Ystrad Explained

Country:Wales
Static Image Name:Ystrad Railway Station.jpg
Static Image Width:250
Constituency Welsh Assembly:Rhondda
Official Name:Ystrad
Coordinates:51.6428°N -3.4539°W
Population:5,854
Population Ref:(2011)[1]
Unitary Wales:Rhondda Cynon Taf
Lieutenancy Wales:Mid Glamorgan
Constituency Westminster:Rhondda
Post Town:PENTRE
Postcode District:CF41
Postcode Area:CF
Dial Code:01443
Os Grid Reference:SS994947

Ystrad (also known as Ystrad Rhondda or Ystrad-Rhondda) is a village and community (and electoral ward) in the Rhondda Fawr valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

Description

As a community and ward Ystrad contains the neighbouring district of Gelli. Ystrad is a former coal mining village which was once housed the most profitable collieries belonging to the Cory brothers.

Ystrad is long and narrow, a main road where most amenities can be found, and a series of smaller residential streets lined with the terraces associated with the area. The majority of housing stock is the classic South Wales valleys terrace with infills of new build.

The Rhondda Fawr River runs through the village, separating it from Gelli on the southern bank.

Like most former coal mining communities in the South Wales Coalfield, Ystrad is remarkably self-contained. There is a very strong community in Ystrad Rhondda - a common feature of these mining towns. The Ystrad Rhondda railway station is on the Rhondda Line opened by British Rail.

Religion

The oldest Baptist chapel in the Rhondda, and originally known as Ynysfach Chapel, Nebo was located at Ystrad.[2] It was demolished in the early 1980s.

The Church of St Stephen is part of the Church in Wales Parish of Trealaw with Ystrad Rhondda with Ynyscynon in the Diocese of Llandaff. The church was built in 1895–1896.

Governance

The Ystrad electoral ward is coterminous with the borders of the Ystrad community[3] and elects two county councillors to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. From 1995 to 2004 it was represented by Plaid Cymru. Between 2004 and 2017 it was represented by the Labour Party[4] though at the May 2017 election Plaid Cymru re-took the ward.[5]

Sport and leisure

Ystrad is home to rugby union team Ystrad Rhondda RFC, a Welsh Rugby Union affiliated team who play in the 2nd tier of the Welsh rugby leagues. It is also the location of the Rhondda Sports Centre.

Name

Ystrad is Welsh for "vale". Thus Ystrad Rhondda ~ Vale of the Rhondda.

See also other townships in Wales containing "Ystrad" as part of their name:

Notable people

See

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Community population 2011. 17 November 2015.
  2. Web site: Pillars of Faith website. 21 January 2014.
  3. Web site: Election maps . . 27 October 2018 .
  4. http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rhondda-Cyon-Taff-1995-2012.pdf Rhondda Cyon Taff County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012
  5. https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Council/Votingandelections/Electionresults/CountyBoroughCouncilElections2017.aspx County Borough Council Elections 2017