Welsh Icons - Hirwaun




Hirwaun

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On October 1993 the red flag was raised on Hirwaun common as a symbol of unity among workers of Tower Colliery during a march to commemorate the Merthyr Uprising in 1831. It also highlighted the plight of their own pit, which was threatened with closure. Photograph © Janice Lane

Hirwaun (Welsh: 'long meadow') is the name of an electoral ward, a community, and a mining village at the northwest end of the Cynon Valley in the South Wales Valleys. The village of Hirwaun is three miles from the town of Aberdare, and comes under Aberdare for postal reasons. According to the 2001 census, Hirwaun has a population of around 4,000 people.

Hirwaun has an industrial background centering on the Hirwaun Ironworks. The ironworks was in already existence during the late eighteenth century and passed through a succession of owners before being purchased in 1819 by William Crawshay of Cyfarthfa, in whose family it remained until closure in 1859. The ironworks' blast furnaces required coke, which spurred an increase in local coal-mining activities. Even after the ironworks closed, mining continued. Following the miners' strike however, the only deep coal mine left in Wales is Tower Colliery, which was closed down, bought by its workers and reopened.

During the Merthyr Rising of 1831 the red flag that later came to represent socialism was raised on Hirwaun Common for the first time. Originally a white sheet dipped in a bucket of sheep's blood, the symbol has had an enduring appeal worldwide. The Brecon Beacons national park lies just on the Northern edge of the village.

Unlike most South Wales villages, Hirwaun consists of a vast array of different architectural housing styles, often cheek-by-jowl in small blocks. This is due to development to satisfy different needs at different times, with much gentrification taking place in the last few decades. Currently the patch of green land known as Hirwaun Common is being built on, a development of modern family homes being built. Hirwaun hence has a discontinuous, hotch-potch feel to it that marks it out as unusual in the South Wales Valleys.

The tower blocks
Hirwaun made local news in May 2004 when its two '60s built tower blocks were demolished by dynamite detonation. Their demise marked the end of a major landmark in the Cynon Valley.

Libraries in Hirwaun:
Hirwaun Library
   High Street
   Hirwaun
   CF44 9SW
01685 811144
Mon 10:00am-1:00pm 2:00pm-5:00pm
   Tue 10:00am-1:00pm 3:00pm-6:00pm
   Wed 10:00am-1:00pm
   Thur 10:00am-1:00pm 2:00pm-5:00pm
   Fri 10:00am-1:00pm 3:00pm-6:00pm

Rugby in Hirwaun: Hirwaun RFC
   32 High Street
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9SL
01685 811063

Football in Hirwaun:
Hirwaun Welfare Football Club
   3 Station Road
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9TA,
01685 811091

Pubs/Bars in Hirwaun:
Cardiff Arms Hotel
   High Street
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9SL
01685 380096
www.cardiffarms.webs.com

Glancynon Inn
   Swansea Road
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9PE
01685 811 043

The Olive Tree (was the Globe Inn)
   Rhigos Road
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9PS
01685 811 305

Prince Of Wales
   1 Harris Street
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9NP
01685 811 048

Ty Newydd Country Hotel
   Penderyn Road
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9RU

Restaurants in Hirwaun:
The Glancynon
   Swansea Road
   Hirwaun
   Aberdare
   Mid Glamorgan
   CF44 9PE
01685 813020


Cafes in Hirwaun: Bedonia Cafe 36 High Street Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9SW 01685 811522

Take Aways in Hirwaun: Lucky House 57 Brecon Road Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9NH 01685 813276

Taxis in Hirwaun: Cynon Cars 44 Limeslade Close Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9RN 01685 811444 Gerwyns Taxis Service 23 Caswell Close Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9RL 01685 814914

Other in Hirwaun: Brecon & Radnor Conservative Club 54 High Street Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9SW 01685 811003

Places of Worship in Hirwaun: Living Way Church 34a Bethel Place Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9PD 01685 812719 Parish of Hirwaun 6 The Vicarage Redhill Close Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9NZ 01685 811316 St Therese of Lisieux (RC) High Street Hirwaun 01443 473710 01443 473710 ourladyoflourdes_ma@yahoo.co.uk

Retail in Hirwaun: Co-op Market Town Store 62a Tramway Road Hirwaun Aberdare Rhondda Cyan Taff Glamorgan CF44 9PA

Schools/Colleges in Hirwaun: Hirwaun Nursery School Brecon Road Hirwaun Aberdare CF44 9NN 01685 811339 Hirwaun Primary School Glannant Street Hirwaun Aberdare CF44 9NF 01685 811619

Chemists/Pharmacies in Hirwaun: The Co-operative Pharmacy 37 High Street Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9SW 01685 811412 The Co-operative Pharmacy Brecon Road Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9NL 01685 814646

Doctors/GPs in Hirwaun: Hirwaun Health Centre Brecon Road Hirwaun Aberdare Mid Glamorgan CF44 9NS 01685 811999

Remembrance Parade at Hirwaun

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