Visit to Blaengarw

I am in the final stages of a BA Humanities degree at Swansea University where my focus has been philosophy and social history.  My interest in the Daniel James project stems in part from my studies and because I was born and brought up in Treboeth and attended Gwyrosydd School.  The initial research has already been very positive, as you will see below.

On Friday 7^th December I travelled to Blaengarw with two members of Treboeth History Group, Ivor Williams and Geraint Williams.  We were lucky with the weather, a cold and blustery day but with a clear blue sky and some sunshine.  Our first stop was a visit to Creation Café which is operated by the Creation Development Trust for the local community.

                                                    

Councillor David Pugh with Teresa Hillier,   
Swansea University and Geraint Williams      
Treboeth History Group outside Creation Cafe

We met Bridgend County Borough Councillor David Pugh who is the Councillor for the Blaengarw ward and Gerald Jarvis, local historian and member of     Garw Valley Heritage Society.

www.garwheritage.co.uk

After coffee, Gerald took us to visit Parc Calon Lan which was created as part of the regeneration of the local area with the land being reclaimed and developed following pit closures in the area.  The main focal point of the park is this sculpture which was designed by Rebecca Buck, Community Artist.  You can find out more about her by looking at these websites:

www.arts-engine.org.uk/rebeccabuck/ 

 www.ospreystudios.wordpress.com/

 

Gerald explained that part of the park is also a memorial garden where plaques can be placed in memory of loved ones.



At Parc Calon Lan with local historian, Gerald Jarvis

                                           

As we continued our walk around the village we came to the site of Bethania Chapel where it is said Calon Lan was first sung in 1892.   The Chapel has been derelict for some time but as luck would have it the new owner of the Chapel was on site and allowed us in to view.  

  

Sadly, as can be seen in the photograph below the Chapel has fallen into a bad state of disrepair. However, the new owner is a builder who intends to convert the Chapel into living accommodation and so the building will be preserved with some  of the character remaining.

 

On leaving the Chapel we went around to the back lane and viewed the location where Daniel James is alleged to have spent the night in the pigsty!

The visit concluded with lunch in the Creation Café and a discussion about Daniel James and Blaengarw.