Brynamman RFC
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Brynamman () is a village on the south side of the Black Mountain (''Y Mynydd Du''), part of the
Brecon Beacons National Park Brecon Beacons National Park, officially named Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (), is a National parks of the United Kingdom, national park in Wales. It is named after the Brecon Beacons (), the mountain range at its centre. The national park ...
(''Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog''). The village is split into Upper Brynamman and
Lower Brynamman Lower Brynamman is an electoral ward of Neath Port Talbot county borough in Brynamman, Wales. Electoral ward The electoral ward of Lower Brynamman forms part of the parish of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen. The ward consists of some or all of the settl ...
by the
River Amman The River Amman () is a river of south Wales, which joins the River Loughor at Pantyffynnon. The source of the Amman is on the Black Mountain. The river name is said to derived from the Welsh word ' "pig, piglet", reflecting the way in whic ...
, which is also the boundary between the counties of
Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...
and
Neath Port Talbot Neath Port Talbot () is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. Its principal towns are Neath, Port Talbot, Briton Ferry and Pontardawe. The county borough borders Bridgend County Borough and Rhon ...
(in the old county of
Glamorganshire Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the south of Wales. Originally an early medieval petty kingdom of varying bo ...
). Ruins of stone dwellings (possibly prehistoric), an early type of lime kiln and rectangular medieval buildings found on the mountain show that people have lived in this area for a long time. The population of Brynamman was 2,608 as of 2011; the urban area including
Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen () is a village and community (Wales), community in Neath Port Talbot, South West Wales. Historically a part of Glamorgan, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen is a Community (Wales), parish made up of the electoral Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen (electoral ward) ...
was 5,692. Brynamman was previously known as Y Gwter Fawr (); The name was changed when the railway from Ammanford reached the village.
George Borrow George Henry Borrow (5 July 1803 – 26 July 1881) was an English writer of novels and of travel based on personal experiences in Europe. His travels gave him a close affinity with the Romani people of Europe, who figure strongly in his work. Hi ...
describes aspects of Gwter Fawr in the mid-19th century in his book ''
Wild Wales ''Wild Wales: Its People, Language and Scenery'' is a travel book by the English Victorian gentleman writer George Borrow (1803–1881), first published in 1862. The book recounts Borrow's personal experiences and insights while touring Wales ...
'' published 1862. The current name is derived from "Brynamman House", the home of John Jones, builder of the railway. Brynamman Golf Club (now defunct) first appeared in the mid-1920s. It continued into the 1930s. A feasibility study is being conducted into the reopening of Brynamman Lido, which opened in 1934 and closed in 2010.


Ynys Dawela

Ynys Dawela Nature Park is situated to the west of Brynamman, in the upper reaches of the Amman Valley. Its northern boundary is the Brecon Beacons National Park, and the river Amman, fringed with ancient oak woodland, forms its southern boundary. The park covers an area of 39 acres (15.8 hectares) and was once a working farm. The meadows dating from this period now support some scarce flowers, such as the Whorled Caraway and Meadow Thistle, and other wildlife, such as the
marsh fritillary The marsh fritillary (''Euphydryas aurinia'') is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. Commonly distributed in the Palearctic region, the marsh fritillary's common name derives from one of its several habitats, marshland. The prolonged larval st ...
butterfly and
dormice A dormouse is a rodent of the family (biology), family Gliridae (this family is also variously called Myoxidae or Muscardinidae by different taxonomists). Dormice are nocturnal animals found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. They are named for their ...
. The park has a range of important habitats supporting a diverse assemblage of plant and animal life. The wet grasslands, marshy ground and ponds are particularly important to amphibians, like newts, frogs and toads. The site narrowly escaped opencast mining, before Dinefwr Borough Council secured its future by purchasing it from British Coal. Since then the park has been developed for recreational and educational use. The park is managed by Carmarthenshire County Council and supported by volunteers.


Tregib Arms

The Tregib Arms in Brynamman was built 1860. The first-ever union branch to look after the needs of Welsh anthracite miners was started in the public bar in 1891. The original certificate can be viewed in the lounge bar. During the 1930s Welsh middleweight boxing champion Tommy Davies was a regular customer; his photo can be seen in the main bar.


Notable people

*
Rees Howells Rees Howells (10 October 1879 – 13 February 1950) was the founder of The Bible College of Wales. Howells was born in Brynamman in Carmarthenshire, Wales. When he was 12 years old he left school and worked in a tin mill and coal mine. He late ...
(1879–1950), founder of The Bible College of Wales. * Richard Roberts (1884–1970), Anglican clergyman,
Archdeacon of St Asaph This is a list of the archdeacons of St Asaph. The Archdeacon of St Asaph is the priest in charge of the archdeaconry of St Asaph, an administrative division of the Church in Wales Diocese of St Asaph. The archdeaconry comprises the five rural dea ...
*
Jack Elwyn Evans John "Jack" Elwyn Evans (1897 – 15 July 1941) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Brynamman RFC, Amman U ...
(1897–1941), rugby union and professional rugby league footballer *
Ieuan Williams Ieuan Williams (17 March 1909 — 3 March 1964) was a Welsh cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper who played first-class cricket for Glamorgan. He was born in Brynamman and died in Eastbourne Eastbourne () is a to ...
(1909–1964), cricketer, right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper *
Delme Bryn-Jones Delme Bryn-Jones (born Delme Jones; 29 March 1934 – 25 May 2001) was a Welsh baritone. Biography Delme Bryn-Jones was one of five siblings, son of bootmaker William John Jones. He was born Delme Jones,in Brynamman, South Wales in 1934. He was ...
(1934–2001), a baritone singer *
Roy Noble Roy Noble Rotary Fellow (born 1942) is a Welsh radio and television broadcaster, writer and Bevan Commissioner. Biography Noble was born and raised in Brynamman in the Amman Valley of Carmarthenshire, the only son of coal miner Ivor Noble an ...
OBE (born 1942), writer and radio and TV broadcaster *
Huw Ceredig Huw Ceredig Jones (22 June 1942 – 16 August 2011) was a Welsh actor, best known for portraying Reg Harries in the Welsh-language soap opera ''Pobol y Cwm'' for 29 years, from 1974 to 2003. Early life Huw Ceredig was born in Brynamman, Carmar ...
(1942–2011), actor *
Dafydd Iwan Dafydd Iwan Jones (born 24 August 1943) is a Welsh people, Welsh singer and Welsh nationalism, nationalist politician who rose to fame writing and performing folk music in the Welsh language. From 2003 to 2010, Iwan was the president of Plaid ...
(born 1943), singer and politician, president of Plaid Cymru *
Alun Ffred Jones Alun Ffred Jones (born 29 October 1949) is a Welsh politician and member of Plaid Cymru and former television producer, writer and director. Jones was the National Assembly for Wales Member for Caernarfon 2003–07 and for the newly created ...
(born 1949), politician, former TV producer, writer and director *
Jac Morgan Jac Morgan (born 21 January 2000) is a Welsh rugby union player, who plays in the backrow for the Ospreys and Wales. He is the current captain of the Wales national rugby union team. Early life Jac Morgan was born in Sketty, Swansea, an ...
(born 2000), professional rugby union player


Gallery

File:Black Mountain Centre Brynaman by Aberdare Blog.jpg, Black Mountain Centre in Brynamman File:Brynaman Public Hall and Cinema by Aberdare Blog.jpg, Brynamman Public Hall and Cinema (2008) File:Brynamman West Station 1929506 df602e8f.jpg, Brynamman GWR railway station (1962) File:Brynamman East Station 1929493 c3b2829e.jpg, Brynamman LMS railway station (1962) File:Gibea Chapel Brynamman by Aberdare Blog.jpg, Gibea Chapel (2008)


References


External links


Black Mountain Centre / Community Centre for Brynamman
{{authority control Villages in Carmarthenshire Amman Valley Black Mountain (range)