IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Griffith Terrace, MERTHYR TYDFIL, CF48 4PW

Since the closure of Merthyr Vale Colliery in the 1980's the appearance of parts of Aberfan has changed substantially - but not so much here, at the north end of Bryn Taf. Because Bryn Taf follows the contour along the valley side, this view gives little impression of the steepness of the terrain. Just out of the frame to the right the hillside rises steeply. The ridge visible in the distance is on the far side of this narrow valley, going south towards Quakers Yard. Behind the camera the road zigzags down Station Hill toward the village centre. The life of the valley since Victorian times is documented in a collection of old photographs to be found on Alan George's excellent website http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/old_merthyr.htm.

Viewed from the south side of a hairpin bend. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3343014 Grass now grows where once stood Aberfan railway station, which closed in 1951. The nearest station is now in Merthyr Vale. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3024730

My first thought on seeing this path was that perhaps this was the route of the former railway line through Aberfan, near the long since demolished station. However, a 1940s map shows the railway a little to the left, on the far side of the trees. Aberfan railway station closed in 1951.

Opened in 1886 jointly by the Great Western Railway and the Rhymney Railway on the line from Quakers Yard (High Level) to Merthyr, this station closed to passengers in 1951 and completely in 1954. View south from the former bridge (now filled in and embanked) over the tracks towards Pontygwaith and Quakers Yard. The road next to the houses is on the course of the railway which had parallel platforms on either side. The station building was on the immediate far left of the image. The railings on the right mark the course of the footpath down to the northbound platform. The site was redeveloped for housing around 2016. For more information, see http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/a/aberfan/index.shtml.

Station Hill climbs away from the junction with Aberfan Road and Aberfan Crescent towards a hairpin bend. This was formerly the approach road to Aberfan railway station, which closed in 1951.

The course of Station Hill here bends through 180 degrees. The road on the left climbs towards Aberfan Cemetery. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3343015 to the right side of the bend.

This side of Station Hill descends towards the junction of Aberfan Road and Aberfan Crescent. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3343014 to the left side of the bend.

The road on the left descends towards a hairpin bend. www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3343014 The footpath on the right is also a cycleway, for bicycles only. Motorbikes are banned from using the path by a circular red-edged sign on the path's surface.

Two horses occupy a steep and muddy paddock on the slopes above Aberfan.