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Our
self catering holiday cottages are a mile from the village of Alltwen.
The name Alltwen means "white slope". The white refers
to the May blossom of the native hawthorn, recognised as the herald
of warmer weather. The village lies under Craig Alltwen, which gives
fine views in all directions and is clearly visible from the fields
behind the self catering cottages. You may wish to walk from our
holiday cottage accommodation over Craig Alltwen where there are
great views of the valley below.
ALLTWEN - HISTORICAL INTEREST
Until local industry developed in the 19th century, there
were only a few scattered cottages and farmsteads, but by the mid
19th centruy growth was rapid and the population had increased markedly.
In addition to coal mining, stone was quarried for flags and roofing
and transported by tramway.
David Thomas, the "Father of the Anthracite Iron Industry"
was educated in Alltwen as a child in about 1800. Thomas later worked
at Ynyscedwyn iron works and in 1837 pioneered the use of anthractie
instead of bituminous coal usually used. Later he went to the USA
and founded the Thomas Iron Company which became the largest anthracite
iron producer in the USA. The process accounted for half the prodcution
in the USA in 1856, amounting to 826,000 tonnes.
Much later, the poet Gwenallt
(D. Gwenallt Jones) was also educated here and wrote later of the
enforced idleness of men between the two World Wars.
The author J.E. Morgan
("Hirfryn") who wrote one of the two histories of Pontardawe
and District in 1911 also lived here.
Alltwen was also the home village of Ronnie James, British Lightweight
Champion in the 1940s and world title challenger in 1946.
CRAIG ALLTWEN
The T.V. mast to the left of Pontardawe marks the high
ridge of Craig Alltwen, the name given to the hill that shelters
Alltwen from northerly winds. At its top is a TV transmitter, clearly
visible from the fields behind our self catering holiday cottages.
The Rev. D.G. Jones, a Calvinistic Methodist Minister in Pontardawe
and Trebanos, wrote:
Craig Alltwen
Craig siriol, uwch creigiau sieryd - a swyn
Am ser pell a glanbryn:
Craig Alltwen, uwchben y byd,
I niwloedd yn anwylyd.
Translated:
Alltwen Crag
Cheerful crag, above talking rocks, casting enchantment
On far stars and pure hills:
Alltwen crag, above the world,
The beloved in mistiness.
The Saints Pulpit ("Pulpud y Sant") once stood on the
top of Alltwen crag. This was loose rock onto which a Mormon would
climb and preach at half past ten at night, frightening the local
residents and persuading the more supersticious that the Day of
Judgement was approaching.
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