The earliest evidence of inhabitants in the Baglan area dates back to the bronze age. There is an iron-age hill-fort , Craig-Ty -Isaf on one of the surrounding mountains, Mynydd -y - Gaer and also two more recorded hillfort. Historians have also suggested that a Roman road possibly passed through the village. Baglan also holds the claim of home to a castle, named Plas Baglan, which is cited above the Baglan Brook.

Baglan village has changed dramatically over the last 100 years, when it was predominately farmland - 17 farms across Baglan in 1841. Coal mining was also a well-established industry in Baglan at the beginning of the 19th century, with three main collieries which were once situated on the line of the present dual-carriageway. The three collieries were Tormynydd, Swan and Park Baglan. Baglan in the second half of the 19th century also had a fair number of metal working industries, although many of these works were arguably in the area of Briton Ferry or Aberavon. (This may be due to the uncertainty of the boundaries between the districts).

There also once stood a magnificent stately home, Baglan Hall, which was owned in its later years by the Llewellyn family. There were also many other grand houses situated in Baglan, many of which have unfortunately been demolished.

Find out more about Baglan of the past and its fascinating history by clicking on the links below...