Bridgend
Bridgend is a Welsh town that lies within the County Borough of Bridgend’s administrative area. It is an industrial and market town in south Wales and it is situated on the River Ogmore. Bridgend can be found approximately 20 miles west of Cardiff. Once part of Glamorgan, Bridgend is a town that has steadily grown in size over the years and it now has a population of almost 40,000 individuals. Bridgend is only 10 miles from the beautiful south Wales coastline.
Bridgend is well served by the road and railway networks. It lies on the M4 motorway which is the most significant route that links Wales and England, and is a direct link to London. The railway station has excellent links to London Paddington, Manchester Piccadilly and Bristol Parkway as well as the main Welsh cities such as Swansea and Cardiff.
History
There is evidence by means of ancient burial grounds to suggest that there has been human occupation in Bridgend and the surrounding environment since prehistoric times. The Romans certainly occupied the area and also built a road that is still in use today and is known as ‘Crack Hill’. Later, the Normans arrived and they viewed Bridgend as being so important that they improved three fortifications in the area.
Today, these fortifications are known as Ogmore (built in 1116), which is to the south of the town, Coity Castle (built in 1126) , in the north of the town and the most obvious Newcastle Castle (built in 1106), which overlooks the town centre. These three castles form the so-called ‘defensive triangle’ in the area. If a fortified Benedictine Priory at Ewenny (built in 1141) to the south is included, it would be a ‘defensive quadrangle’.
Bridgend itself is sited at a ford on the River Ogmore. In the 15th Century, a stone bridge was built across the river to link Bridgend with west Wales. This is where the name Bridgend is thought to have originated. Parts of the original bridge are still visible today, despite having been subject to years of river and weather damage. The Welsh name for Bridgend is Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr. With the bridge permanently in place, the town grew and thrived and became an important trading point, especially with farmers.
The discovery of coal in the valleys north of Bridgend meant that railways were built and roads improved so that by the 20th century, Bridgend was a very prosperous place to be. During World War II, a huge munitions factory was located in the area, making it one of the country’s biggest employers. The arrival of the M4 motorway in the 1970’s further cemented its importance.
Today, Bridgend is still a prominent town in south Wales and has good shopping and leisure facilities. Several markets operate regularly including a continental market and there are various festivals throughout the year. There has been a lot of money invested in Bridgend to promote new facilities by the riverside and provide new sporting amenities in town.