Tongwynlais
| Tongwynlais | |
|---|---|
 Merthyr Road, withSt Michael and All Angels Churchin the background. | |
  Tongwynlais Location withinCardiff | |
| Population | 1,871
|
| OS grid reference | ST136819 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARDIFF |
| Postcode district | CF15 |
| Dialling code | 029 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Tongwynlais(Welsh pronunciation:[tɔŋgˈwɪnlai̯s]) is a village andcommunityin the north ofCardiff,Wales, north of theM4 motorwayin theTaff Valley.It is notable as the location of the hillside landmark,Castell Coch.The population as of the 2011 census was 1871.[1]
Toponymy[edit]
The name Tongwynlais is believed[who?]to be derived from the wordtonmeaning 'ley land', i.e. 'pasture, grassland or unploughed land'; andGwynlais,the name of the stream that runs through the village, Nant Gwynlais, thus "pasture by the Gwynlais". Gwynlais means pure voice in Welsh. (See alsoTonna.)
Overview[edit]
Tongwynlais lies in theRiver TaffValley. Its population was 1946 at the 2001 census.[2]
Tongwynlais is located near Junction 32 of theM4 motorway,east ofBridgendand west ofNewportand theA470 trunk road.It is situated 5 miles (8 km) north ofCardiff city centreand 7 miles (11 km) south ofPontypridd.The surrounding towns and villages arePentyrchandRadyrto the west,Taffs WellandCaerphillyto the north, andRhiwbinaandWhitchurchto the south. Tongwynlais became part of Cardiff in 1974 when Cardiff was expanded northwestwards.
Many consider Tongwynlais as the entrance to the South Wales Valleys from Cardiff,[citation needed]with its famous landmark,Castell Coch,on a hillside. The main route to the Valleys, and beyond to Mid Wales, theA470,runs alongside the village. To the north of the village is Fforest Fawr, a forest of about 100 hectares (250 acres) run byNatural Resources Wales.Tongwynlais is separated from the rest of Cardiff by theM4and the A470 to the south and west and hills and forestry to the east. Tongwynlais is considered to be part of the Cardiff North Rural Area.
Tongwynlais is home to apub,several shops, afootballclub, arugbyclub, a 9-holegolfcourse, andTongwynlais Library.
TheTaff Trailcycle route passes through the village,[3]and it is a popular resting point between sections.
TheCardiff Railwayonce ran through Tongwynlais. It passed through a tunnel just beneath Castell Coch.Tongwynlais railway stationopened in 1911 and closed in 1931. The nearest station on theCoryton LineisCoryton.Radyr railway stationis also nearby.
Government[edit]
- Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
- Tongwynlais is in theCardiff Northconstituencyfor theSenedd,currently represented byJulie MorganMS, a member of the Welsh Labour Party.
- Houses of Parliament
- Cardiff Northis currently represented byAnna McMorrinMP,a member of theLabour Party.
- Local Government - City Council
- Tongwynlais is part of theWhitchurch & Tongwynlaiselectoral wardofCardiff City Counciland is represented by 4 councillors all of theWelsh Labour Party.[4]In addition, Tongwynlais is also governed by a community council.
- Local Government - Community Council
- There are nine seats on thecommunity council,which is funded by a precept on council tax bills in Tongwynlais and supports a number of local services. Elections are held every five years. The last election was held at the same time as the2022 Cardiff Council election.The next election is due to be held in May 2027.[5]
Castell Coch[edit]
Tongwynlais' most notable building is theVictorian erafollycastle called Castell Coch (Red Castle) which is open to the public. It was built on top of the ruins of a 13th-centurycastlethought to have belonged toIfor Bach,a local Welsh ruler.[6][7] It was rebuilt and transformed in the late 1870s byWilliam Burgesfor the3rd Marquess of Bute.
Places of worship[edit]
There is aparish churchand twoNonconformistchapelsstill open to worshippers in the village:[citation needed]
- St Michael and All Angels(Church in Wales) (built 1875–77)
- Ainon Baptist Church(built 1832)
- Bethesda United Reformed Church (built 1861)
There were once two other chapels in the village (both Nonconformist), which have since closed and been converted into private residences.
Music[edit]
The band RocketGoldStar wrote a song about the village, recording it on their 1996 album.[8]They recorded it for aBBC Radio 1Maida Vale Session.[citation needed]TongwynlaisBrass Bandhas been in existence since the 19th century and continues to compete in national competitions as well as performing concerts.[citation needed]Castell Coch Choral Society also does a lot of charitable work and has recently performed in the Czech Republic.[citation needed]
The Welshglam metalbandTigertailznamed a song on Disc 1 of theirThrill Pistolalbum "Tongwynlais Fly".
Images[edit]
-
Castell Coch in autumn.
References[edit]
- ^UK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – tongwynlais population (W04000864)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved25 May2022.
- ^"2001 Census for Tongwynlais".Retrieved10 June2008.
- ^Lon Las Cymru - south.Sustrans. 2003.ISBN1-901389-40-5.
- ^"Election results for Whitchurch and Tongwynlais, 5 May 2022: Cardiff Council".
- ^"Community Councillors".Tongwynlais Community Council.Retrieved1 April2020.
- ^Cambrian Archaeological Association (1859).Archaeologia Cambrensis.W. Pickering. p. 113.
- ^Archaeologia Cambrensis Digitalised.1859.Retrieved6 July2008.
- ^"A History of Rocketgoldstar's" Tongwynlais "".Tongwynlais.com. 8 September 2014.Retrieved15 November2014.
Hutton, J. An Illustrated History of Cardiff Docks. Volume 3: The Cardiff Railway Company and the docks at war. Silver Link 2009
External links[edit]
- GENUKI page
- www.geograph.co.uk: photos of Tongwynlais and surrounding area
- tongwynlais.orgCommunity Council website
- tongwynlais.comIndependent hyperlocal website
- Map sourcesfor Tongwynlais
