Tycroes

[2] The village forms the westernmost fringe of the Amman valley and rests mainly on the anthracite coal measures, part of the South Wales coalfield.

The trunk road is in the main artery from north to south of the country and is connected to the M4 motorway network which affords transportation from mainland Europe to Ireland.

Topographically, the village slopes in a general south west to north east direction thus affording panoramic views of the Black Mountain in the east with its peaks - Tair Cairn 482 m, Garreg Lwyd 616 m and behind them Fan Hir 802 m. To the south there are views from Betws Mountain to Mynydd y Gwair above Garnswllt.

The Fferws brook which flows from the west to the east divides the local authority administrative areas between Llanedi and Llandybie Community Councils.

Local employment opportunities are varied and limited but is improving with the continued extension of factory units at nearby Capel Hendre and Cross Hands Industrial estates.

It is now known as Ysgol Tycroes, it is a mixed gender school, and only teaches in English, though Welsh is taught in the curriculum and spoken widely.

There were no places of worship in the village pre-1870 and people had to walk either to St. Edith's Church in Llanedi or the chapels in Ammanford (then known as Cross Inn) or to Capel Hendre and Saron.

It was in 1876 that the first chapels were built; Moriah (Congregational) was the 'daughter' of Christian Temple Ammanford and Caersalem (Calvinistic Methodist) was the 'daughter' of Capel Hendre.

Then at the earlier part of this century Bethesda (Baptist) was built in 1913 and building work commenced at St. Edmund's Church on 29 January 1914.

The Senior Citizens Association, St. Johns Ambulance Brigade, Local Charities Committee, Ysgol Feithrin are some of the institutions which are accommodated at these halls, not forgetting the Mobile Library which visits every Thursday between 9:30-12:30 at Pant y boblen car park.

The rugby club Also provides the village with great entertainment including the now established annual music event Party on the Pitch.

The event has welcomed 80's star Chesney Hawkes, 60's chart toppers the Animals and Spencer Davis and X Factor finalist Lucie Jones in recent years.