Pontypridd

Pontypridd (Welsh pronunciation: [ˌpɔntəˈpriːð]) is both the county town[3] of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales and a community. Often colloquially known as "Ponty", it is 12 miles (19 km) north of Cardiff.

For other uses, see Pontypridd (disambiguation).

Pontypridd

Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Location within Rhondda Cynon Taf
Population32,694 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceST075895
Community
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPONTYPRIDD
Postcode districtCF37
Dialling code01443
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
  • Pontypridd,
    South Wales Central Electoral Region

Geography

Pontypridd comprises the electoral wards of Cilfynydd, Glyncoch, Graig, Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan (Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (Trefforest), and falls within the Welsh Assembly and UK parliamentary constituency by the same name.

The town sits at the junction of the Rhondda and Taff/Cynon valleys, where the River Rhondda flows into the Taff immediately south of the town at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park.[4] Pontypridd community had a population of approximately 32,700 according to census figures gathered in 2011.[5] while Pontypridd Town Ward itself was recorded as having a population of 2,919 also as of 2001.[6]

The town lies alongside the dual carriageway north-south A470, between Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil. The A4054, running north and south of the town, was the former main road, and, like the A470, follows the Taff Valley. South of the town is the A473, for Llantrisant and Pencoed. To the west is the A4058, which follows the River Rhondda to Porth and the Rhondda Valley beyond.

History

Etymology

The name Pontypridd derives from the name Pont-y-tŷ-pridd, Welsh for 'bridge by the earthen house', a reference to a succession of wooden bridges that formerly spanned the River Taff at this point.

Old Bridge

Pontypridd is noted for its Old Bridge, a stone construction across the River Taff built in 1756 by William Edwards. This was Edwards' third attempt, and, at the time of construction, was the longest single-span stone arch bridge in the world. Rising 35 feet (11 m) above the level of the river, the bridge forms a perfect segment of a circle, the chord of which is 140 feet (43 m). Notable features are the three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge, the purpose of which is to reduce weight. On completion, questions were soon raised as to the utility of the bridge, with the steepness of the design making it difficult to get horses and carts across. As a result, a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, paid for by public subscription, was built adjacent to the old one in 1857. Pontypridd was known as Newbridge from shortly after the construction of the Old Bridge until the 1860s.

The drinking fountain in Taff St, Pontypridd, donated in 1895 by Sir Alfred Thomas, MP for East Glamorgan
Old Bridge, dating from 1756

Coal

The history of Pontypridd is closely tied to the coal and iron industries; prior to the developments of these, Pontypridd was largely a rural backwater comprising a few farmsteads, with Treforest initially becoming the main urban settlement in the area. Sited as it is at the junction of the three valleys, it became an important location for the transportation of coal from the Rhondda and iron from Merthyr Tydfil, first via the Glamorganshire Canal, and later via the Taff Vale Railway, to the ports at Cardiff, Barry, and to Newport. Because of its role in transporting coal cargo, its railway platform is thought to have once been the longest in the world during its heyday.[7] Pontypridd was, in the second half of the 19th century, a hive of industry, and was once nicknamed the ‘Wild West’.[8] There were several collieries within the Pontypridd area itself, including:

Tonypandy & Trealaw railway station during an early 1910s coal strike
Front page of the earliest surviving copy of the Welsh newspaper The Pontypridd Chronicle; 15 January 1881
  • Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd
  • Bodwenarth Colliery, Pontsionnorton
  • Daren Ddu Colliery, Graigwen & Glyncoch
  • Dynea Colliery, Rhydyfelen
  • Gelli-whion Colliery, Graig
  • Great Western/Gyfeillion Colliery, Hopkinstown
  • Lan Colliery, Hopkinstown
  • Newbridge Colliery, Graig
  • Pen-y-rhiw Colliery, Graig
  • Pontypridd/Maritime Collieries, Graig & Maesycoed
  • Pwllgwaun Colliery/'Dan's Muck Hole', Pwllgwaun
  • Red Ash Colliery, Cilfynydd
  • Ty-Mawr Colliery, Hopkinstown & Pantygraigwen
  • Typica Colliery, Hopkinstown & Pantygraigwen and
  • Victoria Colliery, Maesycoed

As well as the deep-mined collieries, there were many coal levels and trial shafts dug into the hillsides overlooking the town from Cilfynydd, Graig, Graigwen, and Hafod. The Albion Colliery in the village of Cilfynydd in 1894 was the site of one of the worst explosions within the South Wales coalfield, with the death of 290 colliers (see Keir Hardie).

Iron and steel

Other instrumental industries in Pontypridd were the Brown Lenox/Newbridge Chain & Anchor Works south-east of the town, and Crawshay's Forest Iron, Steel & Tin Plate Works and the Taff Vale Iron Works, both in Treforest near the now University of South Wales.

Buildings

The town is also home to a hospital, Dewi Sant Hospital.

Government

Pontypridd Urban District Council was established in 1894, and operated until 1974, when it was incorporated into Taff Ely Borough Council. In turn, that authority was incorporated into the unitary Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in 1995. Pontypridd Town Council continues to function as a community council. Labour is the dominant political force, and has been since the First World War. The community elects twenty three town councillors from eleven community wards, namely Cilfynydd, Glyncoch, Graig, Hawthorn, Ilan, Pontypridd, Rhondda, Rhydfelen Central, Rhydfelen Lower, Trallwng and Treforest.[9]

Pontypridd community
The Cilfynydd Commercial Hotel in Cilfynydd
St. David's Church in Hopkinstown

Pontypridd community comprises the town centre itself, as well as the following key villages/settlements:

Pontypridd also serves as the postal town for the community of Llantwit Fardre under the CF38 postcode district, although this area is not considered part of Pontypridd.

Pontypridd came into being because of transport, as it was on the drovers' route from the south Wales coast and the Bristol Channel, to Merthyr, and onwards into the hills of Brecon. Although initial expansion in the valleys occurred at Treforest due to the slower speed of the River Taff at that point, the establishment of better bridge building meant a natural flow of power to Pontypridd.

Railway
Main article: Pontypridd railway station
Railway station

The establishment of Pontypridd over Treforest was finally confirmed with the building of the Glamorganshire Canal to serve the coal mines of the Rhondda valley. However, the volumes of coal extraction soon brought about the construction of the Taff Vale Railway, which, at its peak, resulted in a train passing through Pontypridd railway station (if one includes the freight lines immediately to its west) every two or three minutes.[10] The station was originally constructed as a long single island, at one point the world's longest platform, a reflection of both the narrow available geography of the steep valley side, as well as the need to accommodate many converging railways lines on what became the nineteenth-century hub of the valleys. Due to the restrictive geography, only parcels and mail were handled at Pontypridd, while heavy freight was handled at Treforest. The station today, as operated by Transport for Wales, reflects the fewer destinations served since the Beeching and earlier cuts, with one up (valley) platform, one down (through) platform, a down bay platform (opened December 2014), and only one passing loop.

Trams, trolleybuses, and buses

A tram service began on 6 March 1905, running from Cilfynydd, through Pontypridd, to Treforest. It was replaced on 18 September 1930 by trolleybuses, which on 31 January 1957 were replaced by buses which almost exactly replicated the route. Today, bus services are principally provided by Trevor Evans (on the Newtown , Bargoed, Talbot Green and Bridgend services), and Stagecoach in South Wales (on long-distance routes to Cardiff, Rhondda, Cynon Valley, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly etc.).

Education
Glamorgan Business School (university)

Entertainment and social history

Sport and recreation
Sardis Road rugby ground
The former paddling pool in Ynysangharad Park, now removed
The pitch and putt golf course in Ynysangharad Park
The bandstand in Ynysangharad Park

Media
  • Pontypridd has its very own community radio station GTFM 107.9, based in Rhydyfelin near to Cardinal Newman School. It provides local news, information, and a variety of music from the fifties to the present day. It is run by a voluntary management committee.
  • The Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer is the local newspaper for the town.
  • Pontypridd has a thriving digital media scene, various companies have offices here.

Culture
A memorial in Ynysangharad Park to Evan James and James James, composers of the Welsh national anthem
  • The Welsh national anthem ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ (Land of my Fathers) was composed in Pontypridd by local poets/musicians Evan James and James James.
  • Pontypridd was home to the eccentric Dr. William Price who performed the first modern cremation in the United Kingdom.
  • Pontypridd hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1893.
  • Côr Meibion Pontypridd (Pontypridd Male Voice Choir)
  • Pontypridd is home to the world renowned International Welsh Poetry Competition.
  • Tom Jones, born on 7 June 1940 at 57 Kingsland Terrace, Treforest, and the world-famous son of Pontypridd frequently references his hometown in interviews.[13][14] A 65th birthday concert was held at the town's Ynysangharad Park at which he headlined.
  • The name of the fictional Welsh town of Pontypandy, in which children's television programme Fireman Sam is situated, is a portmanteau of Pontypridd and Tonypandy.[15]
  • The Welsh TV show Belonging was shot in Pontypridd.
  • The BBC's Doctor Who and Torchwood have filmed at various location in and around Pontypridd, such as at the Market Tavern pub in Market Street and the Lido in Ynysangharad Park. Other locations:– Treforest, Hawthorn, Graigwen, Upper Boat, Trallwng, and Ynysybwl.

Twinning

Pontypridd is twinned with Nürtingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Initial contact between the two communities occurred in 1965, with a visit by Côr Meibion Pontypridd Welsh male voice Choir to visit a choir called "Liederkranz" based in the Oberensingen area of Nürtingen. The Liederkranz returned the visit to Pontypridd one year later. On the occasion of the next visit of Côr Meibion to Nürtingen, the partnership between the two communities was formally established – on 26 July 1968. Since then, reciprocal visits between the two choirs have taken place on a regular basis. It was as a result of this successful partnership that Pontypridd Urban District Council decided to have a formal Twinning link at a civic level, and to join in partnership with Nürtingen. In July 1968, an agreement was signed by John Cheesman J.P., mayor of Pontypridd and Karl Gonser mayor of Nürtingen. This resulted in the first twinning link in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the longest-established twinning links with Nürtingen.[16]

Pontypridd is also twinned with Mbale, Uganda

Pontypridd town council held an official twinning ceremony in 2005, to consolidate links with Mbale, Uganda, already established by local churches and healthcare workers, under the auspices of charity PONT, the Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust.[17]

Notable people
See Category:People from Pontypridd

Bibliography
  • Tobin, Patrick F. (1991). The Bridge and the Song, Some chapters in the story of Pontypridd. Bridgend: Mid Glamorgan County Libraries. ISBN 1-872430-05-8.
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See also

References
  1. "Town population 2011". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. http://pontypriddtowncouncil.gov.uk/
  3. CHK (7 December 2007). "Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan". www.cartogold.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  4. The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg692 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
  5. with an urban area, incorporating nearby villages and communities, of approximately 55,000 Archived 26 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Office of National Statistics
  7. Williams, Huw (1981) Pontypridd: Essays on the History of an Industrial Community. University College, Department of Extra-Mural Studies.
  8. Ellis, Lucy (2009). Tom Jones Close Up. 0711975493
  9. "The Rhondda Cynon Taf (Communities) Order 2016" (PDF). Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  10. 'Pontypridd and The Taff Vale Railway', E. Mountford, in The Railway and Industrial Heritage of Pontypridd & District p.16 (1985), Taff-Ely BC
  11. Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981 pp26, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
  12. "British and Irish Cup draw announced | Club News | News & Views". Ponty.net. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  13. Archived 13 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Home town welcomes back Tom Jones". BBC News. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  15. "Wales – Arts – Children – Fireman Sam". BBC. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  16. The History of Twinning in Rhondda Cynon Taf RCT Website
  17. Are Pontypridd and Rhondda Cynon Taf really twinned with places in Uganda?, PONT FAQS and PONT Background Archived 1 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Catrin Collier". ContactAnAuthor. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
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