Historic Landscape Characterisation
Merthyr Tydfil

065 Ochr-y-Mynydd, Winch Fawr

HLCA 65 Ochr-y-Mynydd, Winch Fawr Industrial settlement: dense scattered pattern typical of "squatter" settlement; industrial extractive landscape features; minor transport.

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Summary

A small industrial settlement of isolated rows and cottages, located in typical squatter fashion at the edge of the enclosed land.

Historical background

The historic landscape area of Ochr-y-Mynydd, Winch Fawr is a small isolated industrial settlement with associated enclosures, established by 1820s on the edge of the open mountain below Carn-y-frwydr close to local ironstone and coal workings, in particular the Upper Black Pins Levels and Winch Fawr Pit. The settlement comprises a dense scatter of cottages and later isolated row(s) forming a typical "squatter" type settlement on the open mountain. The haphazard layout of the settlement was clearly detailed on the tithe of 1850, and comprised a cluster of small rectangular and sub-rectangular holdings with associated cottages; the settlement was built on mountain land or Y Mynydd, part of the Dynevor Estate and its small holdings leased to various tenants, quarry workers, and miners working the local Cyfarthfa Mines. The settlement was more or less complete by the mid-l9th century confined by the 1st edition OS map of 1875, by which date the settlement had gained a smithy. The first edition map provides more detail of the surrounding workings, levels, spoil tips and associated transport infrastructure including the Winch Fawr incline and various other tramroads and haulage roads. Later editions chart the decline of the areas extractive industries and associated transport networks.