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- source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
- source: Family History Library Catalog
- source: Family History Library Catalog
- the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia
Porthcawl is a town and community (or civil parish) on the south coast of Wales in the County Borough of Bridgend, 25 miles (40 km) west of the capital city, Cardiff and 19 miles (31 km) southeast of Swansea. Situated on a low limestone headland on the South Wales coast, overlooking the Bristol Channel, Porthcawl developed as a coal port during the 19th century, but its trade was soon taken over by more rapidly developing ports such as Barry. Northwest of the town, in the dunes known as Kenfig Burrows, are hidden the last remnants of the town and Kenfig Castle, which were overwhelmed by sand about 1400.
- end of Wikipedia contribution
Porthcawl began as two hamlets named Newton and Nottage which came together as an ancient parish and a civil parish. Porthcawl was made an urban district in 1894 and Newton Nottage was made part of the district.
Newton Nottage
A Vision of Britain through Time provides the following description of Newton Nottage from John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72:
- "NEWTON-NOTTAGE, a village and a parish in Bridgend district, Glamorgan. The village stands on the coast, 3 miles S by E of Pyle [railway] station, and 5 S W by W of Bridgend; and is a decayed watering-place. The parish contains also the sea-port village of Porthcawl, which is at the terminus of the Llynvi railway, and has a post-office under Bridgend. Acres: 3,877: of which 560 are water. Real property: £2,275. Population in 1851: 959; in 1861: 1,082. Houses: 224. Newton Court is an old Tudor mansion, was restored by the late Rev. H. Knight, and is now the residence of the Rev. E. D. Knight. Newton Downs were recently enclosed, retain traces of the Julian way, and command extensive views over Bristol channel. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Llandaff. Value: £412. Patrons: the Rev. E. D. Knight two turns, and Sir J. B. Guest, Bart., one turn. The church is ancient, and was partially restored in 1862. See Porthcawl."
Porthcawl in 1870
A Vision of Britain through Time provides the following description of Porthcawl from John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72:
- "PORTHCAWL, a sea-port village in Newton-Nottage parish, Glamorgan; on a small bay, at the terminus of the Llynvi and Ogmore railway, 6¼ miles S W of Bridgend. It has a post-office under Bridgend, and a railway station; is a good sea-bathing resort, with accommodations which, in 1867, were still very limited; and, immediately prior to 1867, was becoming a very important place for export of coals, and of the produce of the Maesteg and Tondu iron-works. Floating docks, to the extent of 7½ acres, with a depth of 29 feet on the sill of the gates, had recently been opened; the best appliances for expediting shipment were in progress of formation; and a clear prospect existed that, on the completion of these appliances, capacity would exist for the export of 1,000,000 tons of coal a year. Steamers of large burden are loaded in a few hours; and they frequently come in and go outwith one tide."
Research Tips
- GENUKI on Glamorgan Lots of leads to other sources.
The first three maps are provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
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These maps were found on Wikimedia Commons
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These maps of Glamorgan post-1974 were found on another site and are very useful for sorting out the up-to-date geography of the area
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