This is Pontypridd - It's feeling a little run down these days.
Business' are closing left right and centre. The pubs are all becoming run down and the council don't seem to know what to do with the town.
There are talks of redevelopment bandied about but nothing seems to actually happen. The latest grand plans were recently unveiled but people in town seem to be doubtful that anything will actually happen. The once famous market is in a shocking state of disrepair, Chavs rule the streets, the train station was called by the local MP - the filthiest in Europe and each Saturday night the streets resemble some apocalyptic movie.
It's time to clean up your act, Ponty Town Council.
Once described as the
"Wild West" Pontypridd has had a turbulent past. A small, dirty, market town, run down after years of under funding and mismanagement by the local and regional councils, situated 12 miles north of Cardiff along the A470, "Ponty" is the gateway to the famous South Wales valleys and has a rich cultural and historic past: The Welsh National Anthem, Tom Jones, the Lost Prophets, the Old Bridge, Brown Lennox, Sir Geraint Evans, Neil Jenkins, William Price and Stuart Burrows all hail from Ponty or close by.
Ponty's past
The name may come from a contraction of Pont-y-ty-pridd, bridge of the earthen house in Welsh, or the Welsh for "bridge of earth", since in earlier centuries, people took advantage of the shallowness of the River Taff here to cross it. Pontypridd marks the confluence of the rivers Taff and Rhondda and at the junction of the Cardiff to Rhondda and Merthyr railway lines and thus has a fascinating historical and cultural background.
The development of Treforest and Pontypridd as commercial centres began with the opening in 1795 of the 25 mile long Glamorganshire canal, between Cardiff docks and Merthyr. At the same time, William Crawshay opened a new forge and nail works and coal was discovered by Dr. Richard Griffiths in Gyfeillion in 1790. Another new industry which thrived with the excellent transport now available was the original Newbridge Chain Cable and Anchor Works founded in 1818 - now Brown Lenox. Later, collieries were opened in the areas of Grai
g, Hopkinstown, Trehafod and Cilfynydd.
7 comments:
Quite interesting! How many people live in Pontypridd? Are they outlaying rural areas?
Peninsula was also known as a wild town in the days of the old canal. Canal boat captains---women especially--wouldn't dock there because it was too wild. They'd go either 1 town north or 1 town south.
Thanks for an excellent look at a town with a very colorful history.
Terrie
Sounds like an intersting place to be from. I recently found some rather scandolous stuff out about my small quiet town.
A town without an interesting past simply fails to garner my attention. Really enjoyed the post and look at a place I'd never heard of.
The name alone makes it interesting.
An informative look at your town, Gary, complete with history and the photos.
Post a Comment