Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen

Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen is a village in Neath Port Talbot, South West Wales. Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen is a parish made up of the electoral wards of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen and Lower Brynamman.LocationGwaun-Cae-Gurwen is located five mile east of the nearest town of Ammanford and nearly twenty miles north of Swansea. Nearby villages include Cwmgors, Brynaman, Tairgwaith, Cwmllynfell, Glanaman and Garnant.EtymologyThe name Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen is believed to be an alteration of what was originally gwaun cegerwen . In local usage, the name is often shortened to "Y Waun", meaning "the heath" in Welsh.SchoolsYsgol Gynradd Gymraeg Gwauncaegurwen used to be on Heol y Dŵr which is where the Pwll y Wrach estate is based. It has since been moved to Heol Newydd, overlooking the village, and the former school transformed into a wood workshop.Secondary-age children in the area have the choice of going to Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera in Ystalyfera, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, or Cwmtawe Community School .Welsh languageThe Welsh language is very strong in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, with the highest proportion of Welsh-speakers being among the young. The Welsh Language Board reported in 2009 that: In areas such as Gwaun Cae Gurwen (67.9%) and Brynaman Isaf (68%) Welsh is a natural community language spoken in the street, in cafés and amongst third sector organisations. Perhaps the most notable fact is that the highest percentage of Welsh speakers is amongst 10–19 year olds.