MICHAELSTON-SUPER-AVON, a parish, comprising the Upper and Lower divisions, in the union and hundred of NEATH, county of
GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, 6 miles (S. S. E.) from Neath; containing 2522 inhabitants, of whom 2123 are in the Lower
division. The name of this place is derived from the dedication of its church to St. Michael, and its distinguishing
from its position on the river Avon, that	into Aberavon bay in the Bristol Channel. The parish, which is pleasantly
situated in the Vale of Avon, within a mile and a quarter of the town of Aberavon, through which passes the turnpike-road
from Cardiff to Swansea, comprises a large tract of country, nearly one-half mountainous, and the remainder good arable
and pasture land; the soil is tolerably fertile, and the inhabitants of the Upper township are altogether employed in
agriculture. The village, which is in the lower township, in a sequestered part of the vale, that, until within the last
few years, was rarely visited by strangers, formerly consisted only of a few solitary cottages thinly scattered; but the
mineral wealth with which the mountainous district of the parish abounds has effected an important change, and the
establishment of various works has completely transformed it into a scene of cheerful activity, the population having
vastly increased within the last twenty years. Numerous comfortable houses have been built for the accommodation of the
workmen, a handsome residence for the proprietor of the works, and a beautiful cottage for the minister of the parish, who
was previously non-resident. The parish contains iron-ore and coal, a large vein of the latter, from ten to twelve yards
in depth, having been recently discovered. In the coal are often found vegetable impressions of fern and reeds; and a fine
specimen of what is conjectured to be an extinct species of the palm, or fern-tree, has been recently dug up: it is part
of the trunk of the tree, about two feet and three-quarters in length, and one foot and a half in diameter, and consists
of what geologists call carboniferous sandstone; the higher and lower parts of the tree are still in the ground. The works
established at Cwm Bychan are chiefly for the manufacture of pyroligneous acid, sugar of lead, and tin plates, and afford
employment to several hundred men. Fire clay also exists in the parish, in great abundance and of good quality. A rail-
road from the works communicates with the shipping-place at Tai Bach, near the mouth of the Avon; and another extends
from the collieries along the left bank of that river, where Vessels can lie in safety while waiting for their freight. A
portion of the lower division of the parish is included within the new boundaries of the contributory borough of Aberavon.
The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty, and £800 parliamentary grant; present net income, £112;
patron, J. Coke, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, and pleasantly situated on the western bank of the Avon, is a
small edifice of great antiquity, in a very dilapidated condition, and contains an old altar-tomb, with an inscription
which is now nearly obliterated. There are two places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists. In the lower township is a
day school, consisting of about 60 children; also two Sunday schools, that afford instruction to about 120 males and
females, and are partly supported by a payment of 3d. per month from each scholar, and partly by voluntary contributions;
the master receives 12a., and the mistress 6r. per week.