{{otheruses}}
{{infobox UK place|
|country = Wales
|static_image = [[Image:CaradogStatueAberdare.jpg|200px]]
|static_image_caption = [[Griffith Rhys Jones|Caradog]] statue in Victoria Square
|welsh_name=Aberdâr
|constituency_welsh_assembly=
|official_name= Aberdare
|latitude= 51.7132
|longitude= -3.4452
|unitary_wales= [[Rhondda Cynon Taff]]
|lieutenancy_wales= [[Mid Glamorgan]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Cynon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Cynon Valley]]
|post_town= ABERDARE
|postcode_district = CF44
|postcode_area= CF
|dial_code= 01685
|map_type=
|os_grid_reference= SO005025
|population=
}}
'''Aberdare''' ({{lang-cy|Aberdâr}}) is an industrial town in the county borough of [[Rhondda Cynon Taff]] in the [[traditional county]] of [[Glamorgan]], in south [[Wales]], situated (as the name implies) at the confluence of the Dar and [[River Cynon|Cynon rivers]]. The population at the ([[1991]]) census was 31,619. It is 4 miles S.W. of [[Merthyr Tydfil]] and 24 miles N.W. of [[Cardiff]]. From being, at the beginning of the [[19th century]], a mere village in an agricultural district, the place grew rapidly in population owing to the abundance of its coal and iron ore, and the population of the whole parish (which was only 1486 in [[1801]]) increased tenfold during the first half of the century. It has since declined, owing to the loss of most of the heavy industry.

Ironworks were established at Llwydcoed and Abernant in [[1799]] and [[1800]] respectively, followed by others at Gadlys and Aberaman in [[1827]] and [[1847]]. These have not been worked since about [[1875]]. After this, the iron industry was represented only by a small tinplate works, but by this stage the economy of the town was dominated by the coal industry. There were also several brickworks and breweries. During the latter half of the [[19th century]], considerable public improvements were made to the town, which became, despite its neighbouring collieries, a pleasant place to live. Its institutions included a post-graduate theological college (opened in connection with the Church of [[England]] in [[1892]], until [[1907]], when it was removed to [[Llandaff]]).

Aberdare, with the ecclesiastical parishes of St Fagan's (Trecynon) and Aberaman carved out of the ancient parish, had twelve Anglican churches, one [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] church (built in [[1866]] in Monk Street near the site of a cell attached to [[Penrhys Abbey]]) and at one time had over fifty Nonconformist chapels. The services in the majority of the chapels were in Welsh. The urban district includes what were once the separate villages of [[Aberaman]], [[Abernant, Aberdare|Abernant]], [[Cwmaman]], [[Cwmbach]], [[Cwmdare]], [[Llwydcoed]], [[Penywaun]] and [[Trecynon]]. There are several [[cairn]]s and the remains of a circular [[Brython|British]] encampment on the mountain between Aberdare and Merthyr. [[Hirwaun]] moor, 4 miles to the N.W. of Aberdare, was according to tradition the scene of a battle at which [[Rhys ap Tewdwr]], prince of [[Dyfed]], was defeated by the allied forces of the Norman [[Robert Fitzhamon]] and [[Iestyn ap Gwrgant]], the last prince of Glamorgan.

The town is served by [[Aberdare railway station]], the terminus of the [[Merthyr Line|Merthyr Line - Aberdare branch]].

==The Coal Industry==
In the early years of Aberdare's development , most of the coal worked in the parish was coking coal, and was consumed locally, chiefly in the ironworks. In [[1836]], exploitation of the "Four-foot Seam" of high-[[heating value|calorific value]] [[steam coal]] began, and pits were sunk in rapid succession. This coal was valuable for railways and steam ships, and an export trade began, via the [[Taff Vale Railway]] and the port of [[Cardiff]]. The population of the [[civil parish|parish]] rose from 6,471 in 1841 to 14,999 in 1851 and 32,299 in 1861 and John Davies<ref>Davies, John, ''A History of Wales'', Penguin, 1994, ISBN 0-14-014581-8, p 400</ref> described it as "the most dynamic place in Wales". In [[1851]], the [[Admiralty]] decided to use Welsh steam coal, and this decision boosted the reputation of Aberdare's product and launched a huge international export market<ref>Davies, ''op cit'', p 400</ref>. Coal mined in Aberdare parish rose from 177,000 tons in 1844 to 477,000 in 1850<ref>Davies, ''op cit'', p 384</ref>, and the coal trade, which after [[1875]] was the chief support of the town, soon reached huge dimensions. Steam coal was subsequently found in the [[Ystradyfodwg|Rhondda]] and further west, but many of the great companies of the Welsh coal industry's Gilded Age started operation in Aberdare and the lower Cynon Valley, including those of [[David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda|Samuel Thomas]], [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies and Sons]], [[John Nixon (mining engineer)|Nixon's Navigation]] and [[Powell Duffryn]]<ref>Davies, ''op cit'', p 400</ref>. In common with the rest of the coalfield, Aberdare's coal industry commenced a long decline after [[World War I]], and the last two deep mines still in operation in the 1960s were the small Aberaman and Fforchaman collieries, which closed in 1962 and 1965 respectively.

==Culture==
Aberdare, during its boom years, was considered a centre of Welsh culture: it hosted the first [[National Eisteddfod]] in [[1861]], again in [[1885]], and in [[1956]] at [[Aberdare Park]] where the Gorsedd Stones still exist.

The [[Coliseum Theatre (Aberdare)|Coliseum Theatre]] is Aberdare's main arts venue, containing a 600-seat [[auditorium]] and [[movie theater|cinema]]. It is situated in nearby [[Trecynon]] and was built in [[1938]] using [[miner]]s' subscriptions.

Aberdare was the birthplace of the [[World War II|Second World War]] poet [[Alun Lewis]], and a plaque commemorating him is to be found, including a quotation from his poem, ''The Mountain over Aberdare''.

The original founding members of the rock band [[Stereophonics]] originated from the nearby village of [[Cwmaman]]. It is also the hometown of guitarist [[Mark Parry]] of Vancouver rock band [[The Manvils]]. Famed [[anarcho-punk|anarchist-punk]] band [[Crass]] played their last live show for striking miners in Aberdare.

==Schools and colleges==

===Universities===
*[[University of Glamorgan]]

===Colleges===
*[[Coleg Morgannwg]]

===Secondary Schools===

*[[Aberdare Boys' Comprehensive School]]
*[[Aberdare Boys Grammar School]] (now closed)
*[[Aberdare Girls School|Aberdare Girls' School]]
*[[Blaengwawr Comprehensive School]]
*[[Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun]]
*[[St. John the Baptist School (Aberdare)]]

==Notable people from Aberdare and district==

Notable current and former residents and natives of Aberdare include:

*[[Ioan Gruffudd]] - Actor born in [[Llwydcoed]], Aberdare
*[[Patrick Hannan (presenter)]] - Welsh broadcaster
*[[Bethan Jenkins]] - Member of the National Assembly for Wales for the South Wales West Region
*[[Mihangel Morgan]] - a leading Welsh-language writer, born in [[Trecynon]], some of his literary works feature Aberdare
*[[Roy Noble]] - popular Welsh broadcaster has lived near Aberdare for the past thirty years

==Twin cities/towns==
*{{flagicon|France}} - [[Montelimar]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} - [[Slagelse]], [[Denmark]]

==See also==

*[[Aberdare Park]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==

*[http://www.aberdareblog.co.uk/ Aberdare Blog]
*[http://www.aberdarerfc.co.uk/ Aberdare RFC]
*[http://www.aberdare-trefoil.co.uk/ Aberdare Trefoil Guild]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/aberdare/ BBC website on Aberdare]

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[[Category:Towns in Rhondda Cynon Taff]]
[[Category:Towns in Glamorgan]]

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