Taff's Well () is a semi-rural village,
community
A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...
and
electoral ward
A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. In some countries, wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected t ...
located at the south-eastern tip of
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff () and Ely valleys, ...
, north-west of the city centre of
Cardiff
Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...
, the capital of
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
. Known locally as the 'Gates to the
Valleys
A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains and typically containing a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over a ve ...
' by some and considered part of the Valleys by others, it is separated from
Gwaelod-y-Garth by the
River Taff. Taff's Well is distinguished because it contains the only
thermal spring in Wales. The tepid water is thought to rise along a fault-line from the
Carboniferous Limestone, in somewhat similar manner to the warm springs at Bristol and Bath. The Welsh myth of the Taff's Well Turtle originates here. Various religious groups regard it as a spiritual site.
Garth Hill overlooks the village and was the inspiration for the fictional "Ffynnon Garw", featured in the book and film ''
The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain''.
Name
The name "Taff's Well" is derived from the situation of the village alongside the
River Taff and the presence of the warm spring within Taff's Well Park.
Thermal spring
Taff's Well Park (Parc Ffynnon Taf) is the site of the Taff's Well Thermal Spring, a well that reached its height of popularity for visitors to the village in the mid to late 1800s. The average temperature of the water is 21.6 degrees C. The well is Wales' only natural thermal spa.
Location
Taff's Well lies just off Junction 32 of the M4 motorway and at the southern end of 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 navigate th ...
.
Though administered by
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff () and Ely valleys, ...
f Council, Taff's Well is a commuter town for the City of Cardiff, where many of its residents work.
Culture
19th century
Taff's Well grew into an important railway junction during the mid- to late 19th century, when Cardiff was a major global exporter of coal.
Taff's Well is a growing community which includes numerous districts: Glan-y-Llyn, Rhiw Ddar and Glan-y-Fordd; Ty-Rhillage centre that consists of Alfred's terrace, Anchor Street, Church Street, Garth Street, Yew Street and Ty Rhiw through which the
Taff Trail
The Taff Trail () is a Walking in the United Kingdom, walking and cycle path that runs for between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Wales. It is so named because it follows the course of the River Taff. Along much of its length, it follows the Natio ...
runs. Taff's Well is next to
Castell Coch, which overlooks Cardiff.
20th century
The actor
David Jason
Sir David John White (born 2 February 1940), known professionally as David Jason, is an English actor. He has played Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', Detective Inspector Jack Frost in the drama series '' A Touch ...
spent much time in Taff's Well and based the situation comedy ''
Open All Hours
''Open All Hours'' is a British television sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. It ran for 26 episodes over four series, which aired in 1976, 1981, 1982, and 1985. The programme was developed from a television pilot broadcast ...
'' upon Arthur's shop, which is one of many buildings to have been dismantled and sent to the
St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life.
Taff's Well is the original location of the story that inspired the 1995 film ''
The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain'', by
Ivor Monger and
Christopher Monger.
21st century
Taff's Well has featured in the Sky sitcom ''Stella'', starring
Ruth Jones
Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones (born 22 September 1966) is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom ''Gavin & Stacey'' (2007–2010, 2019, 2024), for which she won the B ...
. The post office in Nantgarw is a
filming location
A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, instead of or in addition to using sets constructed on a movie studio backlot or soundstage. In filmmaking, a location is any place where a film crew wi ...
in the sitcom, although it is just outside the village.
Local politics
Taff's Well is an
electoral ward
A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. In some countries, wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected t ...
coterminous to the community boundaries and elects a county councillor to
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council () is the governing body for Rhondda Cynon Taf, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council headquarters are at the Llys Cadwyn development in Pontypridd.
History
The council was established on 1 Ap ...
. Jill Bonetto (
Labour) has represented the ward since 2012.
Taff's Well and
Nantgarw are also represented locally by the Taff's Well & Nantgarw Community Council, which has 10 members. The Council was criticised in 2010 by the Wales Audit Office for breaching financial and corporate governance regulations with its financial records. Described as 'The worst-run council in Wales', there were calls for the 'wholesale sacking' of the ten members for breaching 'financial and corporate governance regulations because of its "inadequate" financial records, supporting paperwork and minutes between 2002 and 2006'.
Sport
Taff's Well A.F.C. are the local football team. They play in the
Cymru South
The Cymru South is a regional association football, football league in Wales, covering the southern half of the country. It initially had clubs with semi-professional status. Together with the Cymru North, it forms the second tier of the Welsh fo ...
, the second tier of the
Welsh football league system
The Welsh football league system (or League system, pyramid) is a series of association football, football leagues with regular promotion and relegation between them.
It consists of four main tiers, as well as lower local leagues.
While most W ...
.
Taffs Well RFC are the local
Rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
team.
Transport
Taffs Well railway station
Taffs Well railway station is a railway station serving the village of Taff's Well, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, as well as neighbouring Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff. It is located on the Merthyr Line and the Rhondda Line. Passenger services are provide ...
, which opened in 1863, is on the
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley ( ), is a former 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 Fawr valley (, 'large') and t ...
and
Merthyr Lines. Services are provided by
Transport for Wales
Transport for Wales (TfW; ; ) is a not-for-profit company owned by the Welsh Government and managed at arms length by its appointed board. TfW oversees the Transport for Wales Group (TfW Group) consisting of itself and its subsidiaries: Trans ...
northbound to
Treherbert
Treherbert () is a village and community (Wales), community situated at the head of the Rhondda Fawr valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Historic counties of Wales, Historically part of Glamorgan. Treherbert is the upper mo ...
,
Aberdare
Aberdare ( ; ) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and River Cynon, Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tydf ...
and
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil () 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 Tydfil, daughter of K ...
via
Pontypridd
Pontypridd ( , ), Colloquialism, colloquially referred to as ''Ponty'', is a town and a Community (Wales), community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, approximately 10 miles north west of Cardiff city centre.
Geography
Pontypridd comprises the ...
, and southbound to
Cardiff Queen Street and
Cardiff Central. The average journey time to Cardiff Central is 20 minutes at a frequency of six trains per hour.
Stagecoach South Wales bus service 132 between
Maerdy and
Cardiff Central bus station stops in the village every 15 minutes at peak times.
The
A470 road
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 navigate th ...
runs through the village between
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay (; colloquially "The Bay") is an area and freshwater lake in Cardiff, Wales. The site of a former tidal bay and estuary, it is the river mouth of the River Taff and River Ely, Ely. The body of water was converted into a lake as part ...
( south) and
Llandudno
Llandudno (, ) is a seaside resort, town and community (Wales), community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, located on the Creuddyn peninsula, which protrudes into the Irish Sea. In the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 UK census, the community � ...
( north). Taff's Well is north of junction 32 (Cardiff North) of the
M4 motorway
The M4, originally the London-South Wales Motorway, is the third longest motorway in the United Kingdom, running from west London to southwest Wales. The English section to the Severn Bridge was constructed between 1961 and 1971; the Welsh ele ...
.
There are plans to integrate Taff's Well into the
South Wales Metro
The South Wales Metro () is an integrated heavy rail, light rail and bus-based public transport services and systems network being developed in South East Wales around the hub of railway station.The development will also include the electrif ...
.
The former
Walnut Tree Viaduct ran across the Taff Valley to the south of Taff's Well. Two of the support columns remain standing.
Churches
Taff's Well has two active churches:
* The Anglican church of St Mary and St James dates from 1879 and is on Church Street. It is a
chapel of ease
A chapel of ease (or chapel-of-ease) is a church architecture, church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently, generally due to trav ...
to
St Michael's in Tongwynlais. The minister is Rev Zoe King.
* The Nonconformist Taff's Well United Church is on Cardiff Road. It was founded as a Wesleyan Methodist chapel and took on its current name when it merged with the Taff's Well Baptist Church in the late 20th century. The minister is Rev Cathy Gale.
Like the neighbouring community of
Tongwynlais, Taff's Well formerly had a number of other churches which have ceased to function and have either been converted to other purposes or been demolished:
* The Tabor
Calvinistic Methodist
The Presbyterian Church of Wales (), also known as the Calvinistic Methodist Church (), is a denomination of Protestant Christianity based in Wales.
The Calvinistic Methodist movement has its origins in the 18th-century Welsh Methodist revival ...
Church was built on what became Tabor Street in 1843. It was rebuilt in 1864. It closed and is now a commercial premises.
* The Glandwr Taf Welsh Independent Chapel was built in 1859. It was modified in 1898 (or 1895) and was rebuilt in 1905, being capable of seating 250. It is now a private residence.
* The Tabernacle English Baptist Chapel on the corner of Garth and King Streets was built in 1906. Its congregation later merged to form Taff's Well United Church. After the merger, the chapel was demolished and the site is now occupied by housing.
* The Glan-Y-Llyn Gospel Hall formerly stood on Stradmore Close. It closed in January 2017 and the site has been redeveloped.
Cemetery
Ty Rhiw cemetery in Taff's Well was one of several cemeteries in Rhondda Cynon Taf where bodies were buried in the wrong graves. The errors were discovered in the early 2000s and resulted in a police investigation.
In 2009, Taffs Well and Nantgarw Community Council planned to reuse the chapel at the cemetery for weddings and funerals, as was originally intended. A campaign against the decision was led by the Friends of Ty Rhiw Cemetery.
There are seven
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...
memorials in the cemetery, marking the burial place of British sailors and soldiers from the First and Second World Wars.
Gallery
File:Taffs-Well-Cardiff-Road-by-Malost.jpg, The main road through Taff's Well
File:Taffs Well Village Hall - geograph.org.uk - 2729382.jpg, Taff's Well Village Hall
File:Taffs Well Library (geograph 2729385).jpg, Taff's Well public library
File:Church of St Mary and St James, Taffs Well - geograph.org.uk - 2729365.jpg, St Mary & St James' Church
File:Taffs Well United Church - geograph.org.uk - 2729037.jpg, Taff's Well United Church
Notable people
See
:People from Taff's Well
References
{{authority control
Spa towns in Wales
Communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Villages in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Wards of Rhondda Cynon Taf