Around Ynysawdre

Local buildings
The community of Ynysawdre is home to several notable buildings. Tondu Ironworks is an important ruminant of Britain’s industrial heritage. Built in 1820 by Sir Robert Price, the ironworks, although derelict, still survive as a series of large roofless stone buildings. Structures surviving include the charging bank, the blast-engine house, a range of seven iron ore calcining kilns, each 62ft by 32ft in size, and over a hundred beehive-shaped coking kilns. The calcining and coking kilns are rare surviving examples of the thousands of kilns once found throughout Britain.

Other notable remains from the area’s industrial past include Aberkenfig Railway Bridge and Glan-Rhyd Railway Viaduct, two horse-drawn railway bridges, both built in the 1920s.

Education
Ynysawdre is home to Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen, a large English-medium comprehensive school which serves the Garw and Ogmore valleys. Y Dderwen was formerly the two schools of Ynysawdre School and Ogmore School; Ynysawdre was based on Y Dderwen’s current site and Ogmore School was based in the nearby village of Bryncethin. Y Dderwen’s new building was opened in 2013.

The community was also home to Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School until mid-2011, when it relocated to a new building in Brackla. The school served the entire county borough.

Ynysawdre is also home to Brynmenyn Primary School, a small school with its own nursery. Tondu primary school is located in the village of Aberkenfig.

Sport
Ynysawdre is the location of Pandy Park, home of Tondu RFC. Pandy Park houses numerous football and rugby pitches. Ynysawdre Pool and Fitness Centre is located on Heol-Yr-Ysgol.