This protected, scheduled, ancient monument is one of the most complete of its kind in Britain. Its builder was John Bedford.
He built a blast furnace there in the 1780s and also sunk pits to mine the raw materials of ironstone and coal. He also founded a forge and brickworks nearby.
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. His son, also William, attempted to revive the works. Although helped by the building of the Duffryn, Llynfi and Porthcawl railway, his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful and ironworking at Cefn Cribwr ended around 1836.
The site was acquired by the local authority in 1987 and they carried out emergency repairs to protect what was left of the ironworks.
More recently there has been a programme of consolidation and archaeological excavation. Visitors can once again follow the entire iron making process through a series of information 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-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 where made.
your comments
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Rita Tait, Hay-on-Wye
David Williams from Patagonia I have just picked up your message ref. my "Harry" ancestors of Cefn Cribwr. I am sure we are related but will look now at family trees and try to see exactly how. Will post another note when I have looked.
(Editor's Note: To continue discussions about family history, please use a specialist website such as www.genesreunited.co.uk)
V Albin, Whitstable, Kent
My family (name of Will & Lizzie Anne Smith) lived in Cefn Cribwr certainly from 1930s (and my great grand parents before them) to 1980s and my uncle: Ivor Smith was still there after that. I still have relatives in Kenfig Hill today. As a child Cefn Cribwr was a magical holiday place for me. I wish now I had asked my Dad for my stories of his childhood there. Good luck with resurrecting 'Cefn' from the past!
David Williams, from Trelew, Patagonia
Hi, Rita Tait: My great grandfather came from the sama area, his name was Thomas Harry or Thomas Harry, though in the Census of 1861 he was living with his uncle's familiy. They were John and Elizabeth Jones. That is why his name is written like "Thomas Harry Jones". He was 16 years old then, and he was born in Pyle towards 1842. Do you think we could be related?
Rowley Thomas
Anybody out there with information on Cefn House/Cefn Offices? I was born there - lived there up to the age of five.
rita tait from Hay-on-Wye ( formerly Bridgend!)
my family ( name of Harry) came from Cefn Cribwr & my cousin has just found our ancestor's house on the wonderful Edwin Map of the area (1779) "George Harry's house" is clearly named & he appears to have coalpits there which I guess was the very early form of opencast mining. Google Earth shows it as a bit of a scar now but I bellieve there is a nature park adjacent which is good.
anthony white maesteg
great that our history is been saved
Brian Frisby from Basildon, Essex
As an exile from Wales, and formerly living in Bridgend, I am so pleased to see that people are getting together and restoring the memories that can so easily be forgotten.
I wish every-one involved the very best of luck, and I hope that all goes well for you.
Best wishes B G Frisby
