Llantwit Fardre
  • Welsh: Llanilltud Faerdref
Llantwit Fardre is located in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Llantwit Fardre
Llantwit Fardre
Location within Rhondda Cynon Taf
Population6,099 (2011 Ward)[1]
OS grid referenceST076851
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPONTYPRIDD
Postcode districtCF38
Dialling code01443
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

Llantwit Fardre (Welsh: Llanilltud Faerdref) is a large village and community (and electoral ward) situated on the A473, Pontypridd to Bridgend, road near the Welsh towns of Pontypridd and Llantrisant. Llantwit Fardre is also the name of the old parish and the community area that takes in the villages of Llantwit Fardre, Tonteg and Church Village. It is in the county of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Welsh Government has constructed a bypass to reduce traffic congestion on the A473 road at Tonteg, Church Village and Llantwit Fardre. The Church Village bypass, as it is known, has been built as a single carriageway, with crawler and overtaking lanes around roundabouts, and was opened for traffic in September 2010.[2][3]

Etymology

It is believed the name Llantwit Fardre is derived from an old Welsh Language name meaning The Church of St Illtud (Llantwit), on the Home Farm of the Prince (Faerdref) and relates to the land surrendered to the prince of the District by his subject to provide him with an income. Saint Illtud was a 5th-century Celtic priest who built his second church roughly in the area where the present church stands. He was later famed as the Saint of the Five Keys of youth, learning, chivalry, priesthood and knighthood.

History and amenities

The parish has a fairly well preserved 12th century motte castle with an intact moat,[4] called Tomen-y-clawdd, which is located in the parish village of Tonteg. Coach company Edwards Coaches is based in the town, and was established in 1925.

A station called Llantwit Fardre (and formerly Llantwit Dyffryn Red Ash Colliery) served the village on the Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway.

Employment

Industrialisation began in Llantwit Fardre in the late 17th century with the introduction of stone quarrying and coal mining. With the decline of coal mining the local populace tend to commute to work.

Between 1959 and 1973 Gilbern cars were manufactured in the village.[5]

Sport

Llantwit Fardre has rugby union, association football, cricket and netball clubs. Llantwit Fardre RFC are a rugby union team who play in the WRU Division 1 East Central; Llantwit Fardre AFC are a local football club that have a team playing in the South Wales Amateur Football League.

Local government

Llantwit Fardre is the name of a community ward for Llantwit Fardre Community Council, electing four of the twelve community councillors.[6] Llantwit Fardre Parish Council was originally formed under the 1894 Local Government Act, with the first meeting held on 1 January 1895. It became a community council in 1974, after local government re-organisation, when Welsh parish councils were re-titled. The council have the motto, "Goreu arf arf ddysg" ("The best tools are the tools for learning"), carved over the entrance to the Carnegie Hall.[7]

Llantwit Fardre is also the name of a county ward to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, with boundaries matching the community ward, covering Llantwit Fardre village and Efail Isaf.[8] The ward elects two county councillors.[9] On 2 May 2008, Joel James, a British Conservative Party politician became the first Tory councillor to be elected to the county council for the Llantwit Fardre seat.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Church Village Bypass – Web Online". Church Village Bypass website. Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC, Costain and the Welsh Assembly Government. 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  3. ↑ "WalesOnline – News – South Wales Valleys – Pontypridd & Llantrisant – Safety worries discounted as bypass work begins". Wayne Nowaczyk, Pontypridd Observer. Media Wales Ltd. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  4. ↑ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) p. 507 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
  5. ↑ Gilbern owners club
  6. ↑ "Council Members". Llantwit Fardre Community Council. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "History". Llantwit Fardre Community Council. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Election maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998". Legislation.gov.uk. 23 November 1998. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  10. ↑ Ropstad, Mari (8 May 2008). "Labour hang on to Valleys council". WalesOnline. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
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