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PONTYCYMER
Towards the top of the Garw Valley, surrounded by stunning scenery, is the small village of Pontycymer, location for the Sarah Sugarman film ‘Very Annie Mary’ starring Jonathon Pryce and Ioan Gruffydd. It tells the story of Annie Mary, a shy local girl, eager to blossom out into the world and experience ‘life’. Originally it was a Mining Community, with all the dangers that that entailed. Look out for the poignant reminder of how dangerous the coal mining industry was. A Dram stands in a landscaped spot beside the A4064 on the southern approach, in memory of miners who lost their lives in local colliery disasters, including the 1899 accident at Lluest Colliery whose victims included 13 year old Huw Davies.
The Legend of Pontycymer
As well as the Red Goblins of the Garw, there were several other groups who lived on the hills either side of the valley. Tinkers and ‘gypsies’ were looked upon with suspicion by the local Welsh. They would descend into the village to sell their hand-made wares. One such person was known as Mag the Hag. She was an old gypsy woman who, according to local belief, could cure or curse, depending on her mood. No one was prepared to test her out and everyone tried not to cross her until one day a young local boy stuck his tongue out to her. The next day the boy was stricken with severe chest pains and was confined to his bed. He stayed there very ill for a week, until Mag the Hag did her regular visit to the village. When she called at the boy’s home with her wares, in fear of her, the boy’s mother bought some of her produce. Mag left, but the next day, the boy began to get better and within two days was up and playing again. Whether it was Mag the Hag who cursed the boy, no one knows for sure, but no one could convince the villagers otherwise!
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