Port Talbot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Talbot |
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From the top, View of Port Talbot from above, with the elevated M4 to the bottom-left, The High street, Steelworks
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 Port Talbot
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| Population | 31,550 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | SS755895 |
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| Ceremonial county |
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| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PORT TALBOT |
| Postcode district | SA12, SA13 |
| Dialling code | 01639 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Port Talbot is a town in Wales, located on the east side of Swansea Bay. It is about 8 miles (13 km) from Swansea. A very large part of the town is covered by the Port Talbot Steelworks. This is one of the biggest steelworks in the world. In 2021, about 31,550 people lived in Port Talbot. This was about one-fifth of the total population of Neath Port Talbot.
Contents
- Exploring Port Talbot's Past
- How Port Talbot is Governed
- Port Talbot's Location and Landscape
- Learning and Education
- Arts and Culture in Port Talbot
- Media and Entertainment
- Getting Around Port Talbot
- Economy and Future Plans
- Youth Organizations
- Sea Rescue Services
- Sports in Port Talbot
- Famous People from Port Talbot
- Protected Natural Areas
- Images for kids
- See also
Exploring Port Talbot's Past
Modern Port Talbot was created when several villages, like Baglan, Margam, and Aberafan, grew together. The name 'Port Talbot' first appeared in 1837. It was given to the new docks built by the Talbot family on the south-east side of the river Afan. Over time, the name was used for the whole growing town.
Early Human Life in Port Talbot
The oldest signs of people living in the Port Talbot area are from about 4,000 BC. These are Bronze Age farming ditches found on the side of Mynydd Margam. People from the Iron Age built hill forts on Mynydd Dinas, Mynydd Margam, and other nearby hills. An ancient Iron Age village can still be seen on Mynydd Hawdref. Deer have lived in the Margam area since Roman times.
Ancient Wells and Crosses
Ffynnon Pedr is a holy well in Margam. Its water flows from the hillside through a stone tunnel. This well might have supplied water to Margam Abbey, which is nearby.
The Cross of Brancuf is an old Christian stone sculpture. It stands in St Catharine's church in Baglan. This stone has a Latin cross and an inscription that mentions Brancuf. It used to be in the old St Baglan's church, but it was moved when that church became a ruin. St Baglan was a hermit and follower of St Illtud in the 6th century. He started the first church in the town now named after him.
How Industry Shaped the Town
In the 1770s, a copperworks was built on the west bank of the Afan river. This started the area's industrial growth. The Afan river was moved, and a new dock opened in 1839. It was named after the Talbot family, who owned land there. They were also connected to the famous photographer, William Henry Fox Talbot. The Talbots also built Margam Castle. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, a local politician, saw the area's potential. He opened a large ironworks in 1831.
During World War II (around 1941–1943), a special radar station was built in Margam Country Park. It was used to spot enemy ships and submarines in the Bristol Channel. You can still see the remains of three concrete buildings there. One building still has the frame of a steel gantry, which held the radar antenna. This is a very rare sight in the UK!
In 1970, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip opened a new deep-water harbour. This harbour could handle very large ships carrying iron ore. It was a huge improvement! By the early 2000s, the harbour was made even bigger. Now, it can handle ships weighing over 170,000 tons.
How Port Talbot is Governed
The area of Port Talbot became an official borough in November 1921. This was 85 years after the name 'Port Talbot' was first used.
Port Talbot used to be part of the historic county of Glamorgan. In 1974, Glamorgan was divided into three new counties. Port Talbot became one of the four districts of West Glamorgan.
In 1996, the Port Talbot borough council joined with other areas. They formed the new unitary authority of Neath Port Talbot County Borough. A unitary authority is a type of local government that handles all local services. The main office for this council is in Port Talbot.
Port Talbot's Location and Landscape
Port Talbot is on a flat coastal area. It sits between Swansea Bay to the west and the hills and valleys of Margam Moors to the south. The town stretches along the eastern edge of Swansea Bay. It is in a narrow strip of land around the mouth of the River Afan. You can see Swansea across the bay.
The local beach is called Aberafan Sands. It runs along the bay between the River Afan and the River Neath. Another beach in Port Talbot is Margam Sands, also known as Morfa Beach. The River Neath marks the north-western edge of the town. The Port Talbot Steelworks is a very important landmark in the town.
Air Quality in Port Talbot
Because of its heavy industry and busy motorway, Port Talbot once had some air pollution. In 2005, it was reported to have the worst air pollution in Wales. However, by 2018, the air quality had improved a lot. It now meets the recommended limits set by the WHO (World Health Organization).
Learning and Education
Port Talbot has four main high schools:
- Ysgol Cwm Brombil
- St. Joseph's Catholic School & Sixth Form Centre
- Ysgol Bae Baglan
- Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur – the Bro Dur campus is in Port Talbot
Two other schools, Glan Afan Comprehensive School and Sandfields Comprehensive School, closed in 2016.
There is also a campus of Neath Port Talbot College in Margam. It used to be called Afan College.
The University of South Wales has a campus at Baglan Energy Park. It's called the Hydrogen Centre and focuses on research into renewable hydrogen.
Arts and Culture in Port Talbot
Museums to Visit
- The South Wales Miners' Museum is in Cynonville, near Cymmer. It tells the story of mining in the area.
- The nearby Margam Stones Museum has old Christian stones and Celtic crosses. Some of these stones were saved from the steelworks site by the Talbot family.
- The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence is a unique private museum in Port Talbot.
The Famous Banksy Mural
In December 2018, the famous artist Banksy created a mural in Port Talbot. It was painted on the side of a garage near the steelworks. On one side, it shows a boy playing in what looks like snow. But on the other side, you see that the "snow" is actually ash falling from a burning bin. In May 2019, the mural was moved to a gallery in the town.
The Passion Play
In April 2011, actor Michael Sheen led a huge 72-hour play called The Passion. It was a modern version of the traditional Passion play. It started early on Good Friday with a scene by the sea, like John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Hundreds of people came to watch.
Later, thousands gathered on Aberafan Beach to see the main part of the play. Over the next two days, scenes took place all over the town. On Easter Sunday, the play returned to Aberafan Beach for the grand finale. More than 13,000 people came to watch the final scene.
In 2012, a film based on The Passion called The Gospel of Us had its world premiere in Port Talbot.
Media and Entertainment
Port Talbot has several local radio stations, including Hits Radio South Wales and Swansea Bay Radio. Radio Phoenix also broadcasts to patients and staff at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
The town used to have its own radio station, Afan FM, but it closed in 2011.
Several newspapers serve the town, like the South Wales Evening Post.
Port Talbot is also a filming location! The Welsh-language song competition Cân i Gymru is often filmed here. TV shows like Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures have filmed scenes in the town. The 2017 crime drama Bang is set in Port Talbot.
The famous director Terry Gilliam said he was inspired to create his movie Brazil after hearing a song on the beach at Port Talbot!
Getting Around Port Talbot
Train Travel
Port Talbot has a train station called Port Talbot Parkway railway station. You can catch trains to places like Neath, Swansea, Cardiff, and even London Paddington. Trains also go north to Crewe and Manchester.
In 2017, a new £5.6 million transport hub was built. It connects the train station with new bus and taxi services.
Bus Services
The main bus station is next to the Aberafan Centre. It's also a stop for National Express coaches. Local bus services are run by First Cymru and South Wales Transport. The bus station has a unique design where buses make a 270-degree turn to leave. A new cycle route has also been built here. A second bus station opened at Port Talbot Parkway railway station in 2017.
M4 Motorway
The M4 motorway goes right through Port Talbot. It crosses a central area on a concrete bridge. This part of the M4, which opened in 1966, was the first motorway section in Wales. It has a speed limit of 50 mph (80 km/h). A new road, the Port Talbot Peripheral Distribution Road (PDR), was finished in 2013. It helps traffic move around Port Talbot, especially to the southwest of the M4.
Port Talbot Docks
The Port Talbot Docks have an inner and outer section. The outer tidal basin was built in 1964 and covers about 500 acres (200 ha). It can handle very large ships up to 170,000 tons. It is mainly used to bring in iron ore and coal for the nearby Port Talbot Steelworks. The inner docks were built in 1898 but closed in 1959. They were reopened in 1998 for commercial shipping.
Economy and Future Plans
In 2007, plans were approved for the world's largest biomass power station to be built in Port Talbot. This station is expected to produce enough electricity for half the homes in Wales!
There are many plans for future development in Port Talbot. These include new homes, offices, shops, and improvements to the railway station.
In 2021, a new £200 million adventure resort was approved for the Afan Valley. It will have ski slopes, zip wires, a Bear Grylls Survival Academy, an aqua park, and much more!
In 2022, the Welsh Government announced that Port Talbot would become a "Celtic Freeport." This means it will focus on new green technologies and attract new businesses.
Youth Organizations
Port Talbot has many groups for young people. These include:
- The 499 (Port Talbot) Squadron Air Training Corps
- Sea Cadets, Port Talbot Detachment
- Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadet Force
Sea Rescue Services
The Port Talbot coastguard celebrated 100 years in 2008. They are the mud rescue team for the Swansea Bay area. The Port Talbot inshore lifeboat is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). It helps people in the docks, at Aberafan Beach, and on the local rivers.
Sports in Port Talbot
Rugby Teams
Port Talbot is part of the Ospreys rugby region. Other local teams include:
- Aberavon RFC (founded in 1876)
- Aberavon Quins RFC (founded in 1891)
- Aberavon Green Stars RFC
- Corus (Port Talbot) RFC
- Taibach RFC
- Neath Port Talbot Steelers (rugby league)
Football Teams
Teams from Port Talbot that play in the Cymru South league are Trefelin B.G.C., Afan Lido F.C., and Goytre United.
Other local teams include Afan United and Tata Steel FC.
Port Talbot Half Marathon
The Port Talbot half marathon is a yearly running event. Hundreds of runners take part in this race around the Glyncorrwg ponds and Afan valley.
Other Sports to Enjoy
- Port Talbot Wheelers cycling club
- TS Multisport (running and triathlon club)
- Port Talbot Town Cricket Club
Margam Forest is used for a stage of the yearly Wales Rally GB. Afan Forest Park has many special mountain biking trails. Aberavon beach is a popular spot for surfing and kite surfing. A local life-saving club operates there in the summer.
Famous People from Port Talbot
Many well-known people have connections to Port Talbot:
- Richard Burton – A famous actor, born nearby and educated in Port Talbot.
- Sir Anthony Hopkins – A world-famous actor, born and raised in Margam, Port Talbot.
- Michael Sheen – A Welsh actor, raised in Port Talbot.
- Rob Brydon – An actor and comedian, grew up in Baglan, Port Talbot.
- Paul Potts – An opera singer and winner of Britain's Got Talent.
- Banksy – The famous artist created a mural in the town.
- Regan Grace – A professional rugby league player.
- James Hook – A rugby union player for Wales.
- Geoffrey Howe – A politician, born in Port Talbot.
- Dic Penderyn – Born in Aberafan in 1803, a historical figure.
- Linda Sharp – A champion surfer from Aberafan.
- Freddie Williams – A Speedway World Champion from Margam.
- Rhod Gilbert – A comedian who lives in Port Talbot.
- Bennett Arron – A writer, comedian, and actor who grew up in Port Talbot.
Protected Natural Areas
Port Talbot has several special protected sites for nature. These include:
- Baglan Moors (important for birds and amphibians)
- Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir (SSSI)
- Margam Moors (SSSI)
- Kenfig / Cynffig (a National Nature Reserve)
- Cors Crymlyn / Crymlyn Bog (a wetland site)
These sites help protect important plants and animals.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Port Talbot para niños
