Taff's Well
Taff's Well
| |
|---|---|
 Taff's Well Railway Station | |
| Population | 3,672 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST122835 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARDIFF |
| Postcode district | CF15 |
| Dialling code | 029 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Taffs Well (Welsh: Ffynnon Taf) is a semi-rural village and community located 6 miles (9.7 km) to the North of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. Known locally as the 'Gates to the Valleys', it is located at the South Easterly tip of Rhondda Cynon Taf. It is separated from Gwaelod Y Garth by the River Taff. Taff's Well is distinguished because it contains the only thermal spring in Wales. The tepid water is thought to rise along a fault-line from the Carboniferous Limestone, in somewhat similar manner to the warm springs at Bristol and Bath. It may be regarded as a spiritual site by various religious groups.
The Garth Mountain overlooks the village and was the inspiration for the fictional "Ffynnon Garw", featured in the book, and film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain.
Name
The name "Taff's Well" is derived from the situation of the village alongside the River Taff and the presence of the warm spring within Taff's Well Park .
Thermal spring
Taffs Well Park (Parc Ffynnon Taf) is the site of the Taff's Well Thermal Spring, a well that reached its height of popularity for visitors to the village in the mid to late 1800s.[2] It enjoys temperatures which average 21.6 degrees C.[3] The Well at Taff's Well is Wales' only natural thermal spa..
Location
Taffs Well is situated just off Junction 32 of the M4 Motorway and at the Southern end of the A470.
Though administratively represented by Rhondda Cynon Taff Council, Taffs Well is a commuter town for the City of Cardiff where many of its residents work.
Culture
19th Century
Taff's Well grew into an important railway junction during the mid- to late nineteenth century, when Cardiff was a major global exporter of coal.
Taff's Well is a growing community which includes numerous districts: Glan-Y-Llyn, Rhiw Ddar and Glan Y-Frodd; Ty-Rhiw; the old village centre that consists of Alfred's terrace, Anchor Street, Church Street, Garth Street, Yew Terrace and Ty Rhiw through which the Taff Trail runs. Taff's Well is next to Castell Coch, which overlooks Cardiff.
20th Century
The actor David Jason spent much time in Taff's Well and based the situation comedy Open All Hours based upon Arthur's shop[citation needed] which is one of many buildings to have been dismantled and sent to the St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life.
21st Century
Taffs Well is the original location of the story that inspired the film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, by Ivor Monger and Christopher Monger.
Taffs Well has featured in the BBC Wales sitcom Stella Starring Ruth Jones. The post office in Nantgarw is the main filming location for the sitcom, although it is just outside the village.
Local politics
RCT Council Representative for Taffs Well
Jill Bonetto (Labour) represents the village on the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.[4]
Taffs Well Community Council
Taff's Well and Nantgarw are also represented locally by the Taff’s Well & Nantgarw Community Council, which has 10 members. The Council hit the headlines in 2010 when it was criticised by the Wales Audit Office for breaching financial and corporate governance regulations with its financial records. Described as 'The Worst Run Council in Wales', there were calls for the 'wholesale sacking' of the ten members for breaching 'financial and corporate governance regulations because of its “inadequate” financial records, supporting paperwork and minutes between 2002 and 2006'.[5]
Sport
Taff's Well A.F.C. are the local football team.
Taff's Well RFC are the local Rugby union team.Empolyment
Transport
Taffs Well railway station, which opened in 1863,[6] is situated on the Rhondda and Merthyr Lines. Services are provided by Arriva Trains Wales northbound to Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil via Pontypridd and southbound to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central. The average journey time to Cardiff Central is 20 minutes at a frequency of 6 trains per hour.[7]
Stagecoach bus service 132 between Maerdy and Cardiff central bus station stops in the village every 15 minutes at peak times.[8]
The A470 road runs through the village between Cardiff Bay (9 miles (14 km) south) and Llandudno (179 miles (288 km) north). Taff's Well is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Junction 32 (Cardiff North) of the M4 motorway.
There are plans to integrate Taff's Well into the Cardiff City Metro System.[citation needed]
Churches
The village has a number of churches, including Taffs Well United Church whose ministers are Helen and Andy Fyall.
Notable people
See Category:People from Taff's Well
References
- ^ "community population 2011". Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ "Waters From The Deep: Taff's Well thermal spring" (pdf). Natur Cymru. Summer 2014. pp. 30–33. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ Farr, Gareth; Bottrell, Simon H (2013). "The hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the thermal waters at Taffs Well, South Wales, UK". CAVE AND KARST SCIENCE, Vol.40, No.1, 2013.
- ^ "Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council". The Welsh Political Almanac. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "'Worst run council in Wales'". Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ Hutton, John (2006). The Taff Vale Railway, vol. 1. Silver Link. ISBN 978-1-85794-249-1.
- ^ Arriva Trains Wales Timetable: Valleys and Cardiff local routes
- ^ Stagecoach service 132 timetable
