Pentyrch is a village and community located on the western outskirts of Cardiff, the capital city ofWales. The village gives its name to a Cardiff local authorityelectoral ward, Pentyrch, which covers the village and immediate surrounding area. The Pentyrch community includes the neighbouring village of Creigiau and Gwaelod y Garth. People living in Pentyrch are commonly known as "Penterchyians".
Geography
The village is situated next to the Garth Mountain, high above the River Taff. The village can be reached from junction 32 of the M4 Motorway, then A470, then via Heol Goch, a hill flanked by a quarry and nature reserve. Alternatively, Church Road provides access from Llantrisant Road near St Fagans. Other approaches are from Creigiau and Gwaelod-y-Garth.
Demographics
At the , Pentyrch contained 3,535 individuals, in 1,358 households.
Pentyrch was represented by Conservative councillor Craig Williams on Cardiff Council until he stepped down in 2015, following his election to Parliament for Cardiff North. A by-election for the Pentyrch ward took place on Tuesday 30 June 2015 which, despite a 27% swing to Plaid Cymru's Hywel Wigley, resulted in a narrow win for Conservative candidate Gavin Hill-John by 18 votes. At the Cardiff Council election on 4 May 2017 Cllr Hill-John successfully defended his seat, increasing the margin between himself and Hywel Wigley to 215 votes. The turnout was 56%.
Community Council
The Pentyrch Community Council has thirteen elected members, representing the villages of Pentyrch, Creigiau and Gwaelod y Garth on a ratio of 6:5:2. Elections are held every five years.
2017 Community Council Election
Ten candidates stood for election during the 2017 Cardiff Council election. All candidates were therefore elected unopposed. The following by-elections took place between May 2017 and the next election in 2022. Political affiliation recorded as 'Welsh Conservative' on the Pentyrch Community Council website. Political affiliation recorded as 'Welsh Conservative' on the Pentyrch Community Council website.
On entering the village from Heol Goch, the visitor passes the playground, and on the left is Acapela Studio - a concert hall and recording studio - owned by harpist Catrin Finch and music and television producer Hywel Wigley. Acapela studio has hosted a series of acclaimed Welsh acts such as Gruff Rhys, Cerys Matthews and Charlotte Church as well as up and coming local and international music acts. Many programs for S4C and the BBC are filmed there. The building itself is converted from the former presbyterian Capel Horeb and contains a fully licensed bar. Opposite Acapela is the Lewis Arms public house. Past these lies the village centre, containing a Spar general store, delicatessen, hairdressers, a veterinary practice and butchers. The focus of older buildings in the village is reached by forking left after entering the village, travelling down to the King's Arms pub, and St. Catwg's Church, at the lowest point of the village. Along with St. Catwg's Church and its lychgate, the King's Arms is a Grade 2 Listed Building. Originally a seventeenth century copyhold farm called Cae Golman, the King's Arms became established as a public house in the eighteenth century. In the lounge bar, can be found a fireplace with chamfered beam, dated 1711. Housing is split between older housing and large developments of post-1970s housing. Sport in the village is centred on the Pentyrch Rugby Football Club. There is also a cricket pitch and other facilities at the club. Pentyrch Rangers football club is based in the village. The club has nearly 200 registered players and runs 10 junior and mini football teams in the Cardiff and District League. Other amenities include a village hall and primary school. The village has some art on display, including a mural situated on the green on High corner. In 1993, Pentyrch hosted its first National/Sunday League Cricket Match, as Glamorgan lost to Northamptonshire, becoming the country's smallest village to do so. Pentyrch is covered by Fairwater Police Station.
