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Coordinates: 51°40′00″N 3°26′46″W / 51.666667°N 3.446111°W / 51.666667; -3.446111
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{infobox UK place
{{Infobox UK place
|country =Wales
| country = Wales
|static_image = [[Image:Blaenllechau post office.jpg|250px]]
|static_image_caption =Blaenllechau post office
| static_image = Blaenllechau post office.jpg
| static_image_width = 250px
|welsh_name=Blaenllechau
| static_image_caption = Blaenllechau post office
|constituency_welsh_assembly=
|official_name= Blaenllechau
| welsh_name = Blaenllechau
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Rhondda (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Rhondda]]
|latitude=51.666667
| official_name = Blaenllechau
|longitude= -3.446111
| coordinates = {{coord|51.666667|-3.446111|display=inline,title}}
|unitary_wales= [[Rhondda Cynon Taff]]
| unitary_wales = [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
|lieutenancy_wales= [[Mid Glamorgan]]
| lieutenancy_wales = [[Mid Glamorgan]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Cynon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Cynon Valley]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Rhondda (UK Parliament constituency)|Rhondda]]
|post_town=
| post_town = FERNDALE
|postcode_district =
|postcode_area=
| postcode_district = CF43
| postcode_area = CF
|dial_code=
| dial_code = 01443
|map_type=
| map_type =
|os_grid_reference=
| os_grid_reference = SS995975
|population=
| population =
}}
}}
'''Blaenllechau''' is a small village located in the [[Rhondda#Rhondda Fach|Rhondda Fach]] valley, [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]]. Neighbouring villages are [[Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf|Ferndale]], [[Maerdy]] and [[Tylorstown]]. The [[population]] of Blaenllechau is far less than 1000.
'''Blaenllechau''' is a small village located in the [[Rhondda#Rhondda Fach|Rhondda Fach]] valley, [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]], [[Wales]]. Neighbouring villages are [[Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf|Ferndale]], [[Maerdy]] and [[Tylorstown]]. The [[population]] of Blaenllechau is less than 1000. The village is defined by the river border, flowing between Blaenllechau and neighbouring Ferndale, of which the well-known Blaenllechau waterfall is a tributary.

The village is currently served by 2 shops, Brian's General Store and Pizza Point. The last remaining pub in the village, Blaenllechau Radical Club closed its doors in November 2015.


==History==
==History==
Originally a single [[farm]] in the [[Rhondda]], in the 1850s [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies]] and his partners took a mineral rights lease in the area, and went exploring for high quality [[steam coal]]. After running out of money and preparing to shut down the partnership, the workers offered to work for one more week, and struck coal {{convert|200|yard}} below the farm.
Originally a single [[farm]] in the [[Rhondda]], in 1857 [[David Davis, Blaengwawr|David Davis]] and his partners took a mineral rights lease in the area, and went exploring for high quality [[steam coal]]. In 1862, after many difficulties, the 4 feet seam was struck {{convert|278|yard}} below the farm.


With little in the area, and the need to house workers and their families, the [[colliery]] [[village]] was developed alongside the workings of [[Ferndale Colliery|Ferndale No.1 pit]].<ref>Parry G, Williams M A, ''The Welsh Language and the 1891 Census'', UoW Press, 1999, ISBN 0-7083-1536-4, p 83</ref> Eventually there were two shafts developed by Davies's [[Ocean Coal Company]], Ferndale No1 and Ferndale No.2, extracting steam coal from a depth of {{convert|400|yard}} until 1959, when the entire complex was shut by the [[National Coal Board]].<ref>Colliery Guardian ''Guide to the coalfields'', 1955, p 384</ref> The pit-head workings were still extant in the early 1960s, but have since been demolished and the shafts filled.
With little in the area, and the need to house workers and their families, the [[colliery]] village was developed alongside the workings of [[Ferndale Colliery|Ferndale No.1 pit]].<ref>Parry G, Williams M A, ''The Welsh Language and the 1891 Census'', UoW Press, 1999, {{ISBN|0-7083-1536-4}}, p 83</ref> Eventually there were two shafts developed, Ferndale No. 1 and Ferndale No. 5, extracting steam coal from a depth of {{convert|400|yard}} until 1959, when the entire complex was shut by the [[National Coal Board]].<ref>Colliery Guardian ''Guide to the coalfields'', 1955, p 384</ref> The pit-head workings were still extant in the early 1960s, but have since been demolished and the shafts filled.


The village and its nearest town of Ferndale were served by passenger rail on the [[Maerdy Branch]], which left the mainline of the [[Taff Vale Railway]] at [[Porth railway station|Porth]]. Even under the ownership of the [[Great Western Railway]], the line always found it hard to compete against local bus operators, although passenger services ran regularly from [[Pontypridd railway station|Pontypridd]] to [[Maerdy]]. Passenger services were ceased completely after the [[Beeching Axe]] decreased the size of [[British Rail]]ways in the 1960s, and the line operated as a mineral railway until the closure of the last of valley’s collieries, [[Maerdy Colliery|Maerdy]], in 1990.
The village and its nearest town of Ferndale were served by passenger rail on the [[Maerdy Branch]], which left the mainline of the [[Taff Vale Railway]] at [[Porth railway station|Porth]]. Even under the ownership of the [[Great Western Railway]], the line always found it hard to compete against local bus operators, although passenger services ran regularly from [[Pontypridd railway station|Pontypridd]] to [[Maerdy]]. Passenger services were ceased completely after the [[Beeching Axe]] decreased the size of [[British Rail]]ways in the 1960s, and the line operated as a mineral railway until the closure of the last of valley's collieries, [[Maerdy Colliery|Maerdy]], in 1990.


The sites of both railway and colliery have been landscaped. A cricket and sports ground now stand on a slag and spoil tip called the 'Banana tip' because of its shape.
The sites of both railway and colliery have been landscaped. A cricket and sports ground now stand on a slag and [[spoil tip]] called the 'Banana tip' because of its shape.

==Geography==
Blaenllechau is typical of its kind for the [[topography]] of the Rhondda Fach Valley (Cwm Rhondda Fach). Three or four rows of stone houses cling to the mountainside.

Blaenllechau is well-known for its [[waterfall]].

The village has a park, a community centre and a working men’s club called the Blaenllechau Radical Club, or the ‘Rad’. The village had an infant school, which closed in July 2006 due to a lack of pupils.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|position=left}}
{{commons category|position=left}}
*[http://www.ggat.org.uk/historic%20landscapes/Rhondda/English/Rhondda_020.htm Village history (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060925023403/http://www.ggat.org.uk/historic%20landscapes/Rhondda/English/Rhondda_020.htm Village history (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust)]
*[http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2802442 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Blaenllechau and surrounding area]
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2802442 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Blaenllechau and surrounding area]
*[http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk Welsh Coal Mines - all the pits, all the histories]
*[http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk Welsh Coal Mines - all the pits, all the histories]

{{RhonddaCynonTaf-geo-stub}}


{{Rhondda Cynon Taf}}
{{Rhondda Cynon Taf}}
{{Rhondda Valley}}
{{Rhondda Valley}}


{{authority control}}
⚫
[[Category:Villages in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]


⚫
[[Category:Villages in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
[[cy:Blaenllechau]]

Revision as of 15:40, 27 September 2023

Blaenllechau
Blaenllechau post office
Blaenllechau is located in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Blaenllechau
Blaenllechau
Location within Rhondda Cynon Taf
OS grid referenceSS995975
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townFERNDALE
Postcode districtCF43
Dialling code01443
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Rhondda Cynon Taf
51°40′00″N 3°26′46″W / 51.666667°N 3.446111°W / 51.666667; -3.446111

Blaenllechau is a small village located in the Rhondda Fach valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Neighbouring villages are Ferndale, Maerdy and Tylorstown. The population of Blaenllechau is less than 1000. The village is defined by the river border, flowing between Blaenllechau and neighbouring Ferndale, of which the well-known Blaenllechau waterfall is a tributary.

The village is currently served by 2 shops, Brian's General Store and Pizza Point. The last remaining pub in the village, Blaenllechau Radical Club closed its doors in November 2015.

History

Originally a single farm in the Rhondda, in 1857 David Davis and his partners took a mineral rights lease in the area, and went exploring for high quality steam coal. In 1862, after many difficulties, the 4 feet seam was struck 278 yards (254 m) below the farm.

With little in the area, and the need to house workers and their families, the colliery village was developed alongside the workings of Ferndale No.1 pit.[1] Eventually there were two shafts developed, Ferndale No. 1 and Ferndale No. 5, extracting steam coal from a depth of 400 yards (370 m) until 1959, when the entire complex was shut by the National Coal Board.[2] The pit-head workings were still extant in the early 1960s, but have since been demolished and the shafts filled.

The village and its nearest town of Ferndale were served by passenger rail on the Maerdy Branch, which left the mainline of the Taff Vale Railway at Porth. Even under the ownership of the Great Western Railway, the line always found it hard to compete against local bus operators, although passenger services ran regularly from Pontypridd to Maerdy. Passenger services were ceased completely after the Beeching Axe decreased the size of British Railways in the 1960s, and the line operated as a mineral railway until the closure of the last of valley's collieries, Maerdy, in 1990.

The sites of both railway and colliery have been landscaped. A cricket and sports ground now stand on a slag and spoil tip called the 'Banana tip' because of its shape.

References

  1. ^ Parry G, Williams M A, The Welsh Language and the 1891 Census, UoW Press, 1999, ISBN 0-7083-1536-4, p 83
  2. ^ Colliery Guardian Guide to the coalfields, 1955, p 384
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blaenllechau.
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