About Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera is a former industrial village and community in the upper Swansea Valley, on the River Tawe, about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Swansea. It is an electoral ward and a community in the unitary authority of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, comprising a resident population of just over 3,000 people, approximately 60% of whom speak Welsh.National Cycle Route 43 passes through the village. == History == The history of Ystalyfera begins with a small farming family who shared the land. This is reflected in the village's name, composed from the Welsh words, ynys (meaning island), tal (meaning tall) and berran (a composite of ber and rhan, indicating a land-share – a short piece of shared land, probably between agricultural labourers). The history of the name can be seen as it evolved through the ages: - 1582 Ynys Tal y Feran 1604 Tir Ynystalferran 1797 Stalyfera Issa, Ycha, Genol 1831 YstalyferaYstalyfera grew as a village with the advent of coal mining and iron working which, together with copper working, were important industries in the Swansea Valley.