Blaenrhondda

Blaenrhondda
Blaenrhondda  Blaenrhondda shown within Rhondda Cynon Taf
OS grid reference	SS928995
Principal area	Rhondda Cynon Taf
Ceremonial county	Mid Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	TREORCHY
Postcode district	CF42
Dialling code	01443
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Rhondda
Welsh Assembly	Rhondda
List of places UK Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf

Blaenrhondda is a village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, lying at the head the Rhondda Fawr valley. Blaenrhondda is a very small village and is part of the community of Treherbert.

History

The earliest evidence of people habitating the area are the remains of an Iron Age settlement of several roundhouses grouped together in an obvious community, known as Hen Dre'r Mynydd. The dry wall layout of the ruinous site has led archeologists to believe that the people who lived in the area were early farmers.^[1] It has been identified as the largest undefended Iron Age settlement in south east Wales.

Before the industrialisation of the Rhondda Valleys in the late 19th century, Blaenrhondda was an agricultural area and sparsely populated. With the coming of the coal industry two mines were sunk in the locality. The first was the North Dunraven, also known as the Blaenrhondda, sunk in 1859, followed by Fernhill Colliery around 1871. The Dunraven closed in the 1920s but the Fernhill was still operating as late as 1978. In an attempt to break the monopoly of the Taff Vale Railway and the Cardiff docks, a tunnel was constructed through Mynydd Blaengwynfy to link up with the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway to supply coal to the Swansea Docks for export. The resulting tunnel, at a length of 3,300 yards was the longest rail tunnel in Wales and the seventh longest in Britain.^[2] Due to an issue with the weight the engines could pull, the rail link was never the success it was hoped to be, though it did prove popular with day-trippers from the Rhondda, visiting Swansea and the Gower. The station was closed in 1970.

In the hills above Blaenrhondda lies Blaenrhondda Road Cutting, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It was given this status for its rock exposures showing sediments that formed on the flood plain of a river delta during the Carboniferous period, approximately 310 million years ago.^[3]

External links

• Rhondda Cynon Taf Library Services
• Celtic Heritage BBC Wales

References

v t e Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Communities Aberaman Abercynon Aberdare Cwm Clydach Cwmbach Cymmer Ferndale Gilfach Goch Hirwaun Llanharan Llanharry Llantrisant Llantwit Fardre Llwydcoed Llwynypïa Maerdy Mountain Ash Pen-y-graig Penrhiwceiber Pentre Penywaun Pont-y-clun Pontypridd Porth Rhigos Taff's Well Tonypandy Tonyrefail Trealaw Trehafod Treherbert Treorchy Tylorstown Ynyshir Ynysybwl and Coed y Cwm Ystrad Towns and villages Aberaman Abercwmboi Abercynon Aberdare Abernant Beddau Blaenllechau Blaencwm Blaenclydach Blaenrhondda Brynna Brynsadler Castellau Church Village Cilfynydd Clydach Vale Coed-Ely Cwmaman Cwmbach Cwmdare Cwmparc Cymmer Dinas Rhondda Efail Isaf Ferndale Fernhill Glyncoch Gelli Groes-faen Gilfach Goch Glenboi Glynfach Glyntaff Hawthorn Hirwaun Llanharan Llanharry Llanilid Llantrisant Llwyncelyn Llwydcoed Llwynypia Maerdy Miskin Mountain Ash Penderyn Penrhiwceiber Penrhiwfer Penrhys Pentre Penygraig Penywaun Pontyclun Pontygwaith Pontypridd Porth Rhigos Stanleytown Talbot Green Tonypandy Trealaw Trebanog Trecynon Treforest Trehafod Treherbert Treorchy Tynewydd Tonyrefail Tonteg Ton Pentre Tylorstown Wattstown Williamstown Ynysybwl Ynyshir Ynysmaerdy Ystrad Rhondda Education Aberdare High School Aberdare Girls' School Blaengwawr Comprehensive School Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School Coleg Morgannwg Hawthorn High School Mountain Ash Comprehensive School Pontypridd High School St. John the Baptist School Treorchy Comprehensive School Treorchy Primary School University of Glamorgan Y Pant School Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda Rivers Afon Clun Afon Sychryd River Cynon River Ely River Rhondda River Taff Topics Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums

v t e   Villages and towns of the Rhondda Valley Rhondda Fawr Blaencwm Blaenrhondda Cwm Clydach Cwmparc Cymmer Dinas Rhondda Gelli Glynfach Llwyncelyn Llwynypia Pentre Penygraig Pen-yr-englyn Porth Ton Pentre Tonypandy Trealaw Trebanog Trehafod Treherbert Treorchy Tynewydd Williamstown Ynyswen Ystrad Rhondda Rhondda Fach Blaenllechau Ferndale Maerdy Penrhys Pontygwaith Tylorstown Stanleytown Wattstown Ynyshir