Trethomas
Encyclopedia
Trethomas http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/372505 is a small village
2½ miles north-east of Caerphilly
, south-east Wales
, situated in the Caerphilly county borough
, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire
.
It neighbours Bedwas
and Machen
, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities.
Company http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/372507, (also of mines in Aberdare
in the Cynon Valley
). Most of the earlier parts of Trethomas were built in and around 1900 - 1913, when the mine was developing and at the apex of coal
production in the South Wales coalfield
. The terraced streets of Trethomas were appropriately named, some were named after members of William Thomas's family, hence the names: William, James, Thomas, Mary, Glyn & Gwyn. Others involved association with local areas, such as Navigation Street (associated with the Bedwas Navigation Colliery Company), Coronation St (for obvious reasons), Redbrook House which once stood on the left of the road entering the village from Machen(opposite the Chequered Flag petrol station but was demolished in late 1950s. It was named after the brook that ran nearby and coloured red with rust from the old drift mine that was situated at Glyn Gwyn - now redeveloped as Addison Way leading up to Graig-Y-Rhacca. The bridge over the now demolished railway line on Addison Way was built on the remains of the coal tipping from that mine.
between Caerphilly
and Newport
.
The railway that ran through Trethomas went east to Newport
and west to Rhymney
, Merthyr Tydfil
and Brecon
via Talybont-on-Usk
. All the lines ceased in 1961 (the loop line from White Hart to Gwern y Doman via Fountain Bridge closed in 1957) and very little remains. Nature has engulfed the two platforms from the old station and a few rotten and half buried railway sleepers sit in between. Most of what does remain of the old trackbed between Trethomas and Machen
has been updated by Sustrans
as a cycle-track/walkway. This starts just below the site of the old railway station in Trethomas and runs almost to where the old Machen station stood.
Nothing remains of the colliery, which closed in March 1985 during the UK miners' strike (1984-1985). The British Benzol coke ovens, which closed on Christmas Eve
1986, at the top of upper Navigation street, next to Tynywern Terraces, aptly named 'The White City' mainly because the streets and houses were always dirty due to the coke ovens being so close and the coal dust
stirred up by the emptying of the wagons into the hoppers. The Colliery and what was termed 'The Plant' closed after the disastrous 84/85 Miners' Strike.
The ground on which the colliery and 'plant' stood is yet to be re-developed. The ground has reportedly high concentrations of Benzines in the soil at present and therefore it would be dangerous to re-use in its present condition. This is one major blight on the landscape. Caerphilly County Borough Council inherited most of land and face an awkward situation. To clean up the land would more than likely cost more than what the land is worth, so restoration work in the near future is unlikely.
Since the demise of the Collieries further up the valley, the Rhymney River
, which passes through Trethomas, has gone from being a contaminated, black monstrosity, to a clean, aromatic river, now teeming with wildlife and fish after many barren years.
At the lower end of Trethomas, close to Waterloo, a multiple-arch railway viaduct can still be seen where it used to carry the Caerphilly Branch line over the river. The old Pontypridd, Caerphilly, Newport Railway (PC & N). This railway had a loop line that allowed the heavy trains to bypass the steep incline up into Machen this line crossed the Rhymney River and through a halt named after the road bridge. The 'Fountain Bridge' on the main road between Trethomas and Waterloo. The bridge was so named because, for many years, prior to road alterations, there was a free running spring at the roadside close to the site of the bridge. The point where the spring emerged was fashioned into a stone 'fountain well' which was regrettably demolished during the road works to improve the road.
Just a few hundred yards further along the main road, once stood a large tree that stood in the middle of the junction turning to Waterloo. Locals knew it as 'The Round Tree' until it was removed during further road works. Also at the Waterloo was a Tinworks that supplied materials to the aircraft factory that once stood near the foundry in Machen.
Close to the Waterloo Tinworks, but on the other side of the railway became the Coates Brothers Paint Works, which later evolved into the Valspar paint division and later again became associated in the production of Inks and dyes.
Over many years, Trethomas has continually expanded in all directions, not only in industry, but in housing as well, so much so, that it is now difficult to find where Bedwas
ends and Trethomas starts. Today notable residents include Jeff Whitefoot (Bedwas, Cardiff, Wales and British Lions rugby player), Alun Wheeler, former Bedwas rugby player, Ieuan Wheeler, Machen rugby player, Owain James and Councillor Elizabeth Aldworth who became the Lady Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council in 2006.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
2½ miles north-east of Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
, south-east Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, situated in the Caerphilly county borough
Caerphilly (county borough)
Caerphilly is a county borough in southern Wales, straddling the ancient county boundary between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.Its main town is Caerphilly, and also the largest...
, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
.
It neighbours Bedwas
Bedwas
Bedwas is a town two miles north-east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly county borough, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire....
and Machen
Machen
Machen is a large village 3 miles east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly borough within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It neighbours Bedwas and Trethomas, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities. It lies on the Rhymney River.-Mynydd...
, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities.
Post 1900 New Town
With an original name of Thomastown, it was mainly built by William James Thomas, a co-owner of the Bedwas Navigation CollieryBedwas Navigation Colliery
Bedwas Navigation Colliery was a coal mine that was located in the small Welsh village of Bedwas. Situated 2 miles north of Caerphilly, the colliery opened in 1913 and in 1939 produced 675,000 tonnes of coal in single year....
Company http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/372507, (also of mines in Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
in the Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley , is a famous former coal mining valley within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. The Cynon Valley lies between the other mining Valley of Rhondda and the iron industrial Valley of the Merthyr Valley. Its main towns are Aberdare located North of the Valley and Mountain Ash located...
). Most of the earlier parts of Trethomas were built in and around 1900 - 1913, when the mine was developing and at the apex of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
production in the South Wales coalfield
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
. The terraced streets of Trethomas were appropriately named, some were named after members of William Thomas's family, hence the names: William, James, Thomas, Mary, Glyn & Gwyn. Others involved association with local areas, such as Navigation Street (associated with the Bedwas Navigation Colliery Company), Coronation St (for obvious reasons), Redbrook House which once stood on the left of the road entering the village from Machen(opposite the Chequered Flag petrol station but was demolished in late 1950s. It was named after the brook that ran nearby and coloured red with rust from the old drift mine that was situated at Glyn Gwyn - now redeveloped as Addison Way leading up to Graig-Y-Rhacca. The bridge over the now demolished railway line on Addison Way was built on the remains of the coal tipping from that mine.
History
The oldest building in Trethomas, is the Ty'n-y-pwll Inn http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/372510, known locally as the 'Pyke'. (Turn-Pike in English) due to the building being the original Toll House where tolls were charged for the use of the Toll roadToll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
between Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
and Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
.
The railway that ran through Trethomas went east to Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
and west to Rhymney
Rhymney
Rhymney is a town and a community located in the county borough of Caerphilly in south-east Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. Along with the villages of Pontlottyn, Fochriw, Abertysswg, Deri and New Tredegar, Rhymney is designated as the 'Upper Rhymney Valley' by the local...
, Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
and Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
via Talybont-on-Usk
Talybont-on-Usk
Talybont-on-Usk is a village and community in Powys, Wales. It lies on both the River Usk and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, and in 2003 won the title of 'Powys Village of the Year'...
. All the lines ceased in 1961 (the loop line from White Hart to Gwern y Doman via Fountain Bridge closed in 1957) and very little remains. Nature has engulfed the two platforms from the old station and a few rotten and half buried railway sleepers sit in between. Most of what does remain of the old trackbed between Trethomas and Machen
Machen
Machen is a large village 3 miles east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly borough within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It neighbours Bedwas and Trethomas, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities. It lies on the Rhymney River.-Mynydd...
has been updated by Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
as a cycle-track/walkway. This starts just below the site of the old railway station in Trethomas and runs almost to where the old Machen station stood.
Nothing remains of the colliery, which closed in March 1985 during the UK miners' strike (1984-1985). The British Benzol coke ovens, which closed on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
1986, at the top of upper Navigation street, next to Tynywern Terraces, aptly named 'The White City' mainly because the streets and houses were always dirty due to the coke ovens being so close and the coal dust
Coal dust
Coal dust is a fine powdered form of coal, which is created by the crushing, grinding, or pulverizing of coal. Because of the brittle nature of coal, coal dust can be created during mining, transportation, or by mechanically handling coal.-Explosions:...
stirred up by the emptying of the wagons into the hoppers. The Colliery and what was termed 'The Plant' closed after the disastrous 84/85 Miners' Strike.
The ground on which the colliery and 'plant' stood is yet to be re-developed. The ground has reportedly high concentrations of Benzines in the soil at present and therefore it would be dangerous to re-use in its present condition. This is one major blight on the landscape. Caerphilly County Borough Council inherited most of land and face an awkward situation. To clean up the land would more than likely cost more than what the land is worth, so restoration work in the near future is unlikely.
Since the demise of the Collieries further up the valley, the Rhymney River
Rhymney River
The Rhymney River is a river in the Rhymney Valley, south-east Wales, flowing through Cardiff into the Severn estuary.The river forms the boundary between the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.-Path of the river:...
, which passes through Trethomas, has gone from being a contaminated, black monstrosity, to a clean, aromatic river, now teeming with wildlife and fish after many barren years.
At the lower end of Trethomas, close to Waterloo, a multiple-arch railway viaduct can still be seen where it used to carry the Caerphilly Branch line over the river. The old Pontypridd, Caerphilly, Newport Railway (PC & N). This railway had a loop line that allowed the heavy trains to bypass the steep incline up into Machen this line crossed the Rhymney River and through a halt named after the road bridge. The 'Fountain Bridge' on the main road between Trethomas and Waterloo. The bridge was so named because, for many years, prior to road alterations, there was a free running spring at the roadside close to the site of the bridge. The point where the spring emerged was fashioned into a stone 'fountain well' which was regrettably demolished during the road works to improve the road.
Just a few hundred yards further along the main road, once stood a large tree that stood in the middle of the junction turning to Waterloo. Locals knew it as 'The Round Tree' until it was removed during further road works. Also at the Waterloo was a Tinworks that supplied materials to the aircraft factory that once stood near the foundry in Machen.
Close to the Waterloo Tinworks, but on the other side of the railway became the Coates Brothers Paint Works, which later evolved into the Valspar paint division and later again became associated in the production of Inks and dyes.
Over many years, Trethomas has continually expanded in all directions, not only in industry, but in housing as well, so much so, that it is now difficult to find where Bedwas
Bedwas
Bedwas is a town two miles north-east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly county borough, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire....
ends and Trethomas starts. Today notable residents include Jeff Whitefoot (Bedwas, Cardiff, Wales and British Lions rugby player), Alun Wheeler, former Bedwas rugby player, Ieuan Wheeler, Machen rugby player, Owain James and Councillor Elizabeth Aldworth who became the Lady Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council in 2006.