Ogmore Vale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ogmore Vale
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 Ogmore Vale
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| Population | 3,117 (ward 2011) |
| OS grid reference | SS929904 |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRIDGEND |
| Postcode district | CF32 7xx |
| Dialling code | 01656 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Ogmore Vale (Welsh: Cwm Ogwr) is a village in Wales. It is located in the county borough of Bridgend, right by the River Ogmore. For many years, the main way people in Ogmore Vale earned money was through coal mining.
Before 1865, the Ogmore valley was a quiet place. It was mostly rural with just a few farms and cottages. Today, Ogmore Vale is part of the larger community of Ogmore Valley. This community also includes the villages of Nantymoel and Price Town.
Contents
History of Ogmore Vale
In 1851, fewer than one hundred people lived in the Ogmore valley. Things changed a lot when the Ogmore Valley Railway opened on August 1, 1865. This railway connected the valley to Porthcawl and Bridgend.
The Rise of Coal Mining
The railway made it possible to transport coal easily. This led to the growth of coal mining in the valley. High-quality house coal and steam coals were found here. Mines like Aber, Caedu, and Tynewydd opened. Miners used a method called drift mining, digging tunnels into the coal seams from the mountainsides.
Later in 1865, the Wyndham Colliery was started. This mine aimed to find and work with very good quality smokeless steam coals. The coal industry provided many jobs for the people of the valley. It also created a lot of wealth for the country.
Changes in Coal Ownership
The companies that owned the mines changed over time. In 1872, there was a merger, and later, the company faced financial trouble. By 1889, a new company, North's Navigation Collieries, brought stability back to the mining operations.
Mining continued until 1983, when the last mine, Wyndham/Western Mine, closed. The area where this mine once stood is now known as "the planker" by local people.
Community Life and Education
Ogmore Vale is a lively village with many groups and activities. It has a rugby union club, a prize-winning brass band, and a local history society. There is also a community centre, a boys and girls club, and two choirs.
The village has one primary school. It opened in September 2003. This new school brought together students from four older schools that closed in July 2003. Some of the old school sites have now been used to build new homes.
Local Government in Ogmore Vale
Ogmore Vale is an electoral ward. This means it's a specific area that elects people to represent it.
Community and County Councils
At the local level, Ogmore Vale elects up to four members to the Ogmore Valley Community Council. These councillors help make decisions for the local community.
Ogmore Vale also elects one county councillor to the Bridgend County Borough Council. This council makes bigger decisions for the whole county borough. People from different political parties, like Labour and Plaid Cymru, as well as independent councillors, have been elected from Ogmore Vale.
Parliamentary Representation
The village is part of the Ogmore parliamentary constituency. This is the area that elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to the UK Parliament.
Famous People from Ogmore Vale
Ogmore Vale has been home to several well-known individuals:
- Windsor Davies, an actor.
- Aneurin Barnard, also an actor.
- Lynn Davies, who won a gold medal in the long jump at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
- Grahame Hodgson, a Welsh rugby union international player.
- William Ingram (writer/actor), a writer and actor.
- Melbourne Thomas, another Welsh rugby union international player.
Ogmore Vale in Films, TV, and Books
The village has also been featured in various media:
- The book The District Nurse was written by William Ingram, who lived in Ogmore Vale. This book was later made into a TV show, and some scenes were filmed in the village.
- The film A Run for Your Money was partly filmed at Nantymoel railway station around 1948.
- Very Annie Mary, a comedy film from 2001, also had some scenes filmed in Ogmore.
See also
In Spanish: Ogmore Vale para niños
