Treforest ( cy, Trefforest) is a village in the south-east 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 (). ...
, in the
county borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control, similar to the unitary authorities created since the 1990s. An equivalent te ...
of
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff (Welsh: ''Taf'') and Ely valleys, plus a number of towns and vill ...
, Wales. It is situated in the Treforest electoral ward, along with the village of
Glyntaff
Glyntaff is a small village to the south-east of Pontypridd, in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales situated in the Treforest ward along with the village of Trefforest.
Education
Glyntaff is the location of the University of South Wa ...
(or Glyn-Taf). It is part of the
Pontypridd Town community. Treforest runs along the west bank of the
River Taff
The River Taff ( cy, Afon Taf) is a river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons; the Taf Fechan (''little Taff'') and the Taf Fawr (''great Taff'') before becoming one just north of Merthyr Tydfil. Its confluence with th ...
( cy, Afon Taf), while Glyntaff runs along its east bank.
Treforest extends from immediately south-east of
Ynysangharad Park
Ynysangharad Park is a cricket ground in the centre of Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is located in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park.
The ground was first established in 1870, but the first recorded match on the ground was in 1924, wh ...
, where the
A4058 link from the
A470
The A470 (also named the Cardiff to Glan Conwy Trunk Road) is a trunk road in Wales. It is the country's longest road at and links the capital Cardiff on the south coast to Llandudno on the north coast. While previously one had to navigat ...
joins the
A473 Broadway (south of the adjoining wards of Graig and Trallwn), all the way to join the
Tonteg
Tonteg is a village around three and a half miles (6 km) from Pontypridd, south Wales. It is north west of Cardiff and four miles (6.5 km) north east of Llantrisant. The village is within the community of Lla ...
ward in the south (part of the community of
Llantwit Fardre
Llantwit Fardre ( cy, Llanilltud Faerdref) is a large village and community (and electoral ward) situated on the A473, Pontypridd to Bridgend, road near the Welsh towns of Pontypridd and Llantrisant. Llantwit Fardre is also the name of the ol ...
).
The village is historically connected with the
Crawshay family, who established a major
tinplate works in 1835. Treforest is now known for its association with the
University of South Wales
The University of South Wales ( cy, Prifysgol De Cymru) is a public university in Wales, with campuses in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd. It was formed on 11 April 2013 from the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wa ...
, originally established as the Newport Mechanics Institute in the 1840s,
the campus in Treforest was established as the School of Mines in 1913.
Treforest Industrial Estate is not part of Treforest or its electoral ward, most of which is not even within Pontypridd. Instead, this falls partly within the area of
Upper Boat
Upper Boat ( cy, Glan-Bad) is a village on the southernmost outskirts of the town of Pontypridd, within the electoral ward of Hawthorn, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, and comprises part of the Treforest Industrial Estate. Historically part of Glamorga ...
(Pontypridd), but mostly within the
Willowford area of Ton-Teg (Llantwit Fardre) and
Nantgarw
Nantgarw is a village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, near Cardiff.
From an electoral and administrative perspective Nantgarw falls within the ward of Taffs Well, a village some south, but historically fell within the boundari ...
(Taffs Well ward).
Transport
Treforest has one railway station, ( is in the
Willowford area between
Tonteg
Tonteg is a village around three and a half miles (6 km) from Pontypridd, south Wales. It is north west of Cardiff and four miles (6.5 km) north east of Llantrisant. The village is within the community of Lla ...
and
Nantgarw
Nantgarw is a village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, near Cardiff.
From an electoral and administrative perspective Nantgarw falls within the ward of Taffs Well, a village some south, but historically fell within the boundari ...
). The railway station is located on the
Merthyr
Merthyr Tydfil (; cy, Merthyr Tudful ) is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydf ...
and
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley ( cy, Cwm Rhondda ), is a former coal mining, coalmining area in South Wales, historically in the county of Glamorgan. It takes its name from the River Rhondda, and embraces two valleys – the larger Rhondda Fa ...
lines, between Pontypridd and Treforest Estate railway stations.
Education
Treforest has two
primary school
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...
s; Parc Lewis, and St. Michael's; though a third school, Trefforest Primary, closed in 2006 despite the petitions from parents, governors and local councillor, as a result of a process commenced by the 1999–2004 administration on the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. The University of South Wales' Trefforest campus is located in the village.
Culture
The population of Treforest consists substantially of students living away from home, who often leave the village during the summer months, and return in the new
academic year.
Notable bars and
pub
A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...
s in the area include the Rickards, the Otley Arms, Gecko Bar
tapas
A tapa () is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as ''chopitos'', which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas). In so ...
bar, and the Pick & Shovel. Treforest is home to association football team Treforest F.C.: this mid-sized Club currently runs teams from Under 8 level to Seniors. The Senior teams play in the South Wales Alliance League and Taff Ely and Rhymney Valley Leagues. Treforest has a purpose-built stadium and club facilities with two bars. Treforest F.C. is affiliated to the South Wales Football Association and is a full member of the Football Association of Wales.
Governance
Treforest has been an
electoral ward to
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council since 1995, electing one county borough councillor. It has been represented by the
Labour Party,
Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru ( ; ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from the United Kingdom.
Plaid wa ...
and the
Liberal Democrats at various points since 1995.
Treforest is also a community ward to Pontypridd Town Council, electing three town councillors.
Treforest Estate
![Treforest Trading Estate - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Treforest_Trading_Estate_-_geograph.org.uk_-_87712.jpg)
The Treforest Trading Estate, later renamed Treforest Industrial Estate, originated with the formation of the 'South Wales and Monmouthshire Trading Estates Ltd.' in June 1936. This
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
making company aimed to establish one or more
trading estates in Wales, and the first sod was cut on . By the end of 1937, three small factories had been completed and occupied. The first building contract awarded was a large factory for the British Coated Board and Paper Company Ltd (
Wiggins Teape
Arjowiggins is an independent paper manufacturer based in Scotland.
History
The company's origins go back to 1761 when Buckland Mill in Dover in Kent commenced operations.
Meanwhile, in France, in the middle of the 20th century there were fou ...
).
During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
, the factories on the estate played a major role in the war effort and national economy; many buildings were
requisitioned by the government, and their occupants re-housed in makeshift buildings away from the estate. Extensions and new factories were built by government departments.
Many of the companies on the Estate were established by businesspeople who had arrived as refugees from
German-occupied Europe. They had often been able to bring money and equipment with them.
By 1944, almost 16,000 people were being employed on the estate. In 1960, the estate came under the control of the 'Welsh Industrial Estates Corporation', and later, the
Welsh Development Agency
Welsh Development Agency (WDA; cy, Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru) was an executive agency (or QUANGO) and later designated an Assembly Sponsored Public Body (ASPB). Established in 1976, it was tasked with rescuing the ailing Welsh economy by encour ...
.
Companies which have operated factories on the Estate include:
BOAC,
Aero Zip, Metal Alloys Ltd, Afon Tinplate Ltd, Finetex Ltd,
Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
,
South Wales Switchgear,
Standard Telephones and Cables
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd (later STC plc) was a British manufacturer of telephone, telegraph, radio, telecommunications, and related equipment. During its history, STC invented and developed several groundbreaking new technologies incl ...
,
Fram Filters and
KLG Spark Plugs.
Notable people from Treforest
Sir Tom Jones
Treforest is the birthplace of singer Sir
Tom Jones, who was born on 7 June 1940 at 57, Kingsland Terrace. Jones had a
telephone box
A telephone booth, telephone kiosk, telephone call box, telephone box or public call box is a tiny structure furnished with a payphone and designed for a telephone user's convenience; usually the user steps into the booth and closes the booth ...
from Pontypridd at his
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
home, imported as a souvenir of his home town.
Morfydd Llwyn Owen
The composer
Morfydd Llwyn Owen
Morfydd Llwyn Owen (1 October 1891 – 7 September 1918) was a Welsh composer, pianist and mezzo-soprano. A prolific composer, as well as a member of influential intellectual circles, she died shortly before her 27th birthday.
Early lif ...
(1891–1918) was born in Treforest, and educated at the
Royal Academy of Music in London. She wrote
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hy ...
s,
choral music
A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which s ...
and orchestral works, often inspired by Welsh literacy and folk songs. In 1917, she married
psychoanalyst Ernest Jones
Alfred Ernest Jones (1 January 1879 – 11 February 1958) was a Welsh neurologist and psychoanalyst. A lifelong friend and colleague of Sigmund Freud from their first meeting in 1908, he became his official biographer. Jones was the first En ...
, but she died the following year at the age of 26.
Meic Stephens
Meic Stephens
Meic Stephens (23 July 1938 – 2 July 2018) was a Welsh literary editor, journalist, translator, and poet.
Birth and education
Meic Stephens was born on 23 July 1938 in the village of Treforest, near Pontypridd, Glamorgan. He was educated ...
(1938–2018), the literary journalist, translator, poet and author, who was professor of creative writing and journalism at the
University of Glamorgan
, image_name = University of Glamorgan arms.png
, image_size = 220px
, caption = University of Glamorgan coat of arms
, motto = Success Through Endeavour
, established =
, closed =
, administrative_staff =
, chancellor = John Morris ...
, was born in Treforest.
Tourist attraction
''World of
Groggs'' is on the Broadway in Treforest, celebrating the ceramic figurines.
Television series ''
Doctor Who'', ''
Torchwood
''Torchwood'' is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. A spin-off of the 2005 revival of ''Doctor Who'', it aired from 2006 to 2011. The show shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growin ...
'', and ''
The Sarah Jane Adventures
''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' is a British science fiction television programme that was produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies, and starring Elisabeth Sladen. The programme is a spin-off of the long-running BBC ...
'' were filmed at
Upper Boat Studios on Treforest Industrial Estate, before moving to
Roath Lock
BBC Roath Lock Studios is a television production studio that houses BBC drama productions including ''Doctor Who'', '' Casualty'', and . The centre topped out on 20 February 2011 and filming for such productions commenced in autumn of the sam ...
studios in
Cardiff Bay in 2011.
Places of worship
A number of places of worship exist in Treforest. The
University of South Wales
The University of South Wales ( cy, Prifysgol De Cymru) is a public university in Wales, with campuses in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd. It was formed on 11 April 2013 from the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wa ...
offers a
chaplaincy service. The chaplaincy also occasionally provides services in conjunction with
Castle Square United Reformed Church. Other
Christian churches in the village include
St Dyfrig's Roman Catholic Church off Broadway, and Calvary
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...
Church off Wood Road. There are two old synagogues no longer in use.
References
{{authority control
Villages in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Student quarters
Industrial parks in Wales
Planned industrial developments
Wards of Rhondda Cynon Taf