Neath Abbey and Skewen on the far right.
After passing the Town the River swings to the left of picture towards Briton Ferry.
The Gnoll Estate is out of picture to the left.
The towpath of the Neath Canal can be seen bottom right.
The River is still tidal at this point making the marsh a saltmarsh.
Sadly neglected, it became dangerous and was demolished in 1957. In the 1980`s the lower walls were uncovered and restored. The extensive Cellars were cleared and parts roofed over.
The remains in the foreground are those of the earlier parts of the house.
Parts Of the Evans house were converted into a Laundry when the House was successively extended by first Humphrey Mackworth, and then the two Herbert Mackworths in the 18th Century.
In the 1900`s this pond became the Town Swimming Pool. It was replaced in the 1960`s by an indoor pool; the water levels were reduced and the pond has silted up.
The original road to Pontrhydyfen ran through this pond and an Act of Parliament was required to build the pond. The water from this pond was fed down the valley to the Great Pond.
These Cascades fell out of fashion in the 1740`s and were allowed to decay. Nature having concealed them, they were not rediscovered until the 1980`s and have been beautifully restored.
The main Neath Valley runs to the left in a NE direction.
The Dulais Valley in the distance and the Neath Valley to the right of pictuure.The house in the foreground is Fairyland House, where my g.grandmother was born in 1861. It was built in about 1795 on land leased from Cefndon Farm which stands directly behind it.
Fairyland Road which runs from Llantwit Church passes Fairyland House and climbs the hillside towards the Ivy Tower.
It later (with the "Second Pond") became part of the Neath Town water supply system. It became redundant and was allowed to silt up, but was restored about six years ago.
In the distance is Drymma Mountain overlooking Bryncoch.
The footpath to the right leads to the Informal Cascades.
Their restoration has provided the Gnoll Estate with a unique double attraction.
A stiff climb winds to the left up to the top of the cascades. There Lady Molly built a "Grotto" where she is thought to have placed items of historical interest collected from the area
The small rise in the field marks the site of a small coal mine on Danylan Farm. In the 1850`s and 60`s this was mined by my ggg.grandfather Rees Jenkins, who lived in Fairyland House.
