South Wales Valleys

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Cwmparc, near the Rhondda Fawr.
View from Ebbw Vale into the Ebbw Valley.

The South Wales Valleys ( Welsh Cymoedd De Cymru ) is a region in South Wales that is characterized by the early industrialized valleys. It is often referred to simply as The Valleys (Y Cymoedd). The area stretches from east Carmarthenshire in the west to west of Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the border of the lower, grazing Country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plains around Swansea Bay , Bridgend , the capital Cardiff and Newport . Most of the valleys are largely parallel to each other. The Rhondda Valleys and the Cynon Valley form the center of the region.

history

Development into an industrial region in the 18th and 19th centuries

In the Middle Ages, the mostly narrow river valleys were only sparsely populated and were mostly only used as pastureland. But coal was already being mined in South Wales in the Middle Ages, and iron ore from the 16th century in Blaenavon . In the 18th century, coal and iron ore mining intensified in South Wales, and copper and lead were also dug. Due to the additional available energy source, hydropower, not only the places on the coast like Swansea and Aberavon became industrial centers, but industrial companies also settled in the valleys next to the mines. The formerly rural mountain valleys developed into densely populated industrial zones. Industrialization took place in two phases: First, in the second half of the 18th century, an iron industry emerged in the northern tip of the area, mainly through English entrepreneurs. As a result, Merthyr Tydfil in the Taff Valley was a center of iron smelting during the first half of the 19th century, but lost the technical connection and thus in importance again in the second half of the 19th century. While in 1830 about 40% of the iron in Great Britain was being produced in South Wales, the proportion fell to 25% by 1860. In 1876 Blaenavon invented the Thomas process for steel production, which made the city the center of steel production. In the second phase, from 1850 until the outbreak of the First World War , the South Wales Coalfield was developed to supply edible and anthracite coal for the operation of steam engines. Coal mining centers became Rhondda , Cynon , Rhymney and Taff Valley . Often other industries such as the tinplate industry and copper smelting settled here. In 1860, 15 of the 18 most important British copper smelters were in South Wales, about half of them in the Swansea Valley . Coal was transported by canals and rail to the ports of the Bristol Canal , particularly Cardiff, Newport and Swansea; the Swansea and Mumbles Railway , opened in 1804, was one of the first railways in the world, and later also the first to carry passengers. Before the First World War, Cardiff was the largest coal export port in the world.

Increasing population

The population increased significantly as a result of migration from other parts of Wales and beyond. The population of the whole of Wales rose from 1.16 million inhabitants in 1851 to over 2.52 million inhabitants in 1914, of which 1.1 million people lived in the South Welsh coal field, and another 600,000 people lived in the port cities on the Bristol Channel. While in 1851 around 35% of the male working population worked in agriculture and 10% in coal mining, this ratio was reversed in 1913. In 1851, fewer than 1,000 people lived in Rhondda , and in 1924 the population had the highest number of 167,900. Due to the geography, however, urbanization was limited: Rhondda retained the character of individual villages instead of developing into an entire city. The population in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was disproportionately young and due to labor migration there were disproportionately many men. The new parishes had extremely high birth rates: for example, in 1840, 20% of the population of Tredegar was under the age of seven, and Rhondda's birth rate was 36 ‰ in 1911, with rates referring to 19th century averages in Britain. Merthyr Tydfil at the north end of the Taff Valley became the largest town in Wales due to the growing iron industry in Dowlais and Cyfarthfa Ironworks . The neighboring Taff Bargoed Valley , east of it, became the center of intense industrial and political conflict during the 1930s, particularly in the villages of Trelewis and Bedlinog, which were part of the Deep Navigation and Taff Merthyr mines .

The hill country with its narrow, deeply cut valleys determined the shape of the mining settlements and a 'hand and fingers' pattern of urban development emerged. The workers built elongated, initially slum-like terraced houses on the mountain slopes that had neither drinking water nor sewerage. In many cases, the settlements were not connected to a drinking water supply until after the First World War. The houses only received electricity after the Second World War. The catastrophic hygiene conditions led to cholera and typhoid epidemics . Coupled with the dangerous work in the mines, the average life expectancy in South Wales in the mid-19th century was only 42 years. Serious mining accidents often occurred in the mines. In 1867 and 1869 there were two major mining accidents at the Ferndale mine within two years, in which 231 people were killed. In 1913 the worst British mining accident to date occurred in Senghenydd, killing 440 people. Mining and industrialization had serious consequences for the landscape. The mining industry left behind mighty spoil heaps , the iron smelting in the Taff Valley slag heaps, and stone quarries were created for the construction of factories and houses. Canals, railway lines and roads were built in the valleys.

Economic decline

The decline of the iron and steel industry began at the end of the 19th century, while coal mining reached its peak before the First World War. In 1913, over 250,000 miners worked in over 500 coal mines in the Valleys. After the First World War, however, the decline of coal mining began when edible coal lost its importance compared to anthracite coal. Large parts of the British economy were no longer competitive after the World War because the factories had not been modernized and various things could be produced more cheaply elsewhere. This included steel and ships, but also coal. In the coal business, a further complication was that it was gradually being replaced by oil . As a result, there was in the important in Wales primary industries a recession , had to lay off by the numerous companies workers. Finally, there was a general strike in the United Kingdom in 1926 , which lasted a total of six months in South Wales and only then had to be given up by the South Wales workers on poor terms. Numerous mines had to be closed; these closings also affected the iron and steel mills in the area. This led to high unemployment rates in the region, in some cases over 40%. Unemployment figures were particularly high in Ferndale in the Rhondda, where 96.5% of workers were unemployed in 1931, and Brynmawr north of Ebbw Vale, where a good 90% of insured persons had no work in the early 1930s. However, it was generally expected that the economy would recover.

The government limited itself to a few countermeasures and hoped that "the situation would suddenly improve". While Health Minister Neville Chamberlain advised to move to other regions of the UK, South Wales in 1934, along with West Cumberland , Tyneside and Scotland for Special (distressed) Area (German about economic Special emergency area declared). The government later decided to create training centers where young men and women were taught new skills. The Wiliam family of authors, which includes a historian Eurwyn Wiliam, rates this measure as “half-hearted” and the results as “meager”. Pamela Manasseh did not see in her dissertation that the government could improve the situation in Wales. However, there have been numerous aid initiatives in South Wales, including the National Council of Social Services , the Lord Mayor of London ’s Mansion House Fund and the Quakers ( e.g. Brynmawr Experiment ).

During the Second World War, war production once again increased the demand for Welsh coal, but after the war the decline accelerated. In 1947 the British government announced the nationalization of British coal mines on the National Coal Board, while the Welsh steel industry was concentrated on the coast in Port Talbot . In the following decades, coal production decreased continuously. The decline in coal mining was a national phenomenon after World War II, but South Wales and Rhondda were more affected than other areas of Britain. Oil had replaced coal as a fuel, and there was political pressure to push the switch to oil. The industries that still relied on coal demanded high quality coal, such as coke , which the steel industry needed. Fifty percent of the coal from Glamorgan now went to steel mills , and the second largest market share was sales to households in need of smokeless coal under the Clean Air Act . As a result, however, these two areas became control elements for the mining industry. As demand declined in both sectors, so did mining companies and exports to other parts of Europe (France, Italy and the Benelux countries) fell sharply. From 33% at the beginning of the century to around 5% in 1980.

Another important factor in the decline of the mining industry was the massive lack of investment in the mines of South Wales in previous decades. Most of the mines were opened between 1850 and 1880 and were therefore much smaller than modern mines. The Welsh mines used outdated ventilation systems, coal processing and energy supply. As early as 1945 the British coal industry was producing 72% of its coal mechanically, while in South Wales the percentage was only 22%. The only way to ensure the mines' survival was to have the National Coal Board (NCB) make huge investments, but the 'Plan for Coal' that was drawn up in the 1950s went from far too optimistic numbers for the future Demand from. In the recession that started in 1956, demand fell drastically and oil was increasingly brought onto the market. In 1947 there were 15,000 miners in Rhondda, but in 1984 there was only one mine in Maerdy .

In 1966 the village of Aberfan in the Taff valley suffered one of the worst disasters in Wales history. A waste dump from a mine on Merthyr Mountain, which had been built on springs, slipped and destroyed, among other things, the elementary school, with 144 people killed, 116 of them children ( Aberfan disaster ).

In 1979 Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom . Their policy ( Thatcherism ) of a market fundamentalism quickly led to a break with the losing business that the government's National Coal Board was doing. In 1984 and 1985, after the government announced that many mines would be closed across the UK, miners went on strike , but ultimately to no avail. The failure of the strike led to a major dismantling of the British coal industry over the next decade, with cost increases and geological difficulties likely to have had similar effects, albeit somewhat later. In 2008 the last deep coal mine ( Tower Colliery in the Cynon Valley ) was closed. Tower had been bought by the miners in 1994 when the government tried to close the mine.

Unemployment in the Valleys has been the highest in the UK since the mid-1980s, leading to spikes in drug abuse and crime. This became a national issue in 2002 when drug gangs from Birmingham and Bristol gained media attention.

Around 2000 the last of the large steelworks, a steelworks of the Corus Group (formerly British Steel plc ) in Ebbw Vale, closed .

Current population development and labor market situation

As a result of the economic decline, the population in Rhondda and other parts of the Valleys fell by 20% between 1951 and 1971. Today around 30% of the population of Wales live in the Valleys, with the proportion falling due to emigration. The population in the area is much less mixed than in other parts of the country. Most of the residents (more than 90% in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil ) were born in Wales. High teenage pregnancy rates mean the area has a slightly younger population average than Wales as a whole.

There are a number of socio-economic problems: the level of education in the valleys is low and there are many unskilled workers. Many of the residents suffer from protracted, chronic illnesses. In 2006, only 64% of the working age population in the Heads of the Valleys were employed , compared to 69% in the Lower Valleys and 71% in all of Wales.

A relatively large number of the population are employed in crafts, health care and social services. There is only a small percentage employed in managerial positions or in professionalized occupations or even basic trades compared to the rest of the country. Many residents commute to Cardiff, especially from the districts of Caerphilly , Torfaen and Rhondda Cynon Taf . Although the railway network ( Valley Lines : rail network into Cardiff) is well developed, timetables and frequency prevent effective commuter traffic beyond Caerphilly and Pontypridd .

While the quality of the property market is not much worse than elsewhere in Wales, there is little variance in private property offers. Many houses are cheap, old row houses (terraced houses) that in the lowest categories of local taxes are filed (Council Tax); only a few high quality properties are available. A report for the Welsh Assembly Government concluded that the Valleys are "a poor area in Britain, unique in Britain for the depth and concentration of problems." However, the area is slowly becoming more attractive because the landscape is described as "stunning" and the expansion of traffic routes, such as the A465 , and investments in regeneration initiatives are being promoted.

Culture

The South Wales Valleys have become a symbol of decline for many Welsh and foreigners. However, they are also home to a large part of the population of Wales and remain an important cultural center, despite Cardiff's increasing dominance. The first Labor MP , Keir Hardie , was elected in the area and the Valleys remain a Labor Party center. The rugby union is very popular and playing fields can be seen everywhere in the valley floors. Even football is very popular. At the end of the 19th century, the vast majority of the population was Welsh-speaking. Today, however, the main language is English.

The geography of the valleys has a major impact on cultural life. The roads run mainly along the valleys, so that the places in one valley are more closely connected than with the places in neighboring valleys, even if these are geographically closer. The large number of simple chapels belonging to the numerous non-conformist religious communities is typical of the settlements . Museums, the Rhondda Heritage Park and the world heritage site of Blaenafon are a reminder of the industrial age .

traffic

The Valley Lines Network and adjacent routes.

The A470 from Cardiff to Llandudno is a dual carriageway with direct access to Taff's Well , Pontypridd , Abercynon and Merthyr Tydfil until the junction with the A465 ( Heads of the Valleys road ) . It also connects the A4059 to Abercynon, Aberdare and Hirwaun ; the A472 from Ystrad Mynach and Pontypool , and the A4054 from Quakers Yard . The A465 also provides a strategic link for the Northern Valleys and an alternative route between South West Wales and the English Midlands . The two-lane expansion should be completed by 2020. Stagecoach in South Wales operates bus services in the valleys and has connections to Cardiff City Center .

Many settlements are served by the Valley Lines Network , which runs in a star shape from Cardiff and connects with Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central stations , and thus with the South Wales Main Line . There are six main routes from Cardiff to the Valleys:

List of valleys in South Wales

From west to east:

Further to the east are two other valleys that are no longer included in the "South Wales Valleys Region":

media

The TV series The Valleys (TV series) has been on MTV since 2012, following young people from the Valleys as they try to gain a foothold in Cardiff.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ OS Pathfinder Guide, Brecon Beacons and Glamorgan . Ordnance Survey 1994
  2. ↑ WE Minchinton: Industrial South Wales, 1750-1914. 1969.
  3. ↑ City of Cardiff: Cardiff History. Retrieved June 18, 2017 .
  4. ^ John Davies: A History of Wales . Penguin, 2007. ISBN 0-14-192633-3 , p. 635
  5. ^ A b P. Jenkins: A History of Modern Wales, 1536-1990 . Harlow: Longman 1992.
  6. ^ Welsh Assembly Government (2008) People, Places, Futures - The Wales Spatial Plan 2008 Update. ( Memento of the original from January 20, 2010) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / wales.gov.uk
  7. ↑ a b c d John 1980: 590.
  8. ^ A b c Mary, Eurwyn and Dafydd Wiliam: The Brynmawr Furniture Makers: a Quaker initiative, 1929-40 . 1st edition. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst 2012, ISBN 978-1-84527-402-3 , p. 10 f .
  9. ↑ Pamela Manasseh: Brynmawr experiment 1928-1940: Quaker values ​​and arts and crafts principles . University of Plymouth, Falmouth October 2009, p. 70 ( plymouth.ac.uk [PDF; 19.5 MB ; accessed on August 3, 2020]).
  10. ↑ Pamela Manasseh: Brynmawr experiment 1928-1940: Quaker values ​​and arts and crafts principles . University of Plymouth, Falmouth October 2009, p. 90 ( plymouth.ac.uk [PDF; 19.5 MB ; accessed on August 3, 2020]).
  11. ↑ a b Pamela Manasseh: Brynmawr experiment 1928-1940: Quaker values ​​and arts and crafts principles . University of Plymouth, Falmouth October 2009, p. 72 f . ( plymouth.ac.uk [PDF; 19.5 MB ; accessed on August 3, 2020]).
  12. ↑ Mary, Eurwyn and Dafydd Wiliam: The Brynmawr Furniture Makers: a Quaker initiative, 1929-40 . 1st edition. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst 2012, ISBN 978-1-84527-402-3 , p. 12 .
  13. ↑ Pamela Manasseh: Brynmawr experiment 1928-1940: Quaker values ​​and arts and crafts principles . University of Plymouth, Falmouth October 2009, p. 71 ( plymouth.ac.uk [PDF; 19.5 MB ; accessed on August 3, 2020]).
  14. ^ A b c Mary, Eurwyn and Dafydd Wiliam: The Brynmawr Furniture Makers: a Quaker initiative, 1929-40 . 1st edition. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst 2012, ISBN 978-1-84527-402-3 , p. 14 .
  15. ↑ Pamela Manasseh: Brynmawr experiment 1928-1940: Quaker values ​​and arts and crafts principles . University of Plymouth, Falmouth October 2009, p. 76 ( plymouth.ac.uk [PDF; 19.5 MB ; accessed on August 3, 2020]).
  16. ↑ Pamela Manasseh: Brynmawr experiment 1928-1940: Quaker values ​​and arts and crafts principles . University of Plymouth, Falmouth October 2009, p. 74 ( plymouth.ac.uk [PDF; 19.5 MB ; accessed on August 3, 2020]).
  17. ↑ Pamela Manasseh: Brynmawr experiment 1928-1940: Quaker values ​​and arts and crafts principles . University of Plymouth, Falmouth October 2009, p. 78 f . ( plymouth.ac.uk [PDF; 19.5 MB ; accessed on August 3, 2020]).
  18. ↑ Mary, Eurwyn and Dafydd Wiliam: The Brynmawr Furniture Makers: a Quaker initiative, 1929-40 . 1st edition. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst 2012, ISBN 978-1-84527-402-3 , p. 6 .
  19. ↑ John 1980: 595.
  20. ^ A b John 1980: 596.
  21. ↑ a b c John 1980: 588.
  22. ↑ John 1980: 589.
  23. ↑ Davies 2008: 748.
  24. ↑ Blunkett told of 'Valleys drug menace'. BBC News October 1, 2002.
  25. ↑ a b c d e f g R. David & al .: The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the South Wales Valleys in a Broader Context. A report for the Welsh Assembly Government . 2003.
  26. ^ Wales: Its People. Statistics.gov.uk 2013-05-06.
  27. ↑ a b c Turning heads ... a strategy for the Heads of the Valleys.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Welsh Assembly Government, Adjudicationpanelwales.org.uk 2006.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.adjudicationpanelwales.org.uk  
  28. ^ "A distressed area unique in Great Britain for the depth and concentration of its problems". R. David & al .: The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the South Wales Valleys in a Broader Context. A report for the Welsh Assembly Government . 2003.
  29. ^ National Transport Plan. ( Memento of the original from August 6, 2009) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Welsh Assembly Government, 2009. 2013-05-06. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / wales.gov.uk
  30. ^ Network Rail Route Plans 2009. Route 15, South Wales Valleys. 2013-05-06.

literature

  • Arthur H. John: Glamorgan County History. Volume V, Industrial Glamorgan from 1700 to 1970. University of Wales Press, Cardiff 1980.

Web links

Coordinates: 51 ° 46 ′ 22.8 "  N , 3 ° 20 ′ 42"  W.