Crumlin, Caerphilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crumlin
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 Site of Crumlin Viaduct |
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 Crumlin
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| Population | 5,947 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST215985 |
| Principal area |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWPORT |
| Postcode district | NP11 |
| Post town | ABERTILLERY |
| Postcode district | NP13 |
| Dialling code | 01495 |
| Police | Gwent |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Crumlin (Welsh: Crymlyn) is a town and community located in the Caerphilly county borough in South Wales. It sits in the Ebbw River valley, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Pontypool. This area is historically part of Monmouthshire.
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A Look Back at Crumlin's History
The name Crumlin might come from the word "cromlech," which is a type of ancient stone monument. In 1895, Crumlin was known as a quiet village. People said it was one of the most beautiful places in the county, surrounded by amazing natural scenery. The village is in the South Wales Coalfield. You can often find cool fossils of ancient plants like calamites and lepidodendron in the nearby quarries. You might also spot fossil ferns in the shale rocks.
The Famous Crumlin Viaduct
Crumlin was once famous for its huge railway viaduct. A viaduct is like a very long bridge that carries a railway over a valley or river. Work on the viaduct began in 1853 and it opened in June 1857. It was built for the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway. This viaduct was 200 feet (61 meters) high and 550 yards (503 meters) long. It was the highest railway viaduct in Great Britain for its entire working life! There were two railway stations nearby: one at the viaduct level and one in the valley. The valley station closed in 1962. Both the viaduct and the high-level station closed in 1964. This was part of a big plan to cut down on railway lines across the UK. People talked about saving the viaduct, but it was too old and damaged. So, it was taken down between 1966 and 1967. Even while it was being taken apart, parts of the film Arabesque, starring Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck, were filmed there. Today, you can still see the stone supports (called abutments) on the valley sides.
Crumlin's Industrial Past
Crumlin was an important place for industry. It was the end point of the Crumlin Arm of the Monmouthshire Canal. This canal was built to move goods, especially iron, from Crumlin south towards Newport. It opened in 1794. Tramroads (like small railways) brought iron from big ironworks at Ebbw Vale and Nantyglo to the canal basin in Crumlin. Here, the iron was loaded onto canal boats. When the viaduct was built, part of the canal had to be removed because a viaduct pillar was in the way. The canal is no longer there. It was filled in during the late 1960s to build the A467 road. The Crumlin Viaduct Works Company Limited made the iron parts for the Crumlin Viaduct itself. But they also made ironwork for many other projects around the world! They built parts for the first Blackfriars Railway Bridge in London. They also made 120 bridges in Argentina, 69 bridges in Italy, and several multi-span bridges for railways in India. They even built bridges in Brazil, Ireland, Australia, and Russia.
The Navigation Colliery was a coal mine in Crumlin. Digging for the mine started in 1907, and it fully opened in 1911. At its busiest, the colliery produced 145,000 tonnes of coal every year. It closed in 1967. Many of the colliery buildings are still standing and are preserved north of the town. The colliery site has thirteen buildings that are protected because they are historically important. A charity called Glofa Navigation Cyf looks after them for the community.
Crumlin Mining School
A Mine Rescue Station opened in Crumlin in 1910. This was the first one in the South Wales Coalfield, helping miners in emergencies. It closed in 1986. In 1914, a sister school for part-time students was set up at Crumlin Hall. This later became the Crumlin Mining and Technical College. Crumlin Hall used to be the home of Thomas Kennard, who designed the viaduct.
The Crumlin Mural
There is a large mosaic mural in the town centre. It was created by Kenneth and Oliver Budd. This mural shows the history of Crumlin and the Ebbw Valley. You can see the famous viaduct running along the top of many of the panels in the artwork.
- The Mural
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What Industries Are in Crumlin Today?
Crumlin is home to Brace's Bakery, a family-owned business that has been making bread for generations. In the 1980s, a company called Marcheast Ltd. made a four-wheel drive vehicle called the Land Master in Crumlin. Conway Stewart, a company that makes pens, moved to Crumlin in 1968, but their factory closed in 1975. Crumlin is also where the popular snack, Pot Noodle, is made! The main factory, offices, and distribution centre are located here.
Sports and Fun in Crumlin
Crumlin has a rugby union club called Crumlin RFC, which was started in 1880. They are part of the Welsh Rugby Union. Crumlin Cricket Club is also active and is a member of the Welsh Cricket Association.
How Crumlin is Governed Locally
Crumlin is represented in the Caerphilly County Borough Council. This means people from Crumlin are elected to make decisions for the local area. Currently, the councillors for Crumlin are Carl Thomas and Kristian Woodland, both from the Labour party.
