River Kenfig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Kenfig |
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These extensive reed beds lie close to the mouth of the river
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| Native name | Afon Cynffig |
| Country | United Kingdom, Wales |
| Region | South Wales |
| County | Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend |
| Cities | Pyle, Marlas, North Cornelly |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mynydd Margam, Neath Port Talbot, Wales |
| River mouth | Swansea Bay 51°32′15″N 3°45′41″W / 51.53750°N 3.76139°W |
| Length | 18.0 km (11.2 mi) |
| Discharge (location 2) |
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The River Kenfig, also known as Afon Cynffig in Welsh, is a river in Wales. It flows through two areas called Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. This river is about 18 kilometres (11 miles) long.
Contents
Where Does the River Kenfig Flow?
The River Kenfig starts in the forest of Mynydd Margam, which is southwest of Maesteg. From there, it flows south. It then turns west near the town of Pyle.
River's Path and Boundaries
The river flows through an area known as the M4 Corridor. It also runs along the northern edge of the Kenfig National Nature Reserve. This reserve is a special place for nature, called a Site of Special Scientific Interest. For much of its journey, the river forms the border between the Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend areas. Finally, it flows into the sea at Margam Sands, near Margam Moors.
Local Legends and History
The area around the River Kenfig is full of old stories and legends. Many of these tales are about towns that were lost under the shifting sands of Kenfig Burrows. It's a place with a lot of history and mystery.
Smaller Streams Joining the River
The River Kenfig doesn't have many big rivers joining it. However, several smaller streams flow into it along its path.
- One important stream is the Nant Iorwaeth-goch. This stream joins the river when it turns west, north of Kenfig Hill.
- Another stream is the Afon Fach. This one flows through North Cornelly and Pyle.
- The Coal Brook also joins the Kenfig. This stream starts in Margam Park.
Kenfig National Nature Reserve: A Special Place
The last part of the River Kenfig, at Kenfig Sands, is right next to the northern edge of the Kenfig National Nature Reserve. This reserve is home to Kenfig Pool and the Kenfig Burrows, which is a very large system of sand dunes.
Kenfig Village and Its Castle
Even though the river is called Kenfig, it doesn't actually flow through the modern village of Kenfig. It runs about a mile north of it. However, the river does flow past the old ruins of Kenfig Castle. This castle is located where the original village of Kenfig used to be. The old village was abandoned in the 13th century. This happened because strong storms caused the sand dunes to shift and bury parts of the village. Today, only the tower of Kenfig Castle can still be seen.
Industry Near the River Kenfig
The River Kenfig flows south of a very large industrial area. This area includes Port Talbot and Margam, where the Port Talbot Steelworks are located.
BorgWarner Factory History
In 1968, a company called BorgWarner opened a factory on the Kenfig Industrial Estate. This factory was built next to the lower parts of the river. It made automatic transmissions for cars. In January 1976, the factory celebrated making its two millionth gearbox. A press release at that time said that BorgWarner's factories in the UK were making transmissions for over fifty different car models. More than half of these gearboxes were sent to other countries.
In 2001, the factory was almost closed down. But it was saved when it got a new contract from a Korean car company called Kia. Sadly, in December 2008, BorgWarner announced that the factory would close for good by mid-2010. This meant that all 110 jobs at the factory would be lost. The company said that the difficult economic situation was the reason for this decision.
