Local Info

Neath is one of the oldest towns in Glamorgan, founded by the Romans in AD 75, and later re-settled by the Normans in 1130. The Neath area has a number of famous people associated with it. Hugh Dalton born at the Gnoll Mansion 1887 became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1945. Ray Milland of Neath, film star, film director, born Reginald Truscott Jones in 1908 and who became the first British actor to win an American Oscar in 1945. Richard Burton and Ivor Emmanuel, both film actors are from Pontrhydfen. Henry Parry Davies 1914 - 1955 famous lyricist and pianist to Gracie Fields, wrote the music for many of her songs and also the smash hit of 1939 'Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye'. In 1280 Gilbert De Clare, Lord of the Borough, gave Neath its first Charter, permission to have three fairs during the year. As Lord he offered protection from thieves to the traders who came to the town. These fairs were the starting point for Neath as an important commercial centre. They continued and developed in importance as the population of Neath increased.