Pontarddulais
Encyclopedia
Pontarddulais is a community
and town in the City
and County
of Swansea
, Wales
. It is situated 16 km (9.9 mi) north west of Swansea city centre
. It falls within the Pontarddulais ward
.
Most of the town lies within the Parish of Llandeilo Tal-y Bont (apart from the small section west of the bridge that lies in LLanedi Parish). LLandeilo Tal-y Bont (the Church of St Teilo at the end of the bridge) also contains a bridge in its name, but this is not to be confused with the Pontaberdulais bridge. The church bridge was located near to the old church on the earlier Roman road that crossed the river Loughor near Hendy. The medieval church was carefully reconstructed stone by stone and now stands proudly in The Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagan's Cardiff.
, a bridge was built across the River Loughor
where Pontardulais is now located. The bridge was called Pontaberdulais. It was also known as Y Bont Fawr (The Great Bridge), giving a clue as to the origins of Pontardulais's modern nickname "The Bont". The bridge was an important link between Carmarthenshire
and Glamorganshire. A new single span bridge was built beside Y Bont Fawr in 1938 and the old bridge was demolished at the end of the second world war. Pontardulais first gained attention in the wider world in 1843, during the Rebecca Riots
when rioters attacked the toll gate there, after crossing the bridge.
The path to industrialisation began in the early nineteenth century. 1839 saw the arrival of the railways to the town when the Llanelli Dock Company built a line to transport anthracite coal
from the Amman Valley
to Llanelli
. In 1866, a new line was built connecting Pontardulais with Swansea
which made Pontardulais an important railway junction.
Pontardulais was transformed from a rural settlement into an industrial community during the years 1872 to 1910 when six tinplate works were established. The population expanded greatly during this period, as workers from nearby communities and as far afield as Italy
, moved in to find work in the tinplate industry.
The 1950 saw another major transformation in Pontardulais. New, modern tinplate works in nearby Trostre and Felindre
rendered the old works in Pontardulais obsolete. The local works were taken over by other enterprises and redeveloped as light industry. However, they did not replace all the jobs lost due to the closure of the local tin plate works. A part of the local population had to find work elsewhere. Light industry
gradually began deserting Pontardulais in the latter half of the twentieth century, transforming the community into a dormitory village.
, and Bryniago School, a Welsh language
school. Pontarddulais Comprehensive and primary schools are English-speaking schools, but do teach the Welsh language
.
is served by the Heart of Wales Line
with trains to Swansea
to the south and Shrewsbury
to the north. The A48 road
traverses thorough the town as St Teilo Street and Bolgoed Road. The M4 Motorway
serves Pontarddulais at junction 48.
Pontarddulais is home to Côr Meibion Pontarddulais or Pontarddulais Male Choir
, the most successful competitive choir in Wales
, having won the main choir prize at the Welsh National Eisteddfod a record 15 times and the International Eisteddfod
prize on two occasions. The choir also performed choral parts in the Pink Floyd
film The Wall and recorded with Roger Waters
on his hit single "The Tide is Turning".
Pontarddulais is also home to Pontardulais Town Band. The band has many national and local accolades, and is one of the oldest town brass band
s in Wales. Having survived both World Wars, the band continues to move from strength to strength. The band room is located off Station Road Pontarddulais. The band continues to support local events, such as the Hendy and Pontarddulais carnival, and Remembrance Day
Parades. Pontardulais Town Band won the Championship Section at the South East Wales Brass Band Association contest on 21 November 2009, held in the Blaenavon Workingmen’s Hall. It was the first time for over 50 years that the Pontardulais Town Band has won a “Class A” or championship contest in Wales. The last time the band was ranked “Class A” was in 1958 when they represented Wales at the National Finals playing “Variations on a Shining River” arranged by Frank Wright. The band finished the year joint runners-up in the championship section for the 2009 competitive year. In March 2010 the band competed in the Welsh Regional Championships in the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea and they attained 1st place in the first section resulting in them qualifying for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. The band's current Musical Director is Mr Paul Jenkins.
Some well-known literary figures have associations with Pontarddulais, including Edward Thomas(Poet)
and Dylan Thomas
, who had several aunts and uncles in the town. It has been suggested that Dylan based part of his filmscript, Rebecca's Daughters, on the riots in the Bont. His life-long friend, Wynford Vaughan Thomas, was the grandson of Daniel Lewis, one of the Rebecca leaders.
, Gironde
, France
- Cobh
, County Cork
, Republic of Ireland
opened the 45000 sq ft (4,180.6 m²) store on 10th October 2011.
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
and town in the City
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and County
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is situated 16 km (9.9 mi) north west of Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the...
. It falls within the Pontarddulais ward
Pontarddulais (electoral ward)
Pontarddulais is a name of an electoral ward and parish of the City and County of Swansea, south Wales. The parish of Pontarddulais has its own elected town council....
.
Overview
A literal English translation of the name Pontarddulais is "Bridge on the Dulais", with Dulais meaning "black stream", probably due to its journey through coal measures. The earlier name of Pontaberdulais is in reference to a dismantled 14th century road bridge over the Loughor River (Afon Llwchwr) which formed part of the main highway between Swansea and Carmarthen. The Bridge was so named because of its position upstream of the mouth of the Dulais stream, and not as many believe, because of it spanning the Dulais stream. The Pontaberdulais bridge spanned the River Loughor. This bridge was also known as "Y Bont Fawr". The village that developed around this bridge took the shortened form of Pontardulais as its name, also written as Pontarddulais because of the assumption that the bridge was "over Dulais". The bridge also gave the town its nickname "Y Bont" ("The Bont").Most of the town lies within the Parish of Llandeilo Tal-y Bont (apart from the small section west of the bridge that lies in LLanedi Parish). LLandeilo Tal-y Bont (the Church of St Teilo at the end of the bridge) also contains a bridge in its name, but this is not to be confused with the Pontaberdulais bridge. The church bridge was located near to the old church on the earlier Roman road that crossed the river Loughor near Hendy. The medieval church was carefully reconstructed stone by stone and now stands proudly in The Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagan's Cardiff.
History
Pontardulais was a quiet remote hamlet for centuries. Sometime during the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, a bridge was built across the River Loughor
River Loughor
The River Loughor in Carmarthenshire, Wales has its source at an underground lake at the Black Mountain. It flows past settlements like Ammanford and Hendy in Carmarthenshire and Pontarddulais in Swansea. The river divides Carmarthenshire from Swansea for much of its course and it separates Hendy...
where Pontardulais is now located. The bridge was called Pontaberdulais. It was also known as Y Bont Fawr (The Great Bridge), giving a clue as to the origins of Pontardulais's modern nickname "The Bont". The bridge was an important link between Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
and Glamorganshire. A new single span bridge was built beside Y Bont Fawr in 1938 and the old bridge was demolished at the end of the second world war. Pontardulais first gained attention in the wider world in 1843, during the Rebecca Riots
Rebecca Riots
The Rebecca Riots took place between 1839 and 1843 in South and Mid Wales. They were a series of protests undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers in response to perceived unfair taxation. The rioters, often men dressed as women, took their actions against toll-gates, as they were...
when rioters attacked the toll gate there, after crossing the bridge.
The path to industrialisation began in the early nineteenth century. 1839 saw the arrival of the railways to the town when the Llanelli Dock Company built a line to transport anthracite coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
from the Amman Valley
Amman Valley
Amman Valley may refer to:*The valley of the River Amman*Amman Valley Hospital*Amman Valley Railway*Amman Valley Railway Society*Amman Valley School...
to Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
. In 1866, a new line was built connecting Pontardulais with Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
which made Pontardulais an important railway junction.
Pontardulais was transformed from a rural settlement into an industrial community during the years 1872 to 1910 when six tinplate works were established. The population expanded greatly during this period, as workers from nearby communities and as far afield as Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, moved in to find work in the tinplate industry.
The 1950 saw another major transformation in Pontardulais. New, modern tinplate works in nearby Trostre and Felindre
Felindre
Felindre is a rural village in south Wales. The village can be found in the far north of Swansea, in the electoral ward of Mawr.The nearby Lower Lliw Reservoirs are a popular venue for walking and fishing. The water mill in the village was working until the late 1960s, there was also an abbatoir...
rendered the old works in Pontardulais obsolete. The local works were taken over by other enterprises and redeveloped as light industry. However, they did not replace all the jobs lost due to the closure of the local tin plate works. A part of the local population had to find work elsewhere. Light industry
Light industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
gradually began deserting Pontardulais in the latter half of the twentieth century, transforming the community into a dormitory village.
Education
The town's schools are Pontarddulais primary school, Pontarddulais Comprehensive SchoolPontarddulais Comprehensive School
Pontarddulais Comprehensive School is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive school situated in the town of Pontarddulais, Wales.It is maintained by the Local Education Authority, the City and County of Swansea...
, and Bryniago School, a Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
school. Pontarddulais Comprehensive and primary schools are English-speaking schools, but do teach the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
.
Transport
The local railway stationPontarddulais railway station
Pontarddulais railway station serves the town of Pontarddulais and village of Hendy in Wales. The station is located at street level not far from the town centre and the Loughor estuary...
is served by the Heart of Wales Line
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
with trains to Swansea
Swansea railway station
Swansea railway station is a railway station that serves Swansea, Wales. The station is one of four in the City and County of Swansea and is the fourth busiest in Wales after Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Newport.-History:...
to the south and Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury railway station
Shrewsbury railway station is the railway station serving Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, England. It is the only remaining railway station in the town; Shrewsbury Abbey, as well as other small stations around the town, having long closed. The station was built in 1848 and has been extended...
to the north. The A48 road
A48 road
The A48 is a major trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen. Before the construction of the M4 motorway and the first Severn Bridge in the mid 1960s it was the principal route into South Wales. For most of its journey through Wales,...
traverses thorough the town as St Teilo Street and Bolgoed Road. The M4 Motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
serves Pontarddulais at junction 48.
Media and culture
Pontarddulais hosts many cultural events throughout the year including Pontarddulais and Hendy carnival, which makes its way from Hendy Industrial Estate to Coed Bach Park in Pontarddulais on the last Saturday of June every year. Also held in the town is Pontarddulais Show, an agricultural show held on August Bank Holiday, and the Classic Car and Motor Show, held in September, both of which take place at Pontarddulais Agricultural Show Ground.Pontarddulais is home to Côr Meibion Pontarddulais or Pontarddulais Male Choir
Pontarddulais Male Choir
The Pontarddulais Male Choir is a Welsh male voice choir from Pontarddulais near Swansea in the United Kingdom.It is the most successful choir in Wales and is internationally renowned as it has appeared in many parts of Europe as well as Canada and the United States.It has achieved a record...
, the most successful competitive choir in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, having won the main choir prize at the Welsh National Eisteddfod a record 15 times and the International Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
prize on two occasions. The choir also performed choral parts in the Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
film The Wall and recorded with Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
on his hit single "The Tide is Turning".
Pontarddulais is also home to Pontardulais Town Band. The band has many national and local accolades, and is one of the oldest town brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
s in Wales. Having survived both World Wars, the band continues to move from strength to strength. The band room is located off Station Road Pontarddulais. The band continues to support local events, such as the Hendy and Pontarddulais carnival, and Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
Parades. Pontardulais Town Band won the Championship Section at the South East Wales Brass Band Association contest on 21 November 2009, held in the Blaenavon Workingmen’s Hall. It was the first time for over 50 years that the Pontardulais Town Band has won a “Class A” or championship contest in Wales. The last time the band was ranked “Class A” was in 1958 when they represented Wales at the National Finals playing “Variations on a Shining River” arranged by Frank Wright. The band finished the year joint runners-up in the championship section for the 2009 competitive year. In March 2010 the band competed in the Welsh Regional Championships in the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea and they attained 1st place in the first section resulting in them qualifying for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. The band's current Musical Director is Mr Paul Jenkins.
Some well-known literary figures have associations with Pontarddulais, including Edward Thomas(Poet)
Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas may refer to:People:*Edward Beers Thomas, American judge*Edward J. Thomas , librarian and author of several books on the history of Buddhism*Edward Lloyd Thomas, Confederate American Civil War general...
and Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
, who had several aunts and uncles in the town. It has been suggested that Dylan based part of his filmscript, Rebecca's Daughters, on the riots in the Bont. His life-long friend, Wynford Vaughan Thomas, was the grandson of Daniel Lewis, one of the Rebecca leaders.
Notable residents
- Vera Bassett, Fforest, artist
- Ieuan EvansIeuan EvansIeuan Evans is a former rugby union footballer who played on the wing for Wales. He is regarded as one of the best Welsh wingers of all time, despite playing through a disappointing era of Welsh rugby. A prolific try scorer at International level, Evans is listed 19th in the world on the all-time...
, Wales international rugby player - Dan MathewsDan MathewsDan Mathews is the Senior Vice President of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He is known for heading PETA's most controversial and attention-getting campaigns, including the "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" ads, as well as campaigns involving celebrities such as Morrissey, Pamela...
, drama director - John WaltersJohn Walters (Welsh cleric)John Walters was a Welsh cleric from Glamorgan in the eighteenth century. He wrote a manifesto, A Dissertation on the Welsh Language , in which he praised the Welsh language. He was a noted lexicographer, publishing An English–Welsh Dictionary in fifteen parts . His eldest son was the poet and...
, from Fforest, produced English/Welsh Dictionary 1770-94 - Eifion JonesEifion Jones (cricketer)Eifion Wyn Jones was a Welsh cricketer who played for Glamorgan County Cricket Club.When he first came to Glamorgan Jones was a specialist right-handed batsman but after being tutored by Phil Clift he became their first choice keeper...
, Glamorgan county cricketer - Derwyn JonesDerwyn JonesDerwyn Jones is a former professional Welsh rugby union player and Welsh international. A mountain of a player, he is 6 ft 10 inches tall and weighed over 20 stone at his peak...
, Wales rugby international - Terry PriceTerry PriceTerence "Terry" Graham Price was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, rugby league and American football player of the 1960s and '70s, who at representative level played rugby union for British Lions, and , and at club level for Llanelli RFC, playing at Fullback, i.e...
, Hendy, Wales rugby international - Eric JonesEric JonesEric Jones is a former part-time NASCAR driver. He ran in the Busch Series and had some of his best success in the Craftsman Truck Series. He won one NASCAR Midwest Series before moving up to major NASCAR.-Busch Series:...
, composer - Robert CroftRobert CroftRobert Damien Bale Croft is a Welsh cricketer who has played international cricket for both England and Wales. He is an off-spin bowler who plays for Glamorgan and captained the county from 2003 to 2006...
, from Fforest, Glamorgan county and England cricketer - James HarrisJames Harris (cricketer)James Alexander Russell Harris is a cricketer who is on the staff of Glamorgan. An all-rounder, Harris is a right arm seam bowler and right-handed batsman. He was the youngest person ever to play for Glamorgan 2nd XI, aged 14 years and 353 days and the youngest person to have played for Wales...
, Glamorgan county cricketer - Dennis O'NeillDennis O'NeillDennis O'Neill CBE is a Welsh operatic tenor and recording artist.-Early career:Born of Welsh and Irish parents, he studied privately with Professor Frederic Cox in Manchester and then in London...
, tenor - Wyn Matthews, Welsh Bowls International.
- David Cuthbert ThomasDavid Cuthbert ThomasDavid Cuthbert Thomas was a Welsh soldier of the First World War.Thomas was the son of Evan and Ethelinda Thomas of Llanedy Rectory, Pontardulais, Glamorgan. His first commission was as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. That regiment also included the writers Robert...
, (1895-18 March 1916) Welsh soldier of the First World War. - Tony ChappelTony ChappelTony Chappel is a former Welsh professional snooker player from Pontarddulais in Swansea, a professional between 1984 and 2001.-Career:...
, former Welsh professional snooker player. - David James JonesDavid James JonesDavid James Jones , was a Welsh philosopher and academic. He should not be confused with David James Jones , a contemporary writer....
, Welsh philosopher and academic. - T. Haydn Thomas, Conductor, Pontarddulais Choral Society
- David Vaughan Thomas, composer
Twin towns
- HourtinHourtin
Hourtin is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Hourtin is a member of the Community of Municipalities Médoc's Lakes which includes the municipalities of Lacanau, Carcans and Hourtin : the territory Médoc Océan : http://www.medococean.co.uk/-Population:-External...
, Gironde
Gironde
For the Revolutionary party, see Girondists.Gironde is a common name for the Gironde estuary, where the mouths of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge, and for a department in the Aquitaine region situated in southwest France.-History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Cobh
Cobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Redevelopment
A £30 million redevelopment was agreed early in 2008, for new road beside the town with new shops and housing being built. Several supermarkets expressed an interest in developing a new superstore in the town, with enthusiastic support from shopkeepers in the local area. TescoTesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
opened the 45000 sq ft (4,180.6 m²) store on 10th October 2011.