Wattsville

The village of Wattsville came into existence in the late nineteenth century and is named after Edmund Hannay Watts who formed the London and South Wales Coal Company in 1873. The village was built to provide housing for the workers in the numerous collieries in the area including the Risca Mine, which was situated on the eastern edge of the village. This mine was 855 feet deep and was the first pit in South Wales to have electric lighting at the pit head and underground. An explosion at the colliery in 1880 caused 120 deaths, even though the mine was thought to be among the safest in the area.

Did you know?

Edmund Watts was the first to use steam ships to ship cargo on the London to Australia route.

What to see

The wildlife and fauna of the spectacular Sirhowy Valley Country Park is a short stroll away.

Carry on southwards along the National Cycleway and you’ll find the Full Moon Visitor Centre, which provides the ideal base for exploring the country park.

You can visit the recently restored Grade II listed Penllwyn Tramroad Bridge complete with original stone sleepers. This is a fine example of an important early tramroad structure, completed in 1824, with an impressive arch span of 13.5m.

Where to stay

Caerphilly County Borough has a wide range of accommodation for visitors including hotels, inns, B & Bs, guesthouses and self-catering cottages. For further information please go to the Visit Caerphilly website.

How to get there

To find how to get to this village, click here. Supported by Google™ MapsUK.

Facilities

	Industrial heritage museum or attraction		Shops		Post office
	Bus station		Accommodation

Loops and Link Information

The link provides direct access from the cycle network and the Sirhowy Valley Country Park to the village.
This route takes you via a small bridge, over the Sirhowy River, which is known as the former Penllwyn Tramroad Viaduct. This part of the park provides an ideal area for watching the local wildlife and for picnicing.

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