Ystalyfera

Coordinates: 51°45′50″N 3°47′10″W / 51.764°N 3.786°W / 51.764; -3.786

Ystalyfera is a former industrial village in the upper Swansea Valley, on the River Tawe, about 13 miles (21 km) north-east of Swansea. It is an electoral ward and a community in the unitary authority of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, comprising a resident population of just over 3,000 people, approximately 60% of whom speak Welsh.

National Cycle Route 43 passes though the village.

History

The history of Ystalyfera begins with a small farming family who shared the land. This is reflected in the village's name, composed from the Welsh words, Ynys (meaning island), tall, (meaning tall) and Berran (A Composite of Ber and Rhan, which indicates a land-share). A short piece of shared land (probably between agricultural labourers). The history of the name can be seen as it evolved through the ages: -

Ystalyfera grew as a village with the advent of coal mining and iron working, which were a huge part of everyday life in the local communities of the Swansea Valley (Welsh: Cwmtawe).