Oakdale combines the history of coal mining with a village whose horseshoe-shaped layout curves around Central Avenue and Square. The Workmen’s Institute, Oakdale Colliery and the history of the Model Village offer different historical perspectives on the place. The picture is completed by Pen-y-Fan Pond, one of the last surviving reservoirs in Wales built to supply canals.
Oakdale Village: Planning and Origins
Oakdale Village was built between 1909 and 1924 to house employees of Tredegar Iron & Coal Co. and Oakdale Steam Navigation Co. Its overall horseshoe-shaped layout is arranged around Central Avenue and Square. This places two specific aspects side by side in the village’s history: its origins as housing for workers and the distinctive shape of the village.
For a visit focused on local history, it is worth distinguishing these connections: the construction period and original purpose explain who the Village was built for; the layout describes its overall design. Looking at individual historic buildings takes you from this overall plan to the institutions and places that shape Oakdale’s history.
The Workmen’s Institute and Community Life
The Oakdale Workmen’s Institute opened on 10 September 1917. Its foundation stones had been laid on 3 July 1916. The facilities included a library, a reading room, a committee room and a concert hall above. The different rooms show the range of functions the historic Institute brought together under one roof.
A 650-seat cinema was added in 1927. This places the building’s development clearly in time: the cinema was added after the Institute opened. Anyone interested in Oakdale’s social and cultural history will find not only details of its construction but also specific information about its facilities at the time.
Oakdale Colliery and Its Memorial
Sinking work on the three shafts of Oakdale Colliery began in 1908. The colliery closed in August 1989; at the time of its closure, it was the last deep mine in Gwent. The key dates in the history of mining at this site therefore span from the first work on the shafts to the end of deep mining here.
The “Turn, Turn Again” memorial incorporates the three shafts into its design: an old winding wheel was cut into three pieces, representing the three shafts of the former Oakdale Colliery. Local schoolchildren and Oakdale residents selected the winning design. This connects the memory of mining with the story behind the memorial’s creation without conflating the two.
A Short Walk and a Different Landscape Feature
Cadw offers the 15-minute heritage walk “Exploring Oakdale”, which focuses on Oakdale’s revolutionary design. Its stated duration makes it a clearly defined activity to factor into your schedule. Its focus differs from the dates associated with the colliery or the facilities at the Workmen’s Institute: the emphasis is on Oakdale’s design.
Pen-y-Fan Pond adds an aspect of landscape and water-engineering history to the story of the place. The reservoir is one of the last surviving examples of its kind in Wales, built to supply canals. This creates a contrast between Oakdale’s planned village layout, its industrial history and a historic reservoir.
A Listed Building in the Village Centre
The Oakdale Public House is a Grade II listed building. It is in the centre of Oakdale Village and adjoins the green space on its south-east side. The building was constructed as an integral part of the Oakdale Model Village Development for employees of Tredegar Iron and Coal Company and Oakdale Steam Navigation Coal Company.
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