Travel to Bridgend Map
Bridgend tourist guide map of landmarks & destinations by Walkfo
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When travelling to Bridgend, Walkfo’s has created a travel guide & Bridgend overview of Bridgend’s hotels & accommodation, Bridgend’s weather through the seasons & travel destinations / landmarks in Bridgend. Experience a unique Bridgend when you travel with Walkfo as your tour guide to Bridgend map.
Bridgend history
Prehistoric and Roman
Several prehistoric burial mounds have been found in the vicinity of Bridgend . The Vale of Glamorgan would have been a natural low-level route west to the Roman fort and harbour at Neath (Nidum) from settlements in the east like Cardiff and Caerleon (Isca)
Norman invasion
Normans looked westwards to create new seats for lords loyal to William the Conqueror . Groups of Norman barons arrived in Wales, and in the south and east created what would later become the Welsh Marches . Newcastle Castle (on Newcastle Hill, overlooking the town centre, 1106) and Ogmore Castle (1116) provided a “defensive triangle” for the area .
Early development
Bridgend developed at a ford on the River Ogmore, which was on the main route between east and west Wales . In the 15th century, a stone bridge was built as a permanent connection between the two sides of the Ogmore . Originally, this bridge had four arches, but in the 18th century a massive flood washed two of them away .
Industrial era
First coal mining operations opened north of Bridgend in the 17th century; the Llynfi Valley was the first to be industrialised . The valleys of the three rivers grew into an important part of the South Wales coalfields .
Second World War
In the Second World War, Bridgend had a prisoner of war (POW) camp and a large munitions factory . At its peak, the arsenal had 40,000 workers, many of them women . The admiralty ceased full-scale production in December 1945 after five years .
After the war
Bridgend stands equidistantly between Swansea to the west and Cardiff to the east . In 1960, the River Ogmore burst its banks and flooded the town centre . The town centre has not been flooded since . The Beeching cuts of the 1960s had the loss of passenger rail links in the Vale of Glamorgan .
New millennium
Some local traders argue that this has damaged trade due to a lack of access by taxis and the disabled . Car parking provision and pricing have also been a concern to retailers with calls for free or reduced-price parking .
Future developments
Construction on a 1500-home sustainable “village” at Parc Derwen near Coity began in 2011 . The scheme was a collaboration between house-builders and public bodies including the National Assembly . Concerns exist from Coity in particular that this development may impact their village’s identity .
Bridgend map & travel guide with history & landmarks to explore
Visit Bridgend Walkfo Stats
With 54 travel places to explore on our Bridgend travel map, Walkfo is a personalised tour guide to tell you about the places in Bridgend as you travel by foot, bike, car or bus. No need for a physical travel guide book or distractions by phone screens, as our geo-cached travel content is automatically triggered on our Bridgend map when you get close to a travel location (or for more detailed Bridgend history from Walkfo).
| Travel Location: Travel Area: | Bridgend [zonearea] | Audio spots: Physical plaques: | 54 0 | Population: | [zonesize] |
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Tourist Guide to Bridgend Map
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