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1st September Porthcawl Museum SocietyOpening time 10am – 4pmWalks 10.30am and 2.30pmporthcawlmuseum@hotmail.co.ukPorthcawl Museum will be open to the publicfree admission for the day. Guided town walksare organised during the day.

1st SeptemberRichard Price Walk, Llangeinor1st walk 10am / 2nd walk 2pmThe Richard Price Society01656 870359Jarvismob@tiscali.co.ukA short Circular walk. Pausing to relateanecdotes and information about the life of DrRichard Price who was Born at Tynton. Hebecame involved in a remarkable number ofdisciplines, mathematics, theology, and moreimportantly the independence of nations. Thewalk will start from the car park of the Richardprice centre and proceed onto LlangeinorSquare and onto Tynton farmhouse.

8th and 9th SeptemberHut 9 – Former Prisoner of War Camp,Island Farm and Launch of Hut 9 IphoneApp, 10- 4pm BCBC 01685 643175 susan.tomlinson@bridgend.gov.ukwendy.gardner@bridgend.gov.ukThis will be the first opportunity from manyyears that small groups will be able to accessinside part of Hut 9 which is a Grade II ListedBuilding. You will also have an opportunity to downloadan I Phone App which uses the latest digitaltechnology and augmented reality to tell thestory of Hut 9 and bring to life Bridgend’s own‘Great Escape’.

Re-enactment soldiers and individuals with awealth of knowledge will be at the site on theopen days and there will also be talks on theecology of the site. No parking, nor facilitieson site. Book soon for internal visits whichare limited in number, and by appointmentonly.

14th SeptemberTondu ironworks Tours and eventsOpen from 9am – 5pm. Groundwork Trust01656 727800jonathandavies@groundworkbnpt.comParc Tondu is the most complete VictorianIronworks in Britain and is currently the homeof Groundwork Bridgend& Neath Port Talbot.The Ironworks which is thought to have beenfounded in 1838 has gone through a numberof changes over the years thanks to itsmultiple owners including Sir Robert Price,John Brogden and Colonel North. The sitehas a number of structures that date from theIndustrial Revolution including the remains ofthe beehive coke ovens, charging area andthe engine house.

The event will open the site to the generalpublic and local schools, they will have theopportunity to take a tour of the site and seewhat remains of the local industrial heritage.On site there will be a selection of activitystations that tie in with the Victorian period;these will involve craft making, environmentalactivities and fun science. The activities willbe coordinated by the Youthworks, PositiveEnergy and Environmental team which are allpart of Groundwork Bridgend & Neath PortTalbot.

BRIDGEND’S HERITAGE NEWS

Saturday 1st - Sunday 30th September, 2012

Wales' most iconic buildings and unusual sites will welcomethousands of visitors as part of the annual Open Doorsprogramme, which seeshundreds of attractions, eventsand activities open to visitorsfree of charge throughout themonth of September.

Organised by the Civic Trust forWales and supported by Cadw,the Welsh Government's historicenvironment service, OpenDoors offers both local peopleand visitors the chance toexplore new aspects of Wales'sculture and history.

Events start on the 1stSeptember and include:

15th SeptemberTondu Methodist Church01656 662671j.jones503@btinternet.com Tondu Methodist Church was built in 1868,with most of the costs being met by theBrogden family, who at the time were theironmasters in Tondu. In 1872 the Brodgensinstalled a fine stained glass window in thechurch and also provided a pipe organ, whichis still in original working condition and islisted on the National Pipe Organ Register. A major programme of redevelopment isplanned for the church building during thenext year. Substantial funding has beenawarded by the Welsh Government and theoutcome of an application to the HeritageLottery Fund is awaited. If the funding israised then the new ‘Wesley Centre’ wouldoffer excellent community activities andprovide a focus for reclaiming Tondu’sindustrial and cultural heritage throughactivities, exhibitions etc. There will be anopportunity to visit the church and to hearmore about the ambitious plans to extend the accommodation in the building whileconserving the fine architectural features. On this weekend the church will look its best,decorated with flowers, fruit and vegetablesfor the traditional Harvest Festival. There willbe refreshments available and a chance tohear some organ and choir music.

15th September Maesteg Library Photographic event10am – 3pmRichard Bellinger, Bridgend Libraries 01656 754859 or 754835martyn.jones@bridgend.gov.ukY Llynfi Library is located in Maesteg SportsCentre. The building was originally built as anengine house servicing the blast furnaces ofthe Llynfi Ironworks and was later used as acorn store for the pit ponies of the NorthNavigation Company. We are encouragingmembers of the public to bring in their historicphotographs of the area where they will bescanned for addition to the library’s databaseof digitised images, available via the internet.

Local experts will also be on hand to identifyand interpret people’s photographs ofMaesteg and the Llynfi Valley.

15th September Garw Calon Lan Walk1st walk 10am / 2nd walk 2pmGarw Valley Historical Society01656 870359Jarvismob@tiscali.co.uk A walk in the footsteps of poet Daniel James,author of Calon Lân, who lived and worked in the village of Blaengarw in the 1880’s. The walk will take in the places in which heworked, worshipped, and played. You will beaccompanied by a local heritage guide whowill also give a detailed anecdotal history ofthe man using photographs of the village as it was in his day. Walkers will meet at theBlaengarw visitor centre, Parc Calon Lân,Blaengarw.

22nd September Bridgend Public Library, Wyndham Street – Bridgend Civic Trust’.natalie71.murphy@mypostoffice.co.ukThe Bridgend Civic Trust will be based inside and outside of Bridgend library withexhibitions and other material on the library.Around Wyndham Street guided town walkswill run at 10.30am and at 2.30pm.

28th SeptemberSculpture unveiling, Cheapside, BridgendArtist in ResidenceElbow Room / BCBC02921 158214 nia@elbowroom.org.ukThe event will take place outdoors atCheapside, Bridgend. Bridgend CountyBorough Council are currently re-developing the town centre, and Cheapsideis one area that is being upgraded. As part of this the sculptor David Annand has beencommissioned to produce two pieces of public art. David has worked with local schoolchildren and poet Rhian Edwards to come up with the sculptural designs, which will beinstalled in September 2012. A public unveiling event of the sculptures aspart of the Open Doors programme, to takeplace on Friday 28th September 2012 at11am. The event will aim to give the public aninsight into the artistic process, the way inwhich artists and creatives respond to ‘site’and the development of their builtenvironment. David will give a short talk abouthis work, Rhian Edwards and pupils fromBrynteg Comprehensive School will recitepoetry, following which there will beopportunity for informal discussion andcelebration.

29th September Bethania Chapel, Maesteg10am - 4pmWelsh Religious BuildingsTrust 07528 491819Christine.moore@addoldaicymru.org An opportunity to view Bethania; originallybuilt in 1832 by builder Mr Hurley of Maesteg.Rebuilt in 1840-1 and enlarged in 1859 andrebuilt again in 1898. In 1908 a new chapelwas built on the same site to the designs ofeminent architect Sir William Beddoe Reeswho chose a Classical style, influenced byFrench Beaux Arts. The main chapel building,with a magnificent front façade and galleriedinterior providing seating for 1001, bears thearchitectural stamp of a major chapelarchitect. At the immediate rear of the chapelis a two storey range of rooms which providedancillary accommodation for worship and forthe chapel’s Sunday school. To one side is thelarge vestry with a proscenium arch andstage. The Sunday school housed a Welshmedium school for 4 to 11 year olds opened in1948, only the third to be establishedanywhere in Wales. Members of the LlynfiValley Historical Society will be on hand toprovide information and guidance.CantorionCoety will provide a set of Welsh choral musicbetween 3pm-4pm.

29th & 30th September St Johns Hospice, Newcastle Hill, BridgendFriends of St Johns Hospice01656 648783 / 07875 218 773wendyhinton@hotmail.comSt John’s House is thought to be the oldestinhabitable building in Bridgend dating fromthe late 14th or early 15th Century. St John’sHouse Trust are a newly formed RegisteredCharity which aims to purchase and restorethe property for Community use.More information and pictures can be foundon our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/St-JohnsHouse/228027567250027

30th SeptemberHistoric Pubs of Bridgend TownBridgend Historical Society01656 658933Vervilfarm@aol.comA walking tour of the public houses past andpresent in the town centre with a brief stop ateach one! Meet at the Angel, Park Street at11am.

BRIDGEND’S HERITAGE NEWS

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