Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ferndale
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 Ferndale
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| Population | 4,178 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST000964 |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ferndale |
| Postcode district | CF43 |
| Dialling code | 01443 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Ferndale (also known as Glynrhedynog in Welsh) is a town in the Rhondda Valley, Wales. It is part of the Rhondda Cynon Taf area. Nearby villages include Blaenllechau, Maerdy, and Tylorstown. Ferndale became an industrial town in the mid-1800s. The first coal mine shaft opened in 1857. This made Ferndale the first place in the Rhondda Valley to become a major industrial area.
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History of Ferndale
In Welsh, Ferndale is called Glynrhedynog. This was the name of one of the old farms where the town was built. When it was very new, Glynrhedynog was also called Trerhondda. This name came from the first large chapel built in the town. Naming towns after chapels was common in Wales back then.
The name Glynrhedynog means "ferny valley." Coal from the mines was called "Ferndale coal." This name was easier for English buyers to remember. Many workers and their families moved to Ferndale for the mines. By the 1880s, Ferndale was a busy and successful town.
From the late 1980s, Welsh road signs started to show Glynrhedynog again. It is now the official Welsh name for Ferndale. The town mostly used English during the Industrial Revolution. However, the Welsh language is now growing in Ferndale. There is a Welsh language school near the park. It is named Llyn-y-Forwyn, after the park's lake.
Coal Mining Industry
The first person to start coal mining in Ferndale was David Davis. He already had many coal mines in the nearby Aberdare Valley. He spent a lot of money trying to find coal in the Rhondda Fach area. He finally found a good coal seam in Ferndale in the 1860s.
Ferndale Mining Accidents
Ferndale had two major coal mining accidents in the 1800s:
- On 8 November 1867, an explosion underground killed 178 miners. This happened at the Ferndale Colliery.
- On 10 June 1869, another explosion killed 53 miners.
How Ferndale is Governed
Ferndale has an electoral ward, which is like a local voting area. This ward used to elect two local councillors to the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Since 1995, most councillors were from the Labour Party. Sometimes, there was also a councillor from Plaid Cymru or an Independent councillor.
In 2018, new plans were made for local elections. Ferndale joined with the nearby village of Maerdy. They now form the Ferndale and Maerdy ward. From the 2022 elections, this new ward elects its councillors.
Modern Ferndale
Ferndale has changed and improved in recent years. New things have been added, like a modern 3G football field. There is also a new car park and a cricket training area.
The Sky TV comedy show Stella is mostly filmed in Ferndale. Also, some scenes from The Crown were filmed here. These scenes showed the Aberfan Disaster in Season 3, Episode 3.
Transport Links
Between 1849 and 1856, the Taff Vale Railway opened a train line to Ferndale. There was a train station in the town. Passenger trains stopped running in 1964. Coal trains continued until 1986, when the line closed completely. The train tracks were removed in 1996.
Since 2005, the southern part of the old train line has become a road. The upper part, which goes through Ferndale, is now a branch of the Taff Trail cycleway. This means people can cycle or walk where trains once ran.
Places of Worship
There are several churches and chapels in or near Ferndale:
- Church in Wales - St Dunstan's Church
- Baptist - Bethel Baptist Church
- Methodist - Rhondda Fach Methodist Church (also called Ferndale Methodist Church)
- Calvinistic Methodist - Capel Penuel
- Welsh Independents - Trerhondda Welsh Independent Chapel
Sports in Ferndale
Ferndale has a rugby union club called Ferndale RFC. Their main team plays in the Welsh Rugby Union leagues.
Next to Llyn y Forwyn, there is a modern football field. It replaced an older field in 2023. Darran Park also has a tennis court and a bowling green.
Ferndale Bowls Club is well-known in the Welsh bowls community. Many players from the club have played for Wales at an international level. These include J.S. Hill in the 1930s, and more recently, Gareth Hughes, Lee Morgans, and Martin Jones.
The club has done well in competitions. They were runners-up in the Carruthers Shield in 1947 and 2010. They have also reached the later stages of this competition in recent years. Many club members have won county titles. They also play for the county team.
The club plays in three local leagues:
- Cardiff & District Municipal League
- Mid Glamorgan League
- Rhondda League
The club has won many league titles and league cup titles in these leagues.
In December 2006, the Ferndale Skate Park opened. It had indoor ramps for BMX riders, rollerbladers, and skateboarders. The skate park received funding to stay open for a few more years. However, it closed in 2014.
Famous People from Ferndale
- Stanley Baker (1928–1976), an actor.
- Brian Bedford (1933–2022), a professional footballer.
- David "Alan" Evans (1949–1999), a darts player.
- Ginger Jones (1905–1986), a Welsh featherweight boxing champion.
- Roderick Jones (1910–1992), a baritone singer.
- Meirion James Trow (born 1949), an author.
- Bartholomew Walsh (1890–1959), a Welsh trade union leader.
- Edgar Watkins (1887–1960), an Olympic Gymnast.
- D. J. Williams (1885–1970), a Welsh writer.
- Wyn Lewis Williams (born 1951), a High Court judge.
See also
In Spanish: Ferndale (Gales) para niños
