About Pontypridd Pontypridd is a busy market town which is located at the confluence of the Rivers Taff and Rhondda and at the junction of the Cardiff to Rhondda and Merthyr railway lines. It is now part of the borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, which includes The Rhondda, Cynon Valley and Llantrisant (one of the oldest towns in South Wales). Pontypridd is twinned with Nürtingen, South-West Germany. Pontypridd hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1893. History Pontypridd 'Old Bridge' The famous Pontypridd 'Old Bridge' was built in 1756 by William Edwards (1719-89), a self-taught mason, from Groeswen near Caerphilly, who was a minister of religion by profession. Built in native stone, it was regarded, at the time, as an architectural feat because it was the longest stone-built single-arch bridge in Europe, rising 35 feet (11 m) above the level of the river, the bridge is a perfect segment of a circle, the chord of which is 140 feet (43 m). Notable features are three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge. The purpose of these was to reduce the weight of the bridge, although their aesthetically pleasing nature is a bonus.. It is thought that this bridge is one of the most dangerous and least-used of all the Welsh bridges. Work on the bridge began in 1746 at the small village of Pont-y-ty-pridd, as it was known at the time. Edwards made four attempts to build the bridge before completing it in 1755. The whole project (including the three failed attempts) cost the architect a total of £1,153 18s. 2g., and he made a loss of some £600. The lastest survived by putting three cylindrical holes graduated in size at either end, the largest at the bottom. Edwards was also responsible for building bridges at Usk, Pontardawe, Bettws, Dolauhirion, Wychtree, Aberafan, and Glasbury. Some of these bridges were similar in design to the bridge at Pontypridd, in that they consisted of one single span, but were not as steep. A plaque, designed by the sculptor W. Goscombe John, was erected in memory of William Edwards on the wall of his old chapel at Groeswen. Some time afterwards, Pontypridd became known as Newbridge after the bridge, and implying the existence of the old footbridge referred to earlier. The road bridge alongside, known as the Victoria bridge was built in 1857 as the Old Brige presented deifficulties due to itsd steepness of the design making it difficult to get carts across it. From the bridge looking up the river on the left is Craig-yr-Hesg headland, which once gave its name to another footbridge, built of timber, across the river known as Pont-yr-Hesg. Reference was made to the beauty of this headland centuries ago. Craigyr-Hesg quarry, famous for its blue pennant stone, is alongside. Tabernacle Chapel near the Edwards bridge was built in 1861 and has been purchased by Pontypridd Town Council and has been converted into a Historial and Cultural Centre which will eventually house the town's first museum. Note the steps leading down into the river, once where people were baptised 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. Notable people from Pontypridd
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We have listed the following Pontypridd books that you may find of interest: Pontypridd Revisited (images of Wales) Dean Powell Victorian Pontypridd Don Powell Pontypridd at War, 1939-45: Second World War at Home Don Powell Pontypridd: Webster's Timeline History, 1719 - 2007 Icon Group Born on the Graig (Kindle Edition) Colin Gronow My Welsh Childhood Colin Gronow Pontypridd R.F.C.: The Early Years - The Butcher's Arms Boys G.Harris & A. Evans Pontypridd Through Time A.Seward & D. Swidenbank The County School for Boys Pontypridd 1896-1973 A. Mor O'Brien Treforest, Glyntaff and Rhydyfelin (Images of Wales) Rhodri John Powell The Boxers of Merthyr, Aberdare & Pontypridd (Boxers of Wales) Gareth Jones Encyclopedia of Historic Welsh, Irish and Scottish Towns: A Guide John Burgess Pontypridd to Port Talbot: Inc. the Maerdy Branch (Welsh Valleys) V.Mitchell & K.Smith Wales - A Lonely Planet Guide D. Atkinson & Neal Wilson Wales: Country Guide (Lonely Planet Country Guides) Peter Dragicevich A3 Box Canvas - Pontypridd The Old Bridge in Colour vintage photograph |