I picked up this book a few years ago hoping it would contain information about the village and local woodlands. There isn’t much about Tongwynlais but it’s a fascinating read. 1961 Glamorgan Forests – Forestry Commission Guide Glamorgan Forests is a comprehensive guide that covers the woodlands, plants and animals of the area. It was … more…
I’m very excited to present this unique photo showing the Tongwynlais railway station platforms and footbridge. I was convinced that there was no evidence of the full station after searching for so long. There are a handful of photos of the station building but these are all after its closure. This image shows the station … more…
This instalment of “Postcards from Tongwynlais” features a very special image of the village square from the early 1900s. The postcard was sent on the 30th of September 1907. I shared some photos of the Lewis Arms back in 2024 from the early 1900s to 2016. I kept this postcard back because I wanted to … more…
The Tongwynlais, Taff’s Well and Nantgarw Picture Album is a series of books first published by Roger L Brown in 1988. I discovered these books over 13 years ago and eventually managed to acquire a copy of each volume. My collection also includes Roger’s local history books. I’m astounded by the work involved in producing … more…
I have a few postcards that feature a view of Castell Coch by photographer Martin John Ridley (1861-1936). This example was written in 1917 but not posted. The original photo is thought to be from 1905. I have another postcard using this image that was sent in 1908. The postcard is titled, “Castle Coch, Taffs … more…
The Glamorganshire Canal was devised by the ironmasters of Merthyr Tydfil to transport their goods from the valleys to Cardiff. Construction of the canal began in 1790 and the final section that linked the Cardiff docks was opened in 1798. The decline of the canal started in 1876 when competition from the railways affected its … more…
I've just discovered this website and found the railway article was fascinating. Looking forward to learning more about the history…