View source for Bridgend

{{short description|Town in South Wales}}
{{About|the town|the wider principal area, named after the town|Bridgend County Borough|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{infobox UK place
| static_image_name = {{multiple images|border=infobox
| image1 = Bridgend , Town Scenery - geograph.org.uk - 4153615.jpg
| image2 = Bridgend , Newcastle Castle Ruins - geograph.org.uk - 4153609.jpg
| image3 = North side of the Old Bridge, Bridgend - geograph.org.uk - 6401386.jpg
| image4 = Bridgend , St Illtyd’s Church - geograph.org.uk - 4153560.jpg
| image5 = Bridgend War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 5679420.jpg
|align = center |total_width = 260|perrow= 1 2 2
}}
| static_image_caption = {{ubl|Left to right, top: Bridgend Townscape|Middle: [[Newcastle Castle, Bridgend|Newcastle Castle]] and [[Old Bridge, Bridgend|Old Bridge]]|Bottom: St Illtyd's Church and War Memorial}}
| country                     = Wales
| welsh_name                  = Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Bridgend (Senedd constituency)|Bridgend]]
| coordinates                 = {{coord|51.507|-03.578|display=inline,title}}
| official_name               = Bridgend
| unitary_wales               = [[Bridgend (county borough)|Bridgend]]
| lieutenancy_wales           = [[Mid Glamorgan]]
| constituency_westminster    = [[Bridgend (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgend]]
| community_wales             = {{unbulleted list|[[Bridgend (community)|Bridgend]]|[[Brackla]]|[[Coychurch Lower]]}}
| post_town                   = BRIDGEND
| postcode_district           = CF31
| postcode_area               = CF
| parts_type         = Suburbs
| parts              = Districts of the town
| p1 = [[Bridgend Industrial Estate]]
| p2   = Broadlands
| p3   = Bryntirion
| p4  = [[Cefn Glas]]
| p5   = [[Coity]]
| p6   = [[Coychurch]]
| p7   = Hencastel
| p8 = [[Laleston]]
| p9   = [[Litchard]]
| p10 = [[Newcastle, Bridgend|Newcastle]]
| p11 = [[Pen-y-fai]]
| p12 = [[Wildmill]]
| dial_code                   = 01656
| os_grid_reference           = SS905805
| population                  = 51,785
| population_ref              = (2021 Census)<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridgend (Bridgend, Wales / Cymru, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/bridgend/W45000592__bridgend/ |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref>
}}
'''Bridgend''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|pron|b|r|ᵻ|ˈ|dʒ|ɛ|n|d}}; {{langx|cy|Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr}} or just {{lang|cy|Pen-y-bont}}, meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore")<ref>{{citation|first=David|last=Mills|date=2011|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXucAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA76|isbn=9780199609086}}</ref><!--Please do not add the alternative English translation "The main bridge on the River Ogmore"; the sources which give this are incorrect.--> is a town in the [[Bridgend County Borough]] of [[Wales]], {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of [[Cardiff]] and {{convert|20|mi|km}} east of [[Swansea]].  The town is named after the [[Old Bridge, Bridgend|medieval bridge]] over the [[River Ogmore]]. The [[River Ewenny]] also flows through the town. The population was 49,597 in 2021.<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Bridgend |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/wales/?cityid=10807 |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref> Bridgend is within the [[Cardiff Capital Region]] which in 2019 had a population of approximately 1.54 million.
[[File:Bridgend, St. Mary's Nolton - geograph.org.uk - 5042091.jpg|thumb|St Mary's Nolton Church, Bridgend]]
[[Historic counties of Wales|Historically]] a part of [[Glamorgan]], Bridgend has greatly expanded in size since the early 1980s – the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]] recorded a population of 39,429 for the town.<ref name=census>{{cite web|title=Key Statistics for urban areas in England and Wales|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=033488&productId=2491&$ph=60_61_62&datasetInstanceId=33488&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=6275340|work=Census 2011|publisher=UK Office for National Statistics|access-date=4 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018025715/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=033488&productId=2491&$ph=60_61_62&datasetInstanceId=33488&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=6275340|archive-date=18 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2017}}
===Prehistoric and Roman===
Several [[prehistoric]] burial mounds have been found in the vicinity of Bridgend, suggesting that the area was settled before [[Roman times]]. The [[A48 road|A48]] between Bridgend and [[Cowbridge]] has a portion, known locally as "Crack Hill", a [[Roman road]] and the 'Golden Mile' where it is believed Roman soldiers were lined up to be paid. The [[Vale of Glamorgan]] would have been a natural low-level route west to the [[Roman fort]] and harbour at [[Neath]] (''[[Nidum]]'') from settlements in the east like Cardiff and [[Caerleon]] (''Isca'').
===Norman invasion===
[[File:Newcastle Castle Bridgend.jpg|thumb|right|Front view of Newcastle Castle Bridgend]]
In the decades after the [[Norman conquest]] of [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] [[England]] in 1066, the [[Normans]] looked westwards to create new seats for lords loyal to [[William the Conqueror]]. Groups of Norman barons arrived in Wales, and in the south and east created what would later become the [[Welsh Marches]], while the north and west remained largely unconquered.
At [[Coity]], the local Welsh chieftain Morgan Gam already had a stronghold. Sometime in the 11th century, Norman Lord Payn de Turberville approached Morgan to turn over control of [[Coity Castle]] to Turberville. Morgan Gam agreed, on condition that Turberville either fought Morgan for the land, or took Gam's daughter Sybil's hand in marriage. Turberville married Sybil and became Lord of Coity, and rebuilt the castle.
[[Newcastle Castle, Bridgend|Newcastle Castle]] (on Newcastle Hill, overlooking the town centre, 1106) and [[Ogmore Castle]] (1116) were built by [[Robert Fitzhamon]] and [[William de Londres]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/93036/details/NEWCASTLE+CASTLE%2C+BRIDGEND/ | title=Newcastle Castle, Bridgend |  work=Coflein | publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales | date=11 March 2008 | access-date=28 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/93019/details/OGMORE+CASTLE/ | title=Ogmore Castle | work=Coflein | publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales | date=10 March 2008 | access-date=28 July 2012}}</ref> About {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} north-east of [[Ogmore Castle]], Maurice de Londres founded the fortified [[Benedictine]] [[Ewenny Priory]] in 1141.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ewenny.org.uk/ |title=Ewenny and St Brides Major – Parish Control |publisher=Ewenny.org.uk |access-date=6 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508215045/http://www.ewenny.org.uk/ |archive-date=8 May 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
These three castles provided a "defensive triangle" for the area – a quadrilateral if Ewenny Priory is included.
===Early development===
Bridgend developed at a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] on the [[River Ogmore]], which was on the main route between east and [[west Wales]]. Just north of the town is the confluence of three rivers, the Ogmore, the [[River Llynfi|Llynfi]], and the [[Afon Garw|Garw]]. South of Bridgend, the River Ewenny merges with the River Ogmore and flows into the [[Bristol Channel]]. In the 15th century, a stone bridge was built as a permanent connection between the two sides of the Ogmore (and was later rebuilt). Originally, this bridge had four arches, but in the 18th century, a massive flood washed two of them away. The rest of the bridge still stands and remains a focal point of the town: aesthetic restoration took place in 2006.
Bridgend grew rapidly into an agricultural town. It became an important [[market town]], a status it retained until the late 20th century.
===Industrial era===
The discovery of [[coal]] in the [[South Wales Valleys]] north of Bridgend had a massive impact on the town. The first [[coal mining]] operations opened north of Bridgend in the 17th century; the Llynfi Valley was the first to be industrialised. Bridgend itself never had coal deposits and remained a market town for some time, but the valleys of the three rivers grew into an important part of the [[South Wales coalfield]]s. [[Ironworks]] and brickworks (notably at [[Tondu]]) were also established in the same period by [[John Bedford]], although the ironworks faltered after his death and ceased operating entirely in 1836.
The [[Great Western Railway]] arrived and Bridgend was at the junction between the main [[London]] to [[Fishguard]] line and the branch to the three valleys. Frequent coal trains took coal down the valleys; and when the Vale of Glamorgan railway opened, coal could be sent directly to port at [[Barry, Wales|Barry]] or via other branch lines to [[Porthcawl]].
Several [[quarry|quarries]] opened in and around Bridgend town centre; some remnants of these can still be seen today near Brackla. An engine works was opened in the town and a larger farmers' market also opened in the town centre, where it remained until the 1970s.
In 1801, the population of what is now Bridgend County was around 6000. By the beginning of the 20th century this had risen to 61,000. By this time Bridgend was a bustling market town with prosperous valleys to the north, a thriving community and good links to other towns and cities.
===Second World War===
In the [[Second World War]], Bridgend had a [[prisoner of war]] (POW) camp at [[Island Farm]] and a large [[munitions]] factory ([[ROF Bridgend]] – known as the "Admiralty") at [[Waterton, Bridgend|Waterton]], as well as a large underground munitions storage base at [[Brackla]] (known as the 8Xs). This was an overspill of the [[Royal Arsenal]], [[Woolwich]].
At its peak, the arsenal had 40,000 workers, many of them women. Large numbers of them were transported by bus from the [[Rhondda]] and the valleys.
The factory complex had three sites in Bridgend, all linked together by a large network of railways. Many reminders of the factory sites remain to this day – [http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/ Brackla Ordnance Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218140824/http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/ |date=18 December 2014 }}.
In March 1945, 87 POWs from [[Island Farm]] escaped through a tunnel, but all were recaptured.<ref>{{cite journal | year=2017 |last1=Rees-Hughes |first1=L |last2=Pringle |first2=JK |last3=Russill |first3=N |last4=Wisniewski |first4=K |last5=Doyle |first5=P |title=Multi-disciplinary investigations at PoW Camp 198, Bridgend, S. Wales: site of a mass escape in March 1945 |volume=x |issue=2–3 |pages=166–191|journal=Journal of Conflict Archaeology|doi = 10.1080/15740773.2017.1357900 |s2cid=164270959 |url=http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/3900/13/Rees-Hughes-etal-2017.pdf |doi-access=free }}</ref> While Bridgend was as important during the war as any other part of Wales, and although it was photographed by the [[Luftwaffe]], it was never [[the Blitz|blitzed]], although the area immediately around Bridgend did suffer bombing raids.
The admiralty ceased full-scale production in December 1945 after five years. Two of the munitions-storage magazines in the Brackla ROF site were converted to a regional government headquarters during the [[Cold War]] as part of the UK [[continuity of government]] plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/b/brackla/index.html |title=Brackla RGHQ |publisher=Subbrit.org.uk |access-date=6 August 2011}}</ref> It is now in the hands of a private company.
===After the war===
Bridgend remained a solid market town after the war. In 1948, Newbridge Fields (a short distance from the town centre) hosted the 1948 [[National Eisteddfod]].
In 1960, the River Ogmore burst its banks and flooded the town centre. Subsequent floods and extreme weather led the [[Welsh Water]] Authority to develop concrete flood defence walls along the banks of the River Ogmore in the town centre. The town centre has not been flooded since. During this time, Bridgend was chosen to become the headquarters for [[South Wales Police]]. This action was ideal as geographically, Bridgend stands equidistantly between Swansea to the west and Cardiff to the east.
The [[Beeching cuts]] of the 1960s had the loss of passenger rail links in the Vale of Glamorgan and to the northern valleys. The Vale of Glamorgan link to [[Barry, Wales|Barry]] via [[Rhoose]] was reinstated in June 2005.
In the 1970s, Bridgend began to see the catalyst of arguably its biggest growth period. The "missing section" of the [[M4 motorway]] was constructed around the town, plans were afoot to change the Waterton Admiralty into an industrial estate, and the water supply was improved including new [[sewage treatment]] works near [[Ogmore-by-Sea|Ogmore]]. Two major multinational [[corporation]]s, the [[Ford Motor Company]] and [[Sony]], set up factories in or on the outskirts of the new [[Bridgend Industrial Estate]] (former Waterton Arsenal).
The development of the Brackla Housing Estate in the 1980s, housing developments at Broadlands to the south-west of the town centre and the continuing expansion of Brackla to the north-east have caused Bridgend's population to swell dramatically. Due to this, traffic congestion and a lack of parking facilities within the town have become important issues in the area. In 1997, a new link road/[[bypass route|bypass]] was built to link the town centre directly to the M4 motorway, as well as redirect traffic around the town centre.
A new [[Securicor]]-operated prison ([[Parc (HM Prison)|HM Parc Prison]]) was built near Coity in the late 1990s. The prison opened in November 1997.
The [[Bridgend Designer Outlet|McArthur Glen Designer Outlet]] opened in 1998.
===New millennium===
[[Objective 1]] investment in regeneration and public realm improvements has led to the pedestrianisation of the town centre and the restoration of some buildings.<ref>[http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/048214.hcsp#TopOfPage Town Centre Streetscene] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427232245/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/048214.hcsp#TopOfPage |date=27 April 2011 }} Bridgend County Council</ref> Some local traders have argued that this has damaged trade due to a lack of access by taxis and the disabled.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/bridgend-maesteg/2009/06/25/angry-trader-calls-for-town-centre-shutdown-to-bring-back-traffic-91466-23967031/ Angry trader calls for town centre 'shutdown' to bring back traffic] WalesOnline 25 June 2009</ref> Car parking provision and pricing have also been a concern to retailers with calls for free or reduced-price parking to increase town centre visits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/bridgend-maesteg/2009/01/22/free-parking-may-tempt-shoppers-back-into-town-91466-22747583/ |title=Free parking may tempt shoppers back into town|publisher=WalesOnline |date=22 January 2009}}</ref>
To counteract the dominance of [[Tesco]] in the area, [[Asda]] were granted planning permission for a new superstore near the town centre. The store was opened on 31 March 2008 by the local MP, and players from [[Bridgend Ravens]]. Over 1500 customers were thought to have walked through the new doors to take a look around the new store.
In 2004, an award-winning new bus station was constructed and traffic movements around the town centre were altered. Local committees, together with the council, started to use the pedestrianisation of the town centre to its advantage, culminating in several fairs including Continental Markets, [[Celt]]ic Festivals, a small [[Mardi-Gras]], and seasonal markets and events. [[Bridgend County Borough Council|Bridgend Council]] estimated in 2009 that these events have brought 900,000 visitors to the town and generated around £53 million for the local economy.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120710220908/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/report/067339.doc Bridgend County Borough Council]Report to Town and Community Council Forum, 14 April 2009</ref>
[[File:riverside walk.jpg|thumb|right|Riverside walk over the Ogmore 2009]]
About £2.5 million of European funding was used to create a "riverside café culture" by constructing a walkway along the [[River Ogmore]],<ref>[http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/048216.hcsp River Ogmore Walkway & Bridge, Bridgend] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724185643/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/048216.hcsp |date=24 July 2011 }} Bridgend County Borough Council</ref> which was completed in March 2009.
===Future developments===
[[File:cheapside 2009.jpg|thumb|left|Old Cheapside, which is being extensively renovated]]Construction on a 1500-home sustainable "village" at Parc Derwen near Coity began in 2011. The scheme was a collaboration between several house-builders and public bodies including the [[National Assembly for Wales|National Assembly]], and was planned with strict guidelines regarding architecture and the environment. Concerns exist from Coity in particular that this development may impact on [[urban sprawl|their village's identity]].<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2008/02/26/bypass-drives-village-for-the-21st-century-ahead-91466-20522731/ Bypass drives 'village for the 21st century' ahead] WalesOnline 26 February 2008</ref>
Studies were carried out by the [[Bridgend County Borough Council|local council]] with a view to improving retail provision in the town centre. Attracting bigger high-street chains to the town, such as [[Marks & Spencer]], [[Next (clothing)|Next]], and [[Debenhams]] is seen as key to this.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/bridgend-maesteg/2008/02/28/can-high-street-giants-revive-bridgend-91466-20536659/ Can high street giants revive Bridgend?] 28 February 2008</ref>
At Elder Yard, a derelict [[listed building|Grade II-listed building]] in the heart of the town centre is due to be converted to a restaurant and provide the impetus for other improvements there, including a public courtyard and extra retail and leisure provision.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/bridgend-maesteg/2009/08/06/unveiled-the-master-plan-for-town-centre-91466-24325591/ Unveiled – the master plan for town centre] WalesOnline, 6 August 2009</ref>
==Politics==
As of [[2024 United Kingdom general election|July 2024]], the local Member of Parliament is [[Chris Elmore]] ([[Welsh Labour]]), the [[Member of the Senedd]] for Bridgend is [[Sarah Murphy (politician)|Sarah Murphy]] (Labour) along with the regional members for the [[South Wales West (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales West region]]: [[Luke Fletcher (Welsh politician)|Luke Fletcher]] (Plaid Cymru), [[Tom Giffard|Thomas Giffard]] (Conservative), [[Altaf Hussain (Welsh politician)|Altaf Hussain]] (Conservative) and [[Sioned Williams]] (Plaid Cymru).
===Local government===
[[Bridgend County Borough Council]] is led by the Welsh Labour Party, which has been running a majority administration since the [[2022 Bridgend County Borough Council election|May 2022 local elections]], where the Labour party gained ten seats to finish on 27 out of a possible 51 seats. At those elections Independents won 21 seats, Plaid Cymru 2 and the Conservatives 1. A few weeks after the elections Labour lost the ward of Bridgend Central in a by-election to an independent candidate reducing the Labour group to 26 and increasing the independent group to 22.<ref>{{cite web |title=DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL - Bridgend Central, 11 August 2022 |url=https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/media/14516/declaration-of-result-of-poll-bridgend-central-electoral-division.pdf |website=Bridgend CBC |access-date=24 November 2022}}</ref>
After the 2012 election, the council was made up of 39 Labour councillors, 10 Independents, 3 Liberal Democrats, 1 Conservative and 1 Plaid Cymru.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/099006.hcsp#TopOfPage |title=2012 Local Election Results |publisher=Bridgend.gov.uk |date=4 May 2012 |access-date=5 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830110230/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/099006.hcsp#TopOfPage |archive-date=30 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Youth Mayor of Bridgend County Borough as of 2017 is Niamh Gwilym, and the Deputy Youth Mayor is Leigh Williams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/086785.hcsp |title=Bridgend Youth Council |publisher=Bridgend.gov.uk |date=13 June 2011 |access-date=8 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927095108/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/services/086785.hcsp |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Bridgend was an [[electoral ward]] to [[Glamorgan County Council]] from 1889 to 1974, electing the [[Windham Wyndham-Quin, 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl|Earl of Dunraven]] as its first representative. Since 1995 the town has been covered by three wards to Bridgend County Borough Council, [[Morfa, Bridgend|Morfa]], [[Oldcastle, Bridgend|Oldcastle]] and [[Newcastle, Bridgend|Newcastle]], which each elect two councillors.<ref name=electioncentre>{{cite web |url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bridgend-1995-2012.pdf |title=Bridgend County Borough Council Election Results 1995–2012  |publisher=The Elections Centre ([[Plymouth University]])|access-date=18 May 2019 }}</ref>
At the Town Council level, Bridgend is represented by nineteen town councillors on Bridgend Town Council, elected from the three town wards of [[Morfa, Bridgend|Morfa]], [[Oldcastle, Bridgend|Oldcastle]] and [[Newcastle, Bridgend|Newcastle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgendtowncouncil.gov.uk/wards-and-councillors.aspx |title=Wards and Councillors |publisher=Bridgend Town Council |access-date=4 April 2019 }}</ref>
==Demography==
According to the 2021 Census, the population of the town and its urban area was 51,785. Of those residents, the demographics of the town were recorded as:<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridgend (Bridgend, Wales / Cymru, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/bridgend/W45000592__bridgend/ |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref>
===Ethnicity===
*94.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
*2.5% [[British Asians|Asian]]
*1.7% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
*0.5% [[Black British people|Black]]
*0.1% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
===Religious===
*54% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
*43.6% [[Religion in Wales#Christianity|Christianity]]
*1% [[Islam in Wales|Islam]]
*0.6% [[Religion in Wales|other]]
*0.4% [[Buddhism in Wales|Buddhism]]
*0.3% [[Hinduism in Wales|Hinduism]]
*0.1% [[Sikhism in Wales|Sikhism]]
*0.1% [[History of the Jews in Wales|Judaism]]
==Economy==
Bridgend's [[travel to work area]] has expanded since 1991 and the 2001-based area now incorporates the western part of the [[Vale of Glamorgan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/downloads/Introduction_to_2001_TTWAs.pdf |title=National Statistics, Introduction to the 2001-based Travel-to-Work Areas |access-date=6 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305103131/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/downloads/Introduction_to_2001_TTWAs.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2009  }}</ref>
Bridgend recovered quickly from the decline of traditional industries, particularly coal-mining due to other alternative forms of employment. Wages are generally higher here than in other parts of the [[South Wales valleys]]. There are large industrial estates at Bridgend and Waterton (formerly Waterton Admiralty) which host a number of small-scale and multi-national companies, mainly manufacturing.
[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]'s engine plant near Waterton used to employ around 2,000 workers and was one of the area's largest employers, working on range of low carbon "EcoBoost" engines. The plant won praise from [[Peter Mandelson]] in January 2009 who described it as "a top-of-the-class, world-beating engine production plant." Ford invested £315million in the Bridgend plant between 2004 and 2009.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/16/ford-bridgend-praised-by-mandelson-91466-22705612/ Ford Bridgend praised by Mandelson] WalesOnline, 16 January 2009</ref> The Ford plant closed in September 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-09-25|title=Ford Bridgend closure: 'Journey into the unknown'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54267443|access-date=2020-12-14}}</ref>
IT Consultancy Group [[CGI Group|CGI]] have an office in Bridgend, and [[Lidl]] has also set up its Welsh headquarters and distribution site at Waterton. Zoobiotic, a company specialising in [[maggot therapy]], has its facility near Bridgend town centre. Also, since 1983, famous [[dart board]] producer [[Winmau]] has based its global headquarters in Bridgend.
Others include [[Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics]], [[Staedtler]], engineering consultancy [[Skanska]], aeronautic maintenance and project management company TES Aviation and home accessories manufacturer Dekor plc. The Semiconductor Photomask Company, [[Photronics Inc]], has had a manufacturing operation for the last 20 years at the Ewenny Science Park.
However, there have been significant economic blows to Bridgend including [[Sony]]'s closure of the Bridgend plant and downsizing of the Pencoed plant. The plant is still Sony's biggest in the UK despite this. Other manufacturers to have pulled out of the area include [[Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company|Wrigley Company]] and [[Dairy Farmers of Britain]] which went into receivership in June 2009.
Bridgend has a lack of high-wage service jobs; however the retail sector in particular provides a large proportion of employment in the town and borough. In 2008, there were 13,100 people in [[Bridgend County Borough|Bridgend County]] working in construction and manufacturing, while 42,900 were working in the service sector.<ref>[http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=1527 StatsWales 2008 employment report]</ref>
Sub-regional [[Gross Value Added|GVA]] for the Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot NUTS3 region stood at £12,402 per capita in 2006 ($23,191 at June 2006 values). This figure represents 65% of the [[United Kingdom|UK]] GVA per capita, 87% of [[Wales|Welsh]] GVA per capita (£14,226) and 103% of West Wales & The Valleys GVA per capita (£12,071).
Gross disposable income for Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot in 2006 stood at £3,338 million or £12,379 per head. This was 88% of [[United Kingdom|UK]] per head figure (£14,053) and slightly above the Welsh per head figure (£12,366).
In 2008, the average full-time gross weekly earnings in Swansea, Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot was £484.20 (£531.70 for men, £426.10 for women). This was 97% of the Welsh average (£498.10).
In the first half of 2009, unemployment in [[Bridgend County Borough]] stood at 8.9%<ref>[http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/ThematicMaps/mapView.aspx?ReportId=3406 StatsWales Annual unemployment Rate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718182452/http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/ThematicMaps/mapView.aspx?ReportId=3406 |date=18 July 2011 }} 30 June 2009</ref> and economic inactivity stood at 21.4%.<ref>[http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/ThematicMaps/mapView.aspx?ReportId=3408 StatsWales Annual economic inactivity rates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718182501/http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/ThematicMaps/mapView.aspx?ReportId=3408 |date=18 July 2011 }} 20 March 2009</ref>
The percentage of workless households in December 2008 stood at 20.6% compared to the [[United Kingdom|UK]] average of 16% and the [[Wales|Welsh]] average of 18.8%.<ref>[http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=7429 StatsWales; Workless households by household status] 31 December 2008</ref>
===Shopping===
[[File:Adare-Street-Bridgend.jpg|thumb|right|Adare Street Bridgend 2008]]In the town centre the main retail shopping areas are the Rhiw Shopping Centre (containing Bridgend Market), Adare Street, Caroline Street, Derwen Road, Nolton Street, Queen Street, Dunraven Place, Market Street and Cheapside (home of the Brackla Street Centre and Asda store). These are near the bus and railway stations and pay and display car parks.
There are out-of-town shopping areas at Waterton, near the [[A473 road|A473]], on Cowbridge Road and at The Derwen, Junction 36 of the M4, home to the [[Bridgend Designer Outlet]].
==Transport==
[[File:Bridgend New Bus Station.jpg|thumb|right|Bridgend's bus station in 2004]]
[[Bridgend railway station]] has regular services to [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff Central]], [[Bristol Parkway railway station|Bristol Parkway]] and [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] to the east; [[Port Talbot Parkway railway station|Port Talbot Parkway]], [[Neath railway station|Neath]], [[Swansea railway station|Swansea]] and the [[West Wales Line]] to the west; and [[Maesteg railway station|Maesteg]] to the north. There are also services to [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]]. Bridgend is the western terminus of the [[Vale of Glamorgan Line]] which reopened to passenger traffic in 2005.
[[Wildmill railway station]], about {{convert|1|mi|km|0}} north of [[Bridgend railway station]], serves the estates of Wildmill, Pendre and Litchard and is on the [[Maesteg Line|Bridgend-Maesteg branch line]]. A park and ride station at Brackla, about {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} south-east of [[Bridgend railway station]] is planned and is due to be constructed once capacity improvements have been made to the [[South Wales Main Line]]. Services to a new railway station in [[Llanharan railway station|Llanharan]] began in December 2007.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7134665.stm | work=BBC News | title=Village back on track 43 years on | date=10 December 2007 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>
[[Bridgend bus station]] has services to urban and rural areas in South Wales. Most services are operated by [[First Cymru]] under the "Bridgend & County" livery.
An east–west cycle route has been constructed from Brackla through to Broadlands and into Cefn Glas. Bridgend is on the [[National Cycle Route]] and there are off-road spurs from the [[Celtic Trail]] to the town centre and a community route{{clarify|date=June 2016}} in the [[River Ogmore|Ogmore Valley]]. [[Glyncorrwg]] and the [[Afan Valley]] about {{convert|12|mi|km}} north of Bridgend near [[Maesteg]] is famed for its [[mountain bike]] trails, considered{{who|date=June 2016}} amongst the best in Europe.
For scheduled and chartered air travel, Bridgend is served by [[Cardiff International Airport]], to which there are direct [[Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station|rail]] and bus services.
==Education==
Bridgend town has three [[comprehensive school]]s: [[Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School|Archbishop McGrath Catholic Comprehensive]], [[Brynteg School|Brynteg Comprehensive School]] and [[Bryntirion School|Bryntirion Comprehensive School]]. Brynteg generally serves the area east of the River Ogmore, while Bryntirion serves the areas west of the river. Brynteg is renowned for its rugby alumni, including [[J.P.R. Williams]], [[Rob Howley]], [[Gavin Henson]], [[Mike Hall (rugby union)|Mike Hall]] and [[Dafydd James]]; many talented athletes at other local schools join Brynteg to play for the school in the Welsh School Rugby Union leagues. The school has produced several Welsh rugby union internationals, and prominent athletes in other sports have also attended, including top female cyclist [[Nicole Cooke]]. Bryntirion has also produced its fair share of sporting talent, notably [[Gareth Llewellyn]] and triathlete [[Marc Jenkins]]. Archbishop McGrath School covers the whole of the county, and moved to a new campus at [[Brackla]] in 2011.
At least nine primary, [[junior school]]s, and [[infant school]]s are in the town, though several of the junior and infant schools have merged to form single [[primary school]]s in recent years.
Also, two special-educational needs schools are there: Heronsbridge School which is linked with Brynteg Comprehensive School and at the back of Bridgend College. It is for students of primary and secondary school ages with severe learning disabilities. Another school, Ysgol Bryn Castell, offers education for Key Stage 1–4 students with moderate to severe learning disabilities; it is linked with Bryntirion Comprehensive School and has opened up a satellite unit at Cynffig Comprehensive School, a few miles west of Bridgend.
[[Bridgend College]] is the town's [[further education]] and [[higher education]] provider; it primarily offers vocational courses and [[GCSE]]s. It attracts school-leavers from as far as Swansea and Cardiff. It offers a range of higher-education courses such as [[Postgraduate Certificate in Education]], [[Higher National Certificate]], and [[Higher National Diploma]] in various subjects and master's programmes at its Queens Road campus on Bridgend Industrial Estate. These are mainly franchised from the [http://www.southwales.ac.uk/ University of South Wales]. The Pencoed Campus has a focus on sport, animal care, and horticulture, and Maesteg Campus offers more community-based programmes.
Bridgend College has its own residence for students aged 16+ with learning difficulties and physical disabilities who come to the college from all over Wales.
==Health==
Since the closure and redevelopment of Bridgend General Hospital in the 1990s, acute-care and accident and emergency services have been provided by the [[Princess of Wales Hospital]]. GP's surgeries are scattered throughout the town, as are dentists. There is also a large [[psychiatric hospital]], [[Glanrhyd Hospital]], near [[Pen-y-fai, Bridgend|Pen-y-fai]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.countyasylums.co.uk/glanrhyd-hospital-bridgend/|title=Glanrhyd Hospital|date=28 March 2017 |publisher=County Asylums|access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref>
==Culture==
===Nightlife===
Several pubs, restaurants and a nightclub are located within the town centre.
In December 2008, [[Bridgend County Borough Council|Bridgend Council]] introduced its first alcohol-free zone, restricting the consumption of alcohol to pubs, clubs, and other licensed premises in the town centre to help address alcohol-related issues.<ref>[http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/press_release/056152.hcsp Alcohol-free zone set to begin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503222558/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/press_release/056152.hcsp |date=3 May 2010 }}, Bridgend County Borough Council, 26 November 2008</ref> [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] is in operation throughout the town centre, and usually [[South Wales Police|police]] have a presence of some form. Since July 2007, the streets of Bridgend are also patrolled on Friday and Saturday evenings by [[Street Pastors]], an inter-denominational church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.streetpastors.co.uk/Bridgend/tabid/315/Default.aspx |title=Bridgend |publisher=Street Pastors |date=24 July 2008}}</ref>
===Music===
[[Funeral for a Friend]] and [[Jayce Lewis]] have both received mainstream and commercial recognition,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8260597.stm|title=Musician's surprise at Asia hit|date=17 September 2009|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rgh2z|title=Big in India, Planet Wales – BBC One|website=BBC}}</ref> while rock/metal act [[Bullet for My Valentine]] contributed to the meteoric uprising in the mid-2000s [[metal music]] industry. Along with [[Those Damn Crows]], they have all received national and international chart success.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54437/those-damn-crows/ | title=THOSE DAMN CROWS &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company | website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/rock-star-jayce-lewis-passage-1894333 | title=Rock star Jayce Lewis' passage to India paves way for Welsh return | date=29 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/funeral-friend-face-truth-come-2084784 | title=Funeral for a Friend face the truth... And come out fighting | date=24 September 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/artists/music/bullet-for-my-valentine/ |title=Bullet for My Valentine (British iTunes Music Chart Performance) |publisher=iTunesCharts.net |date= |accessdate=2022-05-08}}</ref> Several smaller venues in and around the town centre, including The New Angel Inn, The Railway Inn, Barracudas and Sapphires, host a number of open-mic nights. [[Bryan Adams]] played to a 15,000 crowd at [[Brewery Field]] stadium in the town in 2006. The Recreation Centre has hosted acts such as [[Fall Out Boy]] and [[Bring Me the Horizon]].
===Eisteddfodau===
Bridgend hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1948. Bridgend County hosted the Urdd Gobaith Cymru National Eisteddfod in 2017.
===Media===
Television signals are received from the [[Wenvoe transmitting station|Wenvoe]] TV transmitter and the local relay transmitter situated in [[Llangeinor]]. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Llangeinor | title=Freeview Light on the Llangeinor (Bridgend, Wales) transmitter| date=May 2004 }}</ref>
Bridgend is served by several [[Independent Local Radio]] stations: [[Bridge FM (Wales)|Bridge FM]], [[Heart South Wales]], [[Nation Radio Wales]] and [[Celtica radio]]. The main local [[newspaper]] is ''The Glamorgan Gazette'', although a free newspaper, ''The Recorder'', has increased its circulation in recent times. ''Around Town'' magazine is the free local lifestyle magazine for Bridgend.
===Twinning===
Bridgend has [[town twinning|twinning]] arrangements with:
* {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Langenau]]''', [[Germany]]
* {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Villenave-d'Ornon]]''', [[France]]
Talks held to twin Bridgend with the city of [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] in [[Libya]] between 2004 and 2009 sparked debate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2008/09/25/libyan-dictator-eyes-twin-town-91466-21899916/ |title=News – Cardiff News – Libyan dictator eyes twin town |publisher=WalesOnline |date=25 September 2008}}</ref>
==Sport==
[[File:Bridgend ravens.jpg|thumb|Rear view of the Brewery Field's west stadium displaying the [[Bridgend Ravens]] insignia in 2006]]
===Rugby union===
'''Bridgend Ravens'''
[[Bridgend Ravens]] (formally Bridgend RFC) are a semi-professional rugby union which formed in 1878 and play in the [[Welsh Premier Division]]. They play their home matches at the [[Brewery Field]], which has been their home on and off since 1920. The club have been Welsh champions five times and have won the WRU Challenge Cup on two occasions, whilst also winning the [[WRU Division One West]] league in 2011 and numerous sevens competitions over the course of their existence. They have also played against international teams, New Zealand won on their visit in 1978, but Bridgend have beaten Italy, Western Samoa and Australia. The club has also hosted international matches at women and age grade.
'''Bridgend Athletic'''
[[Bridgend Athletic RFC]] was reformed in 1972, after the Bridgend Youth team members in that year wanted to form a senior team so they didn't have to go their separate ways into senior rugby, hence the formation of the club which had previously existed up to 1939. The club become full members of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1983. The club were promoted from Division 5 Central in 2001, were WRU Division Four East Champions in 2002, were then promoted from Division 3 to WRU Division Two West in 2003 through the league organisation and were promoted to Division 1 in 2004. They have suffered relegation from that league once, but bounced back in 2009, winning WRU Division Two West. They play in [[WRU Division One West]].
'''Bridgend Sports'''
[[Bridgend Sports RFC|Bridgend Sports Rugby Football Club]] is a Welsh rugby union team based in Bridgend. Formed in 1938 by Victor Blick, the team survived the cessation of club rugby in Wales between 1939 and 1945, during the Second World War. There have been in existence at least two other clubs in Bridgend throughout the club's history providing local competition. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and play in the [[WRU Division Four South East]]. They won the [[Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy]] on three successive years between 1979 and 1981, and were champions of [[WRU Division Five South Central]] in 2010.
'''Celtic Warriors'''
The [[Celtic Warriors]], formed in 2003, are a defunct regional rugby union team that was mainly based at the Brewery Field in Bridgend. When regional rugby was enforced by the [[Welsh Rugby Union]], Bridgend RFC and Pontypridd RFC, who were both professional clubs at the time, merged to create the Celtic Warriors as one of the five new regional rugby teams in Wales.  However, they were dissolved after one season due to financial problems that had plagued the club. Pontypridd RFC had sold their share of the region early on due to their own financial difficulties, with the remaining share which had been owned by Bridgend RFC, being sold off to the Welsh Rugby Union at the end of the season. This led to the winding up of the Celtic Warriors region by the WRU, as there was not enough money to keep the region afloat.<ref>{{cite news|title=WRU axe falls on Warriors|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3754959.stm|work=BBC Website|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 September 2013}}</ref> There were high points for the region: 10,000 turned up to watch them face European champions-in-waiting [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]] and even beat the Wasps 9–14<ref>{{cite news|title=Wasps stung by try on the Celtic fringe|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/jan/12/rugbyunion.heinekencup2003044|newspaper=Guardian|access-date=14 October 2013|date=12 January 2004}}</ref> at [[Adams Park|Adam's Park]] a week earlier. The team finished 4th out of 12 in the [[Pro14|Celtic League]] in their only season of existence.
'''Ospreys Rugby'''
The [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] were formed in 2003 after the merger of Neath RFC and Swansea RFC, which took place after the Welsh Rugby Union forced through regional rugby as the top level of Welsh rugby. Bridgend became part of this region following the demise of the Celtic Warriors. Although the Ospreys play their home matches at the [[Liberty Stadium]] in Swansea, since 2010 they have played their home Anglo-Welsh Cup home games at the Brewery Field, which is normally two games a season.
===Football===
Bridgend had two [[association football|football]] teams, [[Bridgend Town A.F.C.]], and a Bridgend suburb side [[Bryntirion Athletic F.C.]] that played in the [[Welsh Football League First Division]]. Bridgend Town AFC from 2009 played at The Brewery Field (The Football Club purchased The Brewery Field in 2009) as the club sold its ground at Coychurch Road ground due to works in conjunction with the new Asda store. In 2013, the two clubs joined to form [[Pen-y-Bont F.C.]] who, following promotion in 2019, play in the [[Cymru Premier]], the top level of Welsh football. They are currently managed by [[Rhys Griffiths (footballer)|Rhys Griffiths]]. Schools football in Bridgend is governed by the [[Bridgend Schools FA]].
Bridgend's geographical position means [[South Wales derby|South Wales rivals]] [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] and [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] pick up support from the town.
===Rugby league===
Bridgend was home to [[Super League]] rugby league team the [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]], who were based at the [[Brewery Field]], home of [[rugby union]] club, [[Bridgend Ravens|Bridgend RFC]]. This side was considered by a few to be a replacement for the [[Celtic Warriors]] rugby union side after their controversial disbanding in 2004 but also built up a loyal following in their own right.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} The Crusaders' application for a Super League [[2009–11 Super League licences|licence]] was granted by the [[Rugby Football League]] on 22 July 2008. The decision elevated the club from [[RFL Championship|National League One]] to compete in [[Super League XIV]] from 2009.
For the 2010 Super League season, Crusaders initially announced they would play at [[Newport, Wales|Newport]]'s [[Rodney Parade]] ground for two seasons. However, in the run up to the new season the Celtic Crusaders franchise was sold by owner Leighton Samuel to [[Wrexham Football Club]] parent company, Wrexham Village Ltd and the side moved to [[Wrexham]], playing home fixtures at [[The Racecourse Ground]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/8176113.stm |title=BBC SPORT &#124; Rugby League &#124; My Club &#124; Celtic Crusaders &#124; Crusaders to make Newport switch |work=BBC News |date=21 August 2009 |access-date=6 August 2011}}</ref>
Bridgend's second rugby league side is the [[Bridgend Blue Bulls]], one of the UK's most successful amateur clubs having won two UK national amateur titles in four years and Welsh Champions five years in succession. The Bulls played at Coychurch Road but following the announcement about the setting up of the Celtic Crusaders they were invited to play at the Brewery Field by the owner Leighton Samuel. One year on they were refused permission to continue playing at the Brewery Field in the middle of the season. They were then aided by Porthcawl RFC and staged the remaining 2006 home games at the Porthcawl ground. Subsequently, Porthcawl RFC have become their regular home and have even staged an amateur rugby league international there during 2008 (Wales v Ireland).
===Other sports===
Bridgend has local [[cricket]] clubs including Bridgend Town CC and Great Western CC, a men's and women's [[field hockey|hockey]] club, [[golf]] courses, and [[tennis]] and [[bowls]] facilities at the local club, the Bridgend Lawn Tennis and Bowls Association.
==Notable people==
:''See [[:Category:People from Bridgend]] and [[:Category:People from Bridgend County Borough]]''
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Aneurin Barnard]] (actor)
* [[Gerald Battrick]] (tennis player)
* [[Jonathan Brown (Welsh footballer)|Jonathan Brown]] (footballer)
* [[Downtown Julie Brown]] (actress)
* [[Steve Brace]] (Olympic marathon runner)
* [[Paul Burston]] (author and journalist)
* [[Lee Byrne]] (rugby union player)
* [[Nicole Cooke]] (cyclist)
* [[Peter Cottrell]] (historian and writer)
* [[Mika Chunuonsee]] (footballer)
* [[The Featherz|Danie Cox/Centric]] aka [[Slady|Gobby Holder]] (singer)
* [[Matt Crowell]] (footballer)
* [[Aled Davies (athlete)|Aled Davies]] (Paralympian)
* [[Deddie Davies]] (actor)
* [[Rhys Davies (golfer)|Rhys Davies]] (European Tour golfer)
* [[Rhys Day]] (footballer)
* [[Ryan Day (snooker player)|Ryan Day]] (snooker player)
* [[Leondre Devries]] (rapper)
* [[Mark Donovan (actor)|Mark Donovan]] (actor)
* [[Huw Edwards (journalist)|Huw Edwards]] (journalist and newsreader)
* [[Rhian Edwards (poet)|Rhian Edwards]] (poet)
* [[David Emanuel (fashion designer)|David Emanuel]] (fashion designer)
* [[Scott Gibbs]] (rugby union player)
* [[Ray Giles]] (rugby union player)
* [[Mike Hall (rugby union)|Mike Hall]] (rugby union player)
* [[Gavin Henson]] (rugby union player)
* [[Robert Howley]] (rugby union player)
* [[Jonathan Humphreys]] (rugby union player)
* [[Dafydd James]] (rugby union player)
* [[Marc Jenkins]] (Olympic triathlete)
* [[Alex Jones (cricketer)|Alex Jones]] (cricketer)
* [[Carwyn Jones]] (politician, [[First Minister of Wales]])
* [[Ruth Jones]] (actress)
* [[Amanda Levete]] (architect)
* [[Jayce Lewis]] (musician/producer)
* [[Gareth Llewellyn]] (rugby union player)
* [[Sean McCarthy (Welsh footballer)|Sean McCarthy]] (footballer)
* [[Howard Marks]] (drug smuggler and author)
* [[William Morgan (actuary)|William Morgan]] (physician, physicist and statistician)
* Sir [[Morien Morgan]] (aeronautical engineer)
* [[Josh Navidi]] (rugby union player)
* [[Mary De la Beche Nicholl]] (alpinist, entomologist, traveller)
* [[Alan Phillips (rugby union)|Alan Phillips]] (rugby union player)
* [[Leeroy Reed]] (musician)
* [[Billy Rees]] (footballer)
* [[Nathan Stephens]] (Paralympian)
* [[Steve Strange]] (singer)
* [[Owen Teale]] (actor)
* [[Gareth Thomas (rugby, born 1974)|Gareth Thomas]] (rugby union and league player)
* [[Helen Jenkins|Helen Tucker]] (2008 World Triathlon champion)
* [[Matthew Tuck]] (Singer)
* [[Bradley Wadlan]] (cricketer)
* [[Rhys Webb]] (rugby union player)
* [[David Williams (crime writer)|David Williams]] (crime writer)
* [[J. J. Williams (rugby union)|J. J. Williams]] (rugby union player)
* [[J. P. R. Williams]] (rugby union player)
{{div col end}}
==Bands associated with Bridgend==
* [[Bullet for My Valentine]]
* [[Jayce Lewis]]
* [[Hondo Maclean]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend]]
* [[The Featherz]]
* [[The Partisans (band)|The Partisans]]
* [[Those Damn Crows]]
==See also==
* [[Bridgend suicide incidents]]
* [[Bridgend (UK Parliament constituency)]] Bridgend County
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Bridgend}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Bridgend}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Bridgend}}
* [https://www.visitbridgend.co.uk/market-town/bridgend/ Visit Bridgend]
* [http://www.bridgend.gov.uk Bridgend County Borough Council]
* [http://www.bridgend.ac.uk Bridgend College]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050505174522/http://www.bridgendravens.co.uk/home.html Bridgend RFC]
* [http://www.bridgend-town-cricket.co.uk Bridgend Town Cricket Club]
* [http://bridgend.rof.org.uk/ Bridgend Royal Ordnance Factory]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/bridgend/ BBC – Bridgend Life]
* [http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/ Brackla and Bridgend Ordnance Factories] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218140824/http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/ |date=18 December 2014 }}
{{Bridgend}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Bridgend| ]]
[[Category:Glamorgan electoral wards]]
[[Category:Market towns in Wales]]
[[Category:Towns in Bridgend County Borough]]