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Although Bedlinog is a ‘classic’ coal mining community, a settlement in this district is recorded archaeologically from very early times. In the Gelligaer and Merthyr Common area, there is evidence of bronze age man, a Roman road and fort, four standing stones of pagan and early Christian origins and the remains of medieval homesteads. However, the agriculturally better lands around Bedlinog Farm were well farmed from the middle ages and there are no archaeological remains. 

The name Bedlinog has long been held to be derived from 'Bedd Llwynog' - the grave of the foxes. This is especially likely since the nearby stream is Nant Llwynog - brook of the foxes.

However, another interpretation has been to trace the name from Bedw Llwyn' - the grove of the birches. 

This area was in the old hamlet of Garth Gynydd. There were several farms here, Bedlinog Uchaf, Bedlinog Isaf, Llan Isaf and Uchaf; as well as the mill and the land at Cwmfelin.   Bedlinog Uchaf was the major farm here, a typical long house. There were a number of old cottages around the farmhouse in the early nineteenth century, occupied by farm labourers but also a tailor and a butcher. These cottages became ruins and were unoccupied from the mid nineteenth century once industrialisation was underway. Although there were some houses here in 1850, most of the area was farmland.  The field names were Cae Evan, Cevan y Cae Llwyd, Cevan y cae draw and Cevan y cae draw ucha. Gradually the fields became the site of Bedlinog Colliery, with its associated buildings, and a tramway ran down hill to the main railway line.  Bedlinog grew from an existing centre - that of the mill and cottages of Cwmfelin. The Dowlais Works sunk the Nantwen Colliery in the early 1870s including the No.8  level and the "6" Colly Levels, sinking for the Bedlinog Collieries (Pits) was started in 1874 and completed in 1883. 

However, the sinking of the Taff Merthyr Colliery and the subsequent opening of new levels had an impact on the area.

There is still some evidence of the quarry. The whole area of the colliery has now been reclaimed. During the 1960s this was the site of a 'burning tip' which gained notoriety as giving off smoke and gasses. However, the whole area was grassed over forming a football ground  and a childrens' playground.

1900 BEDLINOG O.S. MAP

Consisting of Glamorgan Sheet No. XII.15 &