Afan Valley

River Afan (Afon Afan)
River
The river near to its source at Cymmer.
Country	Wales
Tributaries
- left	Afon Gwynfi
- right	Afon Corrwg, Afon Pelenna
Cities	Cymmer, Cwmafan, Aberavon
Source
- location	Cymer
Length	18 km (11 mi)

The River Afan is a river in Wales whose river valley formed the territory of the medieval Lords of Afan. The Afan Valley encompasses the upper reaches of the river. The valley is traversed by the A4107 Afan Valley Road. Settlements in the area include Cwmafan, Pwll-y-glaw and Cymmer. The town of Aberavon grew up on the banks of the river, and was later subsumed by the larger centre of population known as Port Talbot. The political constituency still retains the name Aberavon (aber meaning mouth of a river).

The river's name is old and there is no definite agreement on its origin. One suggestion is that it is from "A-Ban" meaning "from the heights" due to its comparatively quick descent from hills to the sea. (Compare to the 'Ban' in "Bannau Brycheiniog", the Brecon Beacons).

The river Afan begins its journey at the village of Cymmer (meaning confluence) where the rivers Corrwg and Gwynfi (see Tributaries below). The river runs in a more or less south-westerly direction parallel to the River Neath with which it shares its western watershed. It converges with the river Pelenna at Pontrhydyfen. From here it turns southward towards Port Talbot. To aid the construction of the docks at Port Talbot, the river was diverted away slightly. Before it reaches the sea, the river drops over a 12-foot high vertical weir called the Slaughterhouse Falls. The River passes the Afan Argoed Country Park in its middle reaches. A motte and bailey castle stood on the banks of the river as it passed through Aberavon during the medieval period. No remains are now visible above ground, but the site of the castle is commemorated in local street names.