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Bedford Park
Wandering around the 40 acres of quiet woodlands, meadows, secret glades and green open spaces of Bedford Park, it is hard to believe that this was once an area of intense industrial activity.
From the late 18th to the early 20th centuries, ironworkers, coalminers and brick workers toiled here while a railway noisily rumbled through the valley carrying industrial produce to the coast.
The legacy of those harsh industrial years remains, even though the buildings have long since crumbled and the scenery is now softened by greenery. Today Bedford Park is a beautiful, peaceful haven harbouring a rich variety of flora and fauna; a perfect place in which to spend a few hours enjoying a picnic or stroll, far away from the madding crowds.
Old Industries
The central feature of Bedford Park is naturally the old Cefn Cribwr Ironworks, the remains of which is now protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, in fact it is one of the most complete of its kind in Britain.
The Ironworks is currently inaccessible to members of the public; we thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
For further information please contact Claire Hamm (Principal Projects Officer) before visiting Bedford Park 01656 643164.
The Park takes its name from Birmingham industrialist, John Bedford; a self-proclaimed expert on iron making, who acquired the estate in 1770 and lived in Plas Cefn (now known as Bedford House), just south of the Park. His grandson, John Bedford III was born in the house, which is reputed to have its window sills, made of cast iron from the Bedford Iron Works.
John built a blast furnace here in the 1780's and also sunk pits to mine the raw materials of ironstone and coal as well as founding a forge and brickworks.
The ironworks never fulfilled John’s expectations and began to decline soon after his death in 1791. The estate was sold in 1824 to William Bryant, a brewer from Merthyr Tydfil. His son, also William, with various partners attempted to revive the works.
Although helped by the building of the Duffryn, Llynfi & Porthcawl Railway, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful and ironworking at Cefn Cribbwr ended around 1836. Coal mining and brick making, however, continued throughout the 19th century but ceased completely after the 1st World War.
It was acquired by the local Authority in 1987, but there was considerable interest in the site long before that. The Authority carried out emergency repairs to protect what was left of the Ironworks, and more recently a programme of consolidation and archaeological excavation with financial assistance from the former Welsh Office.
The car park occupies the site of the original kilns of the brickworks and only a short distance from here, and almost hidden from view, can be seen the remarkably well preserved ironworks which may come as a surprise both in terms of scale and survival. The site is so well preserved; visitors can once again follow the entire iron making process through a series of new interpretive panels. It is still possible to see the remains of the calcining kilns, blast furnace and charging ramp, where the raw materials were thrown into the furnace. It’s also possible to see the blowing-engine house, where a steam engine forced in air to keep the furnace at a constant temperature as well as the cast-house where the iron castings were made.
The old Dyffryn, Llynfi and Porthcawl Railway linked the ironworks to the coast at Porthcawl. It was built between 1825 and 1828 as a tramway where the 'trains' were pulled along the 16-mile route by horses. The total journey from Maesteg to Porthcawl took 6 hours on the downward stretch and 8½ hours upwards. It was rebuilt as a railway line in 1861 and survived until 1963.
The original route of the railway now forms Bedford Park's main footpath, which follows the line and is the most important footpath in the park, as well as being part of the National Cycle Route.
The Celtic Trail as it’s now called, is a traffic-free path for cycling, walking and wheelchairs and runs from Tondu to Frog Pond Wood. The route covers seven miles and passes through a variety of beautiful scenery giving the opportunity to explore different natural habitats and local wildlife. The route also includes the Tondu to Pyle Community Route, which forms a part of the National Cycle Network of Britain (Route 4).
New Life
Nature has it’s own way of reclaiming the land and the Park is once more home to a colourful array of wildflowers such as Marsh Orchid, ragged robin, yellow toad-flax, tansy and ox-eye daisy as well as foxgloves and enchanter's nightshade.
Wildlife is returning and foxes are often seen from the path along the old railway while buzzards, bullfinches, whitethroat and kestrels are among the many birds to be seen here. Butterflies abound in this natural wilderness and you can spot many different species including common blues, meadow browns, tortoise-shells and skippers.
The little river of Nant Iorwerch Goch, (Welsh word for ‘red’), said to be so named because the waters were stained by the iron oxide from the old industrial workings, meanders through the wooded gorge. It really is red but derives its name from a much earlier time when local landowner "Edward the Red" (Iorwerth Goch) lived here in the 12th century.
A dense cover of woodland abounds consisting of oak, ash, hawthorn and hazel, in fact the area around the Ironworks is characterised by oak and hawthorn. Oak is a very common tree in the area and is important for wildlife. The native ‘English’ oak is capable of providing a home for an amazing 284 different species of invertebrates and the picnic benches throughout the Park are made from Welsh oak obtained from the woodlands at Coed Cymru.
Wildflowers too, are an important feature at Bedford Park and provide splashes of vivid colour throughout the year. The Community route is an important wildlife habitat and a range of wild plants can be seen including wild strawberries, pignut, blackberry and elderberry.
The Park is the ideal setting for a family picnic, a walk or cycle along the Community route, or just to sample the delights of our natural environment.
There are many amenities in the park including Way-marked nature trails that are easy to follow with paths for short and longer walks, mostly on well-surfaced pathways, which are easily accessible to all.
There are Cycle-ways where you can travel along the route of the old railway.
The Park also has Children's Play Areas, which are attractive, safe and well equipped for children.
For all the family, there are Picnic sites but please remember to take your litter home with you as discarded rubbish can be very harmful to the wildlife in the park.
Ample Free car parking
The Park is also very suitable for Disabled people as the main path through the site is easily accessible. There are also Toilets with disabled facilities
For educational groups, there is a Classroom with facilities but please remember to make an advance appointment.
Bedford Park is open all year (Except Christmas Day and Boxing Day) and admission is free.
Bedford Park
Cefn Cribwr
Near Kenfig Hill
Bridgend
CF32 0BW
Telephone: +44 (0)1656 725155.
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