The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Linear Feature, Vale of Neath Railway

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 02500.0m
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Glynneath
Unitary authority : Neath Port Talbot
NGR : SN89130648
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Railway
Status : BBNP

Summary :
The construction of the Vale of Neath Railway was authorised by Act of Parliament in 1846. The first trains ran between Neath and Pontypool in 1863 and in the same year the Vale of Neath Railway amalgamated with the Great Western Railway.

Description :
The construction of the Vale of Neath Railway was authorised by Act of Parliament in 1846. The first trains ran between Neath and Pontypool in 1863 and in the same year the Vale of Neath Railway amalgamated with the Great Western Railway. The line played an important part in the later development of industry and mining in the Vale of Neath carrying coal, iron and chemicals as well as passengers. In 1967 the section of line from Glynneath to Aberdare was closed. The rest of the line was closed in 1985. The line between Neath and Glynneath is now being restored by the Vale of Neath Railway Society as a potentially very important tourist attraction. (04)

MV174
Embankment for railway line. The course of the line under construction shown on the 1850 Tithe map. The railway appears on 1876 1st ed OS 25" and later editions. Crossed the Nant Rhyd-y-Car at SO05080524 (Lawler 2000)

Sources :
Maynard, D. , 1993 , Archaeological Desk-Top Study, Rhyd-Y-Car Land Reclamation Scheme Merthyr tydfil, Mid Galmorgan ( © GGAT)
Wilkinson, P.F. and Owen John, H.S.. , 1989 , The A465 Aberdulais-Glynneath Improvement ( © GGAT)
02/MM Mention/NMW/1983/Hirwaun & District local plan/Sites of Ind Arch Importance
03/PM Desc Text/Barrie DSM/1980/Regional Hist of Railways of Gr Brit, vilXII: S Wales
01/PM Desc Text/Bowen RE/1966/Journal of SE Wales Ind Arch Soc vol1 no2 p34
04/Pm Desc Text/A465 Aberdulais - Glynneath Improvement: Archaeological Assessment/GGAT 1989/GGAT SMR Report Archive

Events :
E001074 : A465 ABERDULAIS-GLYNNEATH IMPROVEMENT (year : 1989)
E003827 : Rhyd-Y-Car Land Reclamation Scheme (year : 1993)
E000959 : A465 Abergavenny to Hirwaun Dualling (year : 1994)
E002656 : Land at Rhyd-y-car, Merthyr Tydfil DBA (year : 2000)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02817m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 556w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 559w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 3292w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 5296w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1982w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1027.13w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1027.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1070.0w

Compiled date :


April 2, 2025, 12:40 pm - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
Data supplied by in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © GGAT HER Charitable Trust, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025).