Editing Neath

{{short description|Town in south Wales}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                     = Wales
| welsh_name                  = Castell-nedd
| static_image_name           = <!-- images and maps  -----------> {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| perrow            = 1/2/2/2/2
| total_width       = 250
| image1 = A rooftop view of Neath - geograph.org.uk - 1618067.jpg
| image2 = The Parade, Neath - geograph.org.uk - 2597023.jpg
| image3 = Neath Abbey (5541).jpg
| footer = From the top, View over Neath, The Parade, [[Neath Abbey]]}}
| static_image_caption        = 
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Neath (Senedd constituency)|Neath]]
| coordinates                 = {{coord|51.66|-3.81|display=inline,title}}
| official_name               = Neath
| community_wales             = Neath<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neathtowncouncil.gov.uk/|title=Neath Town Council}}</ref>
| unitary_wales               = [[Neath Port Talbot]]
| lieutenancy_wales           = [[West Glamorgan]]
| constituency_westminster    = [[Neath and Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath and Swansea East]]
| post_town                   = NEATH
| postcode_district           = SA10-11
| postcode_area               = SA
| dial_code                   = 01639
| os_grid_reference           = SS745975
| population                  = 50,658
| module= [[File:2024 Wales Neath Port Talbot Community Neath map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}

'''Neath''' ({{IPAc-en|n|iː|θ}}; {{langx|cy|Castell-nedd}}) is a [[market town]] and [[Community (Wales)|community]] situated in the [[Neath Port Talbot|Neath Port Talbot County Borough]], [[Wales]]. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011.<ref name="Neath Census 2011">{{cite web |title=Neath Population 2011 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/localarea?compare=W38000135 |website=Nomis |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> The community of the parish of Neath had a population of 19,258 in 2011.<ref name="Neath Parish Population">{{cite web |title=Neath Parish Population 2011 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/localarea?compare=W04000618 |website=Nomis |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> [[Historic counties of Wales|Historically]] in [[Glamorgan]], the town is located on the [[River Neath]], {{convert|7|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} east-northeast of [[Swansea]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Penguin Encyclopedia of Places|editor=John Paxton|publisher=Penguin|location=London|year=1999|edition=Third|page=628}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The town's English name ultimately derives from "{{lang|cy|[[River Neath|Nedd]]}}" the original Welsh name for the River Neath and is known to be [[Proto-Celtic language|Celtic]] or [[Pre-Celtic]]. A meaning of 'shining' or 'brilliant' has been suggested, as has a link to the older [[Indo-European root]] {{lang|ine-x-proto|-nedi}} (simply meaning 'river').<ref>{{cite book|last=Wyn Owen|first=Hywel|author2=Richard Morgan|title=Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales|publisher=Gomer Press|location=Llandysul|year=2008|page=342}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales|editor1=John Davies |editor2=Nigel Jenkins |editor3=Menna Baines |editor4=Peredur I. Lynch |publisher=University of Wales Press|location=Cardiff|year=2008|page=603}}</ref>

As such, the town may share its etymology with the town of [[Stratton, Cornwall]] and the [[River Nidd]] in Northern England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshire-england.co.uk/Harrogate.html|title=Etymology|access-date=27 August 2011}}</ref><ref>[[Weatherhill, Craig]] (2009) ''A Concise Dictionary of Cornish Place-names''. Westport, Co. Mayo: Evertype; p. 65</ref>

==History==
===Roman fort===
{{main|Nidum}}
The town is located at a [[ford (crossing)|ford]] of the [[River Neath]] and its strategic situation is evident by a number of [[Celts|Celtic]] [[hill forts]], surrounding the town. The [[Roman Britain|Romans]] also recognised the area's strategic importance and built an [[Roman auxiliaries in Britain|Auxiliary Fort]] on the river's Western bank around 74&nbsp;AD.

Much of the site is on the grounds of [[Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School]] but archaeological digs have also found gate-towers that extended out beyond the fort's walls (a feature unique in Roman Britain) and a large Roman marching camp that would have accommodated thousands of troops.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12518683 Nidum Roman dig in playing fields] BBC Wales, 21 February 2011</ref><ref>{{Coflein|num=301344|desc=Blaen Cwm Bach Camp|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref> These finds indicate some of the unusual measures the Romans took during the [[Silures#Fierce resistance to Roman forces|resistance of the native Silures]]. The fort at Neath was abandoned around 125&nbsp;AD for fifteen years and again around 170&nbsp;AD for a century before the final Roman withdrawal around 320&nbsp;AD.<ref>{{Coflein|num=301350|desc=Neath Auxiliary Fort; Nidum; Neath Roman Fort|access-date=30 September 2021|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>

The [[Antonine Itinerary]] ({{circa|2nd century}}) names ''{{lang|la|Nido}}'' (or {{lang|la|[[Nidum]]}}) as one of nine places in [[Wales in the Roman Era|Roman Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roman-britain.org/geography/itinerary.htm |title=The Antonine Itinerary – ''Iter Britanniarum'' – The British Section |access-date=2009-10-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727181009/http://www.roman-britain.org/geography/itinerary.htm |archive-date=27 July 2009 }}</ref>

===Medieval period===
[[File:NeathCastleRemains.jpg|left|thumb|[[Neath Castle]]]]
[[Illtud|St Illtyd]] visited the Neath area and established a settlement in what is now known as Llantwit on the northern edge of the town. The church of St Illtyd<ref>[http://www.kingswaycomputers.co.uk/parishofneath/illtyd.shtml Parish of Neath: St. Illtyd] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508013953/http://www.kingswaycomputers.co.uk/parishofneath/illtyd.shtml |date=8 May 2006 }}</ref> was built at this settlement and was enlarged in [[Norman conquest of England|Norman]] times. The [[Norman architecture|Norman]] and pre-Norman church structure remains intact and active to day within the [[Church in Wales]].<ref>[http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/ Church in Wales]</ref> The [[Welsh language]] name for Neath is {{lang|cy|Castell-nedd}}, referring to the Norman Neath Castle,<ref>[http://www.castlewales.com/neath.html Neath Castle]</ref> the English kings [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], [[John, King of England|John]], and [[Edward I]]  visited.

===Industrial and modern Neath===
Neath was a [[market town]] that expanded with the arrival of the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the 18th century with new manufacturing industries of [[iron]], [[steel]] and [[tinplate]]. The [[Mackworth Baronets|Mackworth family]], who owned the Gnoll Estate<ref>[http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/search2?coll_id=1229&inst_id=34&term=Britton%20manor Britton Manor]</ref> were prominent in the town's industrial development. [[Coal]] was mined extensively in the surrounding valleys and the construction of [[canal]]s and [[railway]]s made Neath a major transportation centre and the Evans and Bevan families were major players in the local coal mining community as well as owning the Vale of Neath Brewery.<ref>[http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=1&coll_id=427&expand= Neath Brewery]</ref> [[Silica]] was mined in the {{lang|cy|Craig-y-Dinas|italic=no}} area of [[Pontneddfechan]], after [[Quaker]] entrepreneur [[William Weston Young]] invented the [[blast furnace]] silica [[firebrick]], later moving brick production from the works at {{lang|cy|Pontwalby|italic=no}} to the Green in Neath. The town continued as a market trading centre with a municipal cattle market run by W.B. Trick. Industrial development continued throughout the 20th century with the construction by [[BP]] of a new [[petroleum]] refinery at {{lang|cy|[[Llandarcy]]|italic=no}}.

[[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Admiral Lord Nelson]] stayed at the Castle Hotel en route to [[Milford Haven]] when the fleet was at anchor there.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}} Lt. Lewis Roatley,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cjbooks.demon.co.uk/hms.htm |title=HMS VICTORY. MAN~OF~WAR 1805 MUSTER LISTS |access-date=11 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615035856/http://www.cjbooks.demon.co.uk/hms.htm |archive-date=15 June 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the son of the landlord of the Castle Hotel, served as a [[Royal Marines]] officer with Nelson aboard {{HMS|Victory}} in the [[Battle of Trafalgar]].

The [[River Neath]] is a navigable [[estuary]] and Neath was a river port until recent times. The heavy industries are no more; the town is now a commercial and tourism centre. Attractions for visitors are the ruins of the [[Cistercian]] [[Neath Abbey]], the Gnoll Park, and [[Neath Indoor Market]].<ref>[http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~waggy/Gnoll.htm Gnoll Park]</ref>

Neath hosted the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales]] in 1918, 1934 and 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/content.php?nID=55 |title=Eisteddfod Locations |work=The National Eisteddfod of Wales |access-date=3 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523030859/http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/content.php?nID=55 |archive-date=23 May 2011 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
:''See [[:Category:People from Neath]]''

*[[Roger Blake]] (1957– ), actor, entertainer and impressionist;
*[[Mark Bowen (footballer)|Mark Bowen]] (1963–, b. Briton Ferry), Former manager of [[Reading FC]], and played for [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Spurs]] and [[Norwich City FC|Norwich City]];
*[[Hugh Dalton]] (1887–1962, b. Gnoll), [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] politician, [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], 1945–1947;
*[[Ben Davies (footballer, born 1993)|Ben Davies]] (1993– ), Tottenham Hotspur, and Wales footballer;
*[[David Harris Davies|David Davies]], (1877–1944), Welsh international rugby union forward;
*[[D. J. Davies (archdeacon)|David John Davies]] (1879–1935), Australian archdeacon;
*[[Ivor Emmanuel]] (1927–2007), singer and actor;
*[[Hugh Evan-Thomas]] (1862–1928), vice-admiral;
*[[Craig Evans (Welsh cricketer)|Craig Evans]] (born 1971), cricketer;
*[[Rebecca Evans (singer)|Rebecca Evans]] (1963–, b. Pontrhydyfen), soprano;
*[[Samuel Thomas Evans|Sir Samuel Thomas Evans]] (1859–1918, b. Skewen), politician and judge;
*[[George Grant Francis]] (1814–1882, b. Swansea) historian who wrote ''Original Charters and Materials for a History of Neath'' (1845);
*[[Julie Gardner]] (1969– ), television producer previously responsible for ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and its spin-off ''[[Torchwood]]'', former executive producer of Scripted Projects at [[BBC Worldwide]] and co-founder of [[Bad Wolf (production company)|Bad Wolf Productions]];
*[[Richard Grant (cricketer)|Richard Grant]] (born 1984), cricketer;
*[[Cecil Griffiths]] (1900–1945), winner of an [[Olympic gold medal]] in the [[4x400m relay]] at the [[1920 Summer Olympics|1920 Antwerp Olympics]];
*[[Howel Gwyn]] (1806–1888), Conservative politician;
*[[Thomas Haffield]] (1988– ), Great Britain Olympic swimmer;
*[[Carl Harris (footballer)|Carl Harris]] (1956– ), the former [[Leeds United]] and Wales international;
*[[Richard Hibbard]] (1983– ), rugby player for the [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]] of the [[Pro14]];
*[[T. G. H. James]] (1923–2009), Egyptologist and former Keeper of Egyptian Antiquities at the [[British Museum]];
*[[William Jenkins (Labour politician)|Sir William Jenkins]] (1871–1944), former Neath MP;
*[[Katherine Jenkins]] (1980– ), popular classical mezzo-soprano;
*[[Margaret Townsend Jenkins]] (1843–1923), Canadian clubwoman
*[[Della Jones]] (1946, b. Tonna), mezzo-soprano;
*[[Kristian Lavercombe]] (1976–), actor and singer
*[[Geraint F. Lewis]] (1969– ), leading astrophysicist;
*[[Andy Legg]] (1966– ), former professional footballer and Wales international;
*[[Tony Lewis]] (1938–, b. Swansea), first Welshman to Captain an England cricket tour abroad, (India, Pakistan, 1972–73). Led Glamorgan to 2nd County Championship, 1969.  Writer and broadcaster.
*[[Michael Locke (stuntman)|Michael Locke]] (1979–), skateboarder and stuntman known for the TV series ''[[Dirty Sanchez (TV series)|Dirty Sanchez]]''
*[[Andrew Matthews-Owen]], pianist;
*[[Ray Milland]] (1907–1986), Oscar-winning Hollywood actor;
*[[Craig Mitchell (rugby union)|Craig Mitchell]] (1986– ), Welsh international rugby union forward;
*[[David Watts Morgan]] (1867–1933), miners' leader and politician;
*[[William Nott (British general)|Sir William Nott]] (1782–1845), British General in India;
*[[Harry Parr-Davies]] (1914–1955), composer;
*[[Jessie Penn-Lewis]] (1861–1927), missioner and revivalist;
*[[Gary Pickford-Hopkins]] (1948–2013) singer, composer and guitarist; 
*[[Sir Arthur Pugh]] (1870–1955, b. [[Ross-on-Wye]], [[Herefordshire]]), trade unionist, moved to his father's birthplace, Neath, 1894;<ref>[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/articleHL/35629?docPos=59&anchor=match Oxford DNB article: Pugh, Sir Arthur]</ref>
*[[Henry Habberley Price]] (1899–1984), philosopher;
*[[Walter E. Rees|Walter Enoch Rees]] (1863–1949), rugby administrator;
*[[Andrew Rhodes]] (1977– ), civil servant, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer of Swansea University
*[[Paul Rhys]] (1963– ), actor;
*[[Craig Richards (footballer)|Craig Richards]] (1959– ), former professional footballer
*[[Connor Roberts (footballer, born 1995)|Connor Roberts]] (1995– ), Welsh international footballer;
*[[Will Roberts]] (1907–2000, b. [[Ruabon]], [[Denbighshire]]), artist, moved to Neath 1918;
*[[Peter Shreeves]] (1940– ), former [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Spurs]] and [[Sheffield Wednesday]] manager;
*[[Samuel Charles Silkin]], Baron Silkin of Dulwich (1918–1988), barrister and politician, [[Attorney-General]], 1974–1979;
*[[Tony Skuse]] (1956–), darts player
*[[Jonathan Spratt]] (1986– ), Welsh rugby player
*[[William Squire]] (1917–1989), actor;
*[[David Thaxton]] (1982– ), West End performer
*[[Brian Thomas (rugby union)|Brian Thomas]] (1940–2012), Wales rugby union lock who also played and managed Neath RFC;
*[[Bonnie Tyler]] (1951–, b. Skewen), pop star;
*[[Andrew Vicari]] (1938–2016), artist;
*[[Ron Waldron]] (1933– ), Welsh rugby coach;
*[[Alfred Russel Wallace]] (1823, b. [[Monmouthshire]]), evolutionary theorist, lived in Neath during 1841/2 and attended lectures given by the area's scientific societies;<ref>[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/articleHL/36700?docPos=82&anchor=match Oxford DNB article: Wallace, Alfred Russel]</ref>
*[[Cyril Walters]] (1905–1992), Glamorgan cricketer and Captain of the England cricket team;
*[[Anna Laetitia Waring|Anna Letitia Waring]] (1823–1910), poet and hymn writer;
*[[Elijah Waring]] (1788–1857), writer; and
*[[Maria Jane Williams|Jane Williams]] [called Llinos] (1795–1873), singer and compiler of traditional Welsh music.

==Sport==
[[File:The Gnoll - Neath RFC - geograph-2277123.jpg|left|thumb|[[The Gnoll]] Sportsground. Home to [[Neath RFC]]]]
The [[Welsh Rugby Union]] was formed at a meeting held at the Castle Hotel in 1881.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castlehotelneath.co.uk/history.htm |title=The History of The Castle Hotel |access-date=2009-02-05 |publisher=The Castle Hotel |location=Neath SA11 1RB, Wales |quote=The Castle Hotel was the meeting place for the founders of the Welsh Rugby Union. The inaugural meeting of the Welsh Rugby Union took place in the Nelson Room at the Castle Hotel on 12th March, 1881. There is a plaque outside the hotel commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Welsh Rugby Union, and at that time the Nelson Room name was changed to the Centenary Room. Still displayed in the room are the plaques of the original eleven members of the Welsh Rugby Union. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514215243/http://www.castlehotelneath.co.uk/history.htm |archive-date=14 May 2008 }}</ref> [[Neath RFC|Neath Rugby Football Club]], the famous and successful "Welsh All Blacks", play at [[The Gnoll]].

[[Motorcycle speedway]] was staged at the Abbey Stadium in Neath in 1962. The Welsh Dragons, led by New Zealander [[Trevor Redmond]], raced with some success in the [[Speedway Provincial League|Provincial League]] but, because of local problems, a number of the "home" fixtures were raced at [[St Austell]]. The Dragons introduced the Australian rider Charlie Monk to British speedway. After a season at [[Long Eaton Invaders|Long Eaton Archers]], Monk went on to have considerable success at [[Glasgow Tigers (speedway)|Glasgow]]. The team also featured South African Howdy Cornell. In the early 1960s there was also stock car racing held at Neath Abbey, opposite the monastery

[[Neath Athletic A.F.C.]] was the town's largest football team, playing at [[Neath RFC]]'s ground, The Gnoll, and played in the top flight of [[Welsh football]], the [[Welsh Premier League]], until the club was wound up in 2012. In the 2006–07 season, Neath Athletic A.F.C. were promoted from the [[Welsh Football League]] First Division to the Welsh Premier League. Neath Athletic A.F.C. had an average of 300 supporters attending a domestic, Welsh Premier League game, which was typical of the Welsh Premier League.

==Administration==
[[File:The Old Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 378257.jpg|thumb|The old [[Neath Town Hall]]]]
After Neath became a [[municipal borough]] in 1835, the borough council was based at [[Neath Town Hall]] in Church Place before relocating to [[Gwyn Hall]] in Orchard Street in 1888.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://gwynhall.celticleisure.org/about-us/a-proud-history/  |title= The History of the Gwyn Hall|publisher=Celtic Leisure| access-date=14 March 2021}}</ref> Neath District Council, which was formed in 1974, was absorbed into the larger [[unitary authority]] of [[Neath Port Talbot]] on 1 April 1996.  The town encompasses the [[electoral ward]]s of [[Neath East]], [[Neath North]], [[Neath South]] and [[Cimla]].

For the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] at Westminster, Neath and the surrounding area are part of the [[Neath (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath]] constituency.  {{As of|2021}}, its [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) is [[Christina Rees]] of the [[Welsh Labour|Labour Party]].

In the [[Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament|Senedd]], the [[Neath (Senedd constituency)|Neath Senedd constituency]] is represented by [[Jeremy Miles]] ([[Welsh Labour|Labour]]), and by the wider [[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]] electoral region which returns four additional [[Member of the Senedd|Members of the Senedd]] (MSs).

==Climate==

As with the rest of the [[British Isles]], Neath experiences a [[maritime climate]] with cool summers and mild winters, often high winds, and low sunshine levels.

{{Weather box
|location = Neath 62m asl, 1961–1990 
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 7.6
|Feb high C = 7.5
|Mar high C = 9.5
|Apr high C = 12.2
|May high C = 15.4
|Jun high C = 17
|Jul high C = 19
|Aug high C = 18
|Sep high C = 16
|Oct high C = 13
|Nov high C = 9
|Dec high C = 8
|year high C = 13.4
|Jan low C = 2.7
|Feb low C = 2.4
|Mar low C = 3.5
|Apr low C = 5.1
|May low C = 8.1
|Jun low C = 10.9
|Jul low C = 12.7
|Aug low C = 12.6
|Sep low C = 10.9
|Oct low C = 8.7
|Nov low C = 5.1
|Dec low C = 3.6
|year low C = 7.2
|Jan precipitation mm = 137
|Feb precipitation mm = 90
|Mar precipitation mm = 100
|Apr precipitation mm = 70
|May precipitation mm = 79
|Jun precipitation mm = 79
|Jul precipitation mm = 78
|Aug precipitation mm = 107
|Sep precipitation mm = 114
|Oct precipitation mm = 130
|Nov precipitation mm = 140
|Dec precipitation mm = 143
|year precipitation mm = 1267
|Jan sun = 49.6
|Feb sun = 67.8
|Mar sun = 108.5
|Apr sun = 159.0
|May sun = 186.0
|Jun sun = 183.0
|Jul sun = 186.0
|Aug sun = 173.6
|Sep sun = 132.0
|Oct sun = 93.0
|Nov sun = 69.0
|Dec sun = 46.5
|year sun = 1460.0
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/sites/48.html |title=Neath 1961–90 averages |access-date=25 Sep 2011 |publisher=[[Met Office]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210224623/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/sites/48.html |archive-date=10 February 2001 }}</ref>
|date=Sep 2011
}}

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Neath Port Talbot}}
[[Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School]] is situated on the outskirts of the town, opposite a campus of [[NPTC Group]] (which was previously [[Neath Port Talbot College]]. [[Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School]] is in the village of [[Cimla]]. Two other comprehensive schools serve the town: [[Llangatwg Comprehensive School]] in [[Cadoxton, Neath Port Talbot|Cadoxton]] and [[Ysgol Bae Baglan]] in [[Baglan, Neath Port Talbot|Baglan]].

==Transport==
[[File:Railway Bridge over Dwr-y-Felin Road. - geograph.org.uk - 202261.jpg|thumb|right|Railway Bridge over Dwr-y-Felin Road next to [[Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School]].]]
[[Neath railway station]] is on the [[South Wales Main Line]]. [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] and [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]] serve the station with services westbound to {{stnlnk|Swansea}}, [[Carmarthen railway station|Carmarthen]] and the [[West Wales Line]] and eastbound to [[Port Talbot Parkway railway station|Port Talbot Parkway]], {{stnlnk|Bridgend}}, {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}} and [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]. Trains also run via {{stnlnk|Hereford}} and {{stnlnk|Shrewsbury}} to {{stnlnk|Crewe}} and [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]].

Neath [[bus station]] is at Victoria Gardens, a five-minute walk from the railway station. [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] services call at the railway station. From Victoria Gardens, [[First Cymru]] provides direct inter-urban services to nearby Swansea and Port Talbot in addition to South Wales Transport who provide many similar local services.

The [[A465 road|A465]] skirts the town to the north east and provides a link to the [[M4 motorway|M4]].

==Plans==
In 2008 plans were announced to regenerate around {{convert|1000|acre|ha|sigfig=1|abbr=off}} of land in and around Neath town centre. The site once occupied by the previous civic centre was to be redeveloped as a new shopping centre. The area around the Milland Road Industrial Estate and with the area around the [[Neath Canal]] were also to be redeveloped. The proposals included an "iconic" golden rugby ball-shaped museum, a library, heritage centre and other new facilities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7752256.stm BBC NEWS |'Iconic' museum planned for town]</ref>

In March 2008, the county's new radio station, [[Afan FM]], announced plans to install a new transmitter for the Neath area. This would give residents of Neath access to the radio station, which already transmitted to the neighbouring area of [[Port Talbot]]. The new transmitter for the Neath area was commissioned by Government regulator [[Ofcom]] on Thursday 23 October 2008.

== Galleries ==
<gallery>
File:St David's Church, Neath.jpg|St. David's Church in Neath
File:A triangular square in Neath - geograph.org.uk - 3909685.jpg|Triangular square in the town centre
File:Victoria Gardens bandstand, Neath - geograph.org.uk - 3896589.jpg|Victoria Gardens within the town
File:River Neath viewed from the B4434 - geograph.org.uk - 2332208.jpg|[[River Neath]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|2|refs=
<!--
<ref name=census2001>{{cite web
 |title=Census 2001 Key Statistics – Urban areas in England and Wales KS01 Usual resident population
 |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-211059
 |publisher=Office for National Statistics
 |date=17 June 2004
 |access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="census2011">{{cite web
 |title=Neath
 |work=Neighbourhood Statistics
 |publisher=Office for National Statistics
 |access-date=8 February 2013
 |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126809&c=neath&d=16&e=62&g=6493426&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1360075655551&enc=1}}</ref>-->
}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Neath}}
{{Commons category|Neath}}
{{NIE Poster}}
*[http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1518 History of Neath]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070626125500/http://www.learningpool.org/ Neath Port Talbot Council Adult Learning Portal]
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2831886 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Neath and surrounding area]
*[http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=51.6592&lon=-3.7972&zoom=13&layers=B000FTF Wiki style Map of the neath area]
*[http://www.oldneath.co.uk/ Photo Archive Gallery of old Neath & District]
{{Neath Port Talbot}}
{{Neath Port Talbot communities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Neath| ]]
[[Category:Communities in Neath Port Talbot]]
[[Category:Towns in Neath Port Talbot]]
[[Category:Vale of Neath]]
[[Category:Swansea Bay (region)]]