Maps
OS Explorer 166, 'Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil'
and OS Outdoor Leisure 13, 'Brecon Beacons - Eastern'.
As to the programme of events, this was as follows :
- Saturday 19th
September - Pontypridd and Clydach
Met at Hetty Pit, Rhondda
valley, Pontypridd ST 0545 9090 (View OS Map) (about 1 1/2
miles up the Rhondda Valley from Pontypridd on
the A 4058.) Parking on opposite side of
main road from the headframe and winder on site
of former railway sidings and go up the steps
into the engine house. The winding
house/fan house was specially opened from 10.00
onwards - with £1 per head donation to the Hetty
Engine Trust. Winder is a Barker and Cope 1875,
twin 36in. with piston valves and is on a 392yd.
shaft. (Because of cost of hiring a compressor
the engine was not running but members were able
to clamber over the whole site). Close by
at ST 083 886 (View OS Map) the University
of Glamorgan grounds contain the 1845 Varteg Iron
Co. beam engine used for pumping and winding at
Newbridge Colliery, which some visited, whilst
Rhondda Heritage (entrance fee) also has restored
engines.
14.00 Met at Clydach
Ironworks, SO 230 132. (View OS Map) [This is
the first turning right going down Clydach george
on the 'Heads of the Valleys' road, where the
road goes into a bit of a dip, signposted Clydach
South etc.] An excavated set of
C18/C19 furnaces were viewed, and are set in an
area of extensive ironstone, coal and limestone
working with tramroad and railway remains feeding
to the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal. A
circular walk was followed, mostly on the tracks
of various inclines and railways.
Leader Terry Evans & Robin
Saturday Evening Met 7p.m. for
dinner at 7.30p.m. at the The Usk Inn.
Menu
~ ~ ~ Starters
~ ~ ~
Leek and Potato Soup,
Prawn cocktail, or
Chicken Liver Pate served with Onion Marmalade and
Toast
~ ~ ~ Main course
~ ~ ~
Roast Sirloin of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding roast
potatoes and vegetables,
Salmon Steak served with a Butter Sauce and vegetables on
a bed of spinach, or
Vegetable Ravioli served with a Spicy Tomato Sauce
garnished with continental vegetables
~ ~ ~ Sweet ~ ~
~
Blackcurrant and Bacardi Cheesecake,
Apple Tart and Custard, or
Trio of Ice-cream
Coffee or Tea ...and very
good it was too !
- Sunday 20th September
- Blaenavon
Met at 10.30 in Blaenavon
Ironworks car park SO 250 093 (View OS Map) for a walk c.
3.5 mile over rough ground over the Northern
Outcrop. Early iron-ore trenches,
bell-pits, tramroad incline and brake gear,
powder store, early and late coal shafts, railway
incline and WWII strip mining were all viewed.
Leader Terry Evans
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