Taff's Well

Name

The name "Taff's Well" is derived from the situation of the village alongside the River Taff and the presence of the warm spring within Taff's Well Park .

Thermal spring

Taff's Well Park (Parc Ffynnon Taf) is the site of the Taff's Well Thermal Spring, a well that reached its height of popularity for visitors to the village in the mid to late 1800s. It enjoys temperatures which average 21.6 degrees C. The Well at Taff's Well is Wales' only natural thermal spa..

Location

Taff's Well is situated just off Junction 32 of the M4 Motorway and at the southern end of the A470.

Though administratively represented by Rhondda Cynon Taff Council, Taff's Well is a commuter town for the City of Cardiff where many of its residents work.

19th Century

Taff's Well grew into an important railway junction during the mid- to late nineteenth century, when Cardiff was a major global exporter of coal.

Taff's Well is a growing community which includes numerous districts: Glan-Y-Llyn, Rhiw Ddar and Glan Y-Frodd; Ty-Rhiw; the old village centre that consists of Alfred's terrace, Anchor Street, Church Street, Garth Street, Yew Terrace and Ty Rhiw through which the Taff Trail runs. Taff's Well is next to Castell Coch, which overlooks Cardiff.

20th Century

The actor David Jason spent much time in Taff's Well and based the situation comedy Open All Hours based upon Arthur's shop which is one of many buildings to have been dismantled and sent to the St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life.

21st Century

Taff's Well is the original location of the story that inspired the film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, by Ivor Monger and Christopher Monger.

Taff's Well has featured in the BBC Wales sitcom Stella Starring Ruth Jones. The post office in Nantgarw is the main filming location for the sitcom, although it is just outside the village.

RCT Council Representative for Taff's Well

Jill Bonetto (Labour) represents the village on the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.

Taff's Well Community Council

Taff's Well and Nantgarw are also represented locally by the Taff’s Well & Nantgarw Community Council, which has 10 members. The Council hit the headlines in 2010 when it was criticised by the Wales Audit Office for breaching financial and corporate governance regulations with its financial records. Described as 'The Worst Run Council in Wales', there were calls for the 'wholesale sacking' of the ten members for breaching 'financial and corporate governance regulations because of its “inadequate” financial records, supporting paperwork and minutes between 2002 and 2006'.

Sport

Taff's Well A.F.C. are the local football team.

Taff's Well RFC are the local Rugby union team.Empolyment

Transport

Taffs Well railway station, which opened in 1863, is situated on the Rhondda and Merthyr Lines. Services are provided by Arriva Trains Wales northbound to Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil via Pontypridd and southbound to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central. The average journey time to Cardiff Central is 20 minutes at a frequency of 6 trains per hour.

Stagecoach bus service 132 between Maerdy and Cardiff central bus station stops in the village every 15 minutes at peak times.

The A470 road runs through the village between Cardiff Bay (9 miles (14 km) south) and Llandudno (179 miles (288 km) north). Taff's Well is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Junction 32 (Cardiff North) of the M4 motorway.

There are plans to integrate Taff's Well into the South Wales Metro.

Churches

The village has a number of churches, including Taff's Well United Church whose ministers are Helen and Andy Fyall.

Notable people

See Category:People from Taff's Well