Nelson, Caerphilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nelson |
|
|---|---|
 Nelson, looking west |
|
 Nelson
|
|
| Population | 4,647 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST115995 |
| Principal area |
|
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Treharris |
| Postcode district | CF46 |
| Dialling code | 01443 |
| Police | Gwent |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
|
| Welsh Assembly |
|
Nelson is a village and community located in the County Borough of Caerphilly, Wales. It's about five miles north of Caerphilly and ten miles north of Cardiff. Nelson sits at the lower end of the Taff Bargoed Valley, right next to places like Treharris, Trelewis, and Quakers Yard.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The area we now call Nelson was originally known as Ffos y Gerddinen. This old name isn't used much today. It's often thought to mean 'ditch or moat of the Rowan Trees'. However, some experts, like Thomas Morgan, translated it as "Mountain Ash Bog."
The English name "Nelson" comes from a local pub called the Lord Nelson Inn. The village grew up around this pub. The railway station was also named after the inn, and eventually, the whole settlement became known as Nelson.
A Glimpse into Nelson's Past
Ffos-y-Gerddinen was once a fairly flat area of land. It was south of an old small village called Llancaiach, in the Taff Bargoed Valley. This area was part of a well-known Drovers' road, which was a path used by people moving livestock. This road went from the South Wales coast towards Merthyr Tydfil and then further north into Brecon and Mid Wales.
If it hadn't been for the growth of the South Wales coalfield, this area would have stayed open countryside. But when the Llancaiach Colliery (a coal mine) started operating in 1811, it needed homes for its workers. It also needed ways to transport the heavy coal. This led to development on the flat land below the mine.
Transporting goods from Merthyr Tydfil had already led to the Glamorganshire Canal. This canal passed by Nelson in the nearby Taff Valley. Later, in 1841, the Taff Vale Railway built its Llancaiach Branch. This railway was specifically for the Llancaiach Colliery and ran through the middle of Nelson. When the railway directors needed a name for their new station, they chose the name of the local coaching inn: Lord Nelson.
Later, another railway, the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway, built its Taff Vale Extension. It also used the name Nelson for its station. This is how Nelson became a village with its own identity, separate from Llancaiach.
Nelson's Location and Nature
Nelson is located about 150 metres (500 ft) above sea level. It sits in a natural bowl where the Taff and Taff Bargoed valleys meet. The area is quite flat with surrounding fields. This is a bit unusual for this region, which usually has steep-sided valleys and long, narrow villages.
To the south, the land gently rises to the top of Mynydd Eglwysilan, a hill 383 metres high. From here, you can see amazing views of the Brecon Beacons, the Bristol Channel, and even the coasts of Devon and Somerset.
East of the village is Nelson Bog, a special place known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because it's home to rare plants and animals. You might find orchids, bats, badgers, and otters living there.
Historically, Nelson was part of Glamorgan county. However, in 2003, boundary changes meant that the whole of Caerphilly County Borough became part of the preserved county of Gwent. The border with Merthyr Tydfil runs along the north side of the village. The border with Rhondda Cynon Taf is about a mile to the west. Small settlements called hamlets, Llancaiach and Llanfabon, are located north and south of Nelson.
Important Buildings in Nelson
Llancaiach Fawr is a historic manor house from the 1500s. It's at the northern end of Nelson. Today, it's a living history museum. This means it's set up to look exactly like it did in 1645, during the English Civil War.
In 1645, King Charles I visited the house. He tried to convince its owner, Colonel Edward Pritchard, not to join the Roundheads (the Parliamentarian side). But even after the King's visit, the colonel did join the Parliamentarian cause later on. People say that Llancaiach Fawr is now one of the most haunted buildings in Wales!
In the middle of the village, there's an outdoor Pêl-Law court. This court is believed to be the only Welsh handball court still in use in Wales.
The main office for Welsh Water, a company that provides water services, is also located in Nelson.
Sports Teams in Nelson
Nelson is home to a few sports clubs:
- Nelson RFC: This rugby club was started in 1934.
- Nelson Cavaliers Football Club: This football (soccer) club was founded in 1972.
- Valley Cougars: This rugby league team was formed in 2001. They play in the Welsh Premier League.
Getting Around Nelson
Nelson grew because of the need for transport for the Llancaiach Colliery. The Taff Vale Railway's Llancaiach Branch first carried only goods. But when the Taff Vale Extension was built, passenger services started in 1862. Nelson became an even more important railway junction when a passenger and freight line to Dowlais opened in 1876. This line closed in 1964.
Passenger trains from Pontypridd stopped running on the Llancaiach Branch in 1932. Services on the Taff Vale Extension also stopped in 1964, as part of the Beeching cuts (a plan to close many railway lines). The Nelson station was taken down in 1972. However, a very small part of the old line still exists. It's used for freight related to coal mining at the Ffos-y-fran Land Reclamation Scheme.
Since its railway stations closed, the closest train station to Nelson is at Ystrad Mynach, about two miles away.
Nelson is also close to major roads. The A470 Abercynon roundabout is one mile east, and the A472 trunk road goes around the village. Bus services connect Nelson to towns like Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd, Treharris, and Ystrad Mynach. The direct bus service to Cardiff stopped in 2009, so now you need to change buses in Pontypridd.
There's a plan called the South Wales Metro project. As part of this, train services to Nelson from Ystrad Mynach might start again in the future.
The Taff Trail and National Cycle Network route 47 also pass near and through Nelson, which are great for walking and cycling.
Famous People from Nelson
Nelson has been home to several notable people:
- Simon Weston: Born in Nelson, Simon is a veteran of the British Army. He is well-known for his charity work and for recovering from severe burn injuries he got during the Falklands War.
- Kate Thomas: She is the current Lord Lieutenant for Mid Glamorgan. She grew up in Cardiff and went to college there before moving to Nelson. She settled into farming life with her husband. Before this role, she was the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and High Sheriff.
- Robert Spragg (also known as Larry Love): He is the singer and songwriter from the band Alabama 3. He lived in Nelson before moving to London. His family moved to the village from Merthyr Tydfil, and his parents still live there.
- Sir Tasker Watkins (1918–2007): Born in Nelson, Sir Tasker received the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery given to British and Commonwealth forces in the face of the enemy. He was a High Court judge, then a Lord Justice of Appeal, and later the Deputy Lord Chief Justice of England. He was also the President of the Welsh Rugby Union from 1993 to 2004.
- Edward Prichard: His family lived at the Manor House at Llancaiach Fawr. Edward was the Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1638 and became a Justice of the Peace in 1640.
Images for kids
-
The centre of Nelson
-
Shingrig Road
-
High Street
-
The cycle track passing Nelson
-
View of Nelson from Mynydd Eglwysilan
-
The church of St John the Baptist (Church in Wales)
-
Nelson Handball court in the Winter of 1990. The court is situated in the village centre, and has been part of the village fabric for many, many decades.
Location Grid
 |
Treharris | Trelewis | Gelligaer | |
| Quakers Yard |  |
|||
 Nelson, Caerphilly  |
||||
 |
||||
| Abercynon | Senghenydd | Ystrad Mynach |
See also
In Spanish: Nelson (Caerphilly) para niños
