Baglan - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
BAGLAN, a parish, in the union and hundred of Neath, county of Glamorgan, South Wales, 4 miles (S.) from Neath, on the road to Cardiff; comprising the townships of Higher and Lower Baglan, and containing 548 inhabitants, of whom 137 are in Higher, and 411 in Lower, Baglan. This parish, which comprises 2500 acres, is delightfully situated in the midst of rich and beautifully diversified scenery, bounded on one side by mountains whose acclivities are thickly wooded, and commanding over the lower grounds a magnificent view of Swansea bay. The beauty of its situation, and the local advantages it possesses, have made it a favourite place of residence; and within its limits, in addition to the neat cottages which are profusely scattered over its surface, is a greater number of gentlemen's seats than is usually to be found in a single parish. The village has an air of rural simplicity, and a prepossessing appearance of cheerfulness and tranquillity. The soil is of different kinds, part being meadow and grazing land of good quality, and some tolerably good arable land; but the greater portion of the parish consists of mountainous ground, affording merely pasturage for sheep, and on the side next the sea are extensive banks and plains of sand. There are several veins of coal of a good bituminous quality, of which some are worked; and a considerable quantity of fine clay is obtained, part of which is used in the manufacture of earthenware, and part conveyed to the different copper-works in the neighbourhood; together with some iron-ore, which is smelted at the Neath Abbey iron-works. A creek, called Baglan Pill, which falls into the Neath a little below BritonFerry, affords a facility for conveying the produce of the mines, and other commodities, in craft of from twenty to thirty tons' burthen. The great South Wales railway, also, will pass near Baglan.
The living is a consolidated vicarage with that of Aberavon, both endowed with the great tithes. The church, dedicated to St. Baglan, is a neat and appropriate building, and the churchyard is shaded with yew-trees of luxuriant growth. In 1844 a National school for boys and girls was established at Pant-y-Swan; it is supported by subscription, and intended for the parish of Briton-Ferry as well as this parish. In 1846 a school was commenced at Tonmawr, which is maintained by a stoppage of 6d. per month on the wages of the men, and 3d. on the wages of the boys, employed by the Tonmawr Coal Company. There are also three Sunday schools in the parish, one of them in connexion with the Church, held in the National school; one held by the Calvinistic Methodists in their place of worship, by Pant-y-Swan; and the third belonging to the Independents, held near the Tonmawr colliery. A sum of £2 per annum, chargeable upon the turnpike-trust of the Neath district, is annually distributed among the poor, together with two sums amounting to 7s. 6d.; the whole principally arising from a donation of £30 by Richard o'r Bwlch, and one of £12. 10. made by George Williams of Blaen Baglan.
Of the gentlemen's seats with which the parish is adorned, the principal are, Balgan House, the residence of Howel Gwyn, Esq., once the residence of the Rev. William Thomas, by whom it was built, the friend of Mason and Gray, who were his occasional visiters; Baglan Hall, the seat of Griffith Llewellyn, Esq.; Baglan Cottage and Greenfield Lodge, two ornamental cottage residences on the road-side, both the property of that gentleman; and Baglan Lodge. Mynydd-Gaer, in the parish, a small circular intrenchment, is supposed to be either of British or of Danish origin. |
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