THE OLD BRIDGE BUILD 1756

AERIAL VIEW OF THE TOWN

The Famous Grogg Shop

About Pontypridd

Pontypridd is a busy market town, twelve miles North West of Cardiff the Capital City of Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Taff and Rhondda and at the junction of the Cardiff to Rhondda and Merthyr railway lines. It is now part of the borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, which includes The Rhondda,Cynon Valley and Llantrisant, one of the oldest towns in South Wales.The name of the town refers originally to a footbridge across the River Taff where the River Rhondda flowed into it, at the end of which used to be a primitive turf, or earth house. This bridge existed long before the town's famous "Old Bridge".The bridge was built in 1755 by William Edwards, a self-taught mason, from Groeswen, who was a minister of religion by profession. Built in native stone, it was regarded, at the time, as an architectural feat because it was the longest one-arch bridge in the country. It was the third (some say the fourth) bridge to be built, the first bridges collapsed, but by putting three cylindrical holes graduated in size at either end, the largest at the bottom, the bridge has remained standing until today.Some time afterwards, Pontypridd became known as Newbridge after the bridge, and implying the existence of the old footbridge referred to earlier. The road bridge alongside, known as the Victoria bridge was built in 1857.

From the bridge looking up the river on the left is Craig-yr-Hesg headland, which once gave its name to another footbridge, built of timber, across the river known as Pont-yr-Hesg. Reference was made to the beauty of this headland centuries ago. Craigyr-Hesg quarry, famous for its blue pennant stone, is alongside.

Tabernacle Chapel near the Edwards bridge was built in 1861 and has been purchased by Pontypridd Town Council and has been converted into a Historial and Cultural Centre which will eventually house the town's first museum. Note the steps leading down into the river, once where people were baptised.