Ynysboeth (Welsh for 'hot island' / 'burnt river meadow') is a suburban area[1] in the community of Abercynon, in the Cynon Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South East Wales.

Ynysboeth
Suburb

View of Ynysboeth
Ynysboeth is located in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Ynysboeth
Ynysboeth
Location within Rhondda Cynon Taf
Population2,036 (Census, 2011)
OS grid referenceST070964
• Cardiff17.5 mi (28.2 km)
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMOUNTAIN ASH
Postcode districtCF45
Dialling code01443
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Rhondda Cynon Taf
51°39′34″N 3°20′44″W / 51.659502°N 3.3456802°W / 51.659502; -3.3456802

There is a nearby smaller neighbouring associated village of Tyntetown (or 'Tynte'[2]) to the north.[3]

Ynysboeth extends from Nant-y-Fedw in the south to Bryntyrion in the north; while Tyntetown comprises the houses along and side streets off of 'Pentwyn Avenue'.

Ynysboeth is located along the B4275[4][5] between Penrhiwceiber (around 1.5 miles (2 km) to the northwest), and Abercynon (around 1.5 miles (2 km) to the southeast), and is adjoined by the small village of Pontcynon to the south.

Collectively the population of the area according to the 2011 Census was 2,036.[6]

Geography

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Ynysboeth is bounded to the east by the River Cynon, the A4059,[7][user-generated source?][8] 'Coed Fforest Isaf'/'Cefn-Glas'/'Lletty Turner'/'Craig-yr-efail' and by Edwardsville (Quakers Yard) beyond; and to the west by 'Coed Ty-dan Darren'/'Tyntetown Slopes', Cwm Clydach and Llanwonno beyond.

Its location relative to principal towns nearby is as follows - around 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Mountain Ash, 4 miles (6 km) west of Treharris, 7 miles (11 km) south of Aberdare, 10 miles (16 km) south of Merthyr Tydfil, 6.5 miles (10 km) north of Pontypridd, and 17.5 miles (28 km) northwest of Cardiff.

Administration

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Although not a part of Abercynon itself, administratively Ynysboeth is grouped within the same electoral ward; however Ynysboeth and Tyntetown are more closely aligned from a social and historic perspective with the nearby community of Penrhiwceiber.

These also fall within the ecclesiastical parish of 'Penrhiwceiber, Matthewstown & Ynysboeth',[9] and together with Penrhiwceiber and the western portion of Mountain Ash form the 'Lower Cynon Cluster'.[10]

Local Amenities

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Ynysboeth is home to 'Ynysboeth Community Primary School'[11][12][13] (opened in 2013 as a merger and replacement of 'Ynysboeth Junior School' and 'Ynysboeth Infants School',[14] the later of which was destroyed by fire in 2010[15]) and the 'Bryncynon Community Revival Strategy'[16] (set up in 1994). Other local facilities include a playground and some local shops and businesses.

History

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Historically Ynysboeth and Tyntetown fell within the parish of Llanwonno within the County of Glamorganshire (specifically Mid Glamorgan),[17][18] was governed by the 'Mountain Ash Urban District Council',[19] within the 'Pontypridd' Census registration district, and fell within the ecclesiastical parish of 'Penrhiwceiber'.

A separate parish of 'Tyntetown and Ynysboeth' was created in 1923, later regrouped with Penrhiwceiber to become 'Penrhiwceiber, Matthewstown and Ynysboeth' as of 1968,[20] of which they still remain a part of today.

Ynysboeth

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Prior to the end of the C19th the area was rural (viewable on Ordnance Survey (OS) maps of 1884[21]), consisting largely of 'Ynys-boeth-uchaf', 'Ynys-boeth-isaf', 'Aber-nant-y-fedw' and 'Blaen-nant-y-fedw' farms, after which Ynysboeth and the area of 'Nant-y-Fedw' (translated as 'stream of the birch') took its name.[22] Historically Nant-y-Fedw experienced recurring flooding issues, until a major flood alleviation scheme was undertaken by the Council in 2014/2015.[23]

By OS maps of 1901,[21] much of the current village was established with the following roads and streets evident - 'Abercynon Road', 'Battenberg Street', 'Carne Terrace' (later to become 'Cross Street'), 'Cross Street', 'Gloucester Terrace', 'Hartpury Street' (later to become 'Maes y Ffynnon'), 'Itton Street' (later to become 'Caemaen Street'), 'Kennard Street' (later to become 'Avondale Street') and 'Selina Road'. Also evident from this date are 'Ynysboeth Infants School' and 'Ynys-boeth Quarry'.

According to the 1901 Census, the population of the village at this time was 891.

The area of 'Nant-y-Fedw' was first evident on OS maps from 1953 onwards,[21] while the area of 'Bryntirion' (translated as 'gentle hill' in Welsh) was first evident on OS maps from 1962 onwards.[24] The streets of 'Parry's Drive' and 'Valley View' and the area of 'Maes y Ffynnon' (translated as 'site of the fountain') all being more recent additions to Ynysboeth.

Listed in the 'South Wales & Monmouthshire Trade Directory, 1907',[25] were the following businesses - 'E. Smith' (Grocers), 'E. Smith' (Shopkeepers), 'G. Lewis' (Shopkeepers), 'John Bowen' (Grocers) and 'W. Davies' (Shopkeepers); with the 'Trades' Directory of Wales (North and South), 1918'[26] listing 'Beatall Dairy Co' (Grocers) and 'Wm Taplin' (Cycle Agent). The village was also previously home to the 'Ynysboeth Hotel'.[27]

Tyntetown (Matthewstown)

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Tyntetown meanwhile took its name from the owner of the estate, Halswell Milbourne Kemeys-Tynte,[28] on which the village falls, and after which several of its streets are named. Prior to the end of the C19th, this area too was rural, comprising mainly 'Pentwyn-isaf' and 'Pentwyn-uchaf' farms, after which the main road through the village ('Pentwyn Avenue'[29][30]) took its name.

Tyntetown has previously been known as 'Matthewstown', believed to be named after a local farmer William Matthews, although this name was never widely adopted and was only correctly renamed to 'Tyntetown' on local road signs as late as 2011.[31][32]

By OS maps of 1901,[21] most of current day Tyntetown had been established with the following roads/streets evident - 'Abercynon Road' ('Pentwyn Avenue'), 'Bagot Street', 'Haswell Street', 'Homerton Street', 'Milbourne Street' and 'Walsh Street', also evident from this date is the 'Tynte Hotel'. The only addition being the housing along 'Pentwyn Avenue', the 'Tabernacle Chapel' and the sinking of 'Pentwyn Colliery' as evident on OS maps from 1921 onwards.[21]

The 1901 Census recorded the population of the village (as 'Matthewstown') at this time to be 790.

According to the 'Trades' Directory of Wales (North and South), 1918',[26] the following businesses were listed as within Tyntetown ('Matthewstown') - 'H.J. Crocker' (Grocers), 'H. Dyke' (Butchers), 'Ladd & Sons' (Grocers) and the 'Tynte Hotel' (Inn).

Industrialisation

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Following industrialisation, the area previously had its own rail station between 1914 and 1964 named 'Tyntetown Halt'[33][34] (later referred to as 'Matthewstown Halt'),[35][36] together with sidings associated with 'Ynys-boeth Quarry' and 'Penrhiwceiber Colliery' (viewable on OS maps between 1901 and 1953[21]) along the Aberdare Branch of the Taff Vale Railway.

The area was also previously linked with the Edwardsville district of Quakers Yard, Treharris, via the 700 yard long Cefn Glas (Quakers Yard) Railway Tunnel built in 1851,[37][38] which linked the Cynon Valley with Neath and Pontypool via the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Branch of the Great Western Railway, and served the nearby Cefn Glas Colliery[39] (sunk in 1863, employing up to 137 men & boys, and closed in 1903). This was later opened to passenger traffic, before finally being closed in 1964. Of note, a coal seam running through the tunnel was worked during the 1984-85 miner's strike.

The area was also home to 'Pentwyn (Merthyr) Colliery'[40][41][42][43] (sunk by D. R. Jones in 1920,[44] and viewable on OS maps in the vicinity of Bryntirion, between 1921 and 1956[21][45]), as well as 'Pentwyn Isha Level' (employing 30 men as of 1918),[46] 'Nantyfedw Level' (employing 8 as of 1938),[47] 'Ynysboeth Level', and numerous other trial levels, quarries and associated tramways within the area.

'Penrikyber Navigation Colliery' ('Penrhiwceiber Colliery')[48] (sunk in 1872, employing up to 2,236 men & boys, and closed in 1985) was located nearby on the outskirts of Tyntetown with Perthcelyn and Penrhiwceiber, and many of the houses in Tyntetown and Ynysboeth were built to house the workforce of this colliery.[49]

Worship

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As well as 'All Saints Church' (established 1903),[50] the area was previously home to several places of worship, namely - 'Tabernacle English Baptist Chapel',[51] 'Calvary Welsh Baptist Chapel',[52] 'Hebron Church',[53] 'Carmel English Methodist Church',[54] 'Hermon Calvinistic Methodist Chapel'[18] and 'Bethany Baptist Chapel'.[52]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Ynysboeth, Rhondda Cynon Taf - area information, map, walks and more". OS GetOutside. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Geograph:: Photos of tyntetown". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Rightmove.co.uk". Rightmove.co.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ^ "B4275 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki". www.sabre-roads.org.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  5. ^ Services, Good Stuff IT. "Traffic statistics on the B4275, Penrhiwceiber, Rhondda, Cynon, Taff | ST054980 | UK Traffic Data". UK Traffic Data. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  6. ^ "No dataset selected - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  7. ^ "A4059 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki". www.sabre-roads.org.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  8. ^ Services, Good Stuff IT. "Traffic statistics on the A4059, Mountain Ash, Rhondda, Cynon, Taff | ST050991 | UK Traffic Data". UK Traffic Data. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Welcome to the Parish of
    Penrhiwceiber, Matthewstown & Ynysboeth"
    . Welcome to the Parish of
    Penrhiwceiber, Matthewstown & Ynysboeth
    . Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Communities First - Lower Cynon Cluster". www.rctcbc.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Welcome | Ynysboeth Community Primary". www.ynysboethprimary.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  12. ^ Learning, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Education and Lifelong (3 June 2015). "Ynysboeth Community Primary School". www2.rctcbc.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "News | Morgan Sindall Construction". construction.morgansindall.com. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Ynysboeth Community Primary School". www.rctcbc.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Ynysboeth school destroyed by fire gets £5m replacement". BBC News. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  16. ^ "Bryncynon Strategy The Feel Good Factory Ynysboeth, Mountain Ash". Bryncynon Strategy The Feel Good Factory Ynysboeth, Mountain Ash. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  17. ^ GENUKI. "Genuki: Llanwonno, Glamorgan". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  18. ^ a b GENUKI. "Genuki: Ynysyboeth in the Parish of Llanwonno, Glamorgan". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Mountain Ash Urban District Council records". www.archiveswales.org.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  20. ^ "Matthewstown (and Ynysboeth) Ecclesiastical Parish records". www.archivesnetworkwales.info. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g "Map images - National Library of Scotland". maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  22. ^ "Memories of Ynysboeth - Francis Frith". www.francisfrith.com. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  23. ^ Project, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Environmental Services, Public Health and Protection, Environment (23 September 2014). "Nant Y Fedw Flood Alleviation Scheme". www2.rctcbc.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Old-Maps - the online repository of historic maps - home page". www.old-maps.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  25. ^ "South Wales & Monmouthshire Directory, 1907 :: Historical Directories of England & Wales". specialcollections.le.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  26. ^ a b "Trades' Directory of Wales (North and South), 1918 :: Historical Directories of England & Wales". specialcollections.le.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  27. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online Transfer of Licence.|1916-12-02|The Aberdare Leader - Welsh Newspapers Online". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  28. ^ "THE MANOR HOUSE". domesday. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  29. ^ Owens, David (30 November 2015). "The Coca-Cola truck took a detour into a tiny village in the Cynon Valley". walesonline. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  30. ^ Owens, David (30 November 2015). "Mystery as Coca-Cola Christmas Truck makes unexpected stop in tiny Welsh village". mirror. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  31. ^ "Matthewstown to Tyntetown: council updates road signs". BBC News. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  32. ^ Administrator, walesonline (11 August 2010). "'Call us Tynte not Matthewstown'". walesonline. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  33. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online '". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  34. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online STATION FOR TYNTETOWN.|1914-03-14|The Aberdare Leader - Welsh Newspapers Online". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  35. ^ "Rail UK Railway Station Information". RailUK.info. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  36. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online Mountain Ash Jottings.|1914-10-24|The Aberdare Leader - Welsh Newspapers Online". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  37. ^ "Railways Edwardsville/Quakers Yard | Treharris District". www.treharrisdistrict.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  38. ^ "Cefn Glas (Quakers Yard) Tunnel". www.forgottenrelics.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  39. ^ "Photo". www.welshcoalmines.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  40. ^ "YNYSBOETH". www.welshcoalmines.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  41. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online -----_.--__---A Tyntetown Mystery.|1905-10-14|The Aberdare Leader - Welsh Newspapers Online". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  42. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online To Run a Lorry.|1919-03-15|The Aberdare Leader - Welsh Newspapers Online". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  43. ^ "1922 Colliery Undertakings". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  44. ^ "Resources". www.nmrs.org.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  45. ^ "Personalise Your Old Map - Ynysboeth, 1898 - Francis Frith". www.francisfrith.com. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  46. ^ "Heroes of Coal | Find a PIt". www.heroesofcoal.com. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  47. ^ Museum, Durham Mining. "Durham Mining Museum - UK Company Index [N*]". www.dmm.org.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  48. ^ "Penrhiwceiber Colliery". www.welshcoalmines.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  49. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online -....s PENRIEYBER NAVIGATION COLLIERY COMPANY, LIMITED. j|1899-07-26|South Wales Daily News - Welsh Newspapers Online". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  50. ^ GENUKI. "Genuki: Penrhiwceibr in the Parish of Llanwonno, Glamorgan". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  51. ^ "Cymru 1914 - Saturday 16th of June, 1917 (First Edition)". cymru1914.org. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  52. ^ a b "Pillars Of Faith - The Ministers". www.pillars-of-faith.com. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  53. ^ "Welsh Newspapers Online YNYSBOETH.|1913-08-16|The Aberdare Leader - Welsh Newspapers Online". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  54. ^ "The Churches of Britain and Ireland - Rhondda Cynon Taff". www.churches-uk-ireland.org. Retrieved 27 March 2016.

Location Grid

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