Pentyrch

Pentyrch is a suburban community located on the western outskirts of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The village gives its name to a Cardiff local authority electoral ward, which covers the village and surrounding area.

Geography

The village is situated next to the Garth Mountain, high above the River Taff.

The village can be reached from many directions, including the M4, Junction 32, then A470, then via Heol Goch, a reasonably steep hill flanked by a quarry and nature reserve. Alternatively, Church Road provides access from Llantrisant Road near St Fagans.

Other approaches include from Creigiau and Gwaelod-y-Garth.

Demographics

As of the 2001 Census, Pentyrch contained 3,535 individuals, in 1,358 households.

Governance

The electoral ward of Pentyrch falls within the parliamentary constituency of Pontypridd. It is bounded by Rhondda Cynon Taf to the north; and by the wards of Whitchurch & Tongwynlais to the east; Radyr & Morganstown to the southeast; and Creigiau & St. Fagans to the southwest.

Amenities

The village centre contains a number of 'facilities'. On entering the village, the visitor first passes the playground, Horeb Presbyterian Chapel (currently closed), and the Lewis Arms pub.

Past these lies the village centre, containing a newsagent (lying abandoned), the church (also abandoned), Spar, deli, hairdressers, post office, doctors, vets, and butchers. The focus of older buildings in the village is reached by forking left upon entering the village, travelling down to the King's Arms pub, and St. Catwg's Church, at the lowest point of the village. Along with St Catwgs Church and its lychgate, the Kings Arms is a Grade 2 Listed Building. Originally a seventeenth century copyhold farm called Cae Golman, the Kings Arms became established as a public house in the eighteenth century. In the lounge bar can be found a fireplace with chamfered beam dated 1711.

Housing is split between this older housing and large developments of post-1970s housing.

Sport in the village is centred around the Pentyrch Rugby Football Club. There is also a cricket pitch and other facilities at the club.

Pentyrch Rangers football club is based in the Village. The club has nearly 200 registered players and runs 10 junior and mini football teams in the Cardiff and District League.

Other amenities include a village hall, Primary school, and youth club (closed down now). The village has some art on display, including a mural situated on the green on High corner.

In 1993, Pentyrch hosted its first National/Sunday League Cricket Match, as Glamorgan lost to Northamptonshire, becoming the country's smallest village to do so.

Pentyrch is covered by Fairwater Police Station, which is still open.

In August 2009, an 18-year-old girl from Pentyrch called Lucie Jones auditioned on the sixth series of the UK talent show The X Factor, the YouTube video of which has already gained over 3 million hits. She is currently in the shows finals with 11 other people.

External links

• PentyrchNet web site
• Pentyrch.org.uk web site
• Pentyrch Rugby
• The Pentyrch and District Local History Society
• Pentyrch Primary School
• Census information (2001) further mapped census data
• grid reference ST101819
• Llys y Waun care home