Bridgend: Encyclopedia II - Bridgend - Coal and industry

Bridgend - Coal and industry

The first coal mines opened in the valleys north of Bridgend in the seventeenth century, with the Llynfi valley being the first to be industrialised. Bridgend itself never had coal and remained a market town for some time, but the valleys of the three rivers grew into an important part of the south Wales coalfields. Ironworks and brickworks were also established in the same period, by John Bedford, although the ironworks faltered after his death and ceased operating entirely in 1836.

The Great Western Railway arrived and Bridgend was at the junction between the main London to Fishguard line and the branch to the three valleys. Coal trains regularly sent coal down the valleys and with the opening of the Vale of Glamorgan railway, coal could be sent directly to port at Barry or through other branch lines to Porthcawl.

Bridgend itself saw several quarries open in and around the town centre, one of which can still be seen today. An engine works was opened in the town and a large farmers' market also opened in the town centre, where it remained until at least the middle of the twentieth century.

In 1801, the population of Bridgend County was around 6000. By the beginning of the twentieth century this had risen to 61,000. By this time Bridgend was a bustling market town with prosperous valleys to the north, a thriving community and good links to other towns and cities.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Coal and industry", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki