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The bridges at Ponty. © Ben Salter
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Pontypridd is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales.It has a population of roughly 33,000, and is situated 12 miles north of the capital city, Cardiff. It is correctly pronounced "Pont-uh-PREETHE", but is known locally as "Ponty" (pronounced "Pontee").
The name Pontypridd is from the Welsh for bridge by the earthen house; named for several wooden bridges that spanned the River Taff. Pontypridd is, however, more famous for the New Bridge, a stone bridge across the Taff built in 1756 by William Edwards. The bridge was the fourth attempted by Edwards, and at the time of construction was the longest stone-built single-arch bridge in Europe. The bridge is a perfect segment of a circle, the chord of which is 140 feet (43 m), and 35 feet (11 m) above the level of the river. Notable features are three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge. These were to reduce the weight of the bridge; the aesthetic nature of them was merely a bonus. However, the utility of the bridge was debatable. The steepness of the design made it difficult to get carts across it, and in 1857, a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, was built adjacent to the old one, paid for by public subscription.
Pontypridd was known as Newbridge from shortly after the construction of the New Bridge until the 1860s.
The history of Pontypridd is closely tied to the coal and iron industries. Sited as it is at the junction of the Rhondda and Taff valleys, it became an important location for the transportation of coal from the Rhondda and iron from Merthyr Tydfil, first via the Glamorganshire Canal and later via the Taff Vale Railway, to the ports at Cardiff and Barry. Because of its role in transporting coal cargo, its train platform was at one time the longest in the world.
Today the town, which incorporates the village of Treforest, is perhaps best known as home of the University of Glamorgan which started life as a mining college.
Pontypridd boasts one of Wales' best rugby teams and frequently contributes players to the national team. It features a station called Pontypridd railway station, as well as a hospital, Dewi Sant Hospital.
Some say the best Live Nusic Venue in Wales is also here(: Clwb Y Bont home of the Roostafish promotion.
Notable people from Pontypridd include:
Pontypridd hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1893.
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 Retail in Pontypridd:
ALDI Pontypridd
Unit 2
Midway Retail Park
Pontypridd
CF37 3EE
 0844 406 8800
Argos - Pontypridd
Unit 2
Pontypridd Retail Park
Ynysangharad Road
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4DA
0845 640 3030
Tesco - Pontypridd
Gelli-Hirion Ind Estate
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 5SN
0845 6779564
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 Places of Worship in Pontypridd:
All Nations Church
Saron Chapel
Saron Street
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 1TF
07980 730650
Bethany Baptist Church
Ford Road
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 1HX
01443 492088
 Beulah English Baptist Church
51 Mary Street
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4ES
01443 403377
Church In Wales
The Vicarage
Lanelay Cresent
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 1JB
01443 402417
Coedpenmean English Baptist Church
Llanover Road
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4DY
01443 408445
 www.coedpenmaenbaptist.co.uk
Gateway Community Church
Thurston Road
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4RH
01443 493203
St Catherine's Church
The Vicarage
Gelliwastad Grove
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 2BS
01443 402021
 St Dyfrig (RC)
Broadway
Pontypridd
CF37 1DB
01443 402439
 st.dyfrigtreforest@rcadc.org
Temple Baptist Church
Gelliwastad Road
Pontypridd
CF37
01443 486 258
www.templebaptist.org.uk
St Mark Church in Wales - Pwllgwaun
The Vicarage
Lanelay Crescent
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 1JB
01443 402417
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 Schools/Colleges in Pontypridd:
Coedpenmaen County Primary School
Coedpenmaen Close
Pontypridd
Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF37 4LE
01443 486828
Coedylan Primary School
Tyfica Road
Pontypridd
CF37 2DB
01443 486829
Graig-Y-Wion Primary School
Albert Road
Graig
Pontypridd
CF37 1LA
01443 486833
Hawthorn High School (Secondary)
School Lane
Hawthorn
Pontypridd
CF37 5AL
01443 841228
 01443 846464
Hawthorn Primary School
School Lane
Hawthorn
Pontypridd
CF37 5AL
01443 84123
Parclewis Primary School
Broadway
Pontypridd
CF37 1BE
01443 486836
Trallwng Infants School
Bonvilston Road
Trallwn
Pontypridd
CF37 4RD
01443 486842
Y.G.G. Pont Sion Norton (Primary)
Heol Pont Siôn Norton
Pontypridd
Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF37 4ND
01443 486838
Ysgol G.G. Evan James (Primary)
Ffordd Y Rhondda
Pontypridd
Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF37 1HQ
01443 486813
01443 403129
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 Chemists/Pharmacies in Pontypridd:
A & JM Sheppard Ltd
5 Church Street
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 2TH
01443 402411
Boots The Chemist
82-84 Taff Street
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4SU
01443 407954
Lloyds Pharmacy
Morgan Street
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 2DR
01443 408811
Lloyds Pharmacy
Taff Vale Shopping Centre
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4TG
01443 402790
Parkgate Pharmacy
17 Berw Road
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 2AA
01443 402887
Tesco Pharmacy
Gelli-Hirion Industrial Estate
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 5SN
01443 617449
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 Doctors/GPs in Pontypridd:
Eglwysbach Medical Practice
Berw Road
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 2AA
01443 406811
Drs Davies G & Robinson N
Ynysangharad Surgery
70 Ynysangharad Road
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4DA
01443 480521
Pontypridd Health Centre
Taff Vale Practice
Bridge Street
Pontypridd
Mid Glamorgan
CF37 4PF
01443 405996
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Pont-Y-Pridd - From 'A Topographical Dictionary of Wales' (1849)
PONT-Y-PRIDD, otherwise called the New Bridge, over the river Tâf, forms a beautiful and picturesque object from the various points at which it is visible; but, owing to the steepness of the ascent, it is somewhat inconvenient to travellers on horseback, and is almost impassable for vehicles heavily laden, which ford the stream when practicable. It consists of one arch, 140 feet in the chord, and 35 feet in height above the level of the river when the water is low, forming the section of a circle 175 feet in diameter, which, at the time of its erection, was considered the largest stone arch in the world. At each extremity are three cylindrical holes, gradually diminishing in size as they approach the summit, introduced to relieve the arch from the extreme pressure arising from its abutments; the diameter of the lowest is nine feet, that of the middle six, and that of the uppermost four. The architect was William Edwards, a native of the parish of Eglwysilan, a self-taught genius, whose talents procured for him great distinction as a bridgebuilder. He began the work, in 1746, by constructing a light and elegant bridge of three arches, which, in the course of about two years and a half after the period of its completion, was swept away by a flood of extraordinary magnitude. The mountain torrents tore up by the roots several large trees, which, forming a dam as they floated along by the middle piers of the bridge, caused a vast accumulation of the waters; and these, ultimately bursting through their barrier with irresistible force, carried away the entire structure. Bound by the terms of the contract to maintain the stability of the bridge for seven years, Edwards conceived the design of surmounting the difficulty by a structure of one arch, of the then unexampled width of 140 feet, from pier to pier, which he completed in 1751, having only to add the parapets; but, owing to the keystone of the arch being unable to resist the pressure of the abutments, the whole gave way and fell into the river. The luckless architect was thus driven once again to the resources of his fertile genius, to prevent the recurrence of so unpropitious an event; and adhering to his latter plan of a single arch, he contrived an ingenious method for diminishing the enormous weight that had previously forced the keystone out of its place, by constructing the cylindrical holes in the present bridge, already described, which enabled him to complete this curious and much admired edifice. Some account of William Edwards is given in the article on Eglwysilan.
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