Bridgend

Coordinates: 51°30′26″N 3°34′42″W / 51.5072°N 03.5784°W / 51.5072; -03.5784

Bridgend (English pronunciation: /brᵻˈdʒɛnd/; Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, meaning "The main bridge on the River Ogmore" or alternatively "Bridgehead on the River Ogmore" (suggesting a battle), is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, 18-mile (29 km) west of the capital Cardiff and 20-mile (32 km) east of Swansea. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore, but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town.

Historically a part of Glamorgan, Bridgend has greatly expanded in size since the early 1980s – the 2001 census recorded a population of 39,429 for the town and the 2011 census reports that the Bridgend Local Authority had a population of 139,200 up from 128,700 in 2001. This 8.2% rise was the largest rise in Wales except for Cardiff. The town is undergoing a redevelopment project, with the town centre mainly pedestrianised and ongoing works including Brackla Street Centre redevelopment to Bridgend Shopping Centre, Rhiw Car Park redevelopment, ongoing public realm improvements and the upgrade of the Bridgend Life Centre and demolition of Sunnyside offices to accommodate a large retirement complex.

Bridgend (community)

Coordinates: 51°30′31″N 3°34′28″W / 51.508663°N 3.574570°W / 51.508663; -3.574570

Bridgend is a community in Bridgend County Borough, south Wales. Along with the communities of Brackla and Coychurch Lower, it makes up the town of Bridgend. Bridgend is the western district of Bridgend town, and takes in the town centre, Newcastle Hill, Tremains and to the north Wild Mill. The population of the community of Bridgend at the 2001 census was 13,950.

The community of Bridgend was created in 1974 when the civil parishes of Wales were abolished. In 1996 a large change to the boundaries of Bridgend resulted in the community of Bridgend gaining a large proportion of the community of Ewenny, including the area known as Heronston.

Buildings of note

One of the oldest structures in the community is Newcastle Castle a Norman fortification, overlooking the town from Newcastle Hill. The castle is now ruinous.

Near Brynteg Comprehensive School is Island Farm, a Second World War prisoner of war camp, site of a famous prison break in 1945. The break out camp is the only one of the prison structures to survive, and is now a listed building.

Bridgend (disambiguation)

Bridgend may refer to:

Republic of Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Other