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Coordinates: 51°32'N 3°26'W? / ?51.53, -3.43
Llanharan (Welsh: Llanharan) is a small village in the county of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. Llanharan thrived during the British industrial revolution, with several tin and coal mines in the location providing employment to the town's residents. With the decline of heavy industry in Wales, Llanharan has been in economic decline, though its proximity to the M4 motorway offers its residents easy commutable access to most of South Wales.
The most recognisable features of Llanharan are its historic town square, Llanharan House and Church of St Julius and Aaron.
[edit] Landmarks and notable buildings
[edit] Llanharan House
On the outskirts of Llanharan, overlooking the village, sits Llanharan House. It was built in 1750 by Rees Powell and stayed with the Powell family until 1795 upon which it was purchased by Richard Hoare Jenkins. Following the death of Mr Jenkins in 1856 the house and the estate was passed to a Colonel John Blandy-Jenkins. Following his death in 1915 Colonel Blandy-Smith's wife kept the house until 1953.
Llanharan house has a strong historical connection with fox hunting. This Welsh pack was named The Llanharan and was established by Richard Hoare Jennkins in 1805, though the pack was once called the Llangeinor during the period when Mr John Blandy Jenkins was the squire.[2]
Llanharan House is a grade II listed building.[3]
[edit] The Church of St Julius and Aaron
The local church is the Church of St Julius and Aaron which was designed in its present form by John Pritchard around 1856[4], with work completed by 1859.
[edit] Llanharan Town Square
Llanharran Town square consists of several historical stone buildings situated by the local river the Ewenny Fach.
[edit] Employment
Prior to the British industrial revolution, Llanharan was a small agricultural village, and this was reflected in the 1851 census where a population of 330 people living in 62 buildings was recorded.
In 1850 the South Wales Railway opened a station in Llanharan making it a strategic location for surrounding industries. Later employment came form the near by iron mines in Llanharry and Pontyclun.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century an additional 80 houses had been built and Llanharan had a population of over a thousand.
With the discovery of coal an attempt to sink two mine shafts began in 1873, but the work was eventually abandoned. The Powell Duffryn Company restarted the sinking to the steam coal seams in 1922, employing 192 men at this work in 1923. In 1945 Llanharan North and South pits employed a total of 855 and 775 respectively.
From 1900 until the Powell Duffryn colliery closed in 1962 the area westward along the Bridgend Road became the commercial heart of a relatively flourishing mining village that survived even the depression years.
Since the 1970's the residents of Llanharan have become more reliant on commuting to work as local employment reduces. Local amenities have also closed over the years including Llanharan's cinema, railway station and library.
[edit] Education
There are two Primary Schools presently serving the community of Llanharan, they are Dolau Primary School and Llanharan Primary School.
[edit] Transportation
Llanharan is served by many buses and also Llanharan railway station, which reopened in December 2007 after 43 years of closure. The main road running through Llanharan is the A473 Bridgend Road, linking Bridgend to its West and Talbot Green to its East.
[edit] Social life
Llanharan town square is dominated by a public house called The High Corner which dates back to roughly 1700. Outside the High Corner is an original red telephone box.
As of 2007 Llanharan Rugby Football Club play they matches in the Welsh Rugby Union Division One East League. The club formed in 1891 and was awarded membership to the WRU in 1919. Llanharan RFC play in black shirts and shorts with three light blue horizontal hoops across the chest. Their nickname, the "Black and Blues", is taken from their colours.
[edit] Welsh Springer Spaniel
It is thought that the breed of dog, the Welsh Springer Spaniel, either found its origins or was historically successfully bred in Llanharan. Some breeders speak of the “Llanharan Spot”, if one describes the red point in the middle on the head of the Welsh. The Llanharan Spaniel makes up part of the Llanharan RFC club badge.
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |