Editing Aberdare (section)

==Industry==

===Iron industry===
[[Ironworks]] were established at [[Llwydcoed]] and [[Abernant, Rhondda Cynon Taff|Abernant]] in 1799<ref name=EB/> and 1800 respectively, followed by others at Gadlys and [[Aberaman]] in 1827 and 1847. The iron industry began to expand in a significant way around 1818 when the Crawshay family of Merthyr purchased the [[Hirwaun]] ironworks and placed them under independent management. In the following year, [[Rowland Fothergill]] took over the ironworks at [[Abernant, Rhondda Cynon Taf|Abernant]] and a few years later did the same at [[Llwydcoed]]. Both concerns later fell into the hands of his nephew [[Richard Fothergill (politician)|Richard Fothergill]]. The Gadlys Ironworks was established in 1827 by Matthew Wayne, who had previously managed the [[Cyfarthfa]] ironworks at Merthyr.{{sfn|Jones|1964|p=150}} The Gadlys works, now considered an important archaeological site, originally comprised four blast furnaces, inner forges, rowing mills and puddling furnaces. The development of these works provided impetus to the growth of Aberdare as a nucleated town.<ref name="Conservation Rep" /> The iron industry was gradually superseded by coal and all the five iron works had closed by 1875, as the local supply of iron ore was inadequate to meet the ever-increasing demand created by the invention of steel, and as a result the importing of ore proved more profitable.<ref name="Conservation Rep" />

===Coal industry===
The iron industry had a relatively small impact upon the economy of Aberdare and in 1831 only 1.2% of the population was employed in manufacturing, as opposed to 19.8% in neighbouring Merthyr Tydfil.{{sfn|Jones|1964|p=150}} In the early years of Aberdare's development, most of the coal worked in the parish was coking coal, and was consumed locally, chiefly in the [[ironworks]].<ref name=EB1911/> Although the [[Gadlys]] works was small in comparison with the other ironworks it became significant as the Waynes also became involved in the production of sale coal.{{sfn|Jones|1964|pp=149–50}} In 1836, this activity led to the exploitation of the "Four-foot Seam" of high-[[heating value|calorific value]] [[steam coal]] began, and pits were sunk in rapid succession.

In 1840, Thomas Powell sank a pit at [[Cwmbach]], and during the next few years he opened another four pits. In the next few years, other local entrepreneurs now became involved in the expansion of the coal trade, including [[David Williams (coal owner)|David Williams]] at Ynysgynon and [[David Davis, Blaengwawr (coal owner)|David Davis]] at Blaengwawr, as well as the latter's son [[David Davis, Maesyffynnon (coal owner)|David Davis, Maesyffynnon]]. They were joined by newcomers such as [[Crawshay Bailey]] at Aberaman and, in due course, [[Sir George Elliot, 1st Baronet|George Elliot]] in the lower part of the valley.{{sfn|Jones|1964|pp=150–1}} This coal was valuable for steam railways and [[steam ship]]s, and an export trade began,<ref name=EB/> via the [[Taff Vale Railway]] and the port of [[Cardiff]]. The population of the parish rose from 6,471 in 1841 to 14,999 in 1851 and 32,299 in 1861 and John Davies<ref>Davies, John, ''A History of Wales'', Penguin, 1994, {{ISBN|0-14-014581-8}}, p 400</ref> described it as "the most dynamic place in Wales". In 1851, the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] decided to use Welsh steam coal in ships of the [[Royal Navy]], and this decision boosted the reputation of Aberdare's product and launched a huge international export market.<ref name="Davies, ''op cit'', p 400">Davies, ''op cit'', p 400</ref> Coal mined in Aberdare parish rose from {{convert|177000|LT|t}} in 1844 to {{convert|477000|LT|t}} in 1850,<ref>Davies, ''op cit'', p 384</ref> and the coal trade, which after 1875 was the chief support of the town, soon reached huge dimensions.

The growth of the coal trade inevitably led to a number of industrial disputes, some of which were local and others which affected the wider coalfield. Trade unionism began to appear in the Aberdare Valley at intervals from the 1830s onwards but the first significant manifestation occurred during the [[Aberdare Strike 1857-8|Aberdare Strike of 1857–8]]. The dispute was initiated by the depression in trade which followed the [[Crimean War]] and saw the local coal owners successfully impose a reduction in wages. The dispute did, however, witness an early manifestation of mass trade unionism amongst the miners of the valley and although unsuccessful the dispute saw the emergence of a stronger sense of solidarity amongst the miners.{{sfn|Jones|1964|pp=166–8}}

Steam coal was subsequently found in the [[Ystradyfodwg|Rhondda]] and further west, but many of the great companies of the Welsh coal industry's Gilded Age started operation in Aberdare and the lower Cynon Valley, including those of 
[[David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda|Samuel Thomas]], [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies and Sons]], [[John Nixon (mining engineer)|Nixon's Navigation]] and [[Powell Duffryn]].<ref name="Davies, ''op cit'', p 400"/>

During the early years of the twentieth century, the Aberdare valley became the focus of increased militancy among the mining workforce and an unofficial strike by 11,000 miners in the district from 20 October 1910 until 2 February 1911 attracted much attention at the time, although it was ultimately overshadowed by the Cambrian dispute in the neighbouring Rhondda valley which became synonymous with the so-called Tonypandy Riots.{{sfn|Barclay|1978|p=24}}

In common with the rest of the South Wales coalfield, Aberdare's coal industry commenced a long decline after [[World War I]], and the last two deep mines still in operation in the 1960s were the small Aberaman and Fforchaman collieries, which closed in 1962 and 1965 respectively.

[[File:Aberdare Co-operative store fire, May 11th 1919.jpg|thumb|right|Aberdare Co-operative store fire, 11 May 1919]]
On 11 May 1919, an extensive fire broke out on Cardiff Street, Aberdare.

With the decline of both iron and coal, Aberdare has become reliant on commercial businesses as a major source of employment. Its industries include cable manufacture, smokeless fuels, and tourism.<ref name=EB/>