Maesteg and Town Halls
Maesteg in Wales
Maesteg is a town in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales, lying at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with the county boroughs of Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 20,685.
Historically a part of Glamorgan, the growth of the town started with the opening of ironworks in the 1820s and 1830s. Once a coal mining area, the last pit closed in 1985, and since then Maesteg has become a dormitory town for the steel works at Port Talbot.
History of Maestag
The earliest settlement in the Llynfi Valley is at the Bwlwarcau Iron Age Hillfort near to Llangynwyd village which is around 2 miles to the south west of Maesteg Town centre. This places earliest human settlement in the area around Maesteg to more than 2,000 years ago.
Immediately surrounding the Maesteg Area is significant evidence of settlement in the Bronze Age, which reaches back further in time, to nearly 4,000 years ago, in Carn Llechart, Crug yr Afan and Carn Bugail, there is also evidence of Neolithic settlement in this area of South Wales, in Penmaen Burrows in the Gower peninsula, and Maesteg is also close to where the Red Lady of Paviland was found in the Gower, where the oldest remains of humans have been found in the United Kingdom, dating from 26,350 years ago +/- 550 years; so there is significant evidence that the area around Maesteg has seen anthropological contact for a very long time.
Closer to modern times, the Romans established a settlement at present day Bridgend, and it could be assumed that they visited the Llynfi Valley as they also established a settlement at Neath, although the road that connected them was to the south of the Llynfi Valley as the topography is somewhat treacherous between Maesteg and Neath.
Maesteg
Maesteg has a tradition of music and theatre. There are many local groups providing music styles from the traditional male voice choir music to the more modern rock band, Funeral for a Friend, who originally hail from Maesteg.
Maesteg has a rich tradition of Singing, especially in choirs. At present, there are three male voice choirs: Cor Meibion Maesteg A'r Cylch (Maesteg and District Male Voice Choir), Cor Meibion Glerwyr Maesteg Gleemen Male voice Choir, and Cor yr Hen Blwyf (the Old Parish Choir, The Largest being Cor Meibion Maesteg, with membership exeding 50. There are also two ladies choirs: Cor merched Cwm Llynfi (Llynfi Valley Ladies Choir) and Harmony Ladies Choir. There are two mixed Choirs, Noteworthy mixed choir and Allegro, a youth Choir performing contemporary music.
Maesteg Children's Choir hosts many concerts throughout the year, and Curtain Up Youth Theatre has been performing musicals since the turn of the millennium, giving children of the valley a chance to showcase their talents. Maesteg Amateur Operatic Society recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a production of 'The King and I.' The society continues to flourish with talents from all ages eager to perform, ranging from 16 to founder members, who are still active, at 80 and above.
Artist Christopher Williams was born in Maesteg in 1873. Six of his paintings are on display in Maesteg Town Hall.
The Welsh national anthem Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was sung in Maesteg for the very first time.
Maesteg in the Media
As part of Bridgend County Borough, the local radio station is 106.3 Bridge FM. Bridge FM is the most-listened-to radio station in the County Borough. The breakfast-time presenter, Lee Jukes, has close ties with the Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir, and is also a patron of Maesteg Amateur Operatic Society. The town is also served by three local newspapers: The Glamorgan Gazette, published weekly, has its main office in Bridgend, but prints news related to Maesteg; The Gem, formerly The Recorder, a free weekly, printed in Cowbridge, and The Llynfi News, a free monthly paper, based in Maesteg.