Ystrad
{{Short description|Village in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = Wales
| welsh_name =
| static_image_name = Ystrad Railway Station.jpg
| static_image_width = 250
| constituency_welsh_assembly = Rhondda
| map_type =
| official_name = Ystrad
| coordinates = {{coord|51.642827|-3.453853|display=inline,title}}
| population = 5,854
| unitary_wales = Rhondda Cynon Taf
| lieutenancy_wales = Mid Glamorgan
| constituency_westminster = Rhondda
| post_town = PENTRE
| postcode_district = CF41
| postcode_area = CF
| dial_code = 01443
| os_grid_reference = SS994947
| module= {{Collapsible list
| framestyle=border:none;text-align:center; padding:0; |title=Community map
|1=240px
Map of the community
}}
}}
Ystrad (also known as Ystrad Rhondda or Ystrad-Rhondda) is a village and community (and electoral ward) in the Rhondda Fawr valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Description
As a community and ward Ystrad contains the neighbouring district of Gelli. Ystrad is a former coal mining village which was once housed the most profitable collieries belonging to the Cory brothers.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}
Ystrad is long and narrow, a main road where most amenities can be found, and a series of smaller residential streets lined with the terraces associated with the area. The majority of housing stock is the classic South Wales valleys terrace with infills of new build. {{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}
The Rhondda Fawr River runs through the village, separating it from Gelli on the southern bank.
Like most former coal mining communities in the South Wales Coalfield, Ystrad is remarkably self-contained. There is a very strong community in Ystrad Rhondda - a common feature of these mining towns. The Ystrad Rhondda railway station is on the Rhondda Line opened by British Rail.
Religion
File:Church of St Stephen, Ystrad Rhondda - geograph.org.uk - 4406609.jpg
The oldest Baptist chapel in the Rhondda, and originally known as Ynysfach Chapel, Nebo was located at Ystrad.{{cite web|title=Pillars of Faith website|url=http://www.pillars-of-faith.com/chapels2.php?RecNo=59|access-date=21 January 2014}} It was demolished in the early 1980s.
The Church of St Stephen is part of the Church in Wales Parish of Trealaw with Ystrad Rhondda with Ynyscynon in the Diocese of Llandaff. The church was built in 1895–1896.
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Governance
The Ystrad electoral ward is coterminous with the borders of the Ystrad community{{cite web |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |title=Election maps |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=27 October 2018 }} and elects two county councillors to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. From 1995 to 2004 it was represented by Plaid Cymru. Between 2004 and 2017 it was represented by the Labour Party[http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rhondda-Cyon-Taff-1995-2012.pdf Rhondda Cyon Taff County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012], The Election Centre. Retrieved 27 October 2018. though at the May 2017 election Plaid Cymru re-took the ward.[https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Council/Votingandelections/Electionresults/CountyBoroughCouncilElections2017.aspx County Borough Council Elections 2017], Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
Sport and leisure
Ystrad is home to rugby union team Ystrad Rhondda RFC, a Welsh Rugby Union affiliated team who play in the 2nd tier of the Welsh rugby leagues. It is also the location of the Rhondda Sports Centre.
Name
Ystrad is Welsh for "vale". "Ystrad" is in Welsh "Yr Ystrad", with the definite article. It is a short form of the village name Ystradyfodwg or Ystrad-dyfodwg ("vale of Tyfodwg", the name of a saint) which gave its name to an extensive parish, and from 1887 the name of a local government district, renamed as "Rhondda" in 1897.
The Taff Vale railway station at Ystradyfodwg, opened in 1861, was given the short name "Ystrad". In 1930 it was renamed Ystrad Rhondda, possibly to avoid confusion with other stations with “ystrad” (Ystradmynach and Ystradgynlais).
Ystrad Rhondda is "the Ystrad which is the Rhondda district". Sometimes Ystrad Rhondda is said to mean "Vale of the Rhondda" but this is not the correct explanation.
See also other townships in Wales containing "Ystrad" as part of their name:{{intitle|Ystrad}}
Notable people
:See :Category:People from Ystrad
- Ben Bowen Thomas, civil servant and educationalist
- Jill Evans, Plaid Cymru MEP
- Mike Griffiths, Wales rugby union and British Lion
- Mel Hopkins, Wales international football player
- Nathan Jones, Welsh footballer and manager
- Maurice Richards, dual code rugby international and British Lion
- Rex Willis, Wales rugby union captain and British Lion
- Ernest Zobole, artist
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Ystradyfodwg/slaters.1880.html Slaters Commercial Directory: Treherbert and Ystrad-Rhondda]
- [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2738939 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Ystrad and surrounding area]
- [http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/ Welsh Coal Mines website - check out the histories of the local pits]
{{Rhondda Cynon Taf}}
{{Rhondda Valley}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf