New town centre heritage trail is launched in Bridgend

Bridgend County Borough has a rich, fascinating history, which deserves to be explored. That’s why the council has partnered with Bridgend Town Council to create a new and fascinating town centre heritage trail in Bridgend.

The trail takes you on a journey to find out more about some of the town's historic buildings and events along with some colourful local characters.

Find out who brought the first piped drinking fountain to the town, how the community raised money to adopt naval craft in support of the Second World War effort, why Chapel Street is known locally as ‘Irish Lane’, and which is reputedly the oldest street in Bridgend town.

The trail includes 28 points to visit, with six physical interpretation panels, including:

• Merthyr Mawr Road North (near the south entrance to St Mary’s Nolton Church)
• Elder Street (at the entrance to Elder Yard)
• Rhiw Hill (on the green, overlooking the river)
• Court Road noticeboard (near railway station entrance)
• Wyndham Street (post office end)
• Old Stone Bridge (Angel Street side, left of the bridge entrance)
• Newcastle Hill (on the green, near the beacon)

The interpretation panels also display a QR code which, when scanned, takes you to a digital map to enable people to explore all 28 points on the map. The map also points people to:

• Town Council WW2 Walking Trail boards
• Blue Plaque locations
• Civic Trust Plaque locations

You can access the route in a number of different ways - download the pdf leaflet online, scan the QR codes along the route or pick up a paper copy of the map from partner locations in the town centre including the council’s Civic Offices, Carnegie House and Bridgend Library.

We are delighted to be able to offer this new experience, which brings Bridgend town centre’s heritage to life. The trail, which is a project identified in the Bridgend Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan is a fun activity for groups such as schools, families, or individuals and visitors.

It’s also the perfect fact finder for history enthusiasts and those with an interest in the local area! The project was created in response to consultation feedback with the public, which showed that heritage is important to local people and that the many heritage assets of Bridgend town centre could be its unique selling point.

Our historic environment contributes to our sense of identity – this trail is an opportunity to learn more about Bridgend’s history, nurturing a deeper connection to residents and visitors alike.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing

The heritage trail has been developed with support from Arcadis Consulting UK Ltd in partnership with Bridgend Town Council, Bridgend Civic Trust and funded by Welsh Government as part of the Transforming Towns programme.