Tonyrefail
Tonyrefail
| |
---|---|
Location within Rhondda Cynon Taf | |
Population | 12,301 (2011)[1] |
OS grid reference | ST009882 |
Community |
|
Principal area | |
Preserved county | |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | PORTH |
Postcode district | CF39 |
Post town | TONYPANDY |
Postcode district | CF40 |
Dialling code | 01443 |
Police | South Wales |
Fire | South Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
UK Parliament | |
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Tonyrefail (Welsh pronunciation: [tɔnərˈɛvai̯l]) is a village and community in the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough, Wales. It is situated at the head of the River Ely; 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Llantrisant, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Trebanog and about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Williamstown. During the second half of the 19th century, when coal and steel became synonymous with the South Wales Valleys, Tonyrefail evolved from being a rural hamlet to an industrial village. The population at the 2001 census was 11,035.[2]
Toponymy
Tonyrefail derives from the Welsh Ton yr Efail meaning lay-land of the smithy . From ton, meaning lay-land and gefail meaning smithy.
History
Tonyrefail was a dairy farming and livestock raising area, and many early farmhouses still exist today.
It is widely believed that King
Governance
At the lowest tier of local government, Tonyrefail elects a community council, Tonyrefail & District Community Council. The community is divided into six community
The community of Tonyrefail is divided into two county borough wards, Tonyrefail East and Tonyrefail West, for elections to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
Buildings of note
One of the most notable buildings in Tonyrefail is Collenna House, a three-story mansion originally built in 1093, which overlooks the village. The house is believed to have been built by the Welsh noble,
Notable people
- Alex Davies-Jones, Labour MP for Pontypridd.
- Dick Hellings, Collier, forward for Llwynypia RFC, international forward for Wales (1898-1901) who helped secure their Triple Crown win (1900).
- Jeffrey John, Church of England priest and first openly gay bishop-designate.
- Matthew Rees, Wales and British Lions international rugby union player.
- Vaughan Jones, footballer
External links
- Tonyrefail & District Community Council Website
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Tonyrefail and surrounding area
- Welsh Coal Mines website
- Tonyrefail Rugby Club website
Bibliography
- Lewis, Dillwyn (1971). A History of Tonyrefail. Risca: The Starling Press Limited.
References
- ^ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Rhondda Cynon Taf Retrieved 9 January 2010
- ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
- ^ Lewis (1971), pg 4.
- ^ "New Community Councillors". Tonyrefail & District Community Council. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ a b Lewis (1971), pg 9.
- ^ "A true passion play: Couple's dream to turn a derelict building into a community theatre". 28 April 2013.