Port Talbot holds a unique place in the history of Wales. Emerging as a Victorian industrial town and booming post-war, it has developed a reputation as a city not usually included on the list of tourist destinations. Yet this town has a lot to offer, especially as a base for further exploration. Read on as we give a brief history of modern-day Port Talbot.
History of Port Talbot
Port Talbot formed from the merging of three villages: Aberafan, Margam, and Baglan. Growth began here when new docks were created by the Talbot family in 1837, and as the villages grew in prosperity the name for the area remained. A new deep-water harbour would replace this in the 1970s, increasing the capacity for vessels of a much higher tonnage. Being placed along the eastern side of the Swansea River, it soon grew into a thriving port and industrial town.
Aside from the port trade, steelworks were the backbone of local industry. The large structure still dominates the skyline and provided huge economic growth in the area. Particularly after the Second World War, the steel industry boomed with the demand for consumer goods. While a lot of Wales’s post-war industry has been one of decline, the steel industry at this time was a major success story.
Post War Boom
In 1961 during this golden period, the town became somewhat of a mecca for glitz and glamour. With money in their pocket, workers in the area flooded for evening entertainment in its bars and eateries.
George Alfred James, a local entrepreneur, is said to have created the first legal land-based casino in Britain in the town. Following the publication of the betting and gaming act of 1960, betting shops and casinos became legal in the UK. With a large gaming floor, along with cabaret acts and a 400-seat restaurant, it was not that dissimilar from a physical or online game arcade you would find today. Live casino games such as blackjack and roulette were aplenty, along with a wide range of slots.
As a result, people started to view it as a tourist destination, due to the easy access by the railroads or roads. Other amenities began to appear as a result. The Afan Lido was opened by the Queen herself in 1965, which complemented the Miami Beach Funfair which had started construction two years earlier. In these boom years, the town became a seaside mecca.
Arts Scene in Port Talbot
Despite economic decline during the eighties, the area has retained an extremely buoyant arts scene, often bubbling just underneath the surface. Street artist Banksy even used the area to create one of his famous graffiti pieces. This depicted a small boy in a snow scene, which on closer inspection turned out to be industrial ash. Painted near the steelworks, it was later moved to the Ty’r Orsaf building in the town.
One of its quirkier sites is the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence. Opened by private collector Barry Kirk, it resides in his own home and is a collection of baked bean cans and promotional materials. The museum is opened once a year and all proceeds go to a local charity. While Port Talbot may not have the natural appeal of the Welsh countryside, it certainly can claim to be unique and has a proud place in the history of the country.