The South Wales Valleys are steeped in heritage and Rhondda Cynon Taf provides the perfect place to uncover a rich history from the Romans to the Industrial Revolution.

O
PENING THE DOORS TO OUR HERITAGE

The South Wales Valleys were gouged out as an ice-age glacier retreated around 10,000 years ago leaving a landscape that would become the Valleys we know today.


Man arrived in the area in the Mesolithic period and the first recorded man-made structure was discovered in 1973 and dated around the Neolithic period. Slowly but surely the Rhondda's population increased through the Bronze Age and Iron Age and there is definitive evidence of a Roman settlement during the first century.



The fifth century saw the withdrawal of the Romans and through the Dark Ages that followed a sense of the national identity that exists today developed. The Normans arrived in the eleventh century but, for several hundred years, the population of the area was relatively sparse.

From 1850 to 1915 the population exploded in the Valleys. In 1840 there were over 160 farms across the area but most vanished because of the mining boom. Records show there being around 950 people living in the area; by 1910 it had increased by over 150,000. From then on coal and industry created wealth and buoyed the region through the war years until the nationalisation of the British coalmines in 1947. In the decades that followed, coal output slowed steadily and by 2008 the last deep mine, The Tower Colliery was closed.

While the pits and mines may have closed down, their legacy and the rich cultural heritage of the area lives on in the superb museums and cultural centres across the county. The Rhondda Heritage Park is one of the finest and this, along with the theatres, chapels and other historical buildings, are open for people to explore for generations to come.

It's a proud heritage and one that we should all treasure.

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Open Doors events 2011 until 30th September


A RICH HERITAGE
Opening the doors to our past

September sees a host of events of heritage events taking place in Rhondda Cynon Taf.




Local residents and visitors to the area will have the opportunity to visit a mine manager's and a former maternity hospital; gain free entry to Rhondda Heritage Park; see behind the scenes at one of the museums; a rare opportunity to see a colliery winding engine working and discover how the coins of the realm are made and much more.

On certain days, members of the public will be invited to share their own history so if you've any old photographs in family albums of the featured buildings and areas, you'll be most welcome, as these can be scanned and included in the Library Service Photographic Archive.




For more information on the Open Doors event, visit the Events section at www.heritagetrailsrct.co.uk Or request a brochure by calling 01443 744044

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Extraordinary people and extraordinary stories




RHONDDA CYNON TAF
Take a walk through the past

In Rhondda Cynon Taf there are a number of heritage trails around local towns that help the user explore the past.

In Pontypridd the trail starts at the town's fascinating museum, crosses the famous Edward's Bridge and visits Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, the James Memorial and the town's first dwelling which are among the many interesting historical and cultural points along the trail.

Aberdare trail tells us about the first National Eisteddfod, a royal visit, a victorious choir and the first leader of the Labour Party. Historic Llantrisant's tour tells us about the campaign for cremation, a medieval castle and church and the tribulations of the workhouse.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council have published three excellent booklets to accompany the trails and these are available from tourism outlets or by calling the number at the bottom of this page. They've also combined this (rather cleverly I think) with a Driving Tours booklet so even if you're not particularly fit or just a bit of a history buff, you needn't miss out.

More information on these can be found at www.heritagetrailsrct.co.uk




For more ideas for a great day out visit
www.destinationrct.co.uk
 
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