Maesteg, Wales

Welcome to Maesteg, a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2011, Maesteg had a population of 20,612. The English translation of Maesteg is fair field. 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. With the decline of the coal industry and, more recently, the closure of one large factory producing cosmetics and another manufacturing vehicle components, the valley has become a residential/dormitory area for the Port Talbot, Bridgend and Cardiff journey to work areas. Maesteg has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages when the valley was part of Tir Iarll, an area famous for its game coverts, woods, and sparkling streams that was set aside as a hunting reserve by Robert Fitzhamon, Earl of Gloucester, the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan. The valley gained worldwide recognition as a producer of Admiralty-grade steam coal, high-quality coking coal, and the best house coal in South Wales. Today, Maesteg is a charming town with a variety of attractions for visitors to enjoy. Take a stroll through the Maesteg Market Square, which was situated at the ground floor level of Maesteg Town Hall and offered a variety of goods until the final stallholder left in 2018. Maesteg has three railway stations, all on the Maesteg Line, which offers services operated by Transport for Wales and run directly to Cardiff Central via Bridgend. The services usually continue to Cheltenham Spa via Newport and Gloucester with one early morning service to Ebbw Vale Town. Maesteg is also one of the few areas of Wales where the traditional Mari Lwyd is still celebrated during Christmas. The community of Maesteg had a population of 17,580 in the 2011 census and includes Nantyffyllon. The built-up area having a population of 21,000. Come and discover the hidden treasures of Maesteg, a town with a rich history and a bright future.