Population 6,099 (2011 Ward) Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Thursday 11:52 AM | OS grid reference ST076851 Country Wales Postcode district CF38 Dialling code 01443 | |
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Weather 8°C, Wind NE at 32 km/h, 79% Humidity | ||
Llantwit Fardre (Welsh: Llanilltud Faerdref) is a large village situated on the A473, Pontypridd to Bridgend (Welsh: Penybont ar Ogwr), road near the Welsh towns of Pontypridd and Llantrisant. Llantwit Fardre is also the name of the old parish and the community area that takes in the villages of Llantwit Fardre, Tonteg and Church Village. It is in the county of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Contents
- Map of Llantwit Fardre Pontypridd UK
- Etymology
- History Amenities
- Employment
- Sport
- Local government
- References
Map of Llantwit Fardre, Pontypridd, UK
The Welsh Government has constructed a bypass to reduce traffic congestion on the A473 road at Tonteg, Church Village (Welsh: Pentre'r Eglwys) and Llantwit Fardre. The Church Village bypass, as it is known, has been built as a single carriageway, with crawler and overtaking lanes around roundabouts, and was opened for traffic in September 2010.
Etymology
It is believed the name Llantwit Fardre is derived from an old Welsh Language name meaning The Church of St Illtud (Llantwit), on the Home Farm of the Prince (Faerdref) and relates to the land surrendered to the prince of the District by his subject to provide him with an income. Saint Illtud was a 5th-century Celtic priest who built his second church roughly in the area where the present church stands. He was later famed as the Saint of the Five Keys of youth, learning, chivalry, priesthood and knighthood.
History & Amenities
The parish has a fairly well preserved 12th century motte castle with an intact moat, called Tomen-Y-Clawdd, which is located in the parish village of Tonteg. Coach company Edwards Coaches is based in the town, and was established in 1925.
A station called Llantwit Fardre (and formerly Llantwit Dyffryn Red Ash Colliery) served the village on the Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway.
Employment
Industrialisation began in Llantwit Fardre in the late 17th century with the introduction of stone quarrying and coal mining. With the decline of coal mining the local populace tend to commute to work.
Between 1959 and 1973 Gilbern cars were manufactured in the village.
Sport
Llantwit Fardre has both a rugby union and football (soccer) team. Llantwit Fardre RFC are a rugby union team who play in the WRU Division 1 East Central; Llantwit Fardre AFC are a local football club that have a team playing in the South Wales Amateur Football League.
Local government
Llantwit Fardre Parish Council was formed under the 1894 Local Government Act and the first meeting was held on 1 January 1895. It continued in this form until 1974 when, on local government re-organisation, Welsh parish councils were re-titled community councils in deference to the disestablishment of the Church in Wales some 60 years earlier. The council have adopted the motto, carved over the entrance to the Carnegie Hall, "Goreu arf arf ddysg" being translated from the old Welsh to mean "The best tools are the tools for learning".
On 2 May 2008, Joel James, a British Conservative Party politician became the first Tory councillor to be elected to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for the Llantwit Fardre seat.