Miskin
Encyclopedia
Miskin is a village approximately 2 miles south of Llantrisant
in the county borough
of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
.
The origin of the village
was a small hamlet
known as New Mill, which grew up around New Mill farm. Miskin is part of the Pontyclun
electoral ward.
in 1852 and 1853 respectively, had a huge impact on the small hamlet of New Mill. The census
of 1861 shows that New Mill had become a village. Its population was now 83 people divided in 17 households, of these 83 residents 17 were iron ore miners. By the early 1870s New Mill had become the village of Miskin, with the village centre being based around the inn, which is now The Miskin Arms pub.
The name change from New Mill to Miskin was brought about by Judge Gwilym Williams, and was taken from the medieval commote of Miskin by Williams, a staunch Welsh patriot, he lived at Miskin Manor
(built 1864), a Victorian L-plan mansion in a neo-Tudor style.
By the 1870s several ironstone mines are evident to the north of the village, and the village's population continued to grow, as skilled miners rather than heavy labourers, were needed to extract the ore. The 1871 census reveals the village's population as 144, with more than half of the miners, immigrants from the depressed copper mining county of Cornwall
.
Funds for the building of the church were raised by public donations and events, notably the Grand Fete at Miskin Manor which raised over £1,000, with the majority of the funds coming from Emma Eleanor Williams, Gwilym Williams' widow. The church was licensed on 23 December 1907 and later consecrated by Right Rev Timothy Rees
, Bishop of Llandaff, on Sunday 23 April 1933.
St David's Church was designed by local architect E.M. Bruce Vaughan and has been described as 'earnestly handsome'. The church has an over-buttressed square tower, and is faced with green Quarella stone outside and in. Of note are three stained glass windows by Jessie Bayes (c. 1943-1964), to members of the Williams family.
There is also a large Roman Catholic church, All Hallows, located on the ourskirts of the village.
movement for camping and training.
Llantrisant
Llantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St...
in the 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...
of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The origin of the village
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...
was a small hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
known as New Mill, which grew up around New Mill farm. Miskin is part of the Pontyclun
Pontyclun
Pontyclun is a village in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is served by the South Wales Main Line and has its own local rugby union club...
electoral ward.
History
Originally a small hamlet by the name of New Inn, the 1841 census records the settlement as having a population of 31. The opening of the Bute and Mwyndy iron ore mines in nearby Talbot GreenTalbot Green
Talbot Green is a village just north of the M4 motorway, in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales in the United Kingdom...
in 1852 and 1853 respectively, had a huge impact on the small hamlet of New Mill. The census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 1861 shows that New Mill had become a village. Its population was now 83 people divided in 17 households, of these 83 residents 17 were iron ore miners. By the early 1870s New Mill had become the village of Miskin, with the village centre being based around the inn, which is now The Miskin Arms pub.
The name change from New Mill to Miskin was brought about by Judge Gwilym Williams, and was taken from the medieval commote of Miskin by Williams, a staunch Welsh patriot, he lived at Miskin Manor
Miskin Manor
Miskin Manor is a Victorian manor house built in 1864 in a Tudor style, situated in the village of Miskin in Rhondda Cynon Taf, south Wales. The house is claimed to be haunted. The estate was owned by the Williams family including Rhys Rhys-Williams for many years who were descended from the Welsh...
(built 1864), a Victorian L-plan mansion in a neo-Tudor style.
By the 1870s several ironstone mines are evident to the north of the village, and the village's population continued to grow, as skilled miners rather than heavy labourers, were needed to extract the ore. The 1871 census reveals the village's population as 144, with more than half of the miners, immigrants from the depressed copper mining county of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Religion
A church has stood at the location of the current St David's church since 1878. Originally of corrugated iron construction, it was replaced by the current stone church in 1906–07. The land on which the church was built was owned by the Williams family.Funds for the building of the church were raised by public donations and events, notably the Grand Fete at Miskin Manor which raised over £1,000, with the majority of the funds coming from Emma Eleanor Williams, Gwilym Williams' widow. The church was licensed on 23 December 1907 and later consecrated by Right Rev Timothy Rees
Timothy Rees
Timothy Rees was a Bishop of Llandaff.Timothy Rees was a Cardiganshire man, educated at Lampeter and subsequently pursued a monastic vocation at the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield in Yorkshire. When in 1931 he became Bishop of Llandaff he was the first member of a religious community to...
, Bishop of Llandaff, on Sunday 23 April 1933.
St David's Church was designed by local architect E.M. Bruce Vaughan and has been described as 'earnestly handsome'. The church has an over-buttressed square tower, and is faced with green Quarella stone outside and in. Of note are three stained glass windows by Jessie Bayes (c. 1943-1964), to members of the Williams family.
There is also a large Roman Catholic church, All Hallows, located on the ourskirts of the village.
Miskin Mill
The Miskin Mill site has been the location of a water driven corn mill for most of the last 400 years. Since 1929 it has been used by the ScoutingScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement for camping and training.