Pontypridd
From Free net encyclopedia
Pontypridd is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales. It has a population of roughly 33,000, and is situated 12 miles north of the capital city, Cardiff. It is correctly pronounced "Pont-uh-PREETHE", but is known locally as "Ponty" (pronounced "Pontee").
The name Pontypridd is from the Welsh for bridge by the earthen house; named for several wooden bridges that spanned the river Taff. Pontypridd is, however, more famous for the New Bridge, a stone bridge across the Taff built in 1756 by William Edwards. The bridge was the fourth attempted by Edwards, and at the time of construction was the longest stone-built single-arch bridge in Europe. The bridge is a perfect segment of a circle, the chord of which is 140 feet (43 m), and 35 feet (11 m) above the level of the river. Notable features are three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge. These were to reduce the weight of the bridge; the aesthetic nature of them was merely a bonus. However, the utility of the bridge was debatable. The steepness of the design made it difficult to get carts across it, and in 1857, a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, was built adjacent to the old one, paid for by public subscription.
Pontypridd was known as Newbridge from shortly after the construction of the New Bridge until the 1860s.
The history of Pontypridd is closely tied to the coal and iron industries. Sited as it is at the junction of the Rhondda and Taff 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.
Today the town, which incorporates the village of Trefforest, is perhaps best known as home of the University of Glamorgan (formerly the Polytechnic of Wales) that started life as a mining college. The town is also home to a large hospital, Dewi Sant Hospital and the infamous rugby union team.
Pontypridd RFC remains one of Wales' best rugby teams, with the one of the best junior rugby sections and academy that frequently contributes players to the national team. However in 2003 the WRU would change the game in Wales forever with the advent of Welsh Regional Rugby that effectively gave franchises to the richer clubs, overlooking the hugely popular and successful, but financially poor Pontypridd RFC. This was not only a snub to the club, but also to the rugby hotbed of the South Wales valleys that Pontypridd RFC has come to represent and where many still see them as the valleys regional team despite the WRU imposing Cardiff Blues as the official regional side.
Notable people from Pontypridd include:
- Tom Jones, singer of such classics as Delilah and The Green Green Grass of Home, born in neighbouring Treforest
- Evan James and James James, writers of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the national anthem of Wales
- William Price, who carried out the first cremation in the UK in modern times at Llantrisant Common
- Opera singers Stuart Burrows and Geraint Evans who were born in nearby Cilfynydd
- Freddie Welsh, world champion boxer
- Michael Owen, Martyn Williams, Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Wyatt, Welsh international rugby players
- Lostprophets, rock band
- Phil Campbell, guitarist with Motörhead
Pontypridd hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1893.
Pontytown.co.uk Pontypridd's regularly updated and informative website and message board.cy:Pontypridd de:Pontypridd no:Pontypridd