Treforest

Treforest Welsh:Trefforest
Park Street
Treforest Location withinRhondda Cynon Taf
Population	5,050 (2011 ward)
OS grid reference	ST085885
Community	Pontypridd Town
Principal area	Rhondda Cynon Taf
Preserved county	Mid Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PONTYPRIDD
Postcode district	CF37
Dialling code	01443
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Pontypridd
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Pontypridd, South Wales Central Electoral Region

Treforest(Welsh:Trefforest) is a village in the south-east ofPontypridd,in thecounty boroughofRhondda Cynon Taf,Wales. It is situated in the Treforest electoral ward, along with the village ofGlyntaff(or Glyn-Taf). It is part of thePontypridd Towncommunity. Treforest runs along the west bank of theRiver Taff(Welsh:Afon Taf), while Glyntaff runs along its east bank.

Treforest extends from immediately south-east ofYnysangharad Park,where theA4058link from theA470joins theA473 Broadway(south of the adjoining wards of Graig and Trallwn), all the way to join theTontegward in the south (part of the community ofLlantwit Fardre).

The village is historically connected with theCrawshay family,who established a majortinplate worksin 1835. Treforest is now known for its association with theUniversity of South Wales,originally established as the Newport Mechanics Institute in the 1840s, the campus in Treforest was established as the School of Mines in 1913.

Treforest Industrial Estate is not part of Treforest or its electoral ward, most of which is not even within Pontypridd. Instead, this falls partly within the area ofUpper Boat(Pontypridd), but mostly within theWillowfordarea of Ton-Teg (Llantwit Fardre) andNantgarw(Taffs Well ward).

Transport

Treforest has one railway station,Treforest(Treforest Estateis in theWillowfordarea betweenTontegandNantgarw). The railway station is located on theMerthyrandRhonddalines, between Pontypridd and Treforest Estate railway stations.

Education

Treforest has twoprimary schools;Parc Lewis, and St. Michael's; though a third school, Trefforest Primary, closed in 2006 despite the petitions from parents, governors and local councillor, as a result of a process commenced by the 1999–2004 administration on the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. TheUniversity of South Wales' Trefforest campus (previously theUniversity of Glamorgan) is located in the village.

Culture

The population of Treforest consists substantially of students living away from home, who often leave the village during the summer months, and return in the newacademic year.

Treforest is home to association football team Treforest F.C.: this mid-sized Club currently runs teams from Under 8 level to Seniors. The Senior teams play in the South Wales Alliance League and Taff Ely and Rhymney Valley Leagues. Treforest has a purpose-built stadium and club facilities with two bars. Treforest F.C. is affiliated to the South Wales Football Association and is a full member of the Football Association of Wales.

Governance

Treforest has been anelectoral wardtoRhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Councilsince 1995, electing one county borough councillor. It has been represented by theLabour Party,Plaid Cymruand theLiberal Democratsat various points since 1995.

Treforest is also a community ward to Pontypridd Town Council, electing three town councillors.

It is part of theSouth Wales Centralregion in theSeneddand there is one directly elected member from thePontypriddconstituency and four additional regional members.

In the Westminster parliament it is part of thePontypriddconstituency.

Treforest Estate

Treforest Industrial Estate

The Treforest Trading Estate, later renamed Treforest Industrial Estate, originated with the formation of the 'South Wales and Monmouthshire Trading Estates Ltd.' in June 1936. Thisnon-profitmaking company aimed to establish one or moretrading estatesin Wales, and the first sod was cut on 29 December 1936(1936-12-29).By the end of 1937, three small factories had been completed and occupied. The first building contract awarded was a large factory for the British Coated Board and Paper Company Ltd (Wiggins Teape).

During theSecond World War,the factories on the estate played a major role in the war effort and national economy; many buildings wererequisitionedby the government, and their occupants re-housed in makeshift buildings away from the estate. Extensions and new factories were built by government departments.

Many of the companies on the Estate were established by businesspeople who had arrived as refugees fromGerman-occupied Europe.They had often been able to bring money and equipment with them.

By 1944, almost 16,000 people were being employed on the estate. In 1960, the estate came under the control of the 'Welsh Industrial Estates Corporation', and later, theWelsh Development Agency.

Companies which have operated factories on the Estate include:BOAC,Aero Zip,Metal Alloys Ltd, Afon Tinplate Ltd, Finetex Ltd,Ford,South Wales Switchgear,Standard Telephones and Cables,Fram FiltersandKLG Spark Plugs.

In December 2023 a fire broke out on the estate. At around 19:00 on 13 December there was an explosion followed by a fire at Rizla House, a building housing multiple businesses, killing one person.

Notable people from Treforest

Sir Tom Jones

Treforest is the birthplace of singer SirTom Jones,who was born on 7 June 1940 at 57, Kingsland Terrace.Jones had atelephone boxfrom Pontypridd at hisLos Angeleshome, imported as a souvenir of his home town.

Morfydd Llwyn Owen

The composerMorfydd Llwyn Owen(1891–1918) was born in Treforest, and educated at theRoyal Academy of Musicin London.She wrotehymns,choral musicand orchestral works, often inspired by Welsh literacy and folk songs. In 1917, she marriedpsychoanalystErnest Jones,but she died the following year at the age of 26.

Meic Stephens

Meic Stephens(1938–2018), the literary journalist, translator, poet and author, who was professor of creative writing and journalism at theUniversity of Glamorgan,was born in Treforest.

Tourist attraction

World ofGroggsis on the Broadway in Treforest, celebrating the ceramic figurines.

Television seriesDoctor Who,Torchwood,andThe Sarah Jane Adventureswere filmed atUpper Boat Studioson Treforest Industrial Estate, before moving toRoath Lockstudios inCardiff Bayin 2011.

Places of worship

Treforest has been/is home to a number of Places of Worship:

• Calvary EnglishBaptistChapel, Cliff Terrace. Founded 1849. Closed. Building Sold in 2021.
• English Independent (United Reformed Church), Castle Square. Founded in 1905.
• Libanus WelshBaptistChapel, Fothergill Street. Founded in 1841. Now the CornerstonePentecostalChurch, as of 2010.
• ParkPresbyterianChurch, Princess Street. Founded in 1909. Closed.
• PontypriddSynagogue,Cliff Terrace. Founded in 1867, Closed 1978. Converted to apartments..
• Saron WelshCalvinistic MethodistChapel, Saron Street. Founded in 1832, closed in 1992. Later, theAll Nations churchfrom about 2010, since closed.
• St Dyfrig's Roman Catholic Church,Broadway. Founded in 1868.
• Treforest EnglishWesleyan MethodistChapel, Cyrch-y-Gwas Road. Founded in 1852. Closed.
• TreforestGospel Hall,Broadway
• TreforestSpiritualist National UnionChurch, Cyrch-y-Gwas Road.