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Aberdulais Falls, Wales

Just off the M4 near Neath in South Wales is the site of Aberdulais Falls. The gorge in which the river runs was formed by glaciers during the last ice age. Huge sink holes formed by water flowing beneath the glacier can still be clearly seen. The falls also represent one of Britain's oldest industrial sites. Corn milling, dying of wool, copper smelting and tin plate making have all carried on here over hundreds of years. The first copper smelting works in Wales opened at Aberdulais in 1584.

The falls have been altered considerably by all this activity, and in 1820 a Captain R.H. Gronrow wrote despairingly:

"A natural cascade called Dyllais... was destroyed by an agent to Lord Jersey, the proprietor of the estate, in order to build a few cottages and the lock of a canal. The rock down which this beautiful cascade had flowed from the time of the flood and which has created a scene universally admired was blown up with gunpowder by this man."

A weir was built in 1830 to control this unpredictable, flash flood river. This continues to be used to stockpile water in a header tank, to provide a constant supply of water for the wheel.

It is heartening that, inspite of Captain Gronrow's fears, this place of ancient industry has a great beauty. It now represents something of a balance between man and nature, with all the power needed for the site, and more besides, being generated by the huge water wheel.

 

 

 

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Address: Aberdulais Falls, Aberdulais, near Neath, Neath and Port Talbot SA10 8EU

Directions: Leave the M4 at junction 43, onto the A465 towards Neath. After about four miles you will see the car park for the falls on your left. Click here for an interactive map centred on Aberdulais.

Access: This site is fully accessible for people in wheelchairs.

 

 

Contact:

telephone: 01639 636674

e-mail: aberdulais@nationaltrust.org.uk

web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-aberdulaisfalls/