Historic Landscape Characterisation
The Rhondda


The Rhondda represents a rare and important historic landscape and as such is included in the national Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales: Part 2:2: Landscapes of Special Historic Interest (2001). Landscape characterisation, which is the purpose of this report, has fully substantiated this view and makes recommendations for the proactive and long-term management of the area.



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This important South-Wales historic landscape has been chosen through professional consensus and represents one of the largest and best-known mining conurbations and coalfield communities in Britain. The wider landscape is rich in a diverse and thematic archaeological resource of many periods and types, showing a high degree of cultural interest and continuity. Currently, however, the area is actively under threat from a wide variety of agencies, both public and private, in particular from landscape improvement, reclamation and urban renewal schemes. These are occurring at a time when there is not yet a full appreciation of the value and condition of the archaeological resource, both industrial and earlier, and particularly in landscape terms.

Therefore, it is both opportune and welcome that this project has been instigated, commissioned and funded by Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments as part of a wider pan-Wales initiative. It is hoped that this report will provide the catalyst for the urgent consideration of the future conservation of the Rhondda.


The Rhondda Historical Processes, Themes and Background


The Character Areas

HLCA 001 Porth: Gateway to the Rhondda Valleys
Significant commercial and service centre; composite colliery settlement; early industrial settlement area with contemporary housing and early colliery development; characteristic built features, mostly late 19th/early 20th century, include terraced housing, chapels, churches, public buildings, shops and workmen's institutes; the current settlement is a nucleated conurbation centred on a later commercial core; transportation/distribution focal point; early centre of non-conformist Christianity.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA001)

Porth, view east from Dinas with Mynydd-y-Glyn in the background.


(Photo: GGAT HLCA002)

Rhondda Heritage Park, foreground with part of Trehafod and Mynydd-y-Glyn in background.

HLCA 002 Hafod
Two linear first phase 'pithead' colliery settlements, originating as a scatter of isolated terraced rows and cottages, ribbon development and superimposed late 19th century grid-layout; retains typical terraced housing, commercial properties and chapels; little commercial development; surviving industrial monuments, Rhondda Heritage Park.
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HLCA 003 Penygraig
First phase pithead colliery settlement with earlier nucleated origins, later industrial ribbon development and late 19th century imposed grid-layout; retains typical terraced housing, commercial properties and chapels; early council housing; moderately developed commercial centre; cultural/historical associations.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA003)

Aerial view of Penygraig from the north-west with Mynydd Penygraig in the background.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA004)

Williamstown with Mynydd Dinas beyond.

HLCA 004 Williamstown
Minor first phase colliery settlement, later 2nd and 3rd phase expansion; ribbon development settlement and late 19th century imposed grid-layout; retains typical terraced housing, commercial properties and chapels; residential colliery village with low urban morphological and functional development.
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HLCA 005 Trealaw
Composite colliery settlement, 1st phase pithead settlement, small compact nucleated colliery-built settlement of linear terraces with extensive later ribbon accretions; retains typical terraced housing, and chapels, etc.; residential colliery village with building-club, speculative and owner-occupier housing; large cemetery serving surrounding area, including lower and mid-Rhondda Fach; low commercial development.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA005)

Aerial view of Trealaw from the south-east
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA006)

Tonypandy, centre, with Trealaw in foreground.
HLCA 006 Tonypandy
Significant commercial and service centre (including Italian cafes and hair dressers); composite settlement, comprising post-medieval precursor centred on Pandy or fulling mill with 1st phase ribbon settlement, with extensive grid-layout additions, predominantly during the 2nd phase; later re-development of initial 1st phase area as commercial centre during late 19th early 20th century; retains typical terraced housing, shops, chapels, and modest public buildings of the period; housing predominantly speculative during later phases.
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HLCA 007 Cwm Clydach
Example of fragmented 1st phase pithead colliery settlements, comprising isolated terraced rows; later, 2nd phase planned settlement with distinctive grid-layout street pattern, and linear terraces, with later 3rd phase hillside accretions, giving the area a largely uniform visual aspect; residential colliery settlements with limited functional/morphological variety; examples of post 1870s building-club and speculative housing; reclaimed colliery landscape; separate tributary side-valley location.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA007)

Cwm Clydach

(Photo: GGAT HLCA008)

Aerial view of Llwynypia showing the 'Scotch' Terraces, foreground right.

HLCA 008 Llwynypia
Rare example of early 1st phase pithead settlement in the Rhondda; planned, compact nucleated colliery-built settlement of linear terraces, with mostly 2nd phase ribbon and hillside accretions; residential colliery settlement with limited functional/morphological variety; early examples of colliery-built terraced housing - 'Scotch Terraces' distinctive double-fronted terraced cottages; Llwynypia Colliery Engine House, rare example of surviving industrial monument in the Rhondda.
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HLCA 009 Ystrad and Pentre
Mid-19th century 1st phase linear roadside development spreading south from a nucleus at Pentre, serving a number of collieries; later 2nd phase expansion on linear grid layout, specifically at Pentre and Bodringall (Ystrad); continuous residential village with low urban morphological and functional development; early centre of non-conformist religion; cultural and historic associations.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA009)

Ystrad, view from south showing the late 19th century schools, centre.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA010)

Aerial view showing Gelli, centre, and Ton Pentre, right.

HLCA 010 Ton Pentre and Gelli
Composite colliery settlement comprising: mid-19th century 1st phase 'pithead' development with initial colliery built housing and grid-layout taking pre-existing road system into account and adjacent isolated rows; and later19th century 2nd phase expansion on linear grid layout, including creation of a large 2nd phase 'pithead' settlement at Gelli and minor 3rd phase additions; residential colliery village with low urban morphological and functional development; medieval and later parochial centre (Ton Pentre).
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HLCA 011 Treorchy
Significant commercial and service centre; 1st phase settlement mostly on Bute Estate land with visibly high degree of planning, comprising generously laid out main street, later developed as the commercial core with flanking linear-grid layout established over all three phases; significant commercial centre developed from initial colliery settlements; characteristic built features, mostly late 19th/early 20th century, include terraced housing, chapels, churches, public buildings, shops and workmen's institutes; large cemetery serving surrounding area, i.e. the Rhondda Fawr; settlement associated with number of local collieries, but primarily the Abergorki Colliery with its outlying settlement of isolated rows; major road junction; cultural associations.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA011)

Treorchy: The Abergorgki Workingmens' Institute.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA012)

Cwmparc, view from east with Graig-fawr in the background.

HLCA 012 Cwmparc
Example of pithead colliery settlement(s), which evolved from isolated rows during the 1st phase, unified into a single continuous linear settlement during the 2nd and 3rd phases; linear terraces, giving the area a uniform visual aspect; residential colliery specific settlements with limited functional/morphological variety; examples of pre-1880s colliery housing and later speculative housing; reclaimed colliery landscape; separate tributary side-valley location.
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HLCA 013 Treherbert
Estate planned and built 1st phase colliery settlement with mainly minor additions during the 2nd and 3rd phases; retains typical housing and converted commercial properties etc; interesting 19th century buildings, i.e. National School and House, Almshouses and Dumfries Street and numerous chapels; garden village addition & early council housing; Grid-pattern layout; moderately developed commercial centre.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA013)

Treherbert: St Mary's Alms Houses, Bute Street.

 


(Photo: GGAT HLCA014)

Aerial view of Ty-newydd with Cwmparc in the background.

HLCA 014 Ty-newydd
Planned colliery-built terraced settlement, originally conceived as a Model Village; 1st phase colliery settlement with 2nd and 3rd phase additions, relatively low level of commercial development; typical terraced housing and converted commercial properties; site of Rhondda Merthyr Colliery (tips extant).
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HLCA 015 Blaenrhondda
Linear-planned, valley-head colliery settlement; 1st phase pithead settlement with outlying isolated rows with 3rd phase additions; predominantly residential in character with negligible commercial development; homogeneous visual aspect, while illustrating developments within a formative colliery settlement; retains distinct village identity separate from neighbouring settlements; good examples of typical terraced colliery housing and associated chapels and schools; reclaimed Fernhill Colliery site.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA015)

Aerial view Blaenrhondda in the foreground with Cwmparc beyond.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA016)

Blaenycwm, view from the west.
HLCA 016 Blaenycwm
Linear valley-head colliery settlement; 1st phase colliery settlement based around early coal level with and 3rd phase renewal centred on later colliery development, typified by isolated rows and later infilling of renewed 20th century expansion; predominantly residential in character with negligible commercial development; illustrating developments within a formative colliery settlement; originated separately from neighbouring settlements and retains distinct village identity to this day; good examples of atypical and typical terraced colliery housing; reclaimed colliery landscapes; separate tributary side-valley location.
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HLCA 017 Ynyshir
First colliery settlement in the Rhondda Fach valley; 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase colliery settlement, originating as typical isolated rows during 1st phase, but present character dominated by late 19th and early 20th century expansion and linear-layout, development strongly associated with fortunes of associated collieries; predominantly residential in character, mostly post-1870s housing stock; minor commercial development
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA017)

Aerial view of Ynyshir from the southeast.


(Photo: GGAT HLCA018)

Aerial view of Wattstown from the west.

HLCA 018 Wattstown
Compact 2nd phase pithead settlement associated with a single colliery; planned, compact settlement of linear terraces, with later 3rd phase additions including hillside estate; predominant colliery constructed housing - good examples of post-legislation colliery housing; residential colliery settlement with limited functional/morphological variety; historic associations.
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HLCA 019 Pontygwaith, Tylorstown and Stanleytown
A composite colliery settlement area comprising three closely associated 2nd phase 'pithead' settlements associated with two/three collieries; residential settlements with post-1880s housing stock, including colliery-built housing, with minor functional/morphological variety and commercial development.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA019)

Stanleytown, view east from above Tylorstown.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA020)

Ferndale from Blaenllechau, view from northeast.

HLCA 020 Blanllechau and Ferndale
A composite colliery settlement area comprising two closely associated 1st phase 'pithead' settlements associated with a single colliery; rare example of early pithead colliery-built settlements in the Rhondda Fach; Ferndale: planned, compact nucleated 1st phase settlement of linear terraces, grid-pattern and ribbon layouts, with mostly 2nd phase additions; Blaenllechau: a 1st phase linear terraced hillside settlement, originating as isolated rows, with ribbon development and 2nd phase additions; residential settlements retaining typical housing and converted commercial properties, including colliery built housing, building-club and speculative housing; interesting 19th century buildings, i.e. Tre-Rhondda Chapel and Workmen's Institute; large cemetery serving surrounding area; moderately developed commercial centre (Ferndale only).
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HLCA 021 Maerdy
Second phase pithead colliery settlement; valley-head location; single colliery specific; planned nucleated settlement; second phase core of uniform homogeneous terraced housing, colliery-built housing and leisure facilities; strongly residential and relatively low commercial development, with 3rd phase additions including extensive ribbon development; distinct separate identity from neighbouring community; reclaimed industrial landscape.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA021)

Maerdy: Typical single-fronted terraced housing, Griffiths Street.


(Photo: GGAT HLCA022)

Aerial view showing the northern edge of Blaenllechau, Ffaldau lies to the right.

HLCA 022 Ffaldau
Relict agricultural landscape; distinctive field boundaries; detached part of HLCA 023 Rhondda Fach: Eastern Enclosed Valley Sides.
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HLCA 023 Rhondda Fach: Eastern Enclosed Valley Sides
Relict agricultural landscape to an extent modified by industrial development; distinctive field boundaries; documentary evidence of medieval/post-medieval agricultural practice and settlement; post-medieval upland settlement (longhouses); industrial landscape associated with mineral extraction, predominantly coal; ancient woodland and modern forestation.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA023)

Blaenllechau: Post-medieval farm and outbuildings.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA024)

Enclosed slopes of Mynydd Ty'n Tyle, viw from the east.

HLCA 024 Rhondda Fach: Western Enclosed Valley Sides
Prehistoric funerary landscape; relict agricultural landscape to an extent modified by industrial development; distinctive field boundaries; documentary evidence of medieval/post-medieval agricultural practice and settlement; medieval upland settlement; post-medieval upland farmsteads (longhouses); industrial landscape associated with mineral extraction, predominantly coal; ancient woodland and modern forestation.
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HLCA 025 Mynachdy Penrhys
Upland landscape; core area of medieval grange and pilgrimage site; historic, cultural and religious significance; relict post-medieval field system and farmstead(s); minimal industrial influence on the landscape; early communications; documentary evidence; modern social housing, forestry and leisure use.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA025)

Aerial view of the character area with the Rhondda Fawr in the background.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA026)

Mynydd Brith-weunydd showing spoil tips and golf course with Llwynypia in the background.

HLCA 026 Mynydd Brith-weunydd and Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Upland landscape; prehistoric funerary landscape; early communications corridor; part of former medieval monastic grange; distinctive and possibly early boundaries; extensive industrial landscape.
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HLCA 027 Brith-weunydd and Troed-y-rhiw
Relict agricultural landscape to an extent modified by industrial development; distinctive and possibly early boundaries; formerly part of medieval Cistercian grange; post-medieval upland settlement (longhouses); early communications corridor; remnant ancient woodland and Coedcae field names; industrial landscape associated with mineral extraction, predominantly coal.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA027)

Troedyrhiw: post-medieval enclosure and spoiltips above Ynyshir.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA028)

Aerial view of Mynydd Dinas showing remnant woodland and partly reclaimed/landscaped summit.

HLCA 028 Mynydd Dinas and Mynydd Cymmer
Mountain or upland sheepwalk; relict agricultural features; prehistoric funerary use; post-medieval settlement, agricultural and industrial; extensive upland industrial landscape.
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HLCA 029 Rhondda Fawr: Enclosed Valley Sides
Largely relict medieval/post-medieval agricultural landscape; distinctive field boundaries; prehistoric funerary landscape and settlement; upland medieval agriculture and settlement; post-medieval agriculture and farmsteads (predominantly longhouse regional types); documentary evidence for both medieval/post-medieval agricultural practice and settlement; extensive industrial landscape with features dating from the early phases of mineral extraction.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA029)

Mixed woodland and post-medieval enclosure at Cwm-y-fforch, Treorchy.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA030)

Aerial view of the Lluest-wen Reservoir and the upper reaches of the Rhondda Fach.

HLCA 030 Rhondda Uplands
Upland mountain sheepwalk, partially forested; multi-period and multi-functional landscape; prehistoric settlement and funerary landscape; early communication corridor; Roman and medieval military structures; early medieval administrative boundaries; medieval upland settlement; post-medieval industrial landscape; relict upland agricultural landscape; documentary and place name evidence.
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HLCA 031 Rhondda Uplands (Mynydd Ton - Mynydd Penygraig)
Upland mountain sheepwalk, partially forested; multi-period and multi-functional landscape; prehistoric settlement and funerary landscape; early communication corridor; military structures; early medieval administrative boundaries; medieval upland settlement; post-medieval industrial landscape; relict upland agricultural landscape; documentary and place name evidence.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA031)

Aerial view of uplands above Cwm Clydach, showing twentieth century afforestation.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA032)

View of character area from Bwlch-y-Clawdd, showing open nature of the landscape.

HLCA 032 Parc Cwm Brychinog
Upland mountain sheepwalk, limited forestation; prehistoric funerary landscape; prehistoric settlement; early communication corridor; early medieval administrative boundaries; medieval hunting park; relict agricultural features; documentary and place name evidence; post-medieval industrial landscape.
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HLCA 033 Rhondda Fawr: Enclosed Valley Sides (Cwm Lan - Nant-y-Gwiddon)
Largely relict medieval/post-medieval agricultural landscape; distinctive field boundaries; prehistoric funerary landscape and settlement; upland medieval agriculture and settlement; post-medieval agriculture and farmsteads (predominantly longhouse regional types); documentary evidence for both medieval/post-medieval agricultural practice and settlement; extensive industrial landscape with features dating from the early phases of mineral extraction.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA033)

Former enclosed landscape on slopes of Mynydd y Gelli and Llwynypia Mountain

(Photo: GGAT HLCA034)

Gelli-Faelog Farm, derelict post-medieval holding above Tonypandy.

HLCA 034 Rhondda Fawr: Enclosed Valley Sides (Mynydd Penygraig)
Largely relict medieval/post-medieval agricultural landscape, similar to HLCA 029, possibly with medieval origins; distinctive field boundaries; minor industrial extraction features.
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HLCA 035 Mynydd-y-Glyn
Mountain or upland sheepwalk; relict upland agricultural and industrial landscape; modern reclamation and forestation.
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(Photo: GGAT HLCA035)

Mynydd-y-Glyn showing area of landscaped workings and forestry.

(Photo: GGAT HLCA036)

Post-medieval enclosure below Cilely Farm.

HLCA 036 Cilely and Rhiwgarn
Relict agricultural landscape; distinctive boundaries; medieval encroachment; possible medieval settlement and associated agricultural features.
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For further information please contact the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust at this address. Link to the Countryside Council for Wales website at www.ccw.gov.uk or Cadw at www.cadw.wales.gov.uk
Back to main map HLCA015 Blaenrhondda HLCA016 Blaenycwm HLCA014 Ty-newydd HLCA013 Treherbert HLCA011 Treorchy HLCA012 Cwmparc HLCA032 Parc Cwm Brychinog HLCA009 Ystrad and Pentre HLCA010 Ton Pentre and Gelli HLCA033 Rhondda Fawr: Enclosed Valley Sides (Cwm Lan - Nant-y-Gwiddon) HLCA008 Llwynypia HLCA006 Tonypandy HLCA005 Trealaw HLCA007 Cwm Clydach HLCA003 Penygraig HLCA031 Rhondda Uplands (Mynydd Ton - Mynydd Penygraig) HLCA034 Rhondda Fawr: Enclosed Valley Sides (Mynydd Penygraig) HLCA029 Rhondda Fawr Enclosed Valley Sides HLCA026 Mynydd Brith-weunydd and Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw HLCA004 Williamstown HLCA027 Brith-weunydd and Troed-y-rhiw HLCA001 Porth: Gateway to the Rhondda Valleys HLCA028 Mynydd Dinas and Mynydd Cymmer HLCA036 Cilely and Rhiwgarn HLCA036 Cilely and Rhiwgarn HLCA035 Mynydd-y-Glyn HLCA002  Hafod HLCA025 Mynachdy Penrhys HLCA017 Ynyshir HLCA018 Wattstown HLCA019 Pontygwaith, Tylorstown and Stanleytown HLCA024 Rhondda Fach: Western Enclosed Valley Sides HLCA020 Blaenllechau and Ferndale HLCA021 Maerdy HLCA023 Rhondda Fach: Eastern Valley Sides HLCA022 Ffaldau HLCA023 Rhondda Fach: Eastern Enclosed Valley Sides HLCA030 Rhondda Uplands