Cymmer | |
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Cymmer shown within Rhondda Cynon Taf | |
Population | 4,807 (2011) |
OS grid reference | ST0290 |
Principal area | |
Ceremonial county | |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | PORTH |
Postcode district | CF39 |
Dialling code | 01443 |
Police | South Wales |
Fire | South Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
EU Parliament | Wales |
UK Parliament | |
Welsh Assembly | |
Cymmer (Welsh: Cymer) is a village and community in the Rhondda Valley, Wales. It is so named because of being located at the 'confluence' of the Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach river valleys. Several collieries were opened here in the middle part of the nineteenth century. A serious mine accident in 1856 resulted in 114 casualties, and the lack of payment of any compensation to the miners' families caused bitter feelings in the community.
Cymmer is located in the lower Rhondda Valley about half way between Treorchy and Pontypridd. It is situated on the A4119 road half a mile from its junction with the A4058 road. Neighbouring settlements are Penygraig, Trealaw, Tonypandy, Dinas Rhondda, Llwyncelyn and Porth. Cymmer comprises the villages of Trehafod, Trebanog, Britannia, Glynfach and Cymmer itself.
George Insole owned the mineral rights to the land at Cymmer. Several collieries were sunk in the vicinity, namely Cymmer Colliery (Old No. 1 Pit) (1847), Glynfach Colliery (1851), New Cymmer Colliery (1855), Upper Cymmer Colliery (1851) and Ty-Newydd Colliery (1852), not to mention the several other collieries of Porth and Trehafod. This was the site of an 1856 mining accident in which 114 people were killed. The official enquiry that followed found that inadequate ventilation had caused a build up of gas, and the jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter. No compensation was paid to the families of the miners concerned. Five of the mine managers went on trial at the spring assizes in 1857; the case against two was dismissed, the judge directed the jury to discharge one of the others and advised them to acquit the remaining two, which they did. The Cymmer community seethed with rancour and the bitter feelings lasted for many years.