Coordinates: 51°43′N 4°02′W / 51.71°N 4.04°W
| Pontarddulais | |
  Pontarddulais
Pontarddulais shown within Wales |
|
| Population | 5,293 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Swansea |
| Ceremonial county | West Glamorgan |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SWANSEA |
| Postcode district | SA4 |
| Dialling code | 01792 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Gower |
| Welsh Assembly | Gower |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Swansea | |
Pontarddulais ([pɒntʌθiːlɑɪs]) is a community and town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales. It is situated 16 km (10 miles) north west of Swansea city centre. It falls within the Pontarddulais ward.
Contents |
Overview
A literal English translation of the Welsh placename Pontarddulais[1] is "Bridge on the Dulais", with Dulais meaning black stream, probably due to abundant coal dust. The name is in reference to a now dismantled bridge which previousy formed part of the main road from Swansea to Carmarthen, following the course of the River Loughor (Llwchwr). The name refers to the medieval bridge on the river Llwchwr, upstream of its confluence with the Dulais. The earlier name for the place was Pen y bont aber dulais (1550) meaning the end of the bridge near the river confluence. Today, the town is known by locals as "The Bont".
The town stands mostly in the parish of Llandeilo Tal-y-bont (in English "The church of St. Teilo at the end of the bridge"), which referred to the medieval church now transported stone by stone to the St Fagans National History Museum near Cardiff. The bridge referred to in that name was about half a mile down river of the Pont aber dulais bridge, located near the site of the old church. The small part of the town located on the Carmarthenshire side of the bridge, that includes the Black Horse and Red Lion public houses, stands in the parish of Llanedi (in English 'church of Edi').
About 28% of the ward's population is able to speak, read and write Welsh.[1]
History
Pontarddulais was a quiet remote hamlet for centuries. Sometime during the Middle Ages, a bridge was built across the River Loughor where Pontarddulais is now located. The bridge was called "Y Bont Fawr", which means The Great Bridge in English, giving a clue as to the origins of the Pontarddulais'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. Pontarddulais 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 Pontarddulais with Swansea which made Pontarddulais an important railway junction.
Pontarddulais 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 Pontarddulais. New, modern tinplate works in nearby Trostre and Felindre rendered the old works in Pontarddulais 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 Pontarddulais 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 School, and Bryniago School, a Welsh language school. Pontarddulais Comprehensive and primary schools are English-speaking schools, but do teach the Welsh language.
Transport
The local railway station 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.
Media and culture
Pontarddulais is home to Cor Meibion Pontarddulais or Pontarddulais Male Voice Choir, the most successful competitive choir in Wales, having won the main choir prize at the Welsh National Eisteddfod a record 14 times and the International Eisteddfod prize on two occasions.[2] The choir also performed choral parts in the Pink Floyd film 'The Wall' [3] and recorded with Roger Waters on his hit single 'The Tide is Turnng'
Pontardulais Town Band
Pontarddulais is also home to Pontardulais Town Band. The band has many national and local accolades, and is one of the oldest Town Brass Bands 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 canival, and Rememberance 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 the band 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.
Notable residents
- Ieuan Evans, Wales international rugby player
- Dan Mathews, drama director
- John Walters, from Fforest, produced English/Welsh Dictionary 1770-94
- Eifion Jones, Glamorgan county cricketer
- Derwyn Jones, Wales rugby international
- Terry Price, Hendy, Wales rugby international
- Eric Jones, composer
- Robert Croft, from Fforest, Glamorgan county and England cricketer
- James Harris, Glamorgan county cricketer
- Dennis O'Neill, tenor
- Wyn Matthews, Welsh Bowls International
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 have expressed an interest in developing a new superstore in the town, with enthusiastic support from shopkeepers in the local area.[4]
References
External links
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