Mysterious Afan

From time to time, most teachers will feel they want to introduce a topic to their pupils and that they have not got the time or the resources to cover it effectively. Hopefully you will find this teaching resource useful. It could be suitable for all schools in Port Talbot both Welsh and English medium.

This Resource Pack is being offered by Calon Afan, a company formed to promot the history of Port Talbot and the Afan Valley, because we have discovered the fascinating stories of the medieval life of the Port Talbot and Afan Valley area of Wales, and we would love children to understand more of the earlier history of the area they live in: their ‘bro’ or ‘milltir sgwar’. It has been written by four teachers, and we feel that this history can stimulate important work around the Cynefin element of the Curriculum for Wales, and encourage the building of skills.

The forgotten story of the Princes of Glamorgan and then the Lords of Afan, who held the land from the sea to Hirwaun, and between the Afan and the Nedd rivers, from 1094 until their line died out in the 14th century, is quite surprising. During that time, first through battle, collaboration with other Welsh dynasties, and then through diplomacy and inter-marriage they held their territory; a unique achievement at that time of early Norman invasion and Anglo-Norman aggression.

The pack contains some primary source material, with URL references for a series of articles published on the Calon Afan website, easily accessed for teachers’ research; some legends, stories and teachers’ resources, all in English and Welsh. It suggests ways into the intriguing local history of Port Talbot and the Afan Valley, with a smörgåsbord of ideas and some suggestions of strategies as to how this work around ‘cynefin’ can be used in the classroom in English and/or in Welsh.

We have designed the pack primarily for use with the Keystage 2 age group; however, most of the ideas can be adapted or tailored to older or younger children according to age and ability of the children by the experts who know them: the teachers.

Although it might look a bit like a treasure-chest, the pack is in 3 sections: see the Contents below for the full list of what it contains. We hope you find what you discover useful and inspirational. But who knows what else there is to be discovered!

If you find anything out, please do let us know! Use our contact form or just email us on:
contact@calonafan.org