Taff's Well


Taff's Well, is a semi-rural village, community and electoral ward located at the south easterly tip of Rhondda Cynon Taf, to the North of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. Known locally as the 'Gates to the Valleys'. It is separated from Gwaelod Y Garth by the River Taff. Taff's Well is distinguished because it contains the only thermal spring in Wales. The tepid water is thought to rise along a fault-line from the Carboniferous Limestone, in somewhat similar manner to the warm springs at Bristol and Bath. Various religious groups regard it as a spiritual site.
The Garth Mountain overlooks the village and was the inspiration for the fictional "Ffynnon Garw", featured in the book, and film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain.

Name

The name "Taff's Well" is derived from the situation of the village alongside the River Taff and the presence of the warm spring within Taff's Well Park.

Thermal spring

Taff's Well Park is the site of the Taff's Well Thermal Spring, a well that reached its height of popularity for visitors to the village in the mid to late 1800s. It enjoys temperatures which average 21.6 degrees C. The Well at Taff's Well is Wales' only natural thermal spa..

Location

Taff's Well is situated just off Junction 32 of the M4 Motorway and at the southern end of the A470.
Though administratively represented by Rhondda Cynon Taff Council, Taff's Well is a commuter town for the City of Cardiff where many of its residents work.

Culture

19th century

Taff's Well grew into an important railway junction during the mid- to late nineteenth century, when Cardiff was a major global exporter of coal.
Taff's Well is a growing community which includes numerous districts: Glan-Y-Llyn, Rhiw Ddar and Glan Y-Fordd; Ty-Rhillage centre that consists of Alfred's terrace, Anchor Street, Church Street, Garth Street, Yew Street and Ty Rhiw through which the Taff Trail runs. Taff's Well is next to Castell Coch, which overlooks Cardiff.

20th century

The actor David Jason spent much time in Taff's Well and based the situation comedy Open All Hours based upon Arthur's shop which is one of many buildings to have been dismantled and sent to the St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life.

21st century

Taff's Well is the original location of the story that inspired the film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, by Ivor Monger and Christopher Monger.
Taff's Well has featured in the Sky sitcom Stella Starring Ruth Jones. The post office in Nantgarw is a filming location in the sitcom, although it is just outside the village.

Local politics

RCT Council Representative for Taff's Well

Taff's Well is an electoral ward coterminous to the community boundaries and elects a county councillor to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Jill Bonetto has represented the ward since 2012.

Taff's Well Community Council

Taff's Well and Nantgarw are also represented locally by the Taff's Well & Nantgarw Community Council, which has 10 members. The Council hit the headlines in 2010 when it was criticised by the Wales Audit Office for breaching financial and corporate governance regulations with its financial records. Described as 'The Worst Run Council in Wales', there were calls for the 'wholesale sacking' of the ten members for breaching 'financial and corporate governance regulations because of its “inadequate” financial records, supporting paperwork and minutes between 2002 and 2006'.

Sport

are the local football team. They currently play in the Cymru South, the second tier of the Welsh football league system.
Taff's Well RFC are the local Rugby union team.

Transport

, which opened in 1863, is situated on the Rhondda and Merthyr Lines. Services are provided by Transport for Wales northbound to Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil via Pontypridd and southbound to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central. The average journey time to Cardiff Central is 20 minutes at a frequency of 6 trains per hour.
Stagecoach South Wales bus service 132 between Maerdy and Cardiff Central bus station stops in the village every 15 minutes at peak times.
The A470 road runs through the village between Cardiff Bay and Llandudno. Taff's Well is situated north of Junction 32 of the M4 motorway.
There are plans to integrate Taff's Well into the South Wales Metro.

Churches

Taff's Well has two active churches:
Like the neighbouring community of Tongwynlais, Taff's Well formerly had a number of other churches which have ceased to function and have either been converted into other purposes or been demolished:

Notable people

See :Category:People from Taff's Well