Senghenydd
Encyclopedia
Senghenydd is a town
in the Aber Valley, roughly four miles north-west of the town of Caerphilly
and is within the county borough
of Caerphilly
, Wales
. It is traditionally within the county of Glamorgan
. The population of the Aber Valley in 2001 was 6,696.
farming community, which became industrialised with the discovery of coal
in the late 19th century. With the closure of the coal pits in the second half of the twentieth century, most people in the town now commute
outside the Aber Valley for employment.
The Universal Colliery
, Senghenydd, suffered the first of two major gas and coal dust explosions
on 24 May, 1901. Damage was sustained to both shafts, resulting in a restricted rescue attempt, and 81 of the 82 men working in the mine were killed.
On the 14 October, 1913, Senghenydd suffered from what would become the very worst mining disaster in Britain's history, when a second gas explosion occurred at the Universal Colliery
, resulting in the loss of 439 lives. But many of the surviving miners went back to help their workmen who were either trapped or buried alive after the worst mining disaster in the UK.
Universal Colliery was finally closed on Friday 30 March 1928 (except for a ventilation shaft) with the loss of 2500 jobs
is a rugby union
club affiliated to the Welsh Rugby Union
who have played in the town since 1898.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the Aber Valley, roughly four miles north-west of the town of Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
and is within 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 Caerphilly
Caerphilly (county borough)
Caerphilly is a county borough in southern Wales, straddling the ancient county boundary between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.Its main town is Caerphilly, and also the largest...
, 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...
. It is traditionally within the county of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. The population of the Aber Valley in 2001 was 6,696.
History
Senghenydd was originally a ruralRural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
farming community, which became industrialised with the discovery of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
in the late 19th century. With the closure of the coal pits in the second half of the twentieth century, most people in the town now commute
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
outside the Aber Valley for employment.
Coal mining
Senghenydd, along with its neighbouring town Abertridwr, make up the majority of the Aber Valley, and became urbanised in the 1890s, when the Universal (1891) and Windsor collieries were sunk in the region.The Universal Colliery
Universal Colliery
Universal Colliery was a coal mine located in the town of Senghenydd in the Aber Valley, roughly four miles north-west of the town of Caerphilly...
, Senghenydd, suffered the first of two major gas and coal dust explosions
Mining accident
A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals.Thousands of miners die from mining accidents each year, especially in the processes of coal mining and hard rock mining...
on 24 May, 1901. Damage was sustained to both shafts, resulting in a restricted rescue attempt, and 81 of the 82 men working in the mine were killed.
On the 14 October, 1913, Senghenydd suffered from what would become the very worst mining disaster in Britain's history, when a second gas explosion occurred at the Universal Colliery
Senghenydd Colliery Disaster
The Senghenydd Colliery Disaster, also known as the Senghenydd Explosion, occurred in Senghenydd , near Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales on 14 October 1913, killing 439 miners...
, resulting in the loss of 439 lives. But many of the surviving miners went back to help their workmen who were either trapped or buried alive after the worst mining disaster in the UK.
Universal Colliery was finally closed on Friday 30 March 1928 (except for a ventilation shaft) with the loss of 2500 jobs
Transport
Senghenydd is served by the B4263 road to Caerphilly, and connects to Nelson via roads over Mynydd Eglwysilan to the north.Sport
Senghenydd Rugby Football ClubSenghenydd RFC
Senghenydd Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Senghenydd in South Wales. The club formed during the 1898/99 season built around the immigrant workers coming from port areas around Wales to find employment in the newly sunk Senghenydd coal mines.- Early history :1904 saw the...
is a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club affiliated to the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
who have played in the town since 1898.
Notable people
- Ifor BachIfor BachIfor Bach also known as Ifor ap Meurig and in anglicised form Ivor Bach, lord of Senghenydd, was a twelfth century resident in and a leader of the Welsh in south Wales.- Welsh Lord of Senghenydd :...
(fl. c. 1158), nobleman and progenitor of the minor Welsh royal house of Senghenydd. - Martin ThomasMartin Thomas (footballer)Martin Richard Thomas is a Welsh former footballer, currently a goalkeeping coach within the Football Association. His official title is "Assistant National Goalkeeping Coach".-Playing career:...
, professional footballer, most notably with Newcastle United.