospital Web Page
- Web Page of Aberbargoed Grasslands Conservation Area
- Welsh Coal Mines - all the pits, all the histories
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
Aberbargoed
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Geography
Location and Administration
Aberbargoed is situated in the Rhymney Valley within the South Wales Valleys, approximately 20 miles north of Cardiff, and lies along the ancient boundary between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.[13] The town's geographic coordinates are 51.7000°N 3.2167°W.[14] Administratively, Aberbargoed falls within Caerphilly County Borough and is part of the historic county of Monmouthshire.[14] It is included in the Bargoed community and the Aberbargoed and Bargoed electoral ward, represented by Bargoed Town Council.[15][16] The area uses the postcode district CF81.[15] In terms of connectivity, Aberbargoed is proximate to the A469 road, which runs through the Rhymney Valley, and the Rhymney Railway line, with nearby stations providing access to the broader rail network.[17]Physical Features
Aberbargoed occupies a steep-sided valley within the South Wales Coalfield, characteristic of the broader Rhymney Valley landscape. The topography features narrow, incised valleys flanked by rising hills, with the town itself situated at elevations around 190-250 meters above sea level along the valley floor, while surrounding ridges and plateaus ascend to over 400 meters. This configuration results from glacial and fluvial erosion acting on the underlying sedimentary rocks, creating a constrained terrain that limits cross-valley connectivity and influences local microclimates.[18][19] The area lies at the confluence of the River Rhymney and its tributary, the Nant Bargoed Rhymney, which lends the settlement its "Aber" prefix denoting a river mouth or meeting point. The River Rhymney, flowing southward through the valley, has a total catchment area of approximately 227 square kilometers, shaping local hydrology through seasonal variations in flow and contributing to periodic flood risks, particularly during heavy rainfall events when river levels can exceed 1.65 meters. These fluvial dynamics have historically affected low-lying areas around Aberbargoed, prompting ongoing monitoring by Natural Resources Wales.[20][21][22] Geologically, Aberbargoed rests on Carboniferous strata, including the thick sequence of the South Wales Coal Measures Group, comprising mudstones, siltstones, sandstones, and multiple coal seams formed in a deltaic and swamp environment during the late Carboniferous period. Beneath these lie the older Carboniferous Limestone Series, providing a foundational platform that influenced the coalfield's topography and supported extensive industrial extraction. These formations, preserved in the synclinal structure of the coalfield, extend across the region and have shaped both the landscape and resource availability.[23][18] The climate of Aberbargoed exemplifies the temperate maritime conditions prevalent in the South Wales Valleys, with mild winters and cool summers moderated by proximity to the Irish Sea. Annual average temperatures hover around 10-11°C, rarely dropping below 2°C in winter or exceeding 20°C in summer, while precipitation totals approximately 1,200 mm yearly, distributed fairly evenly but with peaks in autumn and winter due to prevailing westerly winds. This rainfall regime, enhanced by orographic effects on the valley sides, sustains the river system but also heightens flood susceptibility.[24]History
Etymology
The name Aberbargoed derives from the Welsh language, combining the prefix "Aber," meaning the mouth of a river or the confluence of waters, with "Bargoed," a form of "Bargod."[25][26] "Bargod" itself stems from elements denoting an edge, border, or ridge, often referring to geographical boundaries such as those formed by rivers, as seen in historical place names like Bargod in Caerphilly.[26][27] According to the Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, the authoritative historical dictionary of Welsh, "bargod" is etymologically linked to "bar" (edge) and an ancient element related to covering or overhanging, with applications in place names indicating marches or outskirts, such as the River Bargod Taff and River Bargod Rhymni.[26] Early references to the settlement appear as "Pont Aberbargoed," highlighting its association with a bridge at the river confluence, as recorded in the 1851 census where the population was noted at 351.[28] The name evolved from the original Welsh "Aberbargod," with "bargod" reflecting the boundary role of the River Bargoed, which historically demarcated land areas in the region.[26][27] By the mid-19th century, as the area developed, the fuller form "Aberbargoed" became standardized in English usage, while retaining its Welsh roots tied to the landscape's hydrological features.[28]Early Settlement and Mining Development
Prior to the industrial era, the area encompassing what would become Aberbargoed featured sparse settlements characterized by scattered farmhouses and river crossing points along the Bargoed River, with communities primarily engaged in agriculture.[29] In 1851, the population of Pont Aberbargoed, a key early locale in the vicinity, stood at just 351 residents, reflecting the limited human activity in this rural part of the Rhymney Valley before widespread coal extraction.[28] The advent of coal mining transformed the landscape, beginning with the sinking of Bargoed Colliery in 1897 by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company, which initiated exploration of the underlying coal seams in the region.[3] The first coal production occurred in 1901, establishing the colliery as a pivotal site with three pits that would drive economic activity, though full-scale operations ramped up shortly thereafter.[2] This mining inception spurred rapid population growth in the early 20th century, as workers flocked to the area, necessitating the construction of terraced housing and basic infrastructure to accommodate the influx by 1903.[30] Immigrants primarily arrived from rural Welsh valleys, the West Country, northern England, and Ireland, drawn by employment opportunities and solidifying Aberbargoed's identity as a burgeoning mining village within the South Wales Coalfield.[31]Colliery Operations and Decline
The operations of Bargoed Colliery, located in Aberbargoed, commenced with significant milestones in the early 20th century. In 1901, the Ras Las (also known as the Nine Feet) seam was discovered at a depth of 625 yards during shaft sinking by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company.[28][3] The first coal was raised in November 1901, marking the start of full production from the north and south shafts, which were equipped with advanced ventilation and winding systems capable of handling approximately 350 tons per hour.[28][3] The colliery quickly achieved notable production records, establishing it as one of Europe's largest coal operations. On 10 December 1908, a ten-hour shift produced a world record of 3,562 tons of coal.[28][32] This was surpassed on 23 April 1909, when 4,020 tons were raised in another ten-hour shift, facilitated by innovative machinery including electrically powered conveyors and enhanced winding gear.[28][2] Employment peaked at 1,943 miners in 1910, reflecting the colliery's scale as a major employer in the Rhymney Valley and contributing to its reputation among Europe's premier steam coal producers.[28][3] Following World War II, the colliery was nationalized in 1947 under the National Coal Board (NCB), but faced mounting challenges from depleting seams and shifting economic conditions in the coal industry.[2] The workforce dwindled to 360 by 1977 amid reduced output and uneconomic operations.[28] The colliery closed permanently on 4 June 1977 due to exhausted reserves and broader industrial decline.[28][2] Its legacy included the largest man-made colliery spoil tip in Europe, which reached a height of 400 feet in the 1970s and served as a prominent feature of the landscape before later reclamation efforts.[28]Demographics
Population Trends
The population of Aberbargoed experienced significant fluctuations tied to its industrial heritage, beginning with modest numbers in the mid-19th century. In 1851, the settlement known as Pont Aberbargoed recorded just 351 residents, reflecting its early stage as a small riverside community before widespread mining activity.[28] This figure grew dramatically over the subsequent century due to migration drawn by coal mining opportunities, reaching a peak of 5,157 inhabitants in 1961 at the height of colliery employment in the region.[28] Following the closure of Bargoed Colliery in 1977, which marked the end of major mining operations and led to substantial job losses, the population began a sharp decline. By 1991, it had fallen to 3,882, a reduction of over 25% from the 1961 high, as families left in search of work elsewhere amid the broader deindustrialization of the South Wales Valleys.[28] The 2001 census for the Aberbargoed ward further showed 3,558 residents, indicating continued contraction in the immediate post-mining era.[33] More recent data reflects integration with the adjacent town of Bargoed, forming the Aberbargoed and Bargoed ward, which had a population of 9,868 according to the 2021 census.[34] This combined urban area now supports a population density of approximately 16 persons per hectare.[34] The post-1977 decline has been partially reversed since the early 2000s through new housing developments and urban expansion, attracting families and contributing to modest growth.[35] Population projections for Caerphilly County Borough suggest a slight increase of 2.0% from 2019 to 2043, indicating stability or modest growth in the area driven by regional economic factors.[36]| Year | Population | Notes/Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1851 | 351 | Pont Aberbargoed settlement; early pre-mining phase.[28] |
| 1961 | 5,157 | Peak during mining boom.[28] |
| 1991 | 3,882 | Post-deindustrialization decline.[28] |
| 2001 | 3,558 | Aberbargoed ward census.[33] |
| 2021 | 9,868 | Aberbargoed and Bargoed ward census (integrated urban area).[34] |