Pontypridd
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Coordinates: 51°36′09″N 3°20′32″W / 51.60252°N 3.34215°W
| Pontypridd | |
  Pontypridd shown within Wales |
|
| Population | 29,781 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Ceremonial county | Mid Glamorgan |
| Constituent country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PONTYPRIDD |
| Postcode district | CF37-38 |
| Dialling code | 01443 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| European Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Pontypridd |
| Welsh Assembly | Pontypridd, South Wales Central Electoral Region |
| List of places: UK • Wales • | |
Pontypridd is both a community and a town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff.
Pontypriddd comprises the electoral wards of Cilfynydd, Glyncoch, Graig, Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, Rhondda (ED), Rhydfelen Central/Lower Ilan, Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest.
Pontypridd sits at the junction of the Rhondda and Taff (upper/lower) valleys, where the River Rhondda Fawr flows into the Taff immediately south of the town at its War Memorial Park, Ynysangharad Park.
The community of Pontypridd is the second largest in Wales, just behind Barry.[1]
Pontypridd is made up of the town of Pontypridd and its immediate suburbs/settlements, each with their own individual identities. These are Cilfynydd, Coedpenmaen, Glyntaff, Glyncoch, Graig, Graigwen, Gyfeillion, Hawthorn, Hopkinstown, Maesycoed, Pantygraigwen, Pentrebach, Penygraigwen, Pontsionnorton, Pontypridd Common, Pwllgwaun, Rhydyfelin, Trallwn, Treforest, Trehafod (E), Troedrhiw-Trwyn and Upper Boat.
Pontypridd had a population of 29,781 according to census figures gathered in 2001.[2] Pontypridd town is recorded as having a population of 2,919 as of 2001.[3]
The "ridd" in Pontypridd is pronounced "reath" (as in the word "breathe").[4] Pontypridd is often abbreviated "Ponty" by local residents.
Contents |
[edit] History
The name Pontypridd is from "Pont-y-tŷ-pridd" the Welsh for "bridge by the earthen house", a reference to a succession of wooden bridges that formerly spanned the River Taff at this point. Pontypridd is, however, more famous for the Old Bridge a stone bridge across the River Taff built in 1756 by William Edwards. This bridge was the third attempted by Edwards, and at the time of its 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 is a perfect segment of a circle, the chord of which is 140 feet (43 m). Notable features are three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge. The purpose of these was to reduce the weight of the bridge, although their aesthetically pleasing nature is a bonus. The utility of the bridge was debatable, however – the steepness of the design making it difficult to get horses and carts across it – and in 1857 a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, paid for by public subscription, was built adjacent to the old one.
Pontypridd was known as Newbridge from shortly after the construction of the Old Bridge until the 1860s.
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 of a few farmsteads, with Treforest initially becoming the main urban settlement in the area.
Sited as it is at the junction of the Rhondda and Taff (upper/lower) 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 and Barry.
Because of its role in transporting coal cargo, its train platform was at one time the longest in the world.[5]
Pontypridd was in the second half of the 19th century a hive of industry, and was once nicknamed the ‘Wild West’.[6] There were several collieries within the Pontypridd area itself, including – Albion Colliery (Cilfynydd), Bodwenarth Colliery (Pontsionnorton), Daren Ddu Colliery (Graigwen & Glyncoch), Dynea Colliery (Rhydyfelin), Gelliwhion Colliery (Graig), Great Western/Gyfeillion Colliery (Gyfeillion), Lan Colliery (Hopkinstown), Newbridge Colliery (Graig), Penyrhiw Colliery (Graig), Pontypridd/Maritime Colliery (Graig & Maesycoed), Pwllgwaun Colliery (Pwllgwaun), Red Ash Colliery (Cilfynydd), Tymawr Colliery (Troedrhiwtrwyn), Typica Colliery (Troedrhiwtrwyn) and Victoria Colliery (Maesycoed), not to mention countless coal levels and trial shafts dug into the hill sides overlooking the town from Cilfynydd, Graig, Graigwen and Hopkinstown.
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 Glamorgan. In 1894 an explosion at a colliery in Pontypridd killed 251 miners (see Keir Hardie).
In recent years neglect by various parties has led to one of the largest towns in the region falling into a state of disrepair[citation needed]. The general consensus in the town is that some substantial and overdue funding is needed to regenerate the area so that it can realise its potential on the banks of the river Taff[citation needed].
The town is also home to a large hospital, Dewi Sant Hospital.
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 also home to the eccentric Dr. William Price who performed the first modern cremation.
[edit] Transport links
Pontypridd came into becoming because of transport, being 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.
[edit] Railway
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 peak, resulted in two trains alighting at Pontypridd railway station every minute. The station is a long single island, at one point the worlds 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 Arriva Trains Wales is reflective of reduced coal mining activity, with one up (valley) and one down platform, and only one passing loop.
[edit] Trams
A tram service began on March 6th, 1905, running from Cilfynydd through Pontypridd to Treforest. It was replaced on September 18th 1930 by trolleybuses, which today are replaced by buses which replicate an almost exact route.
[edit] Bus
Bus services are principally provided by Veolia Transport Cymru (on the local town services and longer distance routes to Cardiff, Beddau, Talbot Green and Aberdare) and Stagecoach in South Wales (on long distance routes to Cardiff, Rhondda, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly etc).
[edit] Entertainment and social history
[edit] Sport
Pontypridd is home to Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, one of Wales' most notable rugby union clubs, with a successful junior rugby and Age-grade sections that frequently contributes players to the national team.
Formed in 1876[7], Pontypridd RFC play in the Principality Premiership, SWALEC Cup and, from November 2009, the British and Irish Cup.[8]
Pontypridd RFC play their home games at Sardis Road, with their junior section playing at Taff Vale Park and Pontypridd High School Fields, Cilfynydd.
Pontypridd Town A.F.C. is a Welsh football club which has achieved some success in the Welsh football league.
Speedway racing was staged at Taff Vale Park in the town's Broadway area in 1929/1930.
Pontypridd Bowls Club play in the Cynon Valley, Mid Glamorgan and the Cardiff Leagues and play their home games at Ynysanghard Park.
[edit] Media
Pontypridd has its very own community radio station GTFM, which is in partnership with the University of Glamorgan. It has local news, information and music from the last four decades, and is run by a voluntary management committee.
The Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer[1] is the local newspaper for the town.
[edit] Culture
Pontypridd hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1893.
Tom Jones, the World-famous son of Pontypridd frequently references his hometown in interviews[9] [10]. A 65th birthday concert was held at the town's Ynysangharad Park at which he headlined.
Pontypridd is home to rock icons, Lostprophets - an internationally-acclaimed group.
Pontypridd is home to pop acoustic music band, BenSem - who signed in 2009 to American management company Furocious Music. [11]
[edit] Cultural references
The name of the fictional town of Pontypandy, in which children's television programme Fireman Sam is situated, is a portmanteau of Pontypridd and Tonypandy.[12]
The Welsh TV show Belonging was shot in Pontypridd
Doctor Who has also filmed outside the Market Tavern pub in Market Street.
Torchwood has also filmed in various parts of Pontypridd, including the outskirting villages and communities such as Treforest and Ynysybwl.
[edit] Twinning
Pontypridd is twinned with Nürtingen, Esslingen, south 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 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 has 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.
[edit] Notable people from Pontypridd
- Robert James Bye, recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War I
- Opera singers, Stuart Burrows and Geraint Evans, who were both born in Cilfynydd
- John Evans, poet
- Evan James and James James, writers of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the national anthem of Wales
- Tom Jones, singer of such worldwide top 40 hits as Delilah and The Green Green Grass of Home, born in village of Trefforest
- Elaine Morgan, script writer and anthropologist
- William Price, who carried out the first cremation in the UK in modern times on Llantrisant Common.[citation?].
- Freddie Welsh, world champion boxer
- Neil Jenkins, Michael Owen, Martyn Williams, Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney, Gethin Jenkins, Geraint Lewis, Richard Parks, John Gwilliam and Gareth Wyatt, Welsh international rugby players
- Rock musicians Lostprophets, Phil Campbell, Gareth Davies and Darran Smith of Funeral for a Friend
- Côr Meibion Pontypridd (Male Voice Choir) [2]
- Owain Warlow, Jason Price, Ceri Hughes, Danny Canning and Pat Mountain, footballers
- Kimberley Nixon, actress "Wild Child","Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging", "Cranford" among others.
- Mr Duke, Welsh Anti-folk musician
[edit] Bibliography
- Tobin, Patrick F. (1991). The Bridge and the Song, Some chapters in the story of Pontypridd. Bridgend: Mid Glamorgan County Libraries. ISBN 1872430058.
[edit] References
- ^ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg692 ISBN 9780708319536
- ^ http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_ua_ew_part1.pdf
- ^ Office of National Statistics
- ^ Welsh pronunciation
- ^ Pontypridd Town Website
- ^ http://www.pontytown.co.uk/history.html
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp26, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ http://www.ponty.net/british-and-irish-cup-draw-announced
- ^ http://www.tomjones.com/news/index.aspx?newsid=32
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4588611.stm
- ^ http://www.bensem.com/?p=186 BenSem go transatlantic
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/themes/children/fireman_sam.shtml
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Pontypridd Town: Official Pontypridd website
- Pontypridd Town Council: official website of Pontypridd Town Council
- Ponty.net: Pontypridd Rugby Football Club's official website
- Pontypridd Male Voice Choir: Côr Meibion Pontypridd
- British strike - extra fodder for pit ponies, Pontypridd Photo from the Library of Congress's George Grantham Bain Collection
- Aerial photograph of Pontypridd
- The history of Pontypridd
