Tongwynlais

The name Tongwynlais is believed{{who|date=August 2018}} to be derived from the word {{lang|cy|ton}} meaning 'ley land', i.e. 'pasture, grassland or unploughed land'; and Gwynlais, the name of the stream that runs through the village, Nant Gwynlais, thus "pasture by the Gwynlais". Gwynlais means pure voice in Welsh. (See also Tonna.)

Tongwynlais lies in the River Taff Valley. Its population was 1946 at the 2001 census.{{cite web |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=325248&c=CF15+7LB&d=141&e=15&g=422705&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1213108303075&enc=1&dsFamilyId=67

|title=2001 Census for Tongwynlais| accessdate=2008-06-10}}

Tongwynlais is located near Junction 32 of the M4 motorway, east of Bridgend and west of Newport and the A470 trunk road. It is situated {{convert|5|mi|0}} north of Cardiff city centre and {{convert|7|mi|0}} south of Pontypridd. The surrounding towns and villages are Pentyrch and Radyr to the west, Taff's Well and Caerphilly to the north, and Rhiwbina and Whitchurch to 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|date=November 2014}} with its famous landmark, Castell Coch, on a hillside. The main route to the Valleys, and beyond to Mid Wales, the A470, runs alongside the village. To the north of the village is Fforest Fawr, a forest of about {{convert|100|ha|acre}} run by Natural Resources Wales. Tongwynlais is separated from the rest of Cardiff by the M4 and 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 a pub, several shops, a football club, a rugby club, a 9-hole golf course, and Tongwynlais Library.

The Taff Trail cycle route passes through the village,{{cite book |title= Lon Las Cymru - south |year= 2003 |publisher= Sustrans |isbn= 1-901389-40-5}} and it is a popular resting point between sections.

The Cardiff Railway once ran through Tongwynlais. It passed through a tunnel just beneath Castell Coch. Tongwynlais railway station opened in 1911 and closed in 1931. The nearest station on the Coryton Line is Coryton. Radyr railway station is also nearby.

;Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

:Tongwynlais is in the Cardiff North constituency for the Senedd, currently represented by Julie Morgan MS, a member of the Welsh Labour Party.

;Houses of Parliament

:Cardiff North is currently represented by Anna McMorrin MP, a member of the Labour Party.

;Local Government - City Council

:Tongwynlais is part of the Whitchurch & Tongwynlais electoral ward of Cardiff City Council and is represented by 4 councillors all of the Welsh Labour Party.{{cite web | url=https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=236 | title=Election results for Whitchurch and Tongwynlais, 5 May 2022 : Cardiff Council | date=5 May 2022 }} In addition, Tongwynlais is also governed by a community council.

;Local Government - Community Council

:There are nine seats on the community 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 the 2022 Cardiff Council election. The next election is due to be held in May 2027.{{cite web|title=Community Councillors|url=https://www.tongwynlais.org/community-councillors/|publisher=Tongwynlais Community Council|accessdate=1 April 2020}}

{{main|Castell Coch}}

File:Castell Coch 2018.jpg

Tongwynlais' most notable building is the Victorian era folly castle called Castell Coch (Red Castle) which is open to the public. It was built on top of the ruins of a 13th-century castle thought to have belonged to Ifor Bach, a local Welsh ruler.{{cite book |title= Archaeologia Cambrensis|last= Cambrian Archaeological Association|year= 1859|publisher= W. Pickering |page= 113}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qr41AAAAMAAJ&dq=ivor+bach&pg=PA113

|title=Archaeologia Cambrensis Digitalised |year=1859 |accessdate=2008-07-06}}

It was rebuilt and transformed in the late 1870s by William Burges for the 3rd Marquess of Bute.

There is a parish church and two Nonconformist chapels still open to worshippers in the village:{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}

• 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.

The band RocketGoldStar wrote a song about the village, recording it on their 1996 album.{{cite web|title=A History of Rocketgoldstar's "Tongwynlais" |url=http://tongwynlais.com/2014/09/08/tongwynlais-by-rocketgoldstar/ |publisher=Tongwynlais.com |date=8 September 2014 |accessdate=15 November 2014}} They recorded it for a BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale Session.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} Tongwynlais Brass Band has been in existence since the 19th century and continues to compete in national competitions as well as performing concerts.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} Castell Coch Choral Society also does a lot of charitable work and has recently performed in the Czech Republic.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}

The Welsh glam metal band Tigertailz named a song on Disc 1 of their Thrill Pistol album "Tongwynlais Fly".

File:Castellcoch2.JPG|Castell Coch in autumn.

{{reflist}}

Hutton, J. An Illustrated History of Cardiff Docks. Volume 3: The Cardiff Railway Company and the docks at war. Silver Link 2009

• [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Whitchurch/Tongwynlais/ GENUKI page]
• [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2779419 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Tongwynlais and surrounding area]
• [http://tongwynlais.org/ tongwynlais.org] Community Council website
• [http://tongwynlais.com/ tongwynlais.com] Independent hyperlocal website
• {{oscoor gbx|ST136821}}

{{Communities of Cardiff}}

{{Cardiff}}

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Category:Communities in Cardiff

Category:Villages in Cardiff