Hirwaun War Memorial
Hirwaun (Welsh meaning : 'Long Meadow') is the name of an electoral ward, a community, and a village at the northwest end of the Cynon Valley in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The village of Hirwaun is four miles from the town of Aberdare, and comes under Aberdare for postal reasons. According to the 2001 census, Hirwaun has a population of 4851 people.
History and Background
Hirwaun has an industrial background centering on the Hirwaun Ironworks. The ironworks was in already existence during the late 18th century and passed through a succession of owners before being purchased in 1819 by William Crawshay of Cyfarthfa, in whose family it remained until closure in 1859. The ironworks' blast furnaces required coke, which spurred an increase in local coal mining activities. Even after the ironworks closed, coal mining continued. Following the miners' strike however, the only deep coal mine left in Wales was Tower Colliery, which closed down, was bought by its workers and reopened, and closed for a final time in early 2008.
The Brecon Beacons National Park lies just on the northern edge of the village.
Unlike most South Wales Coalfield villages, Hirwaun consists of a vast array of different architectural housing styles, often cheek-by-jowl in small blocks. This is due to development to satisfy different needs at different times, with much gentrification taking place in the last few decades. Currently the patch of green land known as Hirwaun Common is being built on, a development of modern family homes being built. Hirwaun hence has a discontinuous, hotch-potch feel to it that marks it out as unusual in the South Wales Valleys.
The tower blocks
Hirwaun made local news in May 2004 when its two 1960s built tower blocks were demolished by dynamite detonation. Their demise marked the end of a major landmark in the Cynon Valley.
The Crawshay Family and Landmarks
The Crawshay family were powerful, almost all powerful in the production of steel (the Hirwaun works had produced cannons used on the HMS Victory to name but one historical reference). The family owned a large portion of Hirwaun and even used their own money to pay employees 'Hirwaun Guinea'.[2]
The Cardiff Arms in Hirwaun was often used as a base for meetings, and during one such meeting a fire place located on the first floor of the property was smashed in a fit of anger, this was then replaced by a 'Hirwaun & Cyfathfa' fire place, with details of the steel works and the Crawshay family, this fire place was removed in recent years by persons unknown.
With all the various public houses in Hirwaun the Cardiff Arms was the hotel that used by the Gentry, the Lamb and the Globe by Drovers.
To the left hand side of the Cardiff Arms is the centre of town, and the war memorial with the Hirwaun Rugby Club behind and then the Police Station to the left again.
Over the years Hirwaun has seen the closure of its train station along with numerous public houses.
Hirwaun's illustrious past has since passed, with the closure of the ironworks, train station and now coal mine.
Hirwaun not only owes its past to the Crawshay family but also to the Marquise of Pembroke.
St Lleurwg's Church
Saint Lleurwg's parish church is situated in the centre if the village and is part of the ecclesiastical Parish of Hirwaun. It was opened by the Bishop of Llandaff in July 1858.
The sister church in the parish is dedicated to Saint Winefred and is in Penywaun.
Notable people
Ian Jindal former Head of Online Operations (1998-2000) at the BBC.
External links
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