IN ANCIENT TIMES
land and agricultural activities were mainly of a pastoral nature. Indeed, most of the land was uncultivated and was grazed between large patches of furze and fern by mountain sheep, small cattle and some ponies.
The economic life revolved around the local fairs at Twyn y Waun and Gelligaer, where the drovers brought their cattle, sheep and ponies to be sold to the farmers of the Vale of Glamorgan and of the Welsh borderlands.
Each hamlet had its mason, carpenter, tailor, saddler and shoemaker, but more widespread by far was the cleansing, spinning, and weaving of wool. There were woollen mills near Deri and Bedlinog, on the banks of streams which afforded natural sites and the water power necessary to drive the millwheel.
Until 1815 the woollen industry was second in importance to agriculture. Most of the spinning and weaving of the wool was done at home and then taken to the mills to be made up into cloth and blankets. The industry survived until the mid 1800’s when improved communications and new inventions brought overwhelming competition from Yorkshire and resulted in the decline of the local woollen industry.
The grain grown in the area was ground into flour in the local corn mills at Tiryfelin (Deri) and Cwmyfelin (Bedlinog).
About one hundred years ago, under Bargoed Viaduct, there was demolished another oat mill, which had been in existence for at least 500 years. The mill, so it is said, was, for an ancient structure, a masterpiece of mill construction. Its peculiarity was that the overflow went to the Bargoed Fach river, whilst the underflow shot into the Rhymney River. A very advanced system to roast the grain existed, and accounted for the fine quality of the oatmeal which made it famous throughout the principality and far beyond its border.
It was at this mill that Lord Bute raised the toll upon the grain of the district.
The farms mentioned below represent the oldest known stone-built farms in the area, which were mostly built in the 16 th century. However, Llwyn Iago at Fochriw has been traced as far back as the 1420's.
These farms have used the surrounding moorland on Gelligaer Common for centuries as grazing grounds for sheep and the farmer's "common rights" allow them to graze stock on specific areas of open land and its utilisation is strictly controlled.
More commonly known as smallholdings each farm is given a holding number and is registered for commoner's rights.
These farms have used the surrounding moorland on Gelligaer Common for centuries as grazing grounds for sheep and the farmer's "common rights" allow them to graze stock on specific areas of open land and its utilisation is strictly controlled.
More commonly known as smallholdings each farm is given a holding number and is registered for commoner's rights.