The villages of Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach are separated from one another by Nant Blaen-clairch, which feeds into the river Neath on the north western edge of the villages and forms the boundary between the two villages and Glyn Neath. In the mid-nineteenth century one of the main sources of employment for the settlement would have been the Venallt Ironworks (NPRN 34120) which 'was constructed in circa 1839-42.' The furnaces were out of use by 1954 but the site was converted for use as a patent fuel works, which was recorded on the first edition of the 25inch OS maps, published in 1876. Other amenities at Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach included a police station, a school and three public houses - the Dunraven Arms, the Colliers Arms and the Star Inn, as well as a railway station on the Vale of Neath section of the Great Western Railway. There were three places of worship available to the community - St. Mary's church to the north (NPRN 13446), Siloh Independent chapel to the west (NPRN 9482) and a Unitarian chapel to the south (NPRN 9484). Little had changed by the time the second edition of the 25inch OS maps was published in 1899, except that the patent fuel works had become disused.
More development occurred in the twentieth century. A Welfare Hall was built in the interwar years (NPRN 415248), along with a Miners' Welfare Ground (NPRN 412872) which opened in 1925 and 'extended over two acres and consisted of three tennis courts, a bowling green, putting green, children's playground, and a 270 capacity pavilion.' Calfaria Baptist church was opened in 1905 (NPRN 9483) and remains as a place of worship in the twenty-first century. Siloh Independent chapel also seems to have remained open, as has St. Mary's church, but the Unitarian chapel had been demolished by 1946.
In the twenty-first century, Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach have 'an electorate of approximately 1,100.' The Dunraven public house remains open, although the Colliers Arms and the Star Inn seem to have closed. Blaengwrach Primary School educates approximately 150 pupils aged three to eleven and the Welfare Hall is 'a thriving centre of the community and may be booked for many different classes including dance, archery and judo and parties.' Other amenities at the settlement include a convenience shop and a rugby club.
Sources: modern and historic OS maps; google maps; Coflein database; Estyn report on Blaengwrach Primary School published in May 2015; www.blaengwrachcommunitycouncil.org/
M. Ryder, RCAHMW, 21st February 2019