Maesteg Town Culture and Heritage Trail officially opens
Thursday 25 June 2026
A brand-new heritage trail in Maesteg town has officially opened, diving into the rich and fascinating history of the town centre.
The digital heritage trail takes in a variety of locations chosen by local people which tell fascinating stories about the history and culture of the area, including some local businesses, churches and chapels, historical and listed buildings and other interesting features such as the ‘Iron Bridge’.
The trail starts with an introduction narrated by pupils from Ysgol Cynwyd Sant and includes 20 points to visit, including:
- Maesteg Town Hall, narrated by Aled Williams, Awen Cultural Trust.
- The Market Square, narrated by Camarthenshire Dairy Produce.
- KMP Jewellers, narrated by Mike Neweth. The business has been in operation in Maesteg for decades.
- The Mural, funded by Maesteg Town Council.
- Treharne Row, where miners would live on the street.
The Iron Bridge, built in 1835. - Maesteg Leisure Centre, once the site of the Iron Works blast furnace.
- Maesteg Welfare Park, developed over 100 years ago in 1924.
- Church of St. Michael and All Angels, beginning its ministry in 1898.
- Bowrington Arcade, named after John Bowrington, a key figure in the industrial development of the town.
- Commercial Street, featuring several pubs.
- Yr Aelwyd – the site of the first Welsh school, narrated by pupils from Ysgol Cynwyd Sant.
- Bridge Street, populated with stories about the Llynfi Valley.
- Tabor Chapel, the site of the first singing of the Welsh National Anthem.
- Maesteg Train Station, which houses the disused station in the undergrowth.
Colonel North Offices and Memorial Hall, a Grade II listed building. - Dr William Hopkin Thomas Statue & War Memorial, unveiled on 11 November 1926.
- Maesteg Town Hall today, which is now a thriving community hub since its redevelopment in 2022.
You can access the free tour on Geotourist’s website and by downloading their app, with full audio narrations available in both English and Welsh. It is also available on the Visit Bridgend website.
“This project is about recognising that local people are the true experts on their own places. By capturing and sharing their stories, we’re not only creating meaningful experiences for visitors, but also celebrating identity, strengthening community pride, and supporting regeneration in a way that is authentic and sustainable. While Maesteg is the first location, the project has been developed as a pilot model that could be rolled out across other parts of the county borough and potentially further across Wales.”
“I am delighted that Maesteg has a heritage trail open for residents, especially given the town’s rich history. With Maesteg turning 200 this year, this project has come at a pivotal moment for the town. It’s a great staple for any historian and has been carefully crafted with input from local people, making this a true community project. This interactive trail is an opportunity for those to learn about Maesteg’s history, told by the community who have shaped it, and will continue to do so for many years to come. I would highly encourage any visitors to Maesteg to check out the trail.”
This heritage trail was developed in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2026 with funding from the Research Wales Innovation Fund and was project managed by staff from the Welsh Centre for Tourism Research in the Cardiff School of Management (Karen Davies and Claire Haven-Tang) and the Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy (Rhiannon Packer) with additional narration and curation from Graham Loveluck-Edwards and Jenny Hulme.
