Welcome to Ystradgynlais Town Council
Ystradgynlais and the nearby villages of Abercrave and Cwmtwrch form a vibrant community in the Upper Swansea Valley. This forms the area for which Ystradgynlais Town Council has responsibility and the second largest town in Powys.
The community has a population of circa 8,000 and an electorate of just under 7,000 divided between four wards or areas.
About our Wards
Abercrave Ward
Abercrave (Confluence of the watercourses Craf and the Tawe: ‘Craf’ is an old Welsh word for ‘garlic’) is located at the district’s northern boundary. It is said that the professional ventures of the industrialist Daniel Harpur, who reputedly anglicised the name Abercraf to Abercrave, united the three hamlets of Pentre Lamb, Henneuadd and Pantycwrt to become collectively known as Abercrave.
Cwmtwrch Ward
Cwmtwrch (Valley of the Wild Boar) is a long winding village following the river valley in a north westerly direction towards the Black Mountain. It derives from the ‘Twrch Trwyth‘ a mythical wild boar of King Arthur’s legends and the ancient Welsh folklore tales of the ‘Mabinogion’. Cwmtwrch has been split into two parts, Upper Cwmtwrch (Cwmtwrch Uchaf) and Lower Cwmtwrch (Cwmtwrch Isaf) due to the traversing of the now defunct railway line and the road (A 4068) at two points requiring an upper and lower gate. The Upper and Lower label is usually the source of humorous comment given the size and population of the village. Cwmtwrch railway station was called Gwys (opened in 1868 and closed in 1950). It was located near present day Welfare Hall in Upper Cwmtwrch.
Ynyscedwyn Ward
Glanrhyd (Near the ford) is a village south of the town centre and is also the name of a nearby 18th century farm located on the banks of the river Tawe. This area of Ystradgynlais on the plain of the River Tawe was where iron was produced as far back as 1612.
Ystradgynlais Ward
The interpretation of the town’s name Ystradgynlais has interested people over the years.
It is said to mean the ‘Estate of Cynlais’. Cynlais, a ruler of this region, who lived in the first century, acquired the estate through marriage and was later made a saint. Another interpretation relates the name to ‘the vale of the rough-sounding brook’ from Nant Gyrlais – a stream which flows from the area of Penrhos to join the River Tawe just south of the town centre.
