I.

Introduction

Neath Port Talbot (Welsh, Castell-nedd Port Talbot), county borough and unitary authority, southern Wales, bounded on the north by the counties of Carmarthenshire and Powys, on the east by the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, on the south-east and south by the county borough of Bridgend, on the south by Swansea Bay, and on the west by the county of Swansea. The county borough came into existence on April 1, 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1994, which changed the structure of local administration in Wales from a two-tier system of county and district councils to a single-tier system of unitary authorities. It comprises the majority of the former county of West Glamorgan, as well as all of the districts of Neath and Port Talbot in the east, centre, and south, and about half of the district of Lliw Valley in the north-west. Before 1974, when West Glamorgan was created under the local government reorganization implemented in that year, the territory covered by the county borough was part of the county of Glamorgan. Neath Port Talbot has an area of 442 sq km (171 sq mi).

II.

Land and Resources

Rising from sea level to 601 m (1,969 ft) at Craig y Llyn in the north-east, Neath Port Talbot consists primarily of a sandstone plateau dissected by the valleys of the rivers Afan, Dulais, Neath, and Tawe, all of which flow into Swansea Bay. The eastern part is extensively forested. To the north-east of the Vale of Neath is a deeply ravined and wooded area of steep waterfalls, contrasting strongly with the industrialized coastal area around the towns of Neath and Port Talbot.

The climate is mild. Although the coastal region is fairly dry, over the higher parts in the north the average rainfall reaches 2,400 mm (95 in). The average temperature is 5° C (41° F) in January and 17° C (63° F) in August. The interior is cooler and less sunny.

III.

Population and Administration

The population of the county borough is 134,471 (2001). According to the 2001 census, about 29 per cent of the total population can speak Welsh (see Celtic Languages). The main towns are Neath (population, 1991, 45,965) and Port Talbot (1991, 37,647), which is the administrative centre of the unitary authority.

The police authority is the South Wales Constabulary, which has its headquarters in Bridgend, in Bridgend county borough.

IV.

Places of Interest

Margam Country Park, some 5 km (3 mi) south-east of Port Talbot, has a hill fort dating from the Iron Age, a Gothic-style Victorian mansion, and an orangery which is 100 m (327 ft) long. The ruins of a 12th-century monastery can also be seen in the park—Margam Abbey Church, founded in 1147 is the only Cistercian foundation in Wales that is still in use as a place of Christian worship. Margam Abbey Stones Museum houses a collection of inscribed stones and crosses from the pre-Romanesque, Roman, and Celtic periods. The spectacular Aberdulais Falls are a short distance north-east of Neath. The site, owned by the National Trust, houses a hydroelectric power station with the largest electricity-generating waterwheel in Europe. Among the museums of the area are three which focus on its long association with coal mining: the Cefn Coed Colliery Museum near Crynant, the South Wales Miners’ Museum near Cymmer, and the Seven Sisters Sawmill and Museum. The remains of the 12th-century Neath Abbey are remarkably complete.

V.

Economy

Although deep mining for coal has ceased, a number of small private mines still exist, and opencast mining also continues. The manufacture of steel and chemicals and oil-processing are the major industries, but vehicle-engineering, electrical products, metal fabrication, and a variety of other light industries are also of importance. Port Talbot, which is also a seaside resort and trade centre, is the site of one of the largest steel-producing complexes in Europe. Its dock facilities were opened in the 19th century, and the town rapidly developed as a coal-shipping centre. The port was enlarged in 1970 to allow the docking of large ore-carrying vessels.

VI.

History

When the Romans conquered the area around AD 79 they built a fort at Neath. However, the roots of the main settlements in the area are more recent, going back to Norman times with the founding of abbeys at Neath and Margam. Industrial growth began in the 16th century with copper- and iron-smelting. By the 19th century the area had become a world centre of metals manufacture and coal mining. Coal was mined from shafts in every valley and in deep pits on the coastal plain. Neath, Briton Ferry, and Port Talbot became major ports and commercial centres.