A town of around 9000 inhabitants, Ystradgynlais lies in the far southwest of
Powys and is one of the few areas within old Brecknockshire, which has a high proportion of Welsh-speakers.
Ystradgynlais stands on the River Tawe, having grown around the industries of iron-making, coal-mining and, somewhat incongruously, watch-making, with the onomatopoeically so-called ‘Tick Tock’ Factory (now closed), for some years the major local employer. In recent years light industry has proliferated, producing a well-trained and enthusiastic workforce.
Ystradgynlais is a market town whose history is interlinked not with agriculture, as its rural setting would suggest, but with the birth of the industrial age. This was the home of some of the first Welsh ironmasters with evidence of smelting reaching back to the reign of Elizabeth I. However, the town is also the gateway to some of the most dramatic and unspoiled scenery in Wales.
The area has worn industry lightly. Industrial remains have added interest to the local landscape, whilst the local hills, The Drum, Cribarth, Farteg and Mynydd Du are mostly unaffected.
Many aspects of local life have influenced artists. Josef Herman, the internationally famous Polish artist, lived and painted in Ystradgynlais after the Second World War. Many of his most famous works were painted here. His studio may be found behind Gough Buildings. Other local artists, such as Megan Jones, live and work in the area.
Ystradgynlais history
Industrial archaeologists are drawn to remains such as the Ynysgedwyn ironworks, whilst early railway enthusiasts find the various remains of the Brecon Forest Tramroad a fascinating example of a pioneering industrial railway system. Ironically, the old Wern Plemys colliery site is now home to a number of rare plant species and a Nature Reserve in the care of the Brecknock Wildlife Trust.
Man has lived in this area since at least Mesolithic times (7000-5000 BC) and has left many traces. Standing Stones such as Maen Llia and Maen Madog, bones and other artefacts attest to human occupation. An ancient stone circle, Cerrig Duon, with its attendant standing stone, Maen Mawr, alongside the Tawe River, are pointed to by a row or alignment of stones known as the Saith Maen or Seven Stones on top of the Cribarth. The early history of the area is explained in
the Dan-yr-Ogof Caves at the head of the valley.
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The present Parish Church of Ystradgynlais, St. Cynog’s, rebuilt in 1865, is the latest of a succession of churches believed to extend back to the 6th Century. It is probable that the earliest church on the site was associated with, or founded by, Cynog, son of the Irish king Brychan who lent his name to Brycheiniog or Brecknock, one of the old kingdoms, and later counties incorporated into the present county of Powys. Fragments of early Christian memorial stones are incorporated into the fabric of the building, and ancient yew trees stand in the surrounding churchyard
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Why Visit Ystradgynlais?
Waterfall Country
...Close by, to the north, one breathtaking vista surmounts another. This is a country of forests, dominated by the Black Mountain and cleft by deep ravines and thundering waterfalls. At Henrhyd Falls, you can walk behind the cascading Nant Llech, the highest waterfall in the Brecon Beacons National Park - as it drops for 27 metres.
And caves without equal... the Dan-yr-Ogof Showcaves, the largest complex of its kind in northern Europe is also nearby. One cavern is 46 metres long and 21 metres high. The site also houses the Dinosaur Park, Iron Age Hill Fort and the Shire Horse Centre.
Craig-y-Nos Country Park... Originally the grounds of Craig-y-Nos Castle, provides 40 acres of woodland, water and meadow to explore and enjoy.
"The Sleeping Giant"... Part of the Black Mountain range located to the west of Ystradgynlais this natural phenomenon proudly surveys the countryside, and acts as a landmark to this "special land".
Ystradgynlais TV
