Maesteg is situated at the northern end of the Llynfi Valley, in what was historically Glamorgan and is now part of Bridgend County Borough.

Its name, Maesteg (fair field), reflects the agricultural landscape that dominated the valley before industrialisation reshaped it.

The town lies close to the border with Neath Port Talbot, surrounded by communities such as Nantyffylion, Caerau, Garth, Cwmfelin, and Llangynwyd.

Before the 19th century, the Llynfi Valley was sparsely populated, characterised by scattered farms rather than nucleated villages. The nearest medieval settlement was Llangnwyd, on the hillside roughly two miles south of present-day Maesteg.

Just above Llangnwyd lies Y Bwlwarcau, an extensive Iron Age enclosure. This earthwork is widely regarded as the earliest known settlement structure in the district, evidence that human occupation of the valley predated the medieval period by several centuries.

During the Middle Ages, the valley formed part of Tir Iaril (the Earl's Land), a territory set aside as a hunting reserve by Robert Fitzhamon, the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan. Contemporary descriptions emphasise its dense woods, abundant game, and clear streams, features that shaped both its economy and its isolation.

Up to the 18th century, many farms in the valley served as cultural centres. Llwydarth, home of the Powell family, became a noted gathering place for writers and poets in 17th-century Glamorgan, illustrating how rural households functioned as hubs in Welsh literary tradition.

Although the valley had long been inhabited, Maesteg did not exist as a town until the early 19th century. Its formal emergence is tied directly to industrial development. The opening of ironworks in the 1820s and 1830s catalysed rapid population growth and transformed the agricultural landscape into an industrial community. Maesteg officially became a town in 1826, marking the beginning of its modern identity.

The ironworks attracted workers from across Wales and beyond, laying the foundation for a settlement that expanded quickly along the valley floor. As the 19th century progressed, coal mining became the dominant industry, shaping Maesteg's economy, culture, and social structure until the last pit closed in 1985.

Even in its early decades, Maesteg developed a foundation for strong musical and choral traditions. One of its notable historical moments occurred on 1 March 1856, when Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the Welsh national anthem, was first publicly performed at Tabor Chapel during a St. David's Day concert.

Maesteg's early history is defined by three intertwined elements: ancient settlement (Iron Age earthworks such as Y Bwlwarcau reveal deep prehistoric roots), medieval land use (as part of Tir larll, the valley remained rural, wooded, and culturally active, and industrial birth (the town itself is a product of the 19th-century iron and coal industries). Together, these layers form the foundation of the town's identity, a place where ancient landscapes, medieval traditions, and industrial heritage converge.

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