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Ynysybwl is a village in south Wales, United Kingdom. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... This article is about the country. ...

It is situated within the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, roughly 20 miles North-North-East of Cardiff, 4 miles North of Pontypridd and 10 miles South of Merthyr Tydfil. County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom to refer to a borough or a city independent of county administration. ... Rhondda Cynon Taff (Welsh: Rhondda Cynon T f) is a county borough in Glamorgan, South Wales. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ... , Pontypridd is a town in Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. ... Merthyr Tydfil (Welsh: ) is a town and county borough in Wales, with a population of about 55,000. ...

Before 1996 it was part of the Cynon Valley district of Mid Glamorgan, and is historically part of Glamorgan. Categories: UK geography stubs ... Mid Glamorgan is a ceremonial preserved county of Wales, one of the divisions of the traditional county of Glamorgan. ... Glamorgan or Glamorganshire (Welsh: ) is one of thirteen historic counties and former administrative counties of Wales. ...

Ynysybwl itself is situated in the Clydach Valley, flanked on either side by the Rhondda Valley and Cynon Valley. The market town of Pontypridd lies to the south at the meeting point of these three valleys and to the north is the expansive Llanwynno forestry. The Rhondda Valley is a former coal-mining valley in south Wales. ... Categories: UK geography stubs ... , Pontypridd is a town in Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. ... Llanwynno is a hamlet in Rhondda Cynon Taff. ...

The name Ynysybwl (Ynys-y-Bwl to be exact) means in English either "Field of Rock" or "Field Hill" either of which would aptly describe the hills to the Eastern side of the village (on which the colliery was sited) as it is flanked on each side by rivers and streams. The name itself is pronounced (IPA) as /ʌnɪsʌbʊl/ (roughly "Un-iss-u-bull" in English). However, the explanation of the name given above is almost certainly incorrect.'Ynys' means an 'island' or a 'meadow' as ancient streams were not in fixed channels and 'islands' of grass were common except during flooding. There is more controversy over the 'bwl' part of the name, as it is said to derive either from 'pwll' or pool , or from 'bwlch', a pass between hills. Given the topography of this narrow valley, the latter is most probably correct. It is also wrong, as given above, to double-hypenate 'Ynys-y-bwl', as this is contrary to Welsh usage; there are different roads signs with these two spellings, which have given rise to controversy! Wyoming coal mine Coal mining is the mining of coal. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ...

History

Until the 1880s, Ynysybwl was simply a collection of small local farms and meadows in a quiet and completely rural valley. The rich seam of coal that lies beneath the surface had thus far only been tapped to the amount required to supply these local farms. Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ...

That was until 1884 when the Lady Windsor colliery first began development, opening in 1886. As with most mining areas in south Wales, a local community immediately sprang up around the colliery. Many of the houses were built in typical terraced fashion by the mine owners in order to house its workers and their families. Most were built on the opposing (Western) side of the valley. A street of British terraced housing In architecture and city planning, a terrace, rowhouse, or townhouse (United States) is a style of housing since the late 18th century where identical individual houses are cojoined into rows. ...

During its peak period the colliery employed around 1500 people directly although most of the 6000-7000 village community relied upon the pit in one way or another. The pit thrived throughout the first half of the 20th century, becoming one of a number of very successful operations in south Wales at that time. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

However as time went on, coal mining fell out of favour with many people, including politicians, and the Lady Windsor colliery did not escape the troubles that plagued the industry during the miners strikes of the early 1980s. The pit was finally closed in 1988 leaving a much damaged community. The miners strike of 1984-5 was a major piece of industrial action affecting the British coal industry. ...

Despite this the village has survived, people finding work in the newly developing industries in nearby Pontypridd, Treforest, Aberdare, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff. , Pontypridd is a town in Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. ... Treforest or Trefforest is a small village to the south-east of Pontypridd, Wales. ... Caradog statue in Victoria Square For other uses, see Aberdare (disambiguation). ... Liam is a legend and lives in trecenydd Caerphilly (Welsh: Caerffili) is a town in South Wales, located at the bottom of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. ... Merthyr Tydfil (Welsh: ) is a town and county borough in Wales, with a population of about 55,000. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ...

This, coupled with the replacement of the pit as the village focus by local churches, chapels, clubs and associations, has led to a renewed interest in regeneration of the village. This has reached a peak so far in the formation of the Ynysybwl Regeneration Partnership, an umbrella group formed to help achieve funding and organisation for activities within the village.

Today, Ynysybwl is the base for an extraordinary number of clubs and associations for such a small village, boasting rugby, football, netball, bowls, cricket, a pony club, male voice choir, a brass band (Lady Windsor Colliery Band) and sections of the Brownies and Air Training Corps. For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... A Netball game in Australia Netball is a sport similar to and derived from basketball, and was originally known in its country of origin, the United States, as womens basketball. Invented by Clara Gregory Baer[1], a pioneer in womens sport, it is now the pre-eminent women... Swifts Creek Bowls Club Bowls (also known as Lawn Bowls or Lawn Bowling) is a precision sport in which the goal is to roll slightly radially asymmetrical balls (called bowls) closer to a smaller white ball (the jack or kitty) than ones opponent is able to do. ... Bowler Shaun Pollock bowls to batsman Michael Hussey. ... A Shetland Pony A pony is any of several horse breeds with a specific conformation and temperament. ... A brass band a musical group consisting mostly or entirely of brass instruments, often with a percussion section. ... For additional meanings of the word Brownies see Brownie (disambiguation) Brownies is the name given to the junior branch of the Girl Guides, and dates back to 1915. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The nearby Llanwynno forestry also boasts the successful Cym Clydach Outdoor Activity Group, an outdoor pursuits centre run by people from the village, and a newly developing cycle path that will form part of the local Taff Trail. This article or section should include material from Cycle path debate Segregated cycle facilities may consist of a separate road, track, path or lane that is designated for use by cyclists and from which motorised traffic is generally excluded. ... Mile post at Quakers Yard The Taff Trail is a popular walking and cycle path that runs for 55 miles between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Wales. ...

People, Places and Events

As with many Industrial Revolution-born villages, Ynysybwl is a community based around a number of key places. A Watt steam engine, the steam engine that propelled the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the world. ...

Not least amongst them are the local Trerobart and Glanffrwd schools that cater for over 450 pupils. The Recreation Ground is the home to many of the village's sporting clubs, hosting rugby, football, cricket and bowls as well as incorporating a large playing area. And of course there are the local drinking establishments, The Roberttown, Constitutional Club and the Old Ynys-y-Bwl Inn.

In its time this small village has been called home by a number of well known names in the world of sport and entertainment.

Most notably perhaps is the late and great darts legend Leighton Rees (first ever World Champion in 1978). Although following him closely would be Wales' most-capped hooker Garin Jenkins. Leighton Rees was born on January 17th, 1940 in the village of Ynysybwl, South Wales, United Kingdom where he was to spend most of his life. ... Garin Jenkins is a former Wales international rugby union player. ...

Other famous residents have included Tommy Scourfield (rugby, capped for Wales in 1930), Staff Jones (rugby, capped for Wales in 1983 and toured with the British Lions to New Zealand in 1985), Dale McIntosh (rugby, Pontypridd RFC captain),Clive Pritchard (rugby, Welsh team manager 1999) and Alun "Barrie" Davies (rugby, Welsh team coach). Two rugby teams may be known as the British Lions, though it is not the correct title for either: The British and Irish Lions are a touring side playing rugby union. ... The Chief Dale McIntosh - Pontypridd hero. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ...

The largest regular event to take place around Ynysybwl is the regular passage of the Network Q Rally of Great Britain through the Llanwynno forestry. Wales Rally GB is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. ...

A further traditional event is the running of the Nos Galan Races, in tribute to the legend of Guto Nyth Brân. Iwan Thomas standing at the statue of legendary Guto Nyth Brân, Mountain Ash, Wales Born Griffith Morgan in 1700 at Llwyncelyn (=Hollybush), Rhondda, south Wales, UK, and simply known as Guto for much of his life, Guto Nyth Brân (Nyth Brân being the name of his parents...

External links

• Ynysybwl Male Voice Choir
• Ynysybwl Rugby Club
• Ynysybwl.com
• Stay in the valleys Visit the Rhondda, Cynon and Taff Valleys