Pwllgwaun (or Pwll-Gwaun) is a village and small suburb of
Pontypridd
() (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Geography
comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
within the 'Rhondda' electoral ward, bordered by
Hopkinstown
Hopkinstown ( cy, Trehopcyn) is a small village to the west of Pontypridd in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, alongside the River Rhondda. Hopkinstown is a former coalmining and industrial community, now a district in the town of Po ...
and
Graigwen
Graigwen (English translation = White-Rock) is the name of the large hill (Graigwen Hill) and the village or district located thereon, sited to the north of Pontypridd town centre and south of Glyncoch and Ynysybwl in the county borough of Rhon ...
hill to the north and east, the hillsides of
Maesycoed
Maesycoed is a Human settlement, settlement to the south and west of Pontypridd town centre in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Maesycoed is a district in the town of Pontypridd within the Rhondda electoral ward and is bounded by G ...
above, and is located along the banks of the river
River Rhondda
The River Rhondda ( cy, Afon Rhondda) is a river in South Wales with two major tributaries, Rhondda Fawr (meaning ''big Rhondda'') and Rhondda Fach (meaning ''little Rhondda'').
Description
The river has two major tributaries, the ''Rhondda Fa ...
. It consists largely of mining terrace type housing.
Buildings and structures of note
Pwllgwaun for such a small area is quite famous, in that it is the home of
rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
in Pontypridd with the home ground,
Sardis Road
Sardis Road is a rugby union stadium situated in Pontypridd, Wales. It is home to the Principality Premiership team, Pontypridd RFC and previously the Celtic Warriors, the now defunct regional rugby union team. It is commonly known as the "Hous ...
(or as it is colloquially named the "House of Pain"). Also the area has a connection with
Merlin
Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...
, in as far as he was said to have been helped across a ford in the river here and blessed the area with good fortune. The impressive structure of the local pub (The Merlin) bears his name.
The local mine working beneath the village, known locally as 'Dan's Muck Hole' (sunk in 1875 and closed in 1948) was one of the most shallow in the area, sunk at a depth of only 45 yards, it was a deep mine in all but name. The legacy of its working were a lot of subsidence in the area and as a result many homes were affected. The entrance to the old pit can still be seen behind the home stand at Sardis Road rugby football ground, and is also commemorated by a nearby coal dram.
The main place of worship in the area is the prominent Bethany Baptist Church sited along the banks of the river. Also further south towards the town centre is Mill Street School (today Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Evan James).
Notes
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Villages in Rhondda Cynon Taf