Tonypandy

Tonypandy /tɒnəˈpændi/ is a town, community and electoral ward located in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, the town was the scene of the 1910 Tonypandy riots.

Tonypandy
Tonypandy Square (2007)
Tonypandy is located in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Tonypandy
Tonypandy
Location within Rhondda Cynon Taf
Population3,750 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceSS995925
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTONYPANDY
Postcode districtCF40
Dialling code01443
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

The community boundaries of Tonypandy are drawn relatively tightly around the central part of the urban area. According to the 2011 UK Census, the population of the community was 3,750.[1] The Office for National Statistics defines a larger "Tonypandy built-up area" covering much of the Rhondda Fawr valley and the lower Rhondda Fach valley, which had a population of 62,545 in 2011.[2] They also define a smaller "Tonypandy built-up area sub division" which had a population of 17,789.[3]

The town is served by Tonypandy railway station on the Rhondda Line.

Toponymy

Tonypandy means fulling mill lea, from Welsh ton (archaic tonnau) for lea, layland, pasture, grassland or unploughed land; pannu for fulling and tŷ for house (cf. pandy). (See also Tonna.)

History

Pre-industrial

The Tonypandy area contains several prehistoric sites, the main one being Mynydd y Gelli. Located to the north-west of the town, the remains of an Iron Age settlement Hen Dre'r Gelli lies on the slopes of Mynydd Y Gelli hill between Tonypandy and Gelli. Near the same location are several Bronze Age cairns.[4]: 14 

Tonypandy is also the site of one of two permanent Middle Ages fortifications found within the Rhondda Valley. Named Ynysygrug, it was a lesser motte and bailey earthwork defence consisting of a wooden tower surrounded by a small fortified courtyard.[4]: 26  Built around the 12th or early 13th century, the remains of the fortification were mostly destroyed during railway construction works in the 19th century. The fortification was for many years wrongly thought to be the burial place of Rhys ap Tewdwr or a druidic worship site.[4]: 26 

The regional library service recounts that the name 'Tonypandy' means the meadow of the fulling mill which was established there in 1838. "E. D. Lewis in his work The Rhondda Valleys provides us with an outline history of the mill that once stood in Tonypandy, and from which the town took its name".[5]

Industrial era

In the mid-19th century, the Rhondda began its industrial transformation after the successful excavation of coal. With the extension of the Taff Vale Railway to Treherbert and Maerdy in 1856, the Rhondda grew as absentee landlords switched their interests from farming to mining. The Tonypandy riots of 1910 and 1911 were a series of violent confrontations between coal miners and police that took place at various locations in and around the Rhondda mines of the Cambrian Combine, a cartel of mining companies in South Wales. Tonypandy, unlike the surrounding villages, then grew as a financial and social hub, providing services and amenities for the neighbouring communities.

Sports and recreation

In the early part of the 20th century, Tonypandy was home to Mid-Rhondda RLFC, one of the first Welsh rugby league teams.[6] Although surviving only one season, the club transformed into Mid-Rhondda AFC, one of the most notable association football teams the Rhondda has produced. Both Mid-Rhondda teams played at the Athletic Ground, now known as "the Mid" . The pitch is notable as having hosted the first international match between the Wales and England rugby league teams on 20 April 1908.[7] It was also used as the opening venue for the 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, when the visiting Australian rugby league team began its campaign with a match against Mid-Rhondda.[8]

When the Mid-Rhondda RLFC collapsed in 1909, the committee refocused on creating an association football team. In 1912 Mid Rhondda F.C. was formed, winning the South League Second Division in 1919–20.

Governance

In 1988 Tonypandy became a county electoral ward to Mid Glamorgan County Council, electing one county councillor[9] in 1989 and 1993.[10]

Since 1995 Tonypandy has been a ward, coterminous with the community boundaries,[11] which elects a county borough councillor to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. In 2012 the electorate was 2,739.[12]

At every Rhondda Cynon Taf election the seat has been won by the Labour Party, apart from the 1999 election when then ward was won by Plaid Cymru.[12] Between 2004 and 2017 the Labour councillor was Craig Middle[12] and, since May 2017, the councillor has been Gareth Wyn Hughes.[13]

Notable people
See Category:People from Tonypandy

References
  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Tonypandy Parish (W04000703)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. "Tonypandy built-up area". NOMIS. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  3. "Tonypandy Built-up area sub division". Nomis. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  4. Davis, Paul R. (1989). Historic Rhondda. Ynyshir: Hackman. ISBN 0-9508556-3-4.
  5. Heritage trail (Tonypandy) Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine Rhondda Cynon Taf Library Service
  6. Lush, Peter; Farrar, Dave (1998). Tries in the Valley: A History of Rugby League in Wales. London: London League Publications. pp. 31–32. ISBN 0-9526064-3-7.
  7. Gate, Robert (1986). Gone North: Volume 1. Ripponden: R. E. Gate. p. 141. ISBN 0-9511190-0-1.
  8. Sean Fagan Kangaroo Tour: 1908-1909 Archived 2008-05-23 at the Wayback Machine (2006) at website RL1908.com
  9. "The County of Mid Glamorgan (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1988". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 2 March 1988. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  10. "Mid Glamorgan County Council Election Results 1973-1993" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  11. Election Maps, Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  12. Rhondda Cyon Taff County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012, The Election Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  13. County Borough Council Elections 2017, Rhondda Cyon Taff County Borough Council. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  14. George Thomas (Lord Tonypandy) at Port Talbot Historical Society. Accessed 29 April 2016
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