Cilybebyll is both a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...

and a

community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, ...

in the Neath Port Talbot County Borough,

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. It includes the villages of

Alltwen Alltwen (or Allt-wen; translates to "white wooded slope") is a village in the Swansea Valley (Welsh: ''Cwmtawe'') in Wales. Alltwen forms part of the community of Cilybebyll and is administered separately from adjoining Pontardawe on the opposit ...

, Fforest Gôch, Gellinudd and Rhos. The village is located east of

Pontardawe Pontardawe () is a town and a community in the Swansea Valley (Welsh: ''Cwmtawe'') in Wales. With a population of 6,832, it comprises the electoral wards of Pontardawe and Trebanos. A town council is elected. Pontardawe forms part of the county ...

, north of Neath and northeast of Swansea. The community has a population of 4,769 in 2011 census.

Cilybebyll estate

The Cilybebyll estate was established in the 15th century, and after development by various families, by 1838 was recorded as having the largest land holding in the district. Plas Cilybebyll, the main house, was redeveloped in 1840 by Henry Leach, creating a south-facing Victorian facade on the property. His son Frances Edward Leach inherited the estate in 1848, changing his name to Lloyd in 1849 by

Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but s ...

in order not to forfeit his inheritance. The family remained in residence until the early 20th century when the family records were passed to the

Swansea Museum The Swansea Museum in Swansea, Wales, UK is the oldest museum in Wales, created for and by the Royal Institution of South Wales in 1841 to house its collections and provide research and learning facilities. History Swansea Museum is the oldes ...

. Plas Cilybebyll is now a guest house.

Coal mining disasters

Like much of South Wales, small-scale coal mining has taken place in the area for many centuries. By 1849 it was producing large quantities of coal, which were readily transported around the world from the docks at Swansea. The dangers of coal mining past and present are highlighted by two disasters in the locality. In 1858, 14 men and boys died as a result of engine fumes being accidentally pumped into the Primrose Colliery. In 2008 the community council commemorated the 150th anniversary with a plaque on a park bench. On 15 September 2011, water poured into the mine workings at

Gleision Colliery The Tarenni Colliery ( cy, Gloddfa Tarenni) and its associated workings, are a series of coal mines and pits located between the villages of Godre'r Graig and Cilybebyll located in the valley of the River Tawe, in Neath Port Talbot county borough, S ...

, a small scale colliery which had expanded as the price of anthracite had risen. Three miners escaped to the surface, with one taken to

Morriston Hospital Morriston Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Treforys) is a 750-bed hospital located in Cwmrhydyceirw near Morriston in Swansea, Wales. It is managed by Swansea Bay University Health Board. Alongside its role as a district general hospital, Morriston is a ...

. Units from the Mines Rescue Service were called in from across the country, to rescue four men located below the surface. Four bodies were subsequently found. Parallel inquiries into the causes of the disaster were launched by

South Wales Police South Wales Police ( cy, Heddlu De Cymru) is one of the four territorial police forces in Wales. It is headquartered in Bridgend. The force was formed as South Wales Constabulary on 1 June 1969, by the amalgamation of the former Glamorgan Cons ...

and the Health and Safety Executive.

References

External links

A Vision of Britain Through TimeBritish History OnlineBritish Listed BuildingsGenukiGeographLiber Mortuorum: The Book of the Dead: St John the Evangelist, CilybebyllOffice for National Statistics
{{Neath Port Talbot Communities in Neath Port Talbot