| Ystradgynlais | |
|---|---|
 Junction at Heol Eglwys | |
  Ystradgynlais Location withinPowys | |
| Population | 8,092 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SN793106 |
| Community |
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| Principal area | |
| Preserved county |
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| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Swansea |
| Postcode district | SA9 |
| Dialling code | 01639 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
51°46′52″N3°45′04″W / 51.78101°N 3.75107°W /51.78101; -3.75107 Community map
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Ystradgynlais (English:/ˌʌstrədˈɡʌnlaɪs/;[2]Welsh:[ˌəstradˈɡənlais]ⓘ) is a town in southwestPowys, Wales. It is located on theRiver Tawe, and was within theboundaries of the former county ofBrecknockshire. The town has a high proportion ofWelsh language-speakers. The community includesCwmtwrch,Abercraf andCwmgiedd, with a population of 8,092 in the 2011 census; it is the second-largest town in Powys. It forms part of theSwansea Urban Area[3] where the Ystradgynlais subdivision has a population of 10,248.[4]
The place-name Ystradgynlais, meaning 'vale of the river Cynlais' – Cynlais may be a personal name, or derive fromcyn ('chisel') andglais ('stream') – is first recorded in 1372.[5] In the 1600s there were only a couple of houses by the church and a pub (now the rectory). In 1801 there were only 993 residents in the town living in only 196 houses. The first documented written evidence ofiron working in the area was at Ynyscedwyn and is of a deed of release dated 1729. By 1750 there were seven furnaces in south Wales, one of which was atYnyscedwyn.
Tynycoed Chapel, located between Ynyswen and Penycae, near Ystradgynlais, was first constructed in 1774, and was rebuilt in 1829.[6]
The first written evidence ofcoal mining in the area identified mining at Waunclawdd in 1780. Most of the coal dug up was used in the blast furnaces of the ironworks. By 1790, the full extent of the mineral resources in the valley was better known and it was realised that to exploit these to the full, improved transport would be essential.
The greatest increase in the population was between 1821 and 1841. This coincides with the coming of George Crane and the development of theYnyscedwyn Ironworks. By 1870, the town's industrial development was in decline due to various economic factors, although coal mining carried on in the area with a few light industries.
In 1986 Ystradgynlais was made acommunity; the area was previously covered by the two communities of Ystradgynlais Higher and Ystradgynlais Lower.[7]
Ystradgynlais hosted the 1954National Eisteddfod, an annual Welsh festival of literature, dance, and music. The century-old award-winning Ystradgynlais Public Band competed in the 2005 National Eisteddfod.[8]
Ystradgynlais's Parc-yr-Orsedd has a monument to the fallen heroes of both World Wars from Ystradgynlais,Abercrave,Cwmtwrch,Cwmgiedd,Glyntawe andCoelbren.
Dan yr Ogof caves are a short journey from the town centre, passingCraig-y-Nos Castle and country park. The caves are reputed to have once been the hideout of folk figureTwm Siôn Cati.[9]Henrhyd Falls are also nearby.
Ystradgynlais is also home to the Miners Welfare Hall, known and promoted as 'The Welfare', which contains a cinema. In 2020 aPurple Plaque was installed at the building to markEunice Stallard's life and activity as a peace campaigner.[10]
It also has a number of public houses.[11] For 11 years, from 1944, the town was the home of Polish artistJosef Herman, who stayed for the first four years in rooms at the Pen-y-Bont Inn.[12][13][14][15] He became part of the community, where he was fondly nicknamed "Joe Bach" (Little Joe).[16][17] Herman is quoted as saying: "I stayed here because I found ALL I required. I arrived a stranger for a fortnight. The fortnight became eleven years."[18]
In 2016 The Stephen Lewis Tristars Aquathlon in Ystradgynlais won the Welsh triathlon event of the Year 2016.[citation needed]
National Cycle Route 43 passes by the southern edge of the town on the line of the formerSwansea Vale Railway which linked Swansea via theNeath and Brecon Railway atCoelbren withBrecon.Ystradgynlais railway station was operational from 1869 to 1923.
TheA4067 road linkingWest Cross,Swansea, withSennybridge ran through the town until the 1970s, when it was diverted onto thebypass that follows the line of the formerSwansea Canal.[19]
Ystradgynlais has a bus station, served hourly by theFirst Cymru-operated X6 to and from Swansea, as well as the long-distanceTrawsCymru T6 between Swansea and Brecon.[20]
The town is the home ofYstradgynlais F.C. andYstradgynlais RFC. Ystradgynlais RFC was established in 1890 and has a fierce rivalry withYstalyfera RFC andAbercrave RFC.
In 1946,Smiths Industries Ltd,Ingersoll Ltd andVickers Armstrong founded the Anglo-Celtic Watch Co. Ltd. producing watches on the Ynyscedwyn estate on the outskirts of Ystradgynlais. The factory was officially opened byHugh Dalton on 15 March 1947. Vickers Armstrong sold their shares to the other two companies in 1948. The company became one of the largest producers of watches in Europe, producing up to 1.25 million watches a year until 1980 when it closed.[21][22]
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