DEVELOPMENT
The small hamlet of Pantywaun originally had its own chapel, called Capel Bethleham, school and public house called the Royal Arms and railway halt, all of which were, but for one dwelling, obliterated by opencast mining in the 1950/60s, despite anxious representations made by the Gelligaer diocese.
The following reports were obtained from the Merthyr Express
26 May 1962
Pantywaun To Be Demolished The village of Pantywaun, near Dowlais, is to be demolished. On Tuesday, Gelligaer Urban Council made demolition orders in respect of the 21 remaining houses in the village. They are inhabited by about 80 people. The village, isolated on a vast expanse of moorland above the Deri Valley was labelled with a death tag earlier this year. This gave rise to a storm of protest from the villagers, who presented a petition to Caerphilly and Gelligaer Education Executives as an objection to the closing of the local primary school. At Tuesday’s meeting, four of the villagers were invited to give their views before the Clerk, Mr. D.W.C. Morgan, said that the houses were unfit for human habitation, and incapable of being repaired at a reasonable expense. Mr. Morgan said the residents of the village would be offered alternative accommodation, probably at the neighbouring village of Fochriw. One of the residents, Mrs. Catherine Gallier, told the meeting: “We know the houses, in most cases, are not fit to live in. It’s going to cost a lot to repair my house. I am a widow and I cannot afford the expense.” The other residents said they were in the same position. The Clerk said there was a provision under the Housing Act for compensation to be paid to an owner or a tenant where it was considered the property had been well maintained. He said that a number of the villagers had already been to the Council office to sign
Pantywaun To Be Demolished The village of Pantywaun, near Dowlais, is to be demolished. On Tuesday, Gelligaer Urban Council made demolition orders in respect of the 21 remaining houses in the village. They are inhabited by about 80 people. The village, isolated on a vast expanse of moorland above the Deri Valley was labelled with a death tag earlier this year. This gave rise to a storm of protest from the villagers, who presented a petition to Caerphilly and Gelligaer Education Executives as an objection to the closing of the local primary school. At Tuesday’s meeting, four of the villagers were invited to give their views before the Clerk, Mr. D.W.C. Morgan, said that the houses were unfit for human habitation, and incapable of being repaired at a reasonable expense. Mr. Morgan said the residents of the village would be offered alternative accommodation, probably at the neighbouring village of Fochriw. One of the residents, Mrs. Catherine Gallier, told the meeting: “We know the houses, in most cases, are not fit to live in. It’s going to cost a lot to repair my house. I am a widow and I cannot afford the expense.” The other residents said they were in the same position. The Clerk said there was a provision under the Housing Act for compensation to be paid to an owner or a tenant where it was considered the property had been well maintained. He said that a number of the villagers had already been to the Council office to sign
PANT-Y-WAUN
Views of Pantywaun
