Maesteg
Maesteg shown within the United Kingdom
Population	c. 25,000 (2001)
OS grid reference	SS855915
Principal area	Bridgend
Ceremonial county	Mid Glamorgan
Constituent country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MAESTEG
Postcode district	CF34
Dialling code	01656
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
European Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Ogmore
List of places: UK • Wales • Bridgend

Coordinates: 51°37′N 3°39′W / 51.61, -3.65 Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 11 KB) Summary Description: A blank map of the United Kingdom, with country outline and coastline; contact the author for help with modifications or add-ons Source: Reference map provided by Demis Mapper 6 Date: 2006-21-06 Author: User... Image File history File links Red_pog2. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... For local government purposes, Wales is divided into 22 unitary authorities. ... Bridgend is a county borough in what was the traditional county of Glamorgan, southern Wales. ... The Preserved counties of Wales are the current areas used in Wales for ceremonial purposes such as Lieutenancy. ... Mid Glamorgan is a ceremonial preserved county of Wales, one of the divisions of the traditional county of Glamorgan. ... // Constituent country is a phrase used, often by official institutions, in contexts in which a historical, currently non-legally officially recognised country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping. ... This article is about the country. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... The CF postcode area, also known as the Cardiff postcode area[2], is a group of postal districts around Aberdare, Bargoed, Barry, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Cowbridge, Dinas Powys, Ferndale, Hengoed, Llantwit Major, Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash, Penarth, Pentre, Pontyclun, Pontypridd, Porth, Porthcawl, Tonypandy, Treharris, Treorchy in Wales. ... +44 redirects here. ... There are a number of policing agencies in the United Kingdom. ... South Wales Police (Welsh: ) is one of the four Home Office police forces in Wales. ... A Fire Appliance belonging to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service The fire service in the United Kingdom has undergone dramatic changes since the beginning of the 21st century, a process that has been propelled by a devolution of central government powers, new legislation and a change to operational... The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (Welsh Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru) is the fire and rescue service covering the ten Welsh principal areas of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan. ... The Welsh Ambulance Service (also called the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust or Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru) was established on April 1, 1998 and has 2,500 staff providing ambulance and related services to the 2. ... This is a list of Members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom in the 2004 to 2009 session, ordered by name. ... Wales is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Ogmore is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in Wales Lists of places within principal areas List of places in Anglesey List of places in Blaenau Gwent List of places in Bridgend List of places in Caerphilly List of places in Cardiff List of places in Carmarthenshire List... This is a list of places in the Bridgend county borough, south Wales. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Maesteg is a Welsh town located at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley in the north of the Welsh county borough of Bridgend (Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr) and within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan (Morgannwg). It is very close to the border with Neath Port Talbot county borough, and also to Rhondda Cynon Taff county borough. It has a population of some 17,830-19,223 people, with the surrounding area bringing the population to around 25,000 and is the 17th largest centre of population in Wales. The local school is called Maesteg Comprehensive School. The town was built, like so many others in this area of South Wales, on its nineteenth century and early twentieth century legacy stemming from Iron Production and coal mining. At the height of its importance, there were six collieries operating in the town; with associated coal mining industries locating in Maesteg. This article is about the country. ... Ronda, Spain Main street in Bastrop, Texas, United States, a small town A town is a community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas. ... This article is about the country. ... Bridgend is a county borough in what was the traditional county of Glamorgan, southern Wales. ... Wales has thirteen historic counties. ... Glamorgan or Glamorganshire (Welsh: ) is one of thirteen historic counties and former administrative counties of Wales. ... Neath Port Talbot (Welsh: ) is a county borough in Glamorgan, south Wales. ... Rhondda Cynon Taff (Welsh: Rhondda Cynon T f) is a county borough in Glamorgan, South Wales. ... Wyoming coal mine Coal mining is the mining of coal. ...

History

The war memorial in Maesteg town centre.

The earliest settlement in the Llynfi Valley is at the Bwlwarcau Iron Age Hill fort near to Llangynwyd Village which is around 2 miles to the south west of Maesteg Town centre. This places earliest human settlement in the area around Maesteg to more than 2,000 years ago. Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ...

Immediately surrounding the Maesteg Area is significant evidence of settlement in the Bronze Age, which reaches back further in time, to nearly 4,000 years ago, in Carn Llechart, Crug yr Afan and Carn Bugail, there is also evidence of Neolithic settlement in this area of South Wales, in Penmaen Burrows in the Gower peninsula, and Maesteg is also close to Paviland in the Gower, where the oldest remains of humans have been found in the United Kingdom, dating from 26,350 years ago +/- 550 years; so there is significant evidence that the area around Maesteg has seen anthropological contact for a very long time. The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. ... Approximate extent of South East Wales. ... Gower redirects here. ...

Closer to modern times, the Romans established a settlement at present day Bridgend, and it could be assumed that they visited the Llynfi Valley as they also established a settlement at Neath, although the road that connected them was to the south of the Llynfi Valley as the topography is somewhat trecharous between Maesteg and Neath. Bridgend (Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is a town in the traditional county of Glamorgan and the main town in the county borough of Bridgend in south Wales. ... Image:Neatharms. ...

Maesteg remained until the start of the nineteenth century a small rural village, with areas of the town also as small villages with Llangynwyd as the principal village, as it has the oldest most developed infrastructure in the valley. Maesteg began to develop and expand as the techniques of the Industrial Revolution began to be applied to South Wales. Iron, which had always been known to exist in the area, was exploited with the opening of the Iron Works in the 1820s. This was fueled by coal seams which also existed in the valley. This was then transported to Porthcawl via railway where it could be taken by sea anywhere in the world. Another Iron works was set up in the late 1830s, and the two companies were soon bought up by Sir John Bowring in 1843. Bowring's tenure was a financial disaster and he left financial involvement in Maesteg by 1848, when he was put in charge of the British consulate in Canton, and he then became Governor of Hong Kong (1854-59). General Name, symbol, number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Standard atomic weight 55. ... Iron Works was a name applied in the 19th century to heavy industrial manufactories whose output products were primarily built of iron and/or steel. ... Porthcawl is a town of around 16,000 on the south Wales coast in the county borough of Bridgend, traditional county of Glamorgan. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Sir John Bowring Sir John Bowring (Chinese translated name 寶寧 or 包令) (October 17, 1792 - November 23, 1872) was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer and polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong. ...

Bowring has left a lasting legacy on the town; part of Nantyffyllon district was called Bowrington for a time during the nineteenth century; also John Street in Nantyffyllon was named after him, and Charles Row was named after his brother. There also exists the Bowrington Arcade, which was built at the end of the nineteenth century at the corner of Neath Road and Llynfi Road in the Town Centre.

By 1886, iron-making had ceased in Maesteg, coupled with a long depression during the 1870s, this marked a dark period in Maesteg's recent history; however, work in the coal industries had already began, with the sinking of Garth colliery by 1864 and five more collieries sunk before 1908.

Maesteg collieries

This marked the largest expansion of Maesteg's population, with a greater number of people living in Maesteg at the start of the twentieth century than they do now at the start of the twenty-first. Coal mining was never expected to be an infinite resource, with closures of Garth and Bryn navigation in the 1930s and 1960s, as a natural result of running out of coal to mine. However, the National Coal Board closed Caerau and Coegnant before the "Miners' Strike" of 1982-83. Surface coal mining in Wyoming in the United States of America. ...

St, John's was also closed before its natural end. The legacy of the "Miners' Strike" is not as apparent as in other valleys which were arguably more economically reliant on coal, such as the Rhondda Valleys and valleys further to the east. There was still harsh economic hardship during the start of the 1980s for many of the population of Maesteg.

Transport

Maesteg has three railway stations, all on the Maesteg Line to Bridgend and Cardiff. The terminus station is named Maesteg and the others are named Maesteg Ewenny Road and Garth (Mid Glamorgan). There is a bus service, replacing a withdrawn rail service, from Maesteg to Caerau. The Maesteg Line is a railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Bridgend and Maesteg. ... Bridgend (Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is a town in the traditional county of Glamorgan and the main town in the county borough of Bridgend in south Wales. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ... Maesteg railway station is one of two railway stations that serve town of Maesteg in South Wales. ... Maesteg Ewenny Road railway station is one of two railway stations that serve town of Maesteg in South Wales. ... Garth railway station is a railway station serving the village of Garth, Bridgend county borough, South Wales. ...

There were other railway stations; Llangynwyd, also on the Bridgend line, and Maesteg (Neath Road), on the Port Talbot Railway but these are now closed.

Regeneration

Maesteg is currently undergoing a regeneration scheme to revitalise the town.

A Tesco Store has just been built and opend (Monday 5th November 2007) near the rugby club and the Sports Centre, which has meant a noticeable loss of trade within the town centre. However a view can be taken that the large attraction of a well known foodstore may bring people back into the town centre if the town centre has something people want. A new road takes you straight to Tesco from Talbot Terrace, bypassing the town centre. There is also a free bus that will run from Caerau to Tesco twice a day. , For other uses, see Tesco (disambiguation). ... , For other uses, see Tesco (disambiguation). ... , For other uses, see Tesco (disambiguation). ...

The £10 million Maesteg Washery Land Reclamation Scheme, is transforming a former coal and iron industry site to provide a new comprehensive school and sports fields, in addition to areas set aside for new housing development. It is also hoped that affordable new housing may be created and the landscape improved slightly from the legacy of the washery works.

Education

Maesteg has 6 main stream primary schools, Cwmfelin Primary,Plasnewydd Primary,Blaencaerau Primary,Nantyfyllon Primary,Llangynwyd Primary and Garth Primary.The only comprehensive school located in Maesteg is Maesteg Comprehensive School which is currently relocating to new premises ready for September 2008. The new school is worth £17,000,000. There is also a Catholic Primary school, St. Marys and St. Patricks and a Welsh Medium School Ysgol Cynwyd Sant. The pupils of the Cynwyd Sant would go to Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari until the new Welsh Comprehensive school will open in September 2008 Ysgol Gyfun Llangynwyd. The pupils of St. Marys and St. Patricks would then persue their education in Archbishop McGrath. Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari is a Welsh Medium comprehensive school in the village of Llanharry, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. ...

Music and Art

Maesteg has its own proud tradition of music and theatre. There are many good local groups providing everything from the traditional male voice choir music to the more modern rock band, Funeral for a Friend, who originally hail from Maesteg ([1], is one such example. For the Elton John song, see Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. ...

Another is rising Metal band Endurance of Hate, ([2]), who are from Maesteg, and are keen to not hide their origins.

[3]). Maesteg Children's Choir hosts many concerts throughout the year, and Curtain Up Youth Theatre has been performing musicals since the turn of the millennium, giving children of the valley a chance to showcase their talents. Maesteg Amateur Operatic Society recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a prodution of 'The King and I.' The Society continues to flourish with talents from all ages eager to perform, ranging from 16 to founder members, who are still active, at 80 and above. Home of famous poet Will Hopkin among others.

Artist Christopher Williams (Welsh Artist 1873-1934) was born in Maesteg in 1873. Six of his paintings are on display in Maesteg Town Hall. Christopher Williams (born 1873, Maesteg, Wales; died 1834) was a Welsh artist. ...

People of Note From Maesteg

• George Thomas Paget, Boy Soldier of the First World war.
• Carol Jones, Mother of Kylie Minogue & Dannii Minogue.
• Matthew Lee Davies, Funeral For A Friend (Lead Vocalist)
• Chico Hopkins, Wales and British Lion (Rugby Union).

The grave of George Paget in the Communal Cemetery, Billy-Montigny Pas de Calais France --> George Thomas Paget was born in 1899 in South Wales, the second son of George and Rose Paget of 5 Duck Row, Bryn Margam. ... Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE (pronounced ,[1]mɪnoʊg;[2] born 28 May 1968) is an Australian Grammy and BRIT award-winning pop singer, songwriter and actress. ... Not to be confused with Dan Minogue. ...

Media

As part of Bridgend County the local radio station is 106.3 Bridge FM. Bridge FM is the most listened to radio station in Bridgend County. Breakfast Presenter, Lee Jukes has very close ties with Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir and is also a Patron of Maesteg Amatuer Operatic Society. Bridge FM is a small radio station broadcasting in the Bridgend area. ...

Sister Cities

• Galway, Ireland, since 2008
• Calella, Spain, Unofficial.

Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference M300256 Statistics Province: Connacht County: Dáil Éireann: Galway West European Parliament: North-West Dialling Code: 091 Postal District(s): G Area: 50. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Calella beach Calella is a tourist town on the Costa del Maresme, 56 km from Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. ...

References

• http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/2005_world_city_populations/Wales.html
• http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/Web1/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001792.hcsp
• http://www.grossi.co.uk/wales/towns.htm
• http://www.diggingupthepast.org.uk/maps/maesteg1884.html
• http://www.roman-britain.org/celtic/celtic_map.htm
• http://scarab.newport.ac.uk/pavi/paviland.html
• http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/Web1/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001754.hcsp
• http://www.maesteg.tk/