Williamstown, Rhondda Cynon Taff

infobox UK place
latitude =51.606989
longitude =-3.441819
population=
country = Wales
static_

static_image_caption=
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly= Rhondda
map_type=
official_name= Williamstown
unitary_wales= Rhondda Cynon Taff
lieutenancy_wales= Mid Glamorgan
constituency_westminster= Rhondda
post_town= TONYPANDY
postcode_district = CF40
postcode_area= CF
dial_code= 01443
os_grid_reference= ST002907
OldMapsYear=
OldMapsEasting= 300250
OldMapsNorthing= 190780
OldMapsCounty=

Williamstown is a village in the Rhondda Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. Williamstown was founded in the 1870s, is located at the foot of Mynydd Dinas and is a district of neighbouring village Penygraig.

Early History

Before the Rhondda was industrialised in the mid to late 19th century, the area where Williamstown now resides, was made up of woodlands occupied by sparsely populated farmlands. Williamstown exhibits very little evidence of early habitation, a few Bronze Age cairns have been discovered on Mynydd Dinas, but most hafodi and farm houses tended to group around the River Rhondda located lower down the valley.

Much of the land in the Rhondda, once controlled by individual farmers, had been bought up bt wealthy absentee landlords by the start of the 19th century. The land which would become Williamstown was bought by Walter Coffin, the pioneer of coal mining in the Rhondda, around the 1850s. In 1867 this land was inherited by the Williams family, through their father, a cousin of Coffin. The Williams family gave their name to the town that was built on their land and among the trustees of the family was Caroline Elizabeth Williams, Arthur John Williams and Morgan Bransby Williams. [ [http://www.therhondda.co.uk/place_names/williamstown.html The Rhondda.com] ]

External links

* [http://webapps.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/heritagetrail/rhondda/penygraig/penygraig.htm Rhondda Cynon Taff Library Services, Heritage Trail:Penygraig]

References