Pontyberem

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Pontyberem
Welsh: Pontyberem
Pontyberem shown within the United Kingdom
Population	2829
OS grid reference	SN505115
Principal area	Carmarthenshire
Ceremonial county	Dyfed
Constituent country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LLANELLI
Postcode district	SA15
Dialling code	01269
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
European Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Llanelli
Welsh Assembly	Llanelli
List of places: UK • Wales • Carmarthenshire

Coordinates: 51°46′00″N 4°10′00″W / 51.783333, -4.166667

Pontyberem is a village situated in the Gwendraeth Valley halfway between Carmarthen and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, West Wales.

1 History
2 Welsh Language
3 Schools
4 Sport
5 Notable People
6 External links
7 References

[edit] History

The village grew during the late 19th century and early 20th century with the growth of the coal mining industry in the area. There were four prinicipal mines in the Pontyberem Area; Pontyberem colliery which was opened in 1845, Pentremawr (1889-c1974), Glynhebog(1892-1949) and Gwendraeth colliery (Watney pit). It was in the Gwendraeth colliery (Watney pit)in 1852 that a terrible disaster took place : 26 men and boys died when water flooded the mine killing all the miners on the night shift. It is said that it took 18 months to recover the bodies .^[1] Due to the demise of the coal industry in the South Wales Coalfield, there are now no high quality anthracite coal mines operating in the Gwendraeth Valley.

The famous Pontyberem safety lamps were made by John Jones (1879-1976) who worked as Colliery Chief Mechanic at Pentremawr pit , Pontyberem. ^[2]

The name Pontyberem originates from three separate Welsh language words, pont meaning bridge, aber meaning mouth of a river (into the sea), estuary, confluence of a lesser with a larger river and Beran after Nant Beran the river that flows through Pontyberem .^[3]

'Although not immediately obvious the element aber once formed part of this place name and referred to the location of the pont (bridge) over the river Gwendraeth Fawr just below its confluence with Nant Beran. It was probably lost through the contraction of aber and the river name Beran. The -a- of aber was then interpreted as the definite article y and Beran was probably influenced by berem, a variant of burum (yeast).'

[edit] Welsh Language

The Welsh language is a very important element in the daily life of the people of Pontyberem. In 1991 Pontyberem was recorded as having, with Cwarter Bach, the highest levels of Welsh speakers in Carmarthenshire. ^[4]According to the 2001 Census, 81.28% (1961:91% :1991:80.5%) of the population have one or more skills in Welsh with 60.83% able to speak, read and write it.^[5] In a survey conducted by Mori for Carmarthenshire County Council in 2000 people were asked how well they spoke Welsh. In the Gwendraeth valley 47% said very well, 17% said fairly well , 10% said not very well with 25% saying not at all.^[6] Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, the first community Welsh language initiative is based at Pontyberem. Menter Cwm Gwendraeth started in 1991 following the successful Urdd Gobaith Cymru National Eisteddfod held in the Gwendraeth Valley.

Both primary schools in Pontyberem, Pontyberem Primary School and Bancffosfelen Primary School , are Category A schools where the majority of the curriculum is taught through the medium of Welsh.

[edit] Schools

Ysgol Gynradd Pontyberem / Pontyberem Primary School

Heol y Felin , Pontyberem, Llanelli. SA15 5EB Telephone: 01269 870306 E-mail: pen.berem@ysgolccc.org.uk Fax: 01269 870306 Website : Pontyberem Primary School/Ysgol Gynradd Pontyberem

Ysgol Gynradd Bancffosfelen / Bancffosfelen Primary School Bancffosfelen, Llanelli, Sir Gaerfyrddin , SA15 5DR. Telephone: 01269 870272 E-mail:head.bancffos@ysgolccc.org.uk Website: Banffosfelen Primary School/Ysgol Gynradd Bancffosfelen

[edit] Sport

Rugby union - Pontyberem Rugby Football Club : 28, Heol Y Parc, Pontyberem
Football (soccer) - Bancffosfelen A.F.C.
Cricket - Pontyberem C.C.

[edit] Notable People

Arthur Daniels - Wales and Great Britain rugby league international
Victor Bach - Widnes rugby league player
John Jones - Maker of Pontyberem Miner's Lamp
Dorothy Squires Singer
Gwenda Owen Singer
David Davies (Dai Cantwr) Leader of Glamorgan Rebeccaites
Lewis Thomas (1877-1955) Pioneer of the art of Cerdd Dant (Singing to harp accompaniment)
Jack Gravell Father of Ray Gravell and back-row forward for Pontyberem
Ieuan Rees World renowned lettering designer and artist
John Jones, (Shoni Sgubor Fawr, Johnny Big Barn, 1811-1858) Demolished the tollgates at Pontyberem in the Rebecca Riots