Trehafod

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly= Rhondda
map_type=
official_name= Trehafod
static_

static_image_caption=
latitude= 51.6096
longitude= -3.3811
unitary_wales= Rhondda Cynon Taff
lieutenancy_wales= Mid Glamorgan
constituency_westminster= Rhondda
post_town= PORTH
postcode_district = CF37
postcode_area= CF
dial_code= 01443
os_grid_reference= ST044909
population= 816 ["The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales". John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg750 ISBN 9780708319536]
OldMapsYear=
OldMapsEasting=
OldMapsNorthing=
OldMapsCounty=

Trehafod is a village in the Rhondda Valley between Porth and Pontypridd in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. A former coal mining area, the village is now best known as the site of the Rhondda Heritage Park, a tourist attraction reflecting industrial life of coal mining Rhondda.

History

The 1847 tithe map of the area shows a number of farms on the area that was to become Trehafod, these were named, Hafod Uchaf, Hafod Genol and Hafod Fawr. It was from these farms that Trehafod was to take its name. "Hafod" is a Welsh word that can mean "summer dwelling" or "upland farm".

Trehafod railway station lies on the Rhondda Line which follows the River Rhondda; the railway line and river border the village on either side.

Trehafod is now most famous for the Rhondda Heritage Park which was, at the peak time for coal mining production, one of the most productive colliery in the South Wales Coalfield.

Due to the river flowing very close to a lot of houses within the village there have been a number of floodings. The biggest floods were in 1960, which claimed the life of one man who lived in Afon street. "Afon" is a Welsh word that means "river". In most streets, the whole lower level of buildings was submerged by water. Other years that floodings have occurred were 1921, 1929, 1979 and most recently in the mid 1990s. In the late 1990s the Trehafod stretch of the Rhondda river bank was reinforced, in an effort to prevent future floodings.

The village was visited by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 June 2002 during her Jubilee tour of the UK. Other royal guests who have visited in the past include King George V and Queen Mary in 1912.

External links

* [http://leonhughes.dns2go.com:81/photos/Rhondda/Trehafod/default.asp Pictures of events in Trehafod]
* [http://webapps.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk/Libraries/heritagetrail/rhondda/trehafod/trehafod.htm Trehafod]
* [http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk Welsh Coal Mines website - research the local pit history]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2793252 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Trehafod and surrounding area]

References