is a town in the county borough of
Rhondda Cynon Taff , south
Wales . It has a population of roughly 33,000, and is situated 12 miles north of the capital city,
Cardiff . It is correctly pronounced "Pont-uh-PREETHE", but is known locally as "Ponty" (pronounced "Pontee").
The name ''Pontypridd'' is from the
Welsh for ''bridge by the earthen house''; named for several wooden bridges that spanned the river Taff. Pontypridd is, however, more famous for the ''New Bridge'', a stone bridge across the
Taff built in
1756 by
William Edwards . The bridge was the fourth attempted by Edwards, and at the time of construction was the longest stone-built single-arch bridge in Europe. The bridge is a perfect segment of a circle, the chord of which is 140 feet (43 m), and 35 feet (11 m) above the level of the river. Notable features are three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge. These were to reduce the weight of the bridge; the aesthetic nature of them was merely a bonus. However, the utility of the bridge was debatable. The steepness of the design made it difficult to get carts across it, and in
1857 , a new bridge, the ''Victoria Bridge'', was built adjacent to the old one, paid for by
Public Subscription .
Pontypridd was known as Newbridge from shortly after the construction of the ''New Bridge'' until the
1860s .
The history of Pontypridd is closely tied to the
Coal and
Iron industries. Sited as it is at the junction of the
Rhondda and
Taff valleys, it became an important location for the transportation of coal from the Rhondda and iron from
Merthyr Tydfil , first via the
Glamorganshire Canal and later via the
Taff Vale Railway , to the ports at
Cardiff and
Barry . Because of its role in transporting coal cargo, its train platform was at one time the longest in the world.
Today the town, which incorporates the village of
Trefforest , is perhaps best known as home of the
University Of Glamorgan (formerly the Polytechnic of Wales) that started life as a mining college. The town is also home to a large hospital,
Dewi Sant Hospital and the infamous rugby union team.
Pontypridd RFC is one of Wales' most famous rugby clubs, with the one of the best junior rugby sections and academy that frequently contributes players to
The National Team .
Notable people from Pontypridd include:
- Tom Jones , singer of such classics as ''Delilah'' and ''The Green Green Grass of Home'', born in neighbouring Treforest
- Evan James and James James , writers of '' Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau '', the National Anthem of Wales
- William Price , who carried out the first cremation in the UK in modern times at Llantrisant Common
- Opera singers Stuart Burrows and Geraint Evans who were born in nearby Cilfynydd
- Freddie Welsh , world champion boxer
- Neil Jenkins , Michael Owen , Martyn Williams , Kevin Morgan , Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Wyatt , Welsh international rugby players
- Lostprophets , rock band
- Phil Campbell , guitarist with Motörhead
- Stewart Richardson , vocalist in Stu And Col the minorly famous drunken karaoke duo
Pontypridd hosted the
National Eisteddfod in
1893 .
Pontytown.co.uk Pontypridd's regularly updated and informative website and message board.
