Historically Ynysboeth and Tyntetown fell within the parish of Llanwonno within the County of
Glamorganshire (specifically
Mid Glamorgan), was governed by the 'Mountain Ash Urban District Council', within the 'Pontypridd' Census registration district, and fell within the ecclesiastical parish of 'Penrhiwceiber'. A separate parish of 'Tyntetown and Ynysboeth' was created in 1923, later regrouped with Penrhiwceiber to become 'Penrhiwceiber, Matthewstown and Ynysboeth' as of 1968, of which they still remain a part of today.
Ynysboeth Prior to the end of the C19th the area was rural (viewable on
Ordnance Survey (OS) maps of 1884), consisting largely of 'Ynys-boeth-uchaf', 'Ynys-boeth-isaf', 'Aber-nant-y-fedw' and 'Blaen-nant-y-fedw' farms, after which Ynysboeth and the area of 'Nant-y-Fedw' (translated as 'stream of the birch') took its name. Historically Nant-y-Fedw experienced recurring flooding issues, until a major flood alleviation scheme was undertaken by the Council in 2014/2015. By OS maps of 1901, The streets of 'Parry's Drive' and 'Valley View' and the area of 'Maes y Ffynnon' (translated as 'site of the fountain') all being more recent additions to Ynysboeth. Listed in the 'South Wales & Monmouthshire Trade Directory, 1907', were the following businesses - 'E. Smith' (Grocers), 'E. Smith' (Shopkeepers), 'G. Lewis' (Shopkeepers), 'John Bowen' (Grocers) and 'W. Davies' (Shopkeepers); with the 'Trades' Directory of Wales (North and South), 1918' listing 'Beatall Dairy Co' (Grocers) and 'Wm Taplin' (Cycle Agent). The village was also previously home to the 'Ynysboeth Hotel'.
Tyntetown (Matthewstown) Tyntetown meanwhile took its name from the owner of the estate, Halswell Milbourne Kemeys-
Tynte, on which the village falls, and after which several of its streets are named. Prior to the end of the C19th, this area too was rural, comprising mainly 'Pentwyn-isaf' and 'Pentwyn-uchaf' farms, after which the main road through the village ('Pentwyn Avenue') took its name. Tyntetown has previously been known as 'Matthewstown', believed to be named after a local farmer William
Matthews, although this name was never widely adopted and was only correctly renamed to 'Tyntetown' on local road signs as late as 2011. By OS maps of 1901, (later referred to as 'Matthewstown Halt'), together with sidings associated with 'Ynys-boeth Quarry' and 'Penrhiwceiber Colliery' (viewable on OS maps between 1901 and 1953 which linked the Cynon Valley with
Neath and
Pontypool via the
Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Branch of the
Great Western Railway, and served the nearby Cefn Glas Colliery (sunk in 1863, employing up to 137 men & boys, and closed in 1903). This was later opened to passenger traffic, before finally being closed in 1964. Of note, a coal seam running through the tunnel was worked during the
1984-85 miner's strike. The area was also home to 'Pentwyn (Merthyr) Colliery' (sunk by D. R. Jones in 1920, and viewable on OS maps in the vicinity of Bryntirion, between 1921 and 1956), as well as 'Pentwyn Isha Level' (employing 30 men as of 1918), 'Nantyfedw Level' (employing 8 as of 1938), 'Ynysboeth Level', and numerous other trial levels, quarries and associated tramways within the area.
'Penrikyber Navigation Colliery' ('Penrhiwceiber Colliery') (sunk in 1872, employing up to 2,236 men & boys, and closed in 1985) was located nearby on the outskirts of Tyntetown with
Perthcelyn and Penrhiwceiber, and many of the houses in Tyntetown and Ynysboeth were built to house the workforce of this colliery.
Worship As well as 'All Saints Church' (established 1903), the area was previously home to several places of worship, namely - 'Tabernacle English Baptist Chapel', 'Calvary Welsh Baptist Chapel', 'Hebron Church', 'Carmel English Methodist Church', 'Hermon Calvinistic Methodist Chapel' and 'Bethany Baptist Chapel'.
Notable people •
Robert Pugh (actor) ==Gallery==