County History
At the close of the Second World War, Glamorgan, both Civically and Guiding, was one County, but under the influence of Miss Olive Nicholl and Miss Heather Kay it was decided to split the County into three, thus Central Glamorgan was born.
From Kenfig Burrows east, across the Ogmore River and on to St Athan, north to Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil, west across the heads of the Cynon and Rhondda valleys before going back down through Maesteg and back to the coast. This is Central Glamorgan, sitting between West Glamorgan and Cardiff and East Glamorgan. Some years later the Municipal Authorities did something similar calling it Mid Glamorgan.
Miss Olive Nicholl was the first County Commissioner for Central Glamorgan and it was her idea to have a Guide House for the County. After some searching, the site for Gorwelion was found and the house built. This was a wooden bungalow with a terrace looking out over the dunes at Porthcawl.
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Then disaster struck, vandals broke in and burnt the original structure down. There were only two items remaining that were usable – a Ewenny mug and the Seagull fire screen, which we still have today. Undaunted, the County rallied round and the house was rebuilt and reopened within a year. We have since been able to buy the ground and now own a wonderful house and campsite at Gorwelion.
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County Archivists
Jane Smart & Margaret Schofield