The information on this page has been adapted from the following books:
Gelli Galed
A large farmhouse on the top of March Hywel built around 1630 with later extensions
during the 18th and 19th century. The last resident of Gelli Galed was Bill
Gates who lived there alone until the 1960s when he moved down to the village.
Today Gelli Galed is a ruin.
25” OS Map No: 9.6
Grid Reference: SN785051
Tyn-y-graig Mansion
On early OS maps there is no large house only the farm and cottages. The two
cottages were joined together in the 1920s by David Bevan to form the mansion
house. Today the estate is broken up and the buildings separately owned.
It comprises of the large house, the farm with boarding kennels and fish
ponds and the cottages.
25” OS Map No: 9.10
Grid Reference: SN789041
Pen Graig Farm
Now a ruin it was originally a stone farmhouse. It has been uninhabited for
over 300 years.
Bryncoed House
This was built in Treforgan in 1911. It was later converted into 5 flats and
more recently was used as a nursing home.
25” OS Map No: 9.6
Grid Reference: SN790061
Gellidochlithe
This house is situated on the common at the northern end of the village. The
estate comprises several cottages which surround the large farmhouse. It
is believed that there is a barn on the estate that dates back to the 13th
century. The earliest occupant can be dated back to 1750.
25” OS Map No: 9.2
Grid Reference: SN792067
Blaenant Hir
The small farmhouse was built at the source of the Nant-Hir brook. Part of
the old ruins can still be seen on the east side of Nant-Hir opposite Cae-deg-erw
Farm.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN831085
Brynbedd Farm (Grave on the Hill)
It is said that this property was once the site of an old burial ground, hence
its name Brynbedd (Grave on the Hill). Two of its occupants, John and Gwenllian
Davies built the first 5 houses in Brynbedd Terrace for their children.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN821088
Bryncaer farm (Hill Fort)
This was a small thatched roof cottage built on the east bank of the Dulais
River. Its 67 acres of land lay between the property of the Bryndulais and
Ysticlau-gwynion Farms.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN819092
Bryndulais farm (The Farm on the Dulais Hill)
Until 1845 this farm was named Cwmdulais. The farmhouse was built on the east
bank of the Dulais river. The property at one time extended from the old
tramroad on Mynydd-y-Drum to the Brynbedd property, a total of 215 acres.
All the early part of the new village of Seven Sisters was built on the land
of this farm.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: SN814089
Brynteg Farm (Beautiful Hill)
Brynteg was a farm of about 91 acres at the foot of Hirfynydd on the east side
of the old parish road (Bridleway 9).
25” OS Map No: 9.4
Grid Reference: SN 818076 exact location unknown
Bryn-y-garn Farm (Cairn Hill)
The first Bryngarn farmhouse was built on Hirfynydd above Blaennant Hir Farm.
The old farmhouse was empty by 1906 when a new Bryngarn was built by Evan
Evans Bevan. The new Bryngarn was occupied until 1951 and since has become
a ruin.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN841085
Buarth-dedwydd cottage
Very little is known of this small cottage and its 15 acres of land. It was
situated between Bryndulais and Bryncaer farms. Bryndulais Row was built
on one of the fields belonging to this cottage.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: SN818091
Cae-deg-erw Farm (The Ten-Acre Field)
This farm was a little bigger than its name (The Ten-Acre Field) suggested.
Much of the land has been taken over by the Forestry Commission.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN832085
Cwm-nant-hir
There is no mention of this small cottage on any maps. Although it does appear
on the 1841 and 1851 census. It was built near the site of Pantygarddau Farm.
The old cottage went to ruin when its last occupants left in 1859.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN820083 exact location unknown
Glyn-rhedyn Farm (Fern Dale)
This farmhouse stood on the south bank of Nant Hir. Although it had about 198
acres of land, it was never a very prosperous farm. It was mainly confined
to sheep farming. The farmhouse was partly destroyed by the great flood in
the Nant Hir in 1875 and completely destroyed by the flood of 1880.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN824083
Gwaun-iarll Farm (Earl’s Moor)
This was a small farm of about 37 acres situated on the west bank of the river
Dulais. It was the birthplace of John Morgan, the school master at the old
Soar Fach School from 1840 to 1843 and from 1845 to 1847.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: SN811 083
Hengaer (Old Fort)
This old cottage, built on the slopes of Mynydd-y-Drum, between Pencaerlan
Farm and Henllan Uchaf is said to be the site of an old Roman fort.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN802081
Henllan Isaf (Lower Old Church)
This site was once known as Capel-Y-Creunant Uchaf. There is evidence that
it was once the site of early Henllan Circle, a small stone circle of about
30 feet in diameter or an enclosure of small houses devoted to religion.
There is evidence of an old graveyard with grave stones on the site. It is
stated that the monks from Margam Abbey resided at Henllan during the 13th
century.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN801076
Henllan Uchaf (Higher Old Church)
This farm stands on top of Mynydd-y-Drum.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN801077
Llwyngolau Farm (Lighted Bush)
This was a small farm of about 35 acres on the crest of Hirfynydd, close to
Sarn Helen and Carn Cornel. A considerable amount of old relics were unearthed
on this site after the 1875 Nant Hir flood. The farm has been empty since
1944.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN817068 exact location unknown
Nant Melyn Farm (Yellow Brook)
The first farmhouse was built on the north bank of Nant Melyn brook. The name
Nant Melyn appears on maps and prints as far back as 1295.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN832093
Nant-y-Cafn Isaf (The Lower Trough in the Brook)
This was a small cottage built alongside the Nant-y-cafn brook.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN815073
Nant-y-cafn Uchaf (The Upper Trough in the Brook)
This farm stood between Brynteg Cottages and the site of the old Cwmdulais
Secondary Modern School. It was a fairly large farm of about 106 acres.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN813075
Nant-y-stalwyn farm (The Brook of the Stallion)
In the 18th century a farmer named Edwards bought the farm and change its name
to Nant-y-Stalwyn, after his birthplace, a small farm on the mountain side
between Builth and Trecwm.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: SN819095
Pant-y-garddau Farm (Vale of Gardens)
The name means Vale of Gardens. This farm was completely destroyed by the Nant
Hir flood in 1875.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN 820083
Pen-cae’r-lan (Highland Meadow)
This farmhouse was built near the boundary between Dulais Higher and Ystradgynlais
on the crest of Mynydd-y-Drum. It was a well cultivated farm of around 140
acres.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: SN804086
Ty’n-ton cottage
This small two roomed cottage with its 3 acres of land stood about 30 yards
behind Ty’n-y-Garreg Farm. The old cottage stood empty for many years
until it was finally knocked down and the stones used to build an outhouse
at Ty’n-y-Garreg Farm.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: Near SN812085
Ty’n-y-garreg farm
This farm stands on the west bank of the Dulais river, opposite the old Ynysdawley
Farm.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: SN812085
Ynysdawly farm
This was one of the largest and most prosperous farms in the whole hamlet.
It was built on the east bank of the river Dulais. It formed part of the
Miers Estate up until 1885.
25” OS Map No: 3.15
Grid Reference: SN812083
Ynysfforch Fach
This was a small cottage built on the property of Ynysfforch Fawr. It is said
that it was once a cowhouse used for housing the cattle of the Ynysfforch
Farm and later converted into a dwelling house for one of the daughters of
the farm.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN805074
Ynysfforch Fawr
This farm was built on the east bank of the River Dulais on the border between
Dulais Isaf (Crynant) and Dulais Uchaf (Seven Sisters). The farm is recorded
to be over 300 years old.
25” OS Map No: 9.3
Grid Reference: SN802071
Ysticlau gwynion farm (White Stile)
This farm was built between Ffynnon Esgyrn and the Dulais river, it once had
about 91 acres of land on the north side of Ffynnon Esgyrn, from the river
Dulais to the old parish road (Brdielway 9) which runs along what is now
Heol-y-Felin.
25” OS Map No: 3.16 SN822094
Grid Reference:
Blaenant Melyn Farm
This farm stands at the source of the Nant Melyn. It covers about 136 acres
of land. On the bank of Nant Melyn about 100 yards east of the farm house
stands a lime kiln that supplied the surrounding farms with lime in the pre-industrial
days. Alongside this kiln is a waterfall about 10 feet high.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN834094
Blaennantcellwen Farm
The farm is situated on the upper reaches of the Cellwen Brook. At one time
it contained about 216 acres of land, much of which was moorland and bog.
25” OS Map No: 4.13
Grid Reference: SN851093
Rhôs-y-gelynen Cottage
This small thatched cottage was built in 1741 It was originally used as a resting
place for workers employed on the iron ore patches at Onllwyn. Alongside
the cottage stood a stable that was called the “Hut”. There was
no real accommodation at this old cottage, the men slept on the floor.
25” OS Map No: 4.9
Grid Reference: SN844104
Rhyd-y-Pwlla Farm
This was a small long-roomed single storied farmhouse.
25” OS Map No: 3.12
Grid Reference: SN833098
Tir-Lan Cottage
This old cottage stood beside the old parish road (Bridleway 9) above Rhyd-y-Pwlla
Farm. It was last occupied in 1911.
25” OS Map No: 3.12
Grid Reference:
Yr Hen Waun Farm
This small farm of 43 acres stands on the north bank of the Nant Melyn where
it is claimed it has stood for over 200 years.
25” OS Map No: 3.16
Grid Reference: SN828097
Banwen Colliery Houses
These were several cottages built on the surface of the Onllwyn No. 3 Colliery,
one of which was made out of concrete.
25” OS Map No:
Grid Reference:
Pantyddraenen Farm
This old farm and two cottages were all under one roof in the
form of a terrace.
25” OS Map No: 4.13
Grid Reference: SN857092
Tavarn-y-Banwen
This small single-roomed stone building was built on the side of the Roman
Road (Sarn Helen) The building measured about 22 feet by 27 feet and included
an open loft and lean to stable. The roof was thatched with reeds gathered
from Gors Llwyn. It is said that this was the birthplace of St Patrick, patron
saint of Ireland.
25” OS Map No: 4.9
Grid Reference: SN857099
Camnant Farm
This farm was originally known as Tirbach Farm (Small Field) and is about 30
acres. It stands near Toncastell Farm.
25” OS Map No: 4.13
Grid Reference: SN 859104
Toncastell Farm
The original farmhouse was built on the opposite bank of the Camnant River.
The newer farmhouse is a typical 18th century Longhouse building situated
north of Gors Llwyn.
25” OS Map No: 4.9
Grid Reference: SN862106
Ton-Pyrddin Cottage
It is said that this old cottage was originally the home of the manager of
the Banwen Iron Works.
25” OS Map No: 4.10
Grid Reference: SN868103
Tyn-y-Rheol or Y Bwthyn Cottage
This small cottage stood on the side of Sarn Helen opposite Onllwyn No. 3 Colliery.
Cock-fighting was held near this old cottage as late as 1918. It is believed
that the cock-fighting pit had been in use since Roman occupation in the
area.
25” OS Map No: 4.13
Grid Reference: SN 854090
Tyr-y-Banwen or Coedcae
This was s small stone-built cottage with an iron roof. The last occupants
left in 1915 and the cottage soon went to ruin.
25” OS Map No: 8.16
Grid Reference: SN857099
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