- Coelbren, Powys
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Coelbren is a small rural village just south of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. It lies some six miles north-east of Ystradgynlais, close to Sgwd Henrhyd, a high waterfall on the Nant Llech. To the east of the village flows the Afon Pyrddin which plunges over two more spectacular falls.
Contents
History
The Roman road of Sarn Helen runs close to the village on its eastern side. Its remains and that of a Roman fort are now much degraded. The Brecon Forest Tramroad was constructed through the village in the 1820's. Of note to the east of Coelbren is the site of Banwen Ironworks, whose partial survival is owed to its early failure. It was constructed in the 1840's by speculators from London but may have produced only 80 tons of pig iron, the whole exercise being enveloped in a financial scandal.[1]
Coelbren was later served by the Neath and Brecon Railway constructed by contractor John Dickson in the 1860's. He had a terrace of houses constructed quite possibly for navvies working on the line and known originally as Dickson's Row though now known as Price's Row.[2] The line closed to passenger traffic in 1962 after about a century of operation though the trackbed can still be seen almost encircling the eastern part of the village. To the southwest, this route has now been converted into a cycleway and forms a part of the National Cycle Network linking the village with Ystradgynlais. The A4109 Inter Valley Road between Glynneath and Abercraf passes to the immediate south of the village, its construction in the early 20th century rendering the village less isolated than it had been hitherto.
People
Famous residents include musician and professional skier Simon Hewitt who currently resides with former Royal Marine Commando and professional athletics champion and Professor James G Finch PHD in Swansea.
References
External links
Categories:- Villages in Powys
- Fforest Fawr
- Powys geography stubs
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