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Essential Hotels > Wales > Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales, covering the middle of South Wales and bordering West and South Glamorgan, Powys, and Gwent. Along with the northern areas of Gwent, this area of Wales is often colloquially known as ‘The Valleys’. However, since 1996 Mid Glamorgan has been separated into the unitary authorities of Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Much of Mid Glamorgan is characterised by over a dozen steeply sided valleys, formed by the continuous flow of many rivers over thousands of years. For many years these vales were sparsely occupied, offering an unspoilt undulating vista until the onset of the Industrial Revolution. At one point, alongside Cardiff and Swansea, the Valleys were the foremost coal, iron and steel producers in the western world. Even today the mountains are lined with rows of terraced miners cottages built to house the flood of immigrant workers.
In later years, the effects of two world wars and several union disputes, in particular the miner’s strike of 1984, saw a substantial decline in the industrial power of the area. At the same time, the steel export market suffered from the worldwide oil crises of the 1970s and an increase in international steel production. Today all the mines in the area have been closed, the steelworks have been shut down and operations relocated to existing plants in Newport and Port Talbot. Many former mines have been filled in and the grounds re-employed for schools, new housing and public parks.
Visitors to the Valleys today will find the area much changed from the smoggy, industrial landscape of the past 200 years, with towns regaining their mountainous beauty. The Valleys are becoming popular again with commuters looking to live near the neighbouring cities of Cardiff and Newport but without the above-average cost of living. Towns remain fairly insular, with each town separated by the surrounding hills, but there are good road links and an improving rail network. As you may expect, many towns in the area celebrate their mining heritage with museums and monuments, although this is often in memoriam.
Much of Mid Glamorgan is characterised by over a dozen steeply sided valleys, formed by the continuous flow of many rivers over thousands of years. For many years these vales were sparsely occupied, offering an unspoilt undulating vista until the onset of the Industrial Revolution. At one point, alongside Cardiff and Swansea, the Valleys were the foremost coal, iron and steel producers in the western world. Even today the mountains are lined with rows of terraced miners cottages built to house the flood of immigrant workers.
In later years, the effects of two world wars and several union disputes, in particular the miner’s strike of 1984, saw a substantial decline in the industrial power of the area. At the same time, the steel export market suffered from the worldwide oil crises of the 1970s and an increase in international steel production. Today all the mines in the area have been closed, the steelworks have been shut down and operations relocated to existing plants in Newport and Port Talbot. Many former mines have been filled in and the grounds re-employed for schools, new housing and public parks.
Visitors to the Valleys today will find the area much changed from the smoggy, industrial landscape of the past 200 years, with towns regaining their mountainous beauty. The Valleys are becoming popular again with commuters looking to live near the neighbouring cities of Cardiff and Newport but without the above-average cost of living. Towns remain fairly insular, with each town separated by the surrounding hills, but there are good road links and an improving rail network. As you may expect, many towns in the area celebrate their mining heritage with museums and monuments, although this is often in memoriam.