Croeserw
Encyclopedia
Croeserw is a village
of approximately 1,380 inhabitants in Neath Port Talbot
County Borough
.
(also known as Avon) at between 196 and 299 metres above sea level
.
in 1982. A stone monument now marks the position where the farm once stood. Croeserw, meaning in the Welsh language
'Crossing-acre' (Croes = Cross/crossing + Erw = acre) refers possibly to the road crossings where the lip of the Afan Valley meets the upper reaches of the Llynfi Valley.
Croeserw is surrounded on all sides by hill
s and mountain
s:
It is known locally as 'Little Switzerland', and many of the houses on the hill bear the distinctive Swiss-chalet-style wide gables and long sloping roofs.
into the upper reaches of the Afan Valley
. Local mines included Scatton, Avon and Dyffryn
coal pits as well as numerous drift mines. In order to meet the energy demand New Croeserw was developed to house mining families to service the burgeoning coal mines. These houses were substantially refurbished by the local authority in the 1980s/90s.
In 1982 the old Croeserw Farmhouse was demolished. After the mine closure
s, Croeserw experienced an economic downturn.
Today, the main industries around Croeserw consist of light manufacturing, service sector, retail
, forestry and farming. There is also a high level of unemployment
and a large part of the population in retirement.
It is hoped that the development of tourism and leisure facilities will provide further employment opportunities. Croeserw is well-served by regular direct bus services to Maesteg
and Bridgend
, including road links to Port Talbot
, Neath
, Swansea
and the M4
.
Recent developments include the Afan Forest Park
(also known as Afan Argoed Country Park) Visitor Centre, the South Wales Mining Museum near Cynonville, and the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre and Ponds.
sources by the year 2010. Under the TAN8 plan, 38% of all potential sites within Wales have been located within Neath Port Talbot.
NPowerRenewables recently completed 16 300ft windfarm
turbines on Ffynnon Oer. Spanish-owned Gamesa
plans to build 14 603ft turbines, four on Blaencorrwg, and 10 on Gelli Mountain, which stands directly above Croeserw. Cardiff-based Eco2 plans to build 4 410ft turbines on Corrwg Fechan overlooking Glyncorrwg.
There is widespread concern that these constructions will drive away the much-needed tourism in an area that is struggling to get back on its feet. The opposition to these plans is led by Glyncorrwg Action Group, which is also spearheading a drive with local MP Dr Hywel Francis
to designate the Afan Valley
as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of approximately 1,380 inhabitants in Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot is a county borough and one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. Neath Port Talbot is the 8th most populous county in Wales and the third most populous county borough....
County Borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
.
Location
It stands on a hillside in the Afan ValleyAfan Valley
The Afan Valley is a valley that encompasses the upper reaches of the River Afan in Port Talbot, South Wales. The valley is traversed by the A4107 Afan Valley Road. Settlements in the area include Cwmafan, Pwyll-y-glaw and Cymer.- External links :**...
(also known as Avon) at between 196 and 299 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Origins
It takes its name from the Croeserw Farm and 'woollen factory', possibly of the Elizabethan period, which was demolished for road widening of the A4107 roadA4107 road
The A4107 road is an A road in Wales.The A4107 begins in Port Talbot and heads up the Afan Valley in a north easterly direction. It then continues eastwards until it connects with the A4061 road south west of Cwmparc.Settlements served by the road include:...
in 1982. A stone monument now marks the position where the farm once stood. Croeserw, meaning in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
'Crossing-acre' (Croes = Cross/crossing + Erw = acre) refers possibly to the road crossings where the lip of the Afan Valley meets the upper reaches of the Llynfi Valley.
Amenities
Old Croeserw consists of the older buildings and the large cemetery on the hill overlooking the A4107. New Croeserw, higher up the hill, consists mainly of post-war public housing, many of which are now private. A cluster of retail outlets including a post office, a former Co-op supermarket, now family-run, and an older hotel-pub are also located in New Croeserw. There is also an industrial park, and a primary school.Croeserw is surrounded on all sides by hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
s and mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s:
- Rhiw Llech Mountain: North of Croeserw, meaning 'Slate Slope Mountain', rises to 390 metres above sea level.
- Gelli Mountain: North-East of Croeserw. Gelli means GroveGrove (nature)A grove is a small group of trees with minimal or no undergrowth, such as a sequoia grove, or a small orchard planted for the cultivation of fruits or nuts...
. The mountain takes its name from the nearby Gelli Farm. The mountain rises to 450m above sea level. - Caerau Mountain: South-East of Croeserw. Caerau means 'forts'. The mountain takes its name from nearby Caerau. The mountain rises to 556m above sea level.
- Foel Fawr Mountain: West of Croeserw, meaning 'Great Peak', rises to 347m above sea level.
It is known locally as 'Little Switzerland', and many of the houses on the hill bear the distinctive Swiss-chalet-style wide gables and long sloping roofs.
History
A woollen farm has existed in Croeserw since pre-Industrial times. In the 19th century, Old Croeserw was developed as part of the expansion of coal miningCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
into the upper reaches of the Afan Valley
Afan Valley
The Afan Valley is a valley that encompasses the upper reaches of the River Afan in Port Talbot, South Wales. The valley is traversed by the A4107 Afan Valley Road. Settlements in the area include Cwmafan, Pwyll-y-glaw and Cymer.- External links :**...
. Local mines included Scatton, Avon and Dyffryn
Dyffryn
Dyffryn may refer to one of these places in Wales:*Dyffryn, Bridgend*Dyffryn Cennen, Carmarthenshire*Dyffryn, Ceredigion*Dyffryn, Neath Port Talbot *Dyffryn, Pembrokeshire*Dyffryn Gardens...
coal pits as well as numerous drift mines. In order to meet the energy demand New Croeserw was developed to house mining families to service the burgeoning coal mines. These houses were substantially refurbished by the local authority in the 1980s/90s.
In 1982 the old Croeserw Farmhouse was demolished. After the mine closure
Mine closure
Mine closure is the period of time when the ore-extracting activities of a mine have ceased, and final decommissioning and mine reclamation are being completed. It is generally associated with reduced employment levels, which can have a significant negative impact on local economies...
s, Croeserw experienced an economic downturn.
Today, the main industries around Croeserw consist of light manufacturing, service sector, retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
, forestry and farming. There is also a high level of unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and a large part of the population in retirement.
It is hoped that the development of tourism and leisure facilities will provide further employment opportunities. Croeserw is well-served by regular direct bus services to Maesteg
Maesteg
Maesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 17,859, but it is now at an estimate of 20,000....
and Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, including road links to Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
, Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
.
Recent developments include the Afan Forest Park
Afan Forest Park
The Afan Forest Park is a forest park in Britain. It is set in the Afan Valley in Neath Port Talbot, in south Wales. It is well-known for its mountain biking and hiking or hillwalking trails...
(also known as Afan Argoed Country Park) Visitor Centre, the South Wales Mining Museum near Cynonville, and the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre and Ponds.
Transport links
- A4063 roadA4063 roadThe A4063 links the town of Bridgend with Cymer in Wales.Settlements served by the route include:*Bridgend*Wild Mill*Pen-y-fai*Sarn*Aberkenfig*Tondu*Coytrahen*Llangynwyd*Cwmfelin*Maesteg*Nantyffyllon*Dyffryn*Caerau*Croeserw*Cymer-Source:*...
Croeserw to Caerau: to the upper Llynfi valley. - A4107 roadA4107 roadThe A4107 road is an A road in Wales.The A4107 begins in Port Talbot and heads up the Afan Valley in a north easterly direction. It then continues eastwards until it connects with the A4061 road south west of Cwmparc.Settlements served by the road include:...
Croeserw to Cwmafon - A4107 Croeserw to The Bwlch yr Afan (meaning Afan Mountain Pass)
- A4061 roadA4061 roadThe A4061 is a main road linking Bridgend with Hirwaun in Wales.Settlements served by this road include:*Bridgend*Sarn*Bryncethin*Blackmill*Lewistown*Ogmore Vale*Price Town*Nantymoel*Treorchy*Treherbert*Hirwaun-Links:*...
The Bwlch to TreorchyTreorchyTreorchy is a village, although it used to be and still has characteristics of a town, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr valley...
: to the Rhondda ValleyRhonddaRhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
. - A4061 The Bwlch to NantymoelNantymoelNantymoel is a village and includes the formerly separate village of Pricetown in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales on the River Ogmore, and is one of the constituent villages of the Ogmore Valley...
: to the Ogmore Valley.
Windfarms
The Welsh Assembly aims to achieve 10% of all energy from renewable energyRenewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
sources by the year 2010. Under the TAN8 plan, 38% of all potential sites within Wales have been located within Neath Port Talbot.
NPowerRenewables recently completed 16 300ft windfarm
WindFarm
WindFarm is wind energy software used to analyse, design, optimise and visualise wind farms. It calculates and optimises the energy yield subject to natural, planning and engineering constraints. WindFarm has the wind modelling software MS-Micro integrated. MS-Micro is based on the same...
turbines on Ffynnon Oer. Spanish-owned Gamesa
Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica
Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica , is a manufacturing company principally involved in the fabrication of wind turbines and the construction of wind farms....
plans to build 14 603ft turbines, four on Blaencorrwg, and 10 on Gelli Mountain, which stands directly above Croeserw. Cardiff-based Eco2 plans to build 4 410ft turbines on Corrwg Fechan overlooking Glyncorrwg.
There is widespread concern that these constructions will drive away the much-needed tourism in an area that is struggling to get back on its feet. The opposition to these plans is led by Glyncorrwg Action Group, which is also spearheading a drive with local MP Dr Hywel Francis
Hywel Francis
Dr Hywel Francis is a Welsh Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Aberavon since 2001.-Background:...
to designate the Afan Valley
Afan Valley
The Afan Valley is a valley that encompasses the upper reaches of the River Afan in Port Talbot, South Wales. The valley is traversed by the A4107 Afan Valley Road. Settlements in the area include Cwmafan, Pwyll-y-glaw and Cymer.- External links :**...
as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
.
External links
- http://www.afanforestpark.co.uk/
- http://www.diggingupthepast.org.uk/swmm.html
- http://www.CroeserwAthletic.page.tl